2021-04-06-accounts

LINKED SPORTS FOUNDATION

07/04/2021-06/04/2022 Annual Report

CONTENTS

About Us	[page 3]
Our Vision	[page 3]
Our Mission	[page 3]
Our Values	[page 3]
Inclusive	[page 4]
Honest	[page 4]
Our Passion	[page 4]
Our Objectives and Activities	[page 5]
Governance	[page 6]
Structure & management	[page 5]
Chairperson’s report	[page 6]
Financial statements	[page 7]
Looking to the future	[page 8]
Contact us	[page 9]

ABOUT US

Linked Sports Foundation is a UK-based charity using sport to change the lives of young and adults with special talent in sport, including disabled and disadvantaged young people. LSF to support talented athletes across the UK and other countries.

Linked Sports Foundation became aware of young talented athletes having to give up on their dreams because of the high costs of training, education, travel and competitions. In many cases, talent was being lost due to financial hardship with an associated negative impact on local young people, communities and sports clubs. LSF is determined to develop a scheme to counter this problem.

OUR VISION: No one should be excluded from the transformational benefits of inclusive community sport.

OUR MISSION: We unleash the untapped potential of community organisations to make sure no one is excluded from sport education and sports activities. Our mission to also support the next generation of athletes and thus ensuring a sporting legacy is in place not just for but for future generations, “It is vitally important that we inspire young people to excel in sport and harness their talent towards future Games”.

OUR VALUES: Our mission to transform lives through sport inspires children, young people, healthy active lifestyles and to use sports to tackle drugs, criminal activities in the communities and motivates our team, including our staff, our volunteers, our work placements and our trustees. We will continue to be a values-based organisation with our five core values defining our way of working and making us distinctive:

INCLUSIVE: We believe that everyone should have equal opportunity to access the benefits of sport education and sports activities in their local community.

Being inclusive is knowing that no one team or person is more important than anyone else, valuing everyone's contributions and involving people with different experiences, backgrounds, identities and views. In practice, it could mean that you:

• Know that no one person or team is more important than others

• Appreciate the value of everyone’s contributions, whoever they are regardless of role or status

• Collaborate well, seeking to involve people with different backgrounds, experiences and outlooks on life

HONEST: We are open, transparent and trustworthy – always holding ourselves to the highest standard of integrity.

PASSIONATE: We are passionate about transforming lives through sport education, sports development and determined to have a lasting impact on society by listening and helping, showing empathy and treating people with dignity and respect. In practice, it could mean that you:

• Recognise you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others

• Make time to listen to others, appreciating other people’s experiences and how it feels to be them

• Challenge each other’s thinking but constructively and with respect

• Recognise that trust is important, and work hard to do what you say you’re going to

do

EMPOWERING: We empower communities and individuals from disadvantaged areas to provide transformational education, sporting and personal development opportunities

INNOVATIVE: we are ambitious, creative and forward-thinking, bringing new initiatives and ideas to the sector sports, education and entertainment industry

• Are ready and excited to explore new projects, changes or ways of working

• Are prepared to do something new or make a decision that’s different or radical,

• while being aware of the risks

• Trust in the experiences and expertise of our colleagues.

• Feel accountable to people in crisis, and this guides the decisions you make

OBJECTIVE

1. The objects of the Linked Sports Foundation are to empower children and young adults, including vulnerable people with exceptional talent in sports, through sports education, entertainment and community sports to help children, young people healthy active lifestyles and to use sports to tackle drugs, criminal activities in the communities.

2. Through our Hub Sports academy, and our specialist cutting-edge highly skilled professional PE teaching, programmes underpinned by our academy learning structure, preparing them for further education, and prepare them for a professional career in a sport and to guide them to become sports ambassador in England and other Linked Sports Foundation will always of work across practice, policy and building successful partnerships to forge a lasting legacy to improve children and young people’s lives in the community, including partnerships that are recognised in England’s most deprived social and economic areas.

3. To continue the partnership with other organisations to maximise support for young sports people, to be the largest independent athlete support schemes for talented young people striving for national and international sporting success.

4. To support young people with athletic talent to achieve their full sporting potential by reducing the financial burden of training and competition costs.

5. One of our major core purposes is to deliver sustainable and affordable services, which deliver public benefit, social welfare, healthy living and education.

Letter from the Executive Chair and Trustee

Linked Sports Foundation established in 2020 with the support of Georgiana Nicoleta Slobozeanu, Monica Vasilica Albabei and Bernard Gyebi, Trustees for the foundation.

Since our inception in late 2020, we strive to do the best to start running our charity activities. Due to some reasons beyond control, we couldn't start as planned.

We are fully committed to measuring and assessing the performance of our staff to maintain their competency and ability. Our volunteers are situated within England and Scotland. Each one of our volunteers are giving around 2-3 hours without pay.

We understand and appreciate our place within this sector. Creating partnerships and initiatives with stakeholders in this field is paramount to our growth and development as a charity. We are at a point now where we must utilise the skills and experience of those around us. I feel this will lead to an alliance with other charities where our unique service can be incorporated into those around us, therefore creating a system that catches, signposts and provides long term success for the organisation.

Bernard Nana Adu Gyebi

Chair – Managing Director: Has over 15 years’ experience in the sport and leisure sector and has worked alongside numerous sport national bodies including England FA on a range of key national and international projects. Bernard has presented industry evidence and studied Sports education, business, retailing and merchandising.

EXPERIENCE: Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation, Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of

Trustees, Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders.

The duties of our Treasurer are to:

• supervise the financial affairs of the LSF

• keep proper accounts that show all monies collected and paid out by the LSF

Monica is a Trustee and Secretary

Having already worked for a reputable company as receptionist, secretary and customer service experience and education industry, Monica as a LSF Ambassador, brings a wealth of knowledge as a board members, we believe she will provide much needed insight to support the development of the programme and continue to help athletes from all walks of life achieve their dreams.

Financial Report

The Financial plan, forecast to 2023 is predicated on a number of factors, although primarily the rationale is that Sapper Support ought to operate on a small surplus, distributing income to clients as effectively as possible. Given the current uncertain climate, despite some volatility in donations, the single largest source, it was felt prudent to have this return to a more historic norm, with a small inflationary increase.

From an expenditure perspective, it was important to address two areas in the expense line: Advertising and Promotional materials. Advertising in the early stages of Sapper Support came in the form of a number of Sponsorships.

Finance

• Any money obtained by the LSF shall be used only for the LSF.

• Any bank accounts opened for the LSF shall be in the name of the Group.

• Any cheques issued shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other nominated official.

Fundraising Activities Statement

Our generous supporters include individuals, companies, trusts and public bodies. It is thanks to our trustees that we were able to manage to exist from voluntary service and to plan for the future.

Our Trustees promise sets out our aim to be open, fair and honest in the way we engage with supporters. Our remaining outsourced activity includes the recruitment of new supporters who we anticipate to give through sponsorship and donation. We aim to lead on best practice fundraising to ensure we deliver and exceed supporter expectations.

Risks and uncertainties

The board of Trustees’ is ultimately responsible for risk management.

A comprehensive annual planning and budgeting process is approved by the Board, during which a thorough assessment of key external and internal risks is undertaken. The Board also receives risk evaluations on any major new areas of activity.

Set out below are details of the top five most significant risks identified after a SWOT analysis was conducted:

• Business plan – to be an enduring report.

• Business Strategy – to set out our future aspirations.

• Financial plan – Forecast of income and revenue, quarterly and 5-year financial targets (how to achieve these).

• Performance metric – CPD of call takers and staff, measurement of effect.

• Communications and marketing – Reach out to other charities and organisations to have a link or display Sapper Support logos / contact information for individuals to use.

Future initiatives: To change our objective in order to reach the majority of people through art , sports and culture in our community. We also plan to start operating our activities from January 2024 to ensure we will are able to provide the service for the benefit of the people.

Lastly, our main goal is to have ‘regional hubs’ around the UK supported by a national strategic framework, access to local resources and opportunities for face to face visits.

Email Address: [e-mail]

Charity Commission Registered No. 1188943