## **FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE** _**Building Communities from the Ground-Up**_ ## **Report of the Trustees** ## **Foundation for the Future** # **1[ST] April 2020 – 31[st] March 2021** The Trustees of the Foundation for the Future Charity present their annual report and audited accounts* for the year ended 31 March 2020 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. > * _There are no audited accounts for the period covered by the report as the charity neither received or distributed funding in this period._ ## **Foundation for the Future Annual Report** ## **1. Our Aims** The Foundation for the Future Incorporated Charitable organisation was formed to support and advance the prevention or relief of poverty for individuals and communities through the provision of opportunities, grants and resources targeted as those most vulnerable to improve their life chances now and in the future. This report details the objectives of the charity, its governance and management for the period 01.04.20 through to 31.03.2021. ## **2. Our Objectives** The Objectives of the Foundation for the Future are, for the public benefit, - a. To advance in life and help young people aged up to the age of 30 through the provision of support and activities including overseas volunteering, which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals - b. The prevention or relief of poverty anywhere in the world by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, work placements and all the necessary support designed to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient. ## **3. The Foundation Funds** The Foundation for the Future gained charitable status in September 2019, we then applied to the Cooperative bank for a bank account, this was held up several times, as a result we entered lockdown due to Corona Virus in March 2020 still without a bank account. We are currently still without a bank account but have been assured by the Cooperative Bank that the account will be opened imminently: The Trustees had decided to begin delivery of activities in April 2020. The main aspect of the work was working with disadvantaged communities in the UK and overseas to provide skills and experience for increased employment opportunities. Due to restrictions imposed through the pandemic none of this work was able to proceed. Furthermore, the bank put on all hold all applications for accounts due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The Trustees are all still fully committed to the Charity, however due to these delays and to the pandemic, there are no accounts for the Charity for the period April 2020 through to March 2021. There was also no activity that warranted budgets. Due to the impact of the pandemic the Trustees took the decision to suspend all services through the Foundation until we could operate safely. The Trustees did still meet regularly to hear updates from our partners in other countries and to ensure that once we were able to begin activities again we would be ready. ## **4. Plans for the Future** Through April 20 till March 21 the Charity has been basically non-operational. This is due mainly to the main types of activities the charity supports. In that we offer support for educational and vocational training and a key part of that is work placement at charities overseas. This work has obviously not been able to continue during this period of the pandemic. Furthermore, Bolton has been particularly affected by the pandemic and has virtually been in some kind of lockdown throughout this period. We are currently in the process of exploring the options for restarting the charity deliverables. We have re-applied for a bank account and should have that up and running very soon and are currently pulling together publicity and marketing material to recruit local people onto the opportunities. We have developed a website (which was also suspended but is now in final stages of completion.). The Foundation Trustees have stated their commitment to continue with the charity including the work placements abroad despite Brexit and managing the impact of the pandemic. We believe that we will have a bank account in place by Jan/ Feb 2022. The Trustees developed a plan of work for the rest of the year, which includes: - Programme of vocational training developed for people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. - Provide access to educational support for people considering placements. - Development of a digital offer to ensure people can access the offer either in person or electronically. - Placement of 10 – 20 people in one of three partner countries before the end of the next financial year. (Romania, Slovenia and Hungary) - Management of all aspects of placement and post placement work. - Marketing and Communications plan. - Placement of funds up to £40K for the management of activities once the Bank account is opened. ## **5. Structure, Governance and Management.** The Foundation for the Future is a CIO and is governed by its constitution, it currently has a body of nine trustees who provide direction, leadership and governance. There can only ever be a maximum of 12 Charity trustees. We have not recruited any new Trustees in the period covered by this report. However, once the Foundation recommences operations we will actively recruit if we feel the need for additional skills on the Trustees Board. ## **Trustees** Jonathon Michael Lord ( **Chair)** Noel Clare Sharpe Charlotte Norman Dave Bagley Vanessa Toni Barlow Darren Knight Atanu Kumar Bhattacherjee Carl Leslie Taylor Karen Lisa Westsmith Foundation for the Future contact person: Shauna Morton Shauna.morton@boltonathome.org.uk ## **The Foundation for the Future registered address:** **Valley House 98 Waters meeting Rd Bolton BL1 8SW Greater Manchester UK** This is a true representation of the operation of the Foundation for the Future 01/04/2020 – 31/03/2021. Signed Jonathon Lord (Chair Person) Signature __ ___________________________ Date 06.01.2022