Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activities
From 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
Charity registration number: 1189273
Trustees Annual Report Reference and Administrative Details
Charity registration number
1189273
Registered O�ce
Fairlawn, Park Corner, Freshford, Bath, BA2 7UP
Trustees
Peter Andrews, Chair
Andrew Houston, Treasurer
Robert Schrimp�
Robert Cohen
Sunny Pawar
Naomi Allen
Oliver Rosevear (until 12th May 2023)
Timothy Warnes
Senior Leadership Team
Claudia Towner, Chief Executive O�cer
Leigh Dodds, Chief Technology O�cer
Objectives and Activities
The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document are:
To promote for the public benefit, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by developing and promoting tools, services and programmes to reduce energy and resource consumption and carbon emissions.
To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by educating and informing the public, particularly but not exclusively young people about the causes and impacts of climate change, and the importance of energy saving and reducing carbon emissions.
Public Benefit
Energy Sparks’ vision is a sustainable future in which the school community is at the heart of measurable action to tackle climate change. We equip children and young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools to take measurable action in their school and wider community to reduce carbon emissions. We enable school leaders, sta�and communities to better understand and reduce their school’s energy consumption and introduce wider measures to reduce their carbon footprint.
UK schools account for over half of local authorities' carbon emissions and therefore play a pivotal role in addressing the climate emergency. Over the last two years many schools across the UK have seen their energy bills increase very substantially placing enormous pressure on school budgets.
School sta�are very time poor and often have little awareness of when and how much energy the school is using. Limited training is available to support non-specialist school sta�with e�ective day-to-day energy management of their school estates, or to support sta�to run e�ective eco-teams achieving measurable impact.
Eco-anxiety is increasing in children. Climate change education plays an important role in preparing young people for both the challenges and the opportunities of the future.
Energy Sparks addresses these issues by democratising access to school energy data, driving motivation, increasing energy and climate literacy and supporting student and sta�empowerment to reduce their school’s carbon footprint. Through Energy Sparks, school communities can identify no and low-cost opportunities to reduce their school energy bills and take immediate action to make a di�erence. They also learn energy and carbon-saving life skills to take home to their families and take forward into their future lives.
Our work complements any capital improvement projects taking place in schools, and with our focus on no and low-cost energy-saving opportunities is accessible to any school regardless of size or budget.
We provide a unique online school-specific energy management tool and education programme designed to help schools reduce their energy use and carbon footprint. Using a school’s electricity, gas and solar data, Energy Sparks shows pupils, sta�and volunteers how much energy their school is using each day. The online tool presents bespoke analysis of the energy data with suggestions of actions the school community could take to save energy and reduce the school’s carbon emissions.
The data on Energy Sparks is publicly visible and linked to over 130 pupil activities to empower the whole school community to take energy and carbon cutting action. Our activities provide opportunities for pupils to learn about energy and climate change, analyse real life data, investigate energy use around the school site, take action to reduce their school's carbon footprint, participate in leadership and collaborative opportunities, build communication and analytical skills, influence and engage school and community leaders, and develop positive responses to climate change.
During 2022/2023 Energy Sparks was able to provide its services free of charge to just over 1000 state schools across the UK thanks to funding from charitable trusts and foundations and the government. Over 500,000 pupils had access to education opportunities to improve energy and carbon literacy, and 100 Multi-Academy Trusts and Local Authorities benefitted from better energy management for their schools.
Over the 2022/2023 school year, the average Energy Sparks primary saved at least £3,000 o�their energy bill and 12.8 tonnes of CO2, and the average secondary saved at least £12,000 and 48 tonnes of CO2. Examples of savings achieved at participating schools are provided in the Energy Sparks' Case Studies.
"No one can take action towards net zero without data and Energy Sparks provides the data. It also provides this in a pupil accessible way that enables sustainability to be integrated into the curriculum. The best chance of fighting the climate crisis is by empowering the next generation and that's what Energy Sparks does."
The HEART Education Trust
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
In managing Energy Sparks the trustees had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
Contribution made by volunteers
Energy Sparks is supported by its volunteer trustees who have supported the charity in a general capacity with technical guidance, personnel management, financial oversight and strategic guidance. Without this valuable contribution of time, energy and expertise the successful operation of Energy Sparks would not be possible.
Achievements and Performance
By August 2023, Energy Sparks was providing its services to 1023 schools with active Energy Sparks accounts, compared to 400 schools on 1 September 2022. Of these, 948 had their energy data visible on the Energy Sparks portal at the end of August, with the remaining schools in the process of onboarding. The participating schools extended across more than 100 Local Authorities and school trusts in England, Scotland and Wales. Pupil numbers at active schools were over 500,000. Over the last year, Energy Sparks saw significant growth in interest in our services from Multi-Academy Trusts, driven by energy price increases and a strong desire to reduce schools’ carbon footprints and support pupils to learn about and take action on sustainability.
Over the 2022/2023 school year, the average Energy Sparks primary saved at least £3,000 o�their energy bill and 12.8 tonnes of CO2, and the average secondary saved at least £12,000 and 48 tonnes of CO2. Alongside these energy and carbon savings participating students and school sta�developed
energy-saving and carbon-reduction life skills that they took home to their families and communities. Examples of savings achieved at participating schools are provided in the Energy Sparks Case Studies.
We obtained qualitative feedback through user research interviews, pupil focus groups and user surveys following focused interventions such as workshops, training webinars and on an annual basis. In the annual school user survey completed in March 2023, 75% of school sta�respondents felt that pupils in their school were learning more about the environment and sustainability due to Energy Sparks. 84% of respondents said that pupils in their school were investigating energy use around the school site, and taking action to reduce energy use. 85% of respondents said that pupils were spreading the energy saving message across the school community. 80% of respondents said that their pupils were more confident at tackling climate change as a result of Energy Sparks and 75% of respondents said their pupils had developed transferable skills such as leadership and teamwork as a result of Energy Sparks.
In the same user survey, 88% of sta�said that Energy Sparks had increased their confidence to better understand where their school was wasting energy. 86% of respondents said that Energy Sparks had increased their confidence to take action to save energy. 72% of sta�felt that Energy Sparks helped them to support students to take action to protect the environment.
“At Harris Primary Academy Shortlands, we needed to take action with rising energy costs. Energy Sparks enabled us to not only understand our energy usage as a school but our impact on the environment. Being able to drill down into the energy data is not only a useful tool for sta�but also the children. They have loved incorporating this in their maths lessons and as evidence when presenting their case to stakeholders at the academy.
As the impact on the environment is made clear, our ‘Eco-Warriors’ were keen to raise awareness within the school and began asking what more they could do. We found the Energy Sparks ‘Activities’ and ‘Actions’ so clear and easy to use. Some actions could be perceived as token gestures, like the labelling of switches around the academy. We can assure you this has impact. Not only does it have an impact on energy usage but it is a symbol of empowerment for the children to take responsibility and more importantly take action.
We would like to thank Energy Sparks for the impact their website has had…..” Jordan Hollis, Headteacher at Harris Primary Academy Shortlands.
In summer 2023, we produced our first Energy E�ciency in Schools report which highlighted some of the issues facing schools regarding energy e�ciency. We also focused on what low-cost, or no-cost measures can reduce school energy consumption and celebrated some of our schools that have taken action over the last year.
Focused switch-o�campaigns and competitions during the school holidays delivered impressive savings. During the Easter 2023 school holidays, almost 100% of Energy Sparks schools reduced their Easter holiday gas consumption compared with the previous year and 58% reduced their electricity consumption. Over the 2 week holidays our schools saved over 8 million kWh of energy, 1,500 tonnes of CO2 and over £700,000 compared to their term time use.
Reducing thermostat set temperatures allowed schools to reduce their gas use by over 20%, while improved storage heater control to cut weekend and holiday waste has saved some schools over 30% o� their annual electricity bill.
A unique feature of Energy Sparks is the way that pupils are supported to use real-life energy data to inform energy saving and educational activities. Over the last year, pupils at participating schools have recorded hundreds of activities from carrying out spot checks for lights and electrical equipment left on at lunchtime to meeting with caretakers and kitchen sta�to discuss their roles in saving energy.
Monthly page views on the Energy Sparks website peaked in March 2023 at over 72,000 views during the month. 1154 pupil energy-saving activities were recorded over the 2022/2023 school year and 854 adult energy-saving actions.
During the 2022/2023 school year, Energy Sparks delivered free webinar training to 515 school sta�. We delivered 127 in-person or online fully funded school education workshops. Workshops support engagement and drive impact at participating schools. Education workshops included assemblies, eco-team and class workshops, and in-person training on using Energy Sparks for eco-team leads, estate sta�and business managers.
We delivered 28 funded virtual audits to help schools develop their energy action plan. Virtual energy audits take place without a physical visit to the school and are based on the energy auditor's assessment of the school's energy consumption data as presented on Energy Sparks. During the online meeting, the school representatives provide information on the school fabric, heating, hot water systems, ICT and lighting to help with the audit process. The auditor discusses any issues highlighted through the Energy Sparks analysis and provides advice on how best to reduce consumption. The main focus is on quick low-cost wins, such as looking at changing boiler timings, but the session can also review strategic capital investments, for example, looking at the benefits of upgrading to LED lighting. After the meeting, the auditor provides an action report including activities the pupils can do to help.
We delivered 25 onsite energy audits as a paid-for service by the schools or their Trust. These energy audits involve energy consumption data analysis, a site visit and use of a thermal imaging camera during the winter months, a report and action plan. Our auditor often involves pupils in the site inspection and thermal imaging survey, so that the audit becomes an educational opportunity.
We developed new school group dashboards in response to feedback from Multi-Academy Trust users. These pages are designed primarily for Multi-Academy Trust head o�ce sta�and Local Authority o�cers to support centralised management of their schools' energy consumption and energy-saving action recommendations. These group dashboards provide summary data on recent energy usage, energy performance comparisons, prioritised energy actions and a group scoreboard.
Plans for the future
Since the end of the reporting period, Energy Sparks has seen its income from central government cease. This has meant that the charity has had to move to a mixed funding model with fees from some schools and Trusts, Local Authorities, and Community Energy Companies as well as ongoing grants from trusts and foundations and corporate sponsorship providing free access to some schools, particularly those serving low-income areas.
Energy Sparks will continue to obtain and respond to user feedback through a variety of means to ensure our service remains useful and impactful for UK schools. Our school-specific energy management portal linked to education activities to support pupil empowerment coupled with expert school energy management support remains unique and the Energy Sparks trustees are actively exploring options to secure a long term, diverse income stream.
Financial Review
As of 31 August 2023, total Unrestricted Funds held were £93,159. No transfers from Unrestricted Funds to Restricted Funds were required. These unrestricted funds represented around 9 weeks of core running costs for the current sta�team.
Restricted Funds at 31 August 2023 were £63,734. This comprised £14,059 restricted funds allocated to the OVO Foundation supported charitable activities, and £49,676 allocated to the Centrica Energy for Tomorrow support charitable activities.
INCOME
Total Income up to 31 August 2023 was £464,967. The most significant income comprised £173,425 from the DfE to support the rollout of Energy Sparks to 295 schools in England with additional education workshops and virtual energy audits; £137,843 from the OVO Foundation to support the rollout of Energy Sparks to 350 schools across the UK, £67,537 from Welsh Government to support the translation of Energy Sparks into Welsh (Sbarcynni); £26,472 from the Centrica Energy for Tomorrow fund to support the rollout of Energy Sparks in Scotland and Wales, and £25,200 from Swansea Council to pay for Energy Sparks provision to all their schools.
EXPENDITURE
Total Payments up to 31 August 2023 were £499,338. The most significant payments comprised £313,617 on sta�salaries, £38,133 on employee pension costs, £30,440 on freelance education workshop delivery by our subcontractors School Energy E�ciency, £29,302 on employers’ National Insurance and £25,920 on freelance technology development support.
The charity’s policy on reserves
In order to continue to secure and sustain the charity’s viability and Energy Sparks’ future availability to users, it is the Trustees’ policy to aim to hold su�cient funds in unrestricted reserves to meet sta�notice and redundancy costs if ever needed, and also put the charity in a better position to absorb any temporary fluctuations in income. In the short term, Energy Sparks CIO would like to build up reserves of 3 months of its core running costs. The trustees will develop an income generation and fundraising strategy to meet this target. The Trustees will review the Reserves Policy and the amount of reserves held at least annually at the AGM.
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document
Constitution dated 20th March 2020
How is the charity constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
The charity must have at least 3 trustees in post. Every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the e�ective administration of the CIO.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
| Full name | Position | Date | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Andrews | Chair | 3rd May 2024 | |
| Andrew Houston | Treasurer | 3rd May 2024 |
Energy Sparks Registered charity: 1189273
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 August 2023
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 2 Investments 2 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 3 Total Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,249 | - | 4,249 | 10,164 | |
| 54,824 | 405,277 | 460,101 | 411,883 | |
| 616 | - | 616 | 13 | |
| 59,690 | 405,277 | 464,967 | 422,060 | |
| - | 21,518 | 21,518 | 2,885 | |
| 12,376 | 465,444 | 477,820 | 287,436 | |
| 12,376 | 486,963 | 499,338 | 290,321 | |
| 47,314 | (81,686) | (34,372) | 131,739 | |
| 45,845 | 145,420 | 191,265 | 59,526 | |
| 93,159 | 63,734 | 156,893 | 191,265 |
Balance sheet as at 31 August 2023
| Notes Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors Total current assets Liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4 Net assets Funds of the Charity Restricted income funds 5 Unrestricted funds 5 Total funds |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2022/2023 Total funds 2021/2022 £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111,125 | 111,884 | 223,009 | 381,400 | ||
| 2,933 | 0 | 2,933 | 1,175 | ||
| 114,059 | 111,884 | 225,943 | 382,575 | ||
| 20,900 | 48,150 | 69,050 | 191,310 | ||
| 93,159 | 63,734 | 156,893 | 191,265 | ||
| 63,734 | 63,734 | 145,420 | |||
| 93,159 | 93,159 | 45,845 | |||
| 93,159 | 63,734 | 156,893 | 191,265 |
The Financial Statements were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by Andrew Houston, Trustee on 3rd May 2024
Notes for the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023
1. Accounting Policies
General information
The Charity is registered in England and Wales, registration number 1189273. Its registered office address is Fairlawn, Park Corner, Freshford, Bathe BA2 7UP. The financial statements have been prepared in GBP and all amounts have been rounded to the nearest £.
Accounting policies
Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements 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) (issued in October 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Energy Sparks meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis as the trustees are of the opinion that the charity will be a going concern for at least the next 12 months, beginning with the date on which these accounts have been approved.
Income
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants are included in the statement of financial activities balance sheet on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income.
A grant payment of £25,000 was received in July 2023 from the Postcode Local Trust to support the rollout of Energy Sparks’ services to schools across the West of England during the 2023/2024 school year. This was recorded as deferred income in the 2022/2023 Financial Statements.
A grant of £22,500 from Elbow Beach Capital was received in July 2023 to support schools in the 2023/2024 school year. This was also recorded as deferred income in these Financial Statements.
Finally, a payment of £20,900 from Egni Co-op to support Energy Sparks services to schools in Pembrokeshire and Newport in the 2023/2024 school year was received in August 2023 and recorded as deferred income in the 2022/2023 Financial Statements.
All voluntary support during the 2022/2023 reporting year was through the contribution of unpaid general volunteers. Their contribution has not been recorded in these accounts but is acknowledged in the trustees’ report.
Tangible Fixed Assets
As of 31 August 2023, the charity had limited physical assets comprising around 500 classroom thermometer cards, <10 appliance monitors, 2 second-hand mobile phones and 2 laptops. The charity’s threshold for
recording physical assets as tangible fixed assets is an initial purchase cost of £1000 or more. Equipment or resources purchased for less than £1000 is recorded as an expense.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent. Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs. All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT during the 2022/2023 reporting period.
In these Financial Statements all expenditure is allocated to Charitable Activities with the exception of 30% of the CEO’s salary, pension and associated costs which is allocated to Raising Funds. This represents an increase from 5% of the CEO’s salary, pension and associated costs in the previous reporting period. In February 2023, the charity was made aware that the Department for Education and Welsh Government would provide no further central government grants to Energy Sparks. This decision created a need for the CEO to spend more time on sourcing new grant funding and promoting Energy Sparks as a paid for service to schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, Local Authorities and Community Energy Companies for the 2023/2024 school year.
Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the reporting date.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advance payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Staff Costs
Total staff costs and employee benefits are reported in the Expenditure breakdown. No redundancy or termination payments were paid during the reporting period. One employee received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 during the reporting period.
Pensions
The charity is a member of a pension arrangement with NEST and contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activity as paid.
Trustee Remuneration and Expenses
None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity. No trustee expenses have been incurred.
Cash Flow Exemption
The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement because the charity, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement.
Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees for the furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.
2. Income Breakdown as at 31 August 2023
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total Funds | Total funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2022/2023 | 2021/2022 | Notes | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Donations and legacies | |||||
| Corporate donations | 0 | 4,249 | 4,249 | 1,600 | |
| Other unrestricted income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,564 | |
| Charitable activities | |||||
| OVO Foundation | 137,843 | 0 | 137,843 | 163,698 | |
| Energy for Tomorrow | 26,472 | 0 | 26,472 | 68,528 | |
| Physical on-site audits (chargeable) | 0 | 17,985 | 17,985 | 1,175 | |
| DfE | 173,425 | 0 | 173,425 | 36,575 | Government grant |
| Welsh Government | 67,537 | 0 | 67,537 | 84,544 | Government grant |
| Independent school fees | 0 | 10,845 | 10,845 | 11,523 | |
| Education workshops (chargeable) | 0 | 660 | 660 | 0 | |
| Swansea Council contract | 0 | 25,200 | 25,200 | 0 | |
| Group state school fees | 0 | 133 | 133 | 0 | |
| Transition Bath BEIS NDSEMIC Phase 3 ext | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25,840 | Government grant |
| Postcode Local Trust grant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,000 | |
| Investments | |||||
| Interest Income | 0 | 616 | 616 | 13 | |
| Total Income | 405,277 | 59,690 | 464,967 | 422,060 |
3. Total Expenditure breakdown as at 31 August 2023
| Expenditure category | Restricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Total Funds | 2022/2023 Total | Funds 2021/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Advertising & Marketing | 201 | 0 | 201 | 607 | |
| Audit & Accountancy fees | 936 | 0 | 936 | 665 | |
| Bank Fees | 85 | 0 | 85 | 118 | |
| Employers National Insurance | 34,302 | (5,000) | 29,302 | 14,843 | |
| General Expenses | 0 | 39 | 39 | 22 | |
| Insurance | 483 | 0 | 483 | 503 | |
| IT Software and Consumables | 8,686 | 2,846 | 11,533 | 5,333 | |
| Pensions Costs | 38,133 | 0 | 38,133 | 21,648 | |
| Postage, Freight & Courier | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | |
| Printing & Stationery | 12 | 0 | 12 | 57 | |
| Salaries | 313,617 | 0 | 313,617 | 180,402 | |
| Education support (freelance) | 30,440 | 0 | 30,440 | 0 | |
| Staff Training | 132 | 0 | 132 | 132 | |
| Subscriptions | 75 | 0 | 75 | 75 | |
| Telephone & Internet | 1,002 | 16 | 1,018 | 504 | |
| Travel - National | 661 | 19 | 680 | 12 | |
| DBS checks | 61 | 0 | 61 | 18 | |
| Technology development (freelance) | 25,920 | 0 | 25,920 | 34,232 | |
| User research incentives | 1,900 | 100 | 2,000 | 225 | |
| Illustration and Design support | 150 | 0 | 150 | 2,750 | |
| Audit support (freelance) | 1,965 | 13,940 | 15,905 | 5,500 | |
| Translation | 9,522 | 334 | 9,856 | 15,441 | |
| Energy expert consultancy | 10,730 | 0 | 10,730 | 1,721 | |
| Meeting venues | 66 | 0 | 66 | 0 | |
| Prizes | 7,880 | 0 | 7,880 | 0 | |
| Staff entertainment | 0 | 81 | 81 | 0 | |
| DCC Other User licence fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,600 | |
| Strategy support | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,875 | |
| Volunteer Training | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | |
| Total Expenditure | 486,963 | 12,376 | 499,338 | 290,321 |
Notes: 30% of CEO salary, pension and employers NI costs are allocated to Raising Funds and included in this table. The DCC Other User licence fee is included in IT Software and Consumables in the 2022/2023 accounts.
4. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 2022/2023 | 2021/2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Trade creditors | 650 | 4,421 |
| Accruals | 0 | 13,464 |
| Income in Advance | 68,400 | 173,425 |
| Total Creditors | 69,050 | 191,310 |
5. Fund Breakdown as at 31 August 2023
| Account | Total | OVO Foundation grant |
DfE | Welsh Government |
Centrica Energy for Tomorrow |
Postcode Local Trust |
Drax Foundation |
Elbow Beach | Fuellers Charitable Trust |
Bristol City Leap |
Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Unrestricted | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Balance at 1 September 2022 | 191,265 | 48,755 | 26,616 | 24,933 | 36,508 | 8,608 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45,845 | |||
| Total Income | 464,967 | 137,843 | 173,425 | 67,537 | 26,472 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59,690 | |||
| Total Expenditure | 499,338 | 172,539 | 200,041 | 92,470 | 13,305 | 8,608 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12,376 | |||
| Income minus expenditure | (34,372) | (34,696) | (26,616) | (24,933) | 13,167 | (8,608) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47,314 | |||
| Balance at 31 August 2023 | 156,893 | 14,059 | (0) | 0 | 49,676 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 93,159 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees
Charity Name Energy Sparks
On accounts for the year 31 August 2023 Charity no 1189273 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-6 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the CIO”) for the year ended 31 /08 / 2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants .
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did 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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 03 May 2024
Signed: Name: Sheila Parry
Oct 2018
1
IER
Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address:
SPX Oxford Ltd
Peace House, Paradise Street
Oxford OX1 1LD
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
2
IER
IER Oci 2018