REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1187603
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
FOR
LIFTING LIMITS CIO
Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountants First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH
LIFTING LIMITS CIO
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 to 13 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 to 15 |
LIFTING LIMITS CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
In March 2025 the Charity merged with The Children’s Society (registered charity no. 221124), offering exciting opportunities to scale the Charity’s work and further its mission across The Children’s Society’s network of 12,000 sc hools. Details of the merger have been explained in the section “Events after the End of the Year” section of this report.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
Lifting Limits continued throughout the year to further its mission to challenge gender stereotyping and promote gender equality, in and through education.
Lifting Limits works with schools and educators, providing the training and resources they need to:
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make visible, for challenge and discussion, gender stereotyping which may exist in the school environment; and
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• equip their pupils to challenge stereotyping and inequalities wherever they may encounter them
With evidence showing that the limiting effects of stereotyping on children's aspirations, choices, behaviour and sense of 'self' start young, with gendered attitudes ingrained by the age of 10, our focus is at the early years and primary school stages of education. Our vision is a world in which every child is free to make their own path in life, unconstrained by the limiting effects of gender stereotyping.
Significant activities
Lifting Limits supports schools through our whole school, evidence-based programme. Key components of our programme include:
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Training for a designated Gender Champion in each school, supporting them to develo p a ‘gender lens’ and equipping them to train colleagues and to embed our programme in their schools;
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In-school training to be delivered by Gender Champions, to raise awareness of the effects of gender stereotyping on children's lives and encourage colleagues to reflect on their own role, as well as where stereotypes might be perpetuated in their school;
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An 'audit' to identify areas of good practice and areas for development;
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An extensive package of resources to prompt reflection and discussion, including: 80+ lesson plans across 12 subject areas; resources tailored to the Early Years; workshops and resources for parents and carers; assemblies; discussion cards; book lists and more;
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Ongoing support, from Lifting Limits and through peer support.
Each lesson is designed to meet dual goals: covering the specific learning objectives as set out in the National Curriculum and also specific gender equality learning objectives.
These activities help schools to:
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examine the part they play in perpetuating or challenging gender stereotypes;
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equip their pupils to demand a more gender-equal world;
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better represent women and their achievements throughout the curriculum;
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ensure representation of all genders in non-stereotypical roles;
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engage parents and carers in these conversations; and
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increase staff confidence in addressing sexism and stereotyping with pupils, colleagues and parents
Public Interest
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission concerning public benefit. They are satisfied that the information given in this report, particularly regarding the activities undertaken when read in conjunction with the objectives of the charity set out above, demonstrates that the requirements to identify public benefit have been met.
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
Lifting Limits successfully tested its whole school programme in a pilot in five schools in the London Borough of Camden, throughout the school year 2018-19. Independent evaluation demonstrated success of the pilot in achieving its intended outcomes in relation to impact on school staff, pupils and the school as a whole and the pilot evaluation report is available at www.liftinglimits.org.uk/pilot-evaluation. The report made a number of recommendations to those bodies involved in the content, quality and delivery of children's education and we continue working to progress these recommendations.
Scaling
Throughout the school year 2022-23, we worked with fifteen schools and two multi-academy trusts to test our scalable model, to ensure that our programme can replicate at scale the impact demonstrated in our 2019 pilot. This work started in June 2022 with two days of training delivered to a Gender Champion in each participating school, with Gender Champions then leading training and embedding the programme in their schools. The scaling pilot showed positive impact, raising awareness of and confidence in challenging gender stereotyping in participating schools. The impact evaluation report has been published in November 2025 and is available here.
Early Years
In 2022 we ran a pilot with Early Years settings, drawing on findings from our 2019 pilot demonstrating great potential for change in the earliest stages of education. Working with the London Borough of Camden’s early years team and three settings in the borough, we adapted and tested our programme for use with children in pre-school early years settings. The pilot demonstrated positive impact in the participating settings, with our training considered particularly valuable in supporting settings to look closely at their learning environments. The pilot prompted settings to introduce more varied books, re-think role play and dressing up clothes, examine the curriculum and lead to more positive relationships between children. As one Early Years Practitioner said following our training, “All children should be able to play with whatever they like, free from judgement.” Findings are available here.
Beyond Gender Stereotypes
Lifting Limits is the UK implementation partner for The Global Boyhood Initiative, a project to support children and the adults in their lives in advancing healthier concepts of boyhood. The pilot phase of the project ran until December 2022, with encouraging findings that children were starting to understand the role of gender norms in their lives and to explore equitable, inclusive and non-violent attitudes and behaviours. A second phase, running for 3 years from October 2023, is underway. The first two years of this project have seen development of a curriculum for Key Stage 2 under the name Beyond Gender Stereotypes, development of online training modules for school staff, development of a monitoring and evaluation framework and testing of the curriculum and training in 5 intervention schools. BGS will be delivered in 45 schools in the academic year 2025-26.
Events after the End of the Year
As mentioned above, the trustees resolved in March 2025, after the year end, to transfer the Charity’s assets to The Children’s Society (registered charity no. 221124) . The charity's assets, comprising intellectual property in the Lifting Limits programme and resources as well as contracts and cash funds, were transferred to The Children ’s Society in the post yearend period.
The trustees carefully considered this decision, determining that the merger and transfer of assets to The Children’s Society represented the best way to progress our mission of challenging gender stereotyping and promoting gender equality through education. The Children’s Society work aligns closely with the Charity’s charitable objects and the trustees are confident that the merger secures the legacy of our work and provides the strongest foundation for continued impact. The Charity will shortly be wound up, the Charity Commission will be notified of the winding up, and the charity will be removed from the Register in the next couple of months.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Income in the period relating to grants and donations totalled £159,513, with the majority being from Restricted Fund grants designated for specific areas of our work totalling £145,680. This is similar to the prior year and relates to further funding received for the GBI project. The majority of income is applied to the learning programme activities with the main costs incurred being project related salaries, consultancy and contractor costs. Total expenditure during the year was £174,094 which is an increase on the prior year due to the increased project activities.
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
Reserves policy
Lifting Limit's Reserves Policy (adopted by trustees in March 2022) provides for the Charity to hold in reserve a sum equivalent to between 3 to 6 months core operating costs. This threshold allows the charity to steer through any period of financial instability whilst maintaining core functions. The trustees review and agree the level of reserves regularly and are satisfied that Lifting Limits is maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity whilst ensuring that excessive funds are not accumulated.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a constitution and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The Trustees consider recruitment of new Trustees as the need arises, having regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Charity. Any Trustee vacancies identified will be published and applications sought from suitably qualified candidates. Lifting Limits is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons. Trustees are appointed (for a term of four years) by resolution of the Trustees.
Organisational structure
The board of trustees administers the charity. They have appointed a CEO that oversees the day to day affairs.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1187603
Principal address
c/o Melinek Fine LLP First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH
Trustees
M E Yule A A Van Woudenberg F M Miller Smith L Roberts F N K Moore
Independent Examiner
Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountants First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 18 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
..................................................................... F M Miller Smith - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LIFTING LIMITS CIO
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Lifting Limits CIO
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Lifting Limits CIO (the Trust) for the year ended 31 January 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
D Fine FCA
Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountants First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH
Date: 19 November 2025
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted fund funds Notes £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 10,083 145,680 Charitable activities Charitable activities 3,750 - Total 13,833 145,680 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 2 2,625 - Charitable activities 3 Charitable activities 35,381 136,088 Total 38,006 136,088 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (24,173) 9,592 Transfers between funds 10 11,856 (11,856) Net movement in funds (12,317) (2,264) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 8,308 172,033 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD (4,009) 169,769 |
2025 Total funds £ 155,763 3,750 159,513 2,625 171,469 174,094 (14,581) - (14,581) 180,341 165,760 |
2024 Total funds £ 187,877 13,215 201,092 17,700 111,962 129,662 71,430 - 71,430 108,911 180,341 |
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
BALANCE SHEET 31 JANUARY 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted fund funds Notes £ £ CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 52 - Cash at bank - 224,597 52 224,597 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 9 (4,061) (54,829) NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) (4,009) 169,768 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES (4,009) 169,768 NET ASSETS (4,009) 169,768 FUNDS 10 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
2025 Total funds £ 52 224,597 224,649 (58,890) 165,759 165,759 165,759 (4,009) 169,768 165,759 |
2024 Total funds £ 52 205,688 205,740 (25,399) 180,341 180,341 180,341 8,308 172,033 180,341 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 November 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. F M Miller Smith - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the charity will be wound up after the yearend, after transfering its assets to The Children's Society (registered charity no. 221124).The assets and liabilities have been stated at amounts at which they were realised or settled, and no material adjustments were required to the amounts shown in the balance sheet as a result of the transfer.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
continued...
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
2. RAISING FUNDS
Raising donations and legacies
| Funding consultancy 3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Charitable actvities 4. SUPPORT COSTS Charitable actvities |
Direct Costs £ 159,092 Other £ 6,317 |
|
|---|---|---|
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 January 2025 nor for the year ended 31 January 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 January 2025 nor for the year ended 31 January 2024.
6. STAFF COSTS
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: Senior Management (CEO) Education Management |
2025 £ 33,319 39 722 34,080 2025 1 1 2 |
2024 £ 55,987 865 1,311 |
|---|---|---|
| 58,163 | ||
| 2024 1 2 3 |
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
continued...
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
7. COMPARATIVES TO 31 JANUARY 2024 FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted fund £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 19,921 Charitable activities Charitable actvities 13,215 Total 33,136 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 17,700 Charitable activities Charitable actvities 54,138 Total 71,838 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (38,702) Transfers between funds 9,106 Net movement in funds (29,596) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 37,904 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 8,308 8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Prepayments |
Restricted funds £ 167,956 - 167,956 - 57,824 57,824 110,132 (9,106) 101,026 71,007 172,033 2025 £ 53 |
Total funds £ 187,877 13,215 201,092 17,700 111,962 129,662 71,430 - 71,430 108,911 180,341 2024 £ 52 |
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continued...
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Other creditors 10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 1.2.24 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 8,308 Restricted funds Head of Education 30,395 Global Boyhood Initiative 141,638 Spring Impact - 172,033 TOTAL FUNDS 180,341 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Head of Education Global Boyhood Initiative Spring Impact TOTAL FUNDS |
Net movement in funds £ (24,173) (30,395) 24,817 15,170 9,592 (14,581) Incoming resources £ 13,833 - 116,320 29,360 145,680 159,513 |
|
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continued...
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Head of Education Global Boyhood Initiative TOTAL FUNDS |
Net movement At 1.2.23 in funds £ £ 37,904 (38,702) 60,041 (31,506) 10,966 141,638 71,007 110,132 108,911 71,430 |
Transfers between funds £ 9,106 1,860 (10,966) (9,106) - |
At 31.1.24 £ 8,308 30,395 141,638 172,033 180,341 |
|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Head of Education Global Boyhood Initiative TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 33,136 - 167,956 167,956 201,092 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (71,838) (38,702) (31,506) (31,506) (26,318) 141,638 (57,824) 110,132 (129,662) 71,430 |
|---|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Head of Education Global Boyhood Initiative Spring Impact TOTAL FUNDS |
Net movement At 1.2.23 in funds £ £ 37,904 (62,875) 60,041 (61,901) 10,966 166,455 - 15,170 71,007 119,724 108,911 56,849 |
Transfers between funds £ 20,962 1,860 (22,822) - (20,962) - |
At 31.1.25 £ (4,009) - 154,599 15,170 169,769 165,760 |
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Head of Education Global Boyhood Initiative Spring Impact TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 46,969 - 284,276 29,360 313,636 360,605 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (109,844) (62,875) (61,901) (61,901) (117,821) 166,455 (14,190) 15,170 (193,912) 119,724 (303,756) 56,849 |
|---|---|---|
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 January 2025.
12. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
In March 2025, after the balance sheet date, the trustees resolved to merge the charity and transfer its assets (intellectual property, contracts and cash) to The Children's Society (registered charity no. 221124). In June 2025 the remaining cash funds were transferred to The Children's Society. This represented all of the charity's remaining assets after settling any outstanding liabilities.
The trustees determined that The Children's Society's charitable objects closely align with this charity's objectives and The Children's Society has committed to applying the transferred funds to further this work. The charity will shortly be wound up and will be removed from the Register of Charities.
This is a non-adjusting post balance sheet event and does not affect the figures shown in these accounts.
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
| 2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds funds £ £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations 83 - 83 Gift aid - - - Grants 10,000 - 10,000 Grants - restricted - 145,680 145,680 10,083 145,680 155,763 Charitable activities School training and programmes - - - Workshops 990 - 990 Other earned income 2,760 - 2,760 3,750 - 3,750 Total incoming resources 13,833 145,680 159,513 EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Funding consultancy 2,625 - 2,625 Charitable activities Wages 3,686 29,633 33,319 Social security - 39 39 Pensions - 722 722 Consultancy & Contractors 16,013 102,231 118,244 Workshops & teaching - 1,000 1,000 Training - - - Teaching - - - Curriculum freelancer - - - Scaling project costs 5,768 - 5,768 Travel & subsistence - - - 25,467 133,625 159,092 Support costs Finance Foreign Exchange gain/loss - - - Other Insurance Continued… 453 - 453 |
2024 Total funds £ 11,366 2,500 6,054 167,956 187,876 12,265 950 - 13,215 201,091 17,700 55,987 865 1,311 37,218 582 422 85 900 5,770 124 103,264 11 452 |
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This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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LIFTING LIMITS CIO
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ Other (Continued) IT & Marketing Costs 1,729 - Misc office expenses 774 - Recruitment - - Meeting costs 312 - Resources & Training Material - 605 Travel and subsistence 2,266 178 5,534 783 Governance costs Accountancy fees 4,380 1,680 Total resources expended 38,006 136,088 Net income (24,173) 9,592 |
2025 Total funds £ 1,729 774 - 312 605 2,444 6,317 6,060 174,094 **(14,581) ** |
2024 Total funds £ 1,611 1,414 63 874 - 31 4,445 4,242 129,662 71,429 |
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This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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