## **Paradigm Project** Annual Report 2025 


www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



The Stephen Lawrence Centre, SE8 4HU 



## **Contents** 

- 2 Reference & Administrative Details 

- 3 Trustees' Annual Report 

- 3 Message from the Chair 

- 4 Message from the Founder & CEO 

- 6 Vision, Mission & Values 

- 8 Strategic Goals for 2026 

- 9 Impact and Outcomes 2025 

- 11 Financial Overview 

- 12 Governance & Trustees 

14 Acknowledgements 

- 15 Looking Ahead to 2026 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Reference & Administrative Details** 

**Registered Office:** The Stephen Lawrence Centre 39 Brookmill Road Lewisham,London SE8 4HU **Charity Registration** 1191206 **Number: Website:** www.paradigmproject.co.uk **Email:** info@paradigmproject.co.uk **Trustees:** Chair: Dr Niquita Pilgrim Treasurer: Judith Topley Secretary: Mattthew Geer Board Members: Joel Dawes and Zainab Asunramu **Chief Executive (CEO) & Founder:** Joel Dunn **Accountants:** 1st Class Accounts,320 City Road,London, EC1V 2NZ 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Trustees' Annual Report** 

The Trustees present their annual report, along with the financial statements for Paradigm Project for the year ending 31st December 2025. The trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements comply with statutory requirements and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), Financial Reporting Standard FRS102. 

2025 was a landmark year for Paradigm Project as we celebrated our fifth anniversary. This milestone was not only a moment of reflection but an opportunity to consolidate everything we have built and to launch into our next chapter with renewed focus and ambition. The organisation made significant advances in our research agenda, published two major reports, expanded our national profile, and completed a bold new 2030 strategy. 

The charity continues to have no debts or liabilities. Our funding is received exclusively to support our programmes and research. We are actively developing a reserves strategy to support our ambitions for growth and long-term sustainability. 

## **Message from the Trustees Message from Dr Niquita Pilgrim (Chair)** 

## **Dear Friends and Partners,** 

It is a privilege to write to you as the incoming Chair of Paradigm Project. Taking on this role at the close of such a significant year, one in which the organisation turned five, launched two major research reports, and completed a bold new strategy, fills me with both pride and purpose. 

What strikes me most about Paradigm Project is the rare combination of intellectual rigour and genuine community rootedness that runs through everything it does. The work is not simply about producing evidence, it is about ensuring that evidence speaks to the lived realities of the children, families and communities who are too often left behind by the systems meant to serve them. That is a commitment I share deeply. 

2025 has demonstrated what Paradigm Project is capable of at its best. From youth-led events at Theatre Peckham to parliamentary roundtables on anti-racist practice in education, from the publication of the Cultural Humility report to a growing national media presence, this organisation is increasingly being recognised as a vital voice in the national conversation on equity, safeguarding and systemic change. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



As I step into this role, my focus will be on ensuring that our governance is as strong as our ambition. We have a talented and committed board, a clear strategy, and a founder and team whose dedication is second to none. I look forward to working alongside them to take Paradigm Project into its next chapter. 

Thank you for your continued support and belief in this work. Sincerely, 

## **Dr Niquita Pilgrim** 

Chair of the Board of Trustees, Paradigm Project 

## **A Note from Aisha Sanusi (Advisor, formerly Interim Chair)** 

## **Dear Friends and Partners,** 

Having served as Interim Co-Chair during a period of significant transition for Paradigm Project, I am delighted to pass the baton to Niquita and to continue to support the organisation in an advisory capacity. 

Stepping into this advisory role allows me to contribute where I believe I can add most value, bringing a critical education lens to our work, drawing on my experience with the African Caribbean Education Network, and continuing to champion the mission that first drew me to Paradigm Project. 

2025 has been a year of remarkable growth, and I am proud of everything this team has achieved. The work on race equity in education, from the community roundtable at Theatre Peckham to the publication of two major research reports, represents exactly the kind of bold, grounded, systemsfocused work that this sector needs more of. 

I look forward to continuing to play a part in Paradigm Project's journey. Sincerely, 

## **Aisha Sanusi** 

Advisor, Paradigm Project Director, African Caribbean Education Network (ACEN) 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Message from the Founder & CEO** 

## **Dear Friends and Partners,** 

As I reflect on 2025, I am filled with deep gratitude. This year, Paradigm Project turned five and it has been everything I hoped it would be and more. We have grown, stretched, stumbled and soared. Most importantly, we have stayed true to our mission. 

This year has pushed me as a leader in ways I did not anticipate. I have learnt that progress does not always look loud. That impact is not only about reaching more people, it is about changing how people think, feel and act. I have learnt to lead with love, to stay rooted in curiosity, and to expect the unexpected in the complex world of social justice. 

From our youth-led roundtable at Theatre Peckham during half-term, to speaking in Parliament on anti-racist practice in education, to attending the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation event at Feltham YOI, every moment this year reminded me why we do this work. We published two significant research reports, were featured in The Voice Newspaper and on BBC Crimewatch Live, and partnered with national organisations to advocate for earlier intervention and systemic reform. 

Perhaps the most significant achievement of 2025 is something less visible but deeply important: the completion of our new Paradigm Project Strategy. Built from our past delivery, our research, and our ambition, this strategy sets our course for the next phase of growth across two complementary streams, research for systems change, and direct programme, training and community delivery. 

Thank you to our funders, our trustees, our partners, and our team. A heartfelt thank you to Judith Topley, whose first full year of service and whose contribution throughout 2025 has been genuinely transformational, keeping the governance, administration and operations of this organisation running with care and precision. And thank you to every young person, parent, educator and community member who trusts us with this work. You are the reason we keep going. 

Sincerely, 

**Joel Dunn** Founder & CEO, Paradigm Project 


Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Vision, Mission & Values** 

## **Our Vision** 

An education system free from systemic barriers. 

## **Our Mission** 

We work alongside local authorities and communities. We disrupt the education system through research, training, and preventative safeguarding to protect children at the moments that matter most. 

## **Why We Exist** 

Paradigm Project exists to challenge the conditions that allow harm, exclusion, and inequity to persist. Our work focuses on the children most marginalised by those conditions, the children whose needs sit at the intersection of race, poverty, neurodivergence, and family instability, and on the structural changes that would protect them. 

## **Our Values** 

Our work is guided by a **Four-Pillars Framework** that embodies the core values and approaches driving our mission. Each pillar focuses on complementary aspects of safeguarding, inclusion, innovation, wellbeing, and opportunity. Together, these pillars reflect our commitment to supporting every child's unique needs and ensuring they thrive. 

## **Four-Pillars Framework** 

## **1. Safeguarding and Empowerment** 

**Paired Focuses:** Protection & Voice | Rights & Agency 

**Why It Matters:** Safeguarding ensures children's safety while giving them a voice and agency in their own journey. Shifting from a deficit-based to a strength-based approach helps build resilience and long-term security. 

**How It Drives Impact:** Early intervention and safeguarding reduce crisis costs and prevent future issues, while embedding empowerment ensures children have the tools to thrive and become active agents in their futures. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Four Pillars Framework** 

## **2. Play & Creativity** 

**Paired Focuses:** Joy & Exploration | Expression & Belonging 

**Why It Matters:** Play and creativity are essential for child development, fostering learning, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging. Creating inclusive spaces helps every child express themselves authentically. 

**How It Drives Impact:** Our arts-based and creative approaches in research and programme design surface authentic insights and strengthen community ownership, ensuring that every child's voice is heard and celebrated. 

## **3. Learning and Growth** 

**Paired Focuses:** Knowledge & Skills | Progress & Aspiration 

**Why It Matters:** Education is a fundamental right, yet systemic barriers prevent many children from accessing the learning and support they need. Every child deserves the opportunity to develop their full potential. 

**How It Drives Impact:** By building the knowledge and skills of educators, parents and communities, we create environments where every child can thrive, shifting from reactive responses to proactive, strength-based approaches. 

## **4. Community and Systems Change** 

**Paired Focuses:** Connection & Belonging | Justice & Equity 

**Why It Matters:** Lasting change requires shifting the systems, structures and cultures that perpetuate inequality. Children and communities must be at the centre of this change. 

**How It Drives Impact:** Our community-centred approach and systemsfocused research create the conditions for structural change. By working across sectors and influencing policy, we help build a more equitable future for all children. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Strategic Goals for 2026** 

Having marked our fifth anniversary in 2025, Paradigm Project enters 2026 with a clear vision and a completed five-year strategy that will guide everything we do. The following strategic goals set out our priorities for the year ahead as we begin to scale our impact across two core streams: research for systems change, and direct programme, training and community delivery. 

## **1. Launch and Deliver the Intersectional Safeguarding Framework Research** 

**Goal:** Complete and publicly launch our most significant research project to date, exploring how early educational transitions are experienced by children who are over-represented in exclusion and safeguarding systems. 

**Why It Matters:** The transition points in a child's educational journey, particularly in early years and primary-to-secondary transition are critical junctures where early intervention can prevent longer-term harm. This research will provide the evidence base for a national Transitional Safeguarding Framework. 

**How It Drives Impact:** This project will directly inform local authority practice and national policy, creating practical tools and frameworks that shift how safeguarding professionals and educators work together around children at greatest risk. 

## **2. Publicly Launch Our New 2030 Strategy** 

**Goal:** Share Paradigm Project's new strategy with our stakeholders, partners and the wider public, and begin to build the partnerships and structures needed to deliver it. 

**Why It Matters:** Strategic clarity enables us to communicate our ambitions more powerfully, attract aligned funding and partnerships, and ensure our whole team is moving in the same direction. 

**How It Drives Impact:** A publicly launched strategy builds trust, attracts new investment, and signals our commitment to a long-term, systematic approach to change, not just reactive or project-based work. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Strategic Goals for 2026** 

## **3. Scale Research for Systems Change** 

**Goal:** Continue to build our reputation as a leading research organisation in race equity, safeguarding and education, with a focus on national dissemination and policy influence. 

**Why It Matters:** Research that stays in a report does not change systems. We are committed to ensuring our findings reach the decision-makers, institutions and communities who can act on them. 

**How It Drives Impact:** Through conferences, partnerships, media and policy engagement, we will ensure that our evidence base informs practice and policy at local and national level. 

## **4. Strengthen and Diversify Our Funding Base** 

**Goal:** Develop a more resilient and diversified income strategy, reducing reliance on any single funding stream while growing our overall financial capacity. 

**Why It Matters:** Sustainable mission-driven organisations require stable, diverse income. We are committed to building financial foundations that can support our long-term ambitions. 

**How It Drives Impact:** A stronger financial base enables us to invest in people, systems and programmes and to respond quickly to emerging opportunities to advance our mission. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Impact and Outcomes 2025** 

2025 has been one of our most active and impactful years to date. From research publication to parliamentary engagement, community events to media presence, we have operated across multiple levels simultaneously, grounded in the communities we serve and increasingly influential at a national level. Below is a summary of our key activities and achievements across the year. 

## **January to March 2025** 

We began 2025 at the IncludEd Conference by The Difference, with five members of our team attending together. This powerful gathering focused entirely on educational inclusion, and gave us the opportunity to build new relationships, reconnect with familiar faces, and deepen our understanding of the wider inclusion landscape. We will be returning again in January 2026. 

In February, we hosted a vibrant community roundtable at Theatre Peckham as part of our collective work in the Race Equity in Education Group. This was a youth-led, deeply moving day focused on the realities of racial inequity in education. A special thank you to the young people who gave up their halfterm holiday to centre youth voice in the room. Their creativity, honesty and courage set the tone for the entire day. The event included panels, roundtable discussions, performances and presentations, and a short film capturing the journey of the project was published for wider audiences. 

Also in February, we began a major piece of strategic development work, supported by additional funding from the London Violence Reduction Network and led by consultant Nigel Stewart from Action for Race Equality. This work was instrumental in shaping the new Paradigm Project strategy that was completed later in the year. 

In March, we hosted our AGM at Cowen & Partners in Chelsea. A huge thanks to our Trustee Secretary Judith Topley for securing the space. It was a key moment for reflection, reconnection and alignment as a growing team. 


Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Impact and Outcomes 2025** 

## **April to June 2025** 

In April, Joel Dunn was invited to speak in Parliament as part of a roundtable on anti-racist practice in education, hosted by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP and the #TakeRacismSeriously Coalition. This was a significant moment of national recognition for the work Paradigm Project has been championing for years. We were also invited by the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to attend their annual memorial and celebration event at Feltham YOI. Joel delivered sessions with young people, sharing a message of hope rooted in his own journey. A multi-agency roundtable followed with national leaders, including the Children's Commissioner, where Paradigm Project's preventative approach was shared. 

April also marked the launch of our Race Equity in Education Report, the culmination of the Race Equity in Education Group project. The report was followed by a period of active dissemination through conferences, podcasts and public presentations. 

In May, Paradigm Project was featured in the nationally distributed Fighting Knife Crime Magazine, with an article by Joel Dunn on why upstream, preventative systems change must replace reactive approaches. The article appeared in Issue 15. 


Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Impact and Outcomes 2025** 

## **July to September 2025** 

We released our second major research report of the year: From Intent to Impact: A Cultural Humility Approach to Safeguarding Black Girls in Education. This work explored the gap between intention and lived reality in schools, and what institutions must do differently to genuinely shift safeguarding practice for Black girls. Our ambition is to expand this work nationally over the coming years. 

We also collaborated with Lessons for Life as part of their national campaign to embed personal development into the primary curriculum. Joel joined their Westminster panel event ahead of their white paper being hand-delivered to 10 Downing Street, advocating for earlier intervention and alternative success measures in education. 


Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Impact and Outcomes 2025** 

## **October to December 2025** 

Alongside continued dissemination of both research reports, we were featured in The Voice Newspaper and Joel was invited onto BBC Crimewatch Live to discuss our work. We are now in active conversation about a longerform feature film expected to air in Spring 2026. 

One of the most significant achievements of 2025 was the completion of our new Paradigm Project five-year strategy. This took all of our past delivery, learning, research and ambition and shaped it into a bold, focused framework for the next phase of growth. The strategy is built around two complementary streams: Research for Systems Change, and Direct Programme, Training and Community Delivery. Together, they move us towards our long-term mission of prevention, belonging and equity. 

We closed the year with a team Christmas dinner, celebrating everything we have built together and looking ahead with excitement to what 2026 will bring. 


Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Financial Overview** 

The financial statements for the year ending 31st December 2025 are presented as a separate document accompanying this report and have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). 

In 2025, the majority of our funding was directed towards supporting the research projects we undertook during the year, as well as the strategic development work that culminated in our new five-year strategy. These activities are central to our mission and form the evidence base that strengthens everything else we do. 

SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FROM ACCOUNTS Total income for the year was £126,219. Total expenditure was £134,472. The net movement in funds for the year was £8,253 (The full audited accounts are provided as an addendum to this document) 

Our funders in 2025 included ZING!, whose unrestricted grant allowed us to extend the reach of our research and refresh our digital presence, and the London Violence Reduction Network, who provided additional funding to support our strategic development work. We are deeply grateful to both for their continued confidence in our mission. 

As we continue to expand and develop our offerings, we recognise the importance of building a more resilient and diversified income base. Reducing reliance on grant funding by developing earned income streams and corporate partnerships remains a key priority. We are actively working towards developing a formal reserves policy to support our long-term sustainability and growth ambitions. 

A full financial report, including the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and notes to the accounts, is available as an addendum to this document. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Governance & Trustees** 

Paradigm Project is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (registered charity number 1191206). The charity is governed by its trustees in accordance with its constitution. 

The board of trustees meets regularly throughout the year to provide strategic oversight and ensure that the charity is delivering on its mission in a sustainable and responsible way. Key governance activities in 2025 included the AGM held in March at Cowen & Partners in Chelsea, and the ongoing development of the charity's new five-year strategy. 

New trustees are recruited through a structured process, with consideration given to the skills, knowledge and lived experience needed to complement the existing board. Trustees receive an induction and are supported to access relevant training and information to support their role. 

## **Board of Trustees 2025** 

## **Dr Niquita Pilgrim — Chair** 

**Focus Area:** Mental Health, Research, Strategy As a Chartered Psychologist an I bring over a decade of frontline experience in mental health safeguarding, and systems-focused practice - with a focus on addressing racial inequities through community-centred and evidencebased approaches. I currently serve as an NHS Associate Hospital Manager, ensuring the rights and dignity of individuals detained under the Mental Health Act are upheld. 

My experience spans designing and evaluating culturally responsive, traumainformed programmes delivered in NHS, education, and third sector settings. This includes services that improve mental health outcomes, reduce exclusions, and build more equitable systems of care for Black and racially minoritised communities. 

Paradigm Project’s mission to drive upstream, preventative change in education reflects the kind of transformation I believe is possible when we centre children’s rights, identity, and wellbeing in every decision. I’m honoured to contribute my expertise in research, safeguarding, and strategy to help strengthen the systems that shape young people’s lives. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Board of Trustees 2025** 

## **Judith Topley — Treasurer** 

**Focus Area:** Governance, Operations, Financial Oversight As a qualified architect with over 20 years’ experience in the built environment sector and practice management I bring extensive organisational skills to the board, along with people, operational and strategic management skills. My role as ESG lead in practice also means that I am familiar with aligning the needs of collaborators and other stakeholders to deliver positive impact. 

I have a deep passion for equity, inclusion and social mobility this has led to involvement with various action groups; the RIBA EDI Action Leaders Group – Equitable Work Experience Subgroup and the Architecture Race Forum Leadership Group to create much needed connections between business and schools to strengthen career provision, especially in underrepresented communities. 

My commitment to championing equity and inclusion aligns deeply with the mission of Paradigm Project and so I am delighted to be part of the Board. 

## **Matt Geer — Secretary** 

**Focus Area:** Communications, marketing and public affairs I’m an experienced communications professional with a background in journalism and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Over the past 12 years, I’ve led communications, marketing and public affairs teams across the private, public and charity sectors. I’m passionate about connecting people to messages that drive social change, and I’ve led campaigns focused on children’s social care, special educational needs and disabilities, poverty and social housing. 

I grew up in South London and have worked in the education sector, both in schools and within education charities. I’m committed to impacting change through the work of Paradigm Project and supporting the charity to thrive in empowering young people to reach their full potential. 


**Dr Niquita Pilgrim** 


**Judith Topley** 


**Matt Geer** 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Board of Trustees 2025** 

## **Joel Dawes — Board Member (Founding Trustee)** 

**Focus Area:** Youth Exploitation 

I have worked in the youth justice system for over 15 years, working in custodial settings and the community. For the last 2 years I have been managing projects in the Early Help space for children who are at risk of serious youth violence and exploitation. I have a passion for working with children who are affected by exploitation and supporting them to achieve positive outcomes. The work of the Paradigm Project is important to me as it aligns with my beliefs as professional. Due to my current work I see the impact which preventative work has, and I am proud to be aligned with a charity that supports children through the difficult transition periods in their lives. 

## **Zainab Asunramu — Board Member** 

**Focus Area:** Research, Advocacy/Public Affairs, Stakeholder Management With over a decade’s experience in human rights and politics, I’ve worked with international NGOs and UK Parliament. I’m passionate about human rights, politics, and encouraging political participation, especially among under-represented communities. In senior parliamentary advocacy roles, I’ve shaped policies advancing gender and racial equality. 

As a Councillor for Thamesmead East, I address local constituents’ concerns and scrutinize council administration. I’m currently Deputy Leader of Bexley Labour and Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education. I’m passionate about Paradigm Project’s work because I believe in young people reaching their full potential, regardless of their start in life. I’m committed to advocating for disadvantaged youth facing social inequality. I look forward to contributing my skills and working closely with Joel and the board. 




**Joel Dawes** 

**Zainab Asunramu** 

**Aisha Sanusi** 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Board of Trustees 2025** 

## **Aisha Sanusi — Advisor** 

**Focus Area:** Education, Race Equity, Strategic Leadership Aisha Sanusi is the Director of the African Caribbean Education Network (ACEN) and brings extensive experience in education, race equity and strategic leadership. Having served as Interim Chair during a period of board transition, Aisha continues to support Paradigm Project in an advisory capacity, bringing a critical education lens to our work and helping to ensure our programmes and research remain deeply connected to the realities of the communities we serve. 

In accordance with the charity's constitution, trustees serve fixed terms and are eligible for re-election. The board is committed to maintaining a diverse and skilled governance body that reflects the communities Paradigm Project serves. 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have prepared the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



## **Acknowledgements** 

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported Paradigm Project over the course of 2025. This work is only possible because of the generosity, commitment and belief of the many individuals, organisations and communities who walk this journey with us. 

A heartfelt thank you to our funders and financial supporters, whose investment makes everything possible: 

- ZING! - whose unrestricted grant allowed us to extend the reach of our research and refresh our digital presence. 

- The London Violence Reduction Unit - whose additional funding supported our strategic development work in the first half of the year. 

Thank you to our partner organisations, including: Theatre Peckham, Action for Race Equality, Lessons for Life, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, the #TakeRacismSeriously Coalition, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP and her office, and all the organisations who participated in our research and community events. 

Thank you to our Board of Trustees for your continued strategic guidance, wisdom and commitment. A special thank you to Judith Topley, whose contribution throughout 2025, first as Trustee Secretary and now stepping into the Treasurer role, has been truly exceptional. And a warm welcome to Dr Niquita Pilgrim as incoming Chair; we look forward to the leadership and expertise you will bring to the next chapter of our work. 

Thank you to the Paradigm Project team, the heartbeat of this organisation. Your passion, creativity and commitment make everything we do possible. And finally, thank you to every young person, parent, educator and community member who trusts us with this work. You are the reason Paradigm Project exists. 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 





## **Contact Information** 



**Email** info@paradigmproject.co.uk 

## **Website** 

www.paradigmproject.co.uk 

Paradigm Project|Annual Report 2025 | Registered Charity Number: 1191206 | www.paradigmproject.co.uk 



**Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

**for** 

**Paradigm Project** 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Contents** 

## **for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Reference & administrative details of the charity, its trustees and**|3|
|**advisers**||
|**Trustees report**|4|
|**Accountants reports**|5|
|**Statement of financial activities**|6|
|**Balance Sheet**|7|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|8|
|**Prior period adjustment**|10|





## **Paradigm Project** 

## **References & administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

|**TRUSTEES:**|Nigel Kippax - Co-Chair - Trustee|
|---|---|
||Aisha Sanusi - Co-Chair - Trustee|
||Matt Geer - Vice Chair - Trustee|
||Judith Topley - Secretary - Trustee|
||Justin O'Neill - Treasurer - Trustee|
||Dr Niquita Pilgrim - Board Member - Trustee|
||Joel Dawes - Board Member - Trustee|
||Zainab Asanramu - Board Member - Trustee|
|**REGISTERED OFFICE:**|Stephen Lawrence Centre|
||39 Brookmill Road|
||LONDON|
||SE8 4HU|
|**CHARITY REGISTERED**|1191206 (England and Wales)|
|**NUMBER:**||
|**ACCOUNTANTS:**|Starbridge|
||320 City Road|
||London|
||EC1V 2NZ|





**Paradigm Project** 

## **Trustee Report for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

The trustees submit the financial statements of the Paradigm Project (the charity) for the period ended 31 December 2025. The trustees confirm the annual report and financial statements of the charity statutory requirements of the charity's governing documents and the provision of the statement recommend practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2005. 

## **a. Constitution** 

The principle objective of the charity is to advance in life and help young people through the provision of mentoring, support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals. 

## **b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees** 

The management of the charity is the responsibility of the trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the trust deed. 

## **Trustees' responsibilities** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice applicable to smaller charities. 

Law applicable to the charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for the period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees have: 

- selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently 

- made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis (unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation) 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the detection and prevention of fraud and other irregularities. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping the maintenance and integrity of the corporate financial information included on the Charity Commission website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## **Prior period adjustment** 

During the preparation of these financial statements the trustees identified that certain bank transactions for the prior period had not been imported into the charity's accounting records due to a synchronisation issue with the bank feed. A prior period adjustment of £4,310 has therefore been made to the reserves brought forward at 1 January 2025, reducing the opening balance from the £13,459 reported in the 2024 financial statements to £9,149. Further detail is set out in Note 6 to the financial statements. The trustees have minuted the discovery and the basis of the adjustment. 

The report was approved by the trustees on ………………………………. and signed on its behalf by: 

12/05/2026 




**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
SIGN<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


……………………………………………………... Justin Nicholas Adair O’Neill - Trustee 


Date: ………………………………………………. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Accountants' Report for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS** 

Report on the trustees/members for the period ended 31 December 2025 on the accounts set out on pages 6 to 10. 

## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER** 

As described on page 4 the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and they 

consider that an audit is not required for the year (under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts (under section 43 (2) (a) of the Act); 

- follow the procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43 (7) (b) of the Act); and 

- state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: 

- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and 

- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; 

or 

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, other than the prior period adjustment to the opening reserves brought forward, the details of which are set out in Note 6 to the financial statements. 

Signed …………………………………………………. Y Ajala 

06-05-2026 Date: ………………………………………………. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

## **(Incorporating income and expenditure account)** 

||**Notes**|**2025**|
|---|---|---|
|||**£**|
|**INCOME**||126,219|
|Administrative costs||134,472|
|**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**||(8,253)|



The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. The opening reserves brought forward at 1 January 2025 reflect a prior period adjustment to the 31 December 2024 closing balance - see Note 6. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Balance Sheet** 

## **31 December 2025** 

|||**2025**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**||**£**|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||
|Tangible assets|2||-|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Debtors|3||288|
|Cash at bank|||608|
||||896|
|**CURRENT LIABILITIES**||||
|Amounts falling due within one year|4||-|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|||**896**|
|||||
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**|||**896**|
|**CHARITY RESERVES**||||
|Surplus/(Deficit) for the period|5||(8,253)|
|Reserves brought forward (after prior period adjustment)|<br>5, 6||9,149|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|||**896**|
||<br>12/05/2026|||



The financial statements were approved by the trustees on ……………………………………..……. and were signed by: 

SIGN 

……………………………………………………. Justin Nicholas Adair O’Neill - Trustee 

## **The notes form part of these financial statements** 



**Paradigm Project** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Accounting convention** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2007). The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Instruments & Equipment      ~ 25% reducing balance Furniture & Fittings         ~ 25% reducing balance Other Fixed Assets           ~ 25% reducing balance 

## **Prior period adjustments** 

Material errors identified in the comparative financial statements are corrected by restating the comparative amounts and the opening balance of reserves for the earliest prior period presented, in accordance with the Charities SORP and FRS 102. See Note 6. 

## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**COST**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>Additions<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>Charge for period<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>At 31 December 2025|**2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|



## **3. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|Other debtors (fraudulent payment recoverable)|**2025**<br>**£**<br>288|
|---|---|



The debtor represents an unauthorised payment of £289.08 made from the charity's bank account on 18 September 2025, which had not been recovered at 31 December 2025. The amount was subsequently refunded by the bank after the year end. 



## **4. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|Credit card<br>Loan<br>Social securities and other taxes<br>Other creditors<br>**. CHARITY RESERVES**<br>At 01 January 2025 (note 6)<br>Deficit for the period<br>**At 31 December 2025**|**2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>9,149<br>(8,253)<br>**896**|
|---|---|



## **5. CHARITY RESERVES** 

The opening balance of reserves at 1 January 2025 reflects a prior period adjustment of £4,310 to the closing balance previously reported in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Further detail is set out in Note 6. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

**(Incorporating income and expenditure account) for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

|**Income**<br>Charitable activities<br>**Expenditure**<br>Advertising/Promotional<br>Accounting Fees<br>Charitable Activity Expenditure<br>Contractor Costs<br>Insurances<br>Marketing Related Services<br>Mentor Payment<br>Office Rent<br>Office/General Administrative Expenses<br>Professional Services Fees<br>Project/Research Misc Expenses<br>Staff and Trustee Welfare<br>Travel and Accommodation<br>Travel Meals<br>Website Expenses<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|**2025**<br>**£**<br>126,219|**£**<br> <br>126,219|
|---|---|---|
||600<br>918<br>108<br>11,775<br>527<br>384<br>200<br>660<br>521<br>111,681<br>670<br>622<br>966<br>30<br>4,810||
|||<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>134,472|
||||
|||**(8,253)**|





**Paradigm Project** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)** 

## **6. PRIOR PERIOD ADJUSTMENT** 

## **Nature of the prior period error** 

During the preparation of these financial statements, the trustees identified that a number of bank transactions occurring between 17 September 2024 and 31 January 2025 had not been imported into the charity's cloud accounting software (QuickBooks). The omitted entries arose principally during October 2024, when no bank transactions were brought into the accounting records, and to a lesser extent in late September 2024, November 2024 and January 2025. 

The omissions were caused by an undetected interruption to the automatic bank feed between the charity's Metro Bank Community Account and QuickBooks. The bank feed appeared to be operating normally throughout the period and reported no failures or warnings at the time. The discrepancy was identified during the preparation of these financial statements, when the closing balance per the accounting records did not agree to the closing balance per the bank statement. 

## **Effect of the prior period adjustment** 

The cumulative net effect of the omitted transactions is to overstate the closing cash balance at 31 December 2024 - and, by extension, the reserves brought forward as the opening balance for the period covered by these financial statements - by £4,310. There is no impact on income in either period; the entire adjustment arises from understated expenditure in the year ended 31 December 2024. 

|Reserves at 31 December 2024 - as reported in the 2024 financial<br>statements<br>Prior period adjustment - unrecorded bank transactions in 2024<br>**Reserves at 31 December 2024 - restated, brought forward as**<br>**opening 1 January 2025**|**£**<br>13,459<br>(4,310)<br>**9,149**|
|---|---|



|**Effect on the prior period figures (31 December 2024)**<br>**Year ended 31 December 2024**<br>**As reported**<br>**Adjustment**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Cash at bank at 31 December 2024<br>13,459<br>(4,310)<br>Reserves at 31 December 2024<br>13,459<br>(4,310)|**Restated**<br>**£**<br> <br>9,149|
|---|---|
||<br>9,149|



## **Treatment under the Charities SORP** 

In accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and FRS 102 Section 10 (Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors), the error has been corrected by adjusting the opening balance of reserves brought forward into these financial statements. The adjustment is reflected in the statement of changes in reserves at Note 5 above. 

## **Corrective action** 

The omitted bank transactions have been imported into the accounting records and properly categorised as well as a new process in place to manually reconcile bank statements monthly vs imported transactions. 



**Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

**for** 

**Paradigm Project** 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Contents** 

## **for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Reference & administrative details of the charity, its trustees and**|3|
|**advisers**||
|**Trustees report**|4|
|**Accountants reports**|5|
|**Statement of financial activities**|6|
|**Balance Sheet**|7|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|8|
|**Prior period adjustment**|10|





## **Paradigm Project** 

## **References & administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

|**TRUSTEES:**|Nigel Kippax - Co-Chair - Trustee|
|---|---|
||Aisha Sanusi - Co-Chair - Trustee|
||Matt Geer - Vice Chair - Trustee|
||Judith Topley - Secretary - Trustee|
||Justin O'Neill - Treasurer - Trustee|
||Dr Niquita Pilgrim - Board Member - Trustee|
||Joel Dawes - Board Member - Trustee|
||Zainab Asanramu - Board Member - Trustee|
|**REGISTERED OFFICE:**|Stephen Lawrence Centre|
||39 Brookmill Road|
||LONDON|
||SE8 4HU|
|**CHARITY REGISTERED**|1191206 (England and Wales)|
|**NUMBER:**||
|**ACCOUNTANTS:**|Starbridge|
||320 City Road|
||London|
||EC1V 2NZ|





**Paradigm Project** 

## **Trustee Report for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

The trustees submit the financial statements of the Paradigm Project (the charity) for the period ended 31 December 2025. The trustees confirm the annual report and financial statements of the charity statutory requirements of the charity's governing documents and the provision of the statement recommend practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2005. 

## **a. Constitution** 

The principle objective of the charity is to advance in life and help young people through the provision of mentoring, support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals. 

## **b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees** 

The management of the charity is the responsibility of the trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the trust deed. 

## **Trustees' responsibilities** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice applicable to smaller charities. 

Law applicable to the charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for the period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees have: 

- selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently 

- made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis (unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation) 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the detection and prevention of fraud and other irregularities. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping the maintenance and integrity of the corporate financial information included on the Charity Commission website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## **Prior period adjustment** 

During the preparation of these financial statements the trustees identified that certain bank transactions for the prior period had not been imported into the charity's accounting records due to a synchronisation issue with the bank feed. A prior period adjustment of £4,310 has therefore been made to the reserves brought forward at 1 January 2025, reducing the opening balance from the £13,459 reported in the 2024 financial statements to £9,149. Further detail is set out in Note 6 to the financial statements. The trustees have minuted the discovery and the basis of the adjustment. 

The report was approved by the trustees on ………………………………. and signed on its behalf by: 

12/05/2026 




**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
SIGN<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


……………………………………………………... Justin Nicholas Adair O’Neill - Trustee 


Date: ………………………………………………. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Accountants' Report for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS** 

Report on the trustees/members for the period ended 31 December 2025 on the accounts set out on pages 6 to 10. 

## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER** 

As described on page 4 the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and they 

consider that an audit is not required for the year (under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts (under section 43 (2) (a) of the Act); 

- follow the procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43 (7) (b) of the Act); and 

- state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: 

- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and 

- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; 

or 

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, other than the prior period adjustment to the opening reserves brought forward, the details of which are set out in Note 6 to the financial statements. 

Signed …………………………………………………. Y Ajala 

06-05-2026 Date: ………………………………………………. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

## **(Incorporating income and expenditure account)** 

||**Notes**|**2025**|
|---|---|---|
|||**£**|
|**INCOME**||126,219|
|Administrative costs||134,472|
|**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**||(8,253)|



The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. The opening reserves brought forward at 1 January 2025 reflect a prior period adjustment to the 31 December 2024 closing balance - see Note 6. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Balance Sheet** 

## **31 December 2025** 

|||**2025**||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**||**£**|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||
|Tangible assets|2||-|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Debtors|3||288|
|Cash at bank|||608|
||||896|
|**CURRENT LIABILITIES**||||
|Amounts falling due within one year|4||-|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|||**896**|
|||||
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**|||**896**|
|**CHARITY RESERVES**||||
|Surplus/(Deficit) for the period|5||(8,253)|
|Reserves brought forward (after prior period adjustment)|<br>5, 6||9,149|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|||**896**|
||<br>12/05/2026|||



The financial statements were approved by the trustees on ……………………………………..……. and were signed by: 

SIGN 

……………………………………………………. Justin Nicholas Adair O’Neill - Trustee 

## **The notes form part of these financial statements** 



**Paradigm Project** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Accounting convention** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2007). The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" published in March 2005 and applicable accounting standards. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Instruments & Equipment      ~ 25% reducing balance Furniture & Fittings         ~ 25% reducing balance Other Fixed Assets           ~ 25% reducing balance 

## **Prior period adjustments** 

Material errors identified in the comparative financial statements are corrected by restating the comparative amounts and the opening balance of reserves for the earliest prior period presented, in accordance with the Charities SORP and FRS 102. See Note 6. 

## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**COST**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>Additions<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>Charge for period<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 01 January 2025<br>At 31 December 2025|**2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|



## **3. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|Other debtors (fraudulent payment recoverable)|**2025**<br>**£**<br>288|
|---|---|



The debtor represents an unauthorised payment of £289.08 made from the charity's bank account on 18 September 2025, which had not been recovered at 31 December 2025. The amount was subsequently refunded by the bank after the year end. 



## **4. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|Credit card<br>Loan<br>Social securities and other taxes<br>Other creditors<br>**. CHARITY RESERVES**<br>At 01 January 2025 (note 6)<br>Deficit for the period<br>**At 31 December 2025**|**2025**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>9,149<br>(8,253)<br>**896**|
|---|---|



## **5. CHARITY RESERVES** 

The opening balance of reserves at 1 January 2025 reflects a prior period adjustment of £4,310 to the closing balance previously reported in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Further detail is set out in Note 6. 



## **Paradigm Project** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

**(Incorporating income and expenditure account) for the Period 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025** 

|**Income**<br>Charitable activities<br>**Expenditure**<br>Advertising/Promotional<br>Accounting Fees<br>Charitable Activity Expenditure<br>Contractor Costs<br>Insurances<br>Marketing Related Services<br>Mentor Payment<br>Office Rent<br>Office/General Administrative Expenses<br>Professional Services Fees<br>Project/Research Misc Expenses<br>Staff and Trustee Welfare<br>Travel and Accommodation<br>Travel Meals<br>Website Expenses<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|**2025**<br>**£**<br>126,219|**£**<br> <br>126,219|
|---|---|---|
||600<br>918<br>108<br>11,775<br>527<br>384<br>200<br>660<br>521<br>111,681<br>670<br>622<br>966<br>30<br>4,810||
|||<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>134,472|
||||
|||**(8,253)**|





**Paradigm Project** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)** 

## **6. PRIOR PERIOD ADJUSTMENT** 

## **Nature of the prior period error** 

During the preparation of these financial statements, the trustees identified that a number of bank transactions occurring between 17 September 2024 and 31 January 2025 had not been imported into the charity's cloud accounting software (QuickBooks). The omitted entries arose principally during October 2024, when no bank transactions were brought into the accounting records, and to a lesser extent in late September 2024, November 2024 and January 2025. 

The omissions were caused by an undetected interruption to the automatic bank feed between the charity's Metro Bank Community Account and QuickBooks. The bank feed appeared to be operating normally throughout the period and reported no failures or warnings at the time. The discrepancy was identified during the preparation of these financial statements, when the closing balance per the accounting records did not agree to the closing balance per the bank statement. 

## **Effect of the prior period adjustment** 

The cumulative net effect of the omitted transactions is to overstate the closing cash balance at 31 December 2024 - and, by extension, the reserves brought forward as the opening balance for the period covered by these financial statements - by £4,310. There is no impact on income in either period; the entire adjustment arises from understated expenditure in the year ended 31 December 2024. 

|Reserves at 31 December 2024 - as reported in the 2024 financial<br>statements<br>Prior period adjustment - unrecorded bank transactions in 2024<br>**Reserves at 31 December 2024 - restated, brought forward as**<br>**opening 1 January 2025**|**£**<br>13,459<br>(4,310)<br>**9,149**|
|---|---|



|**Effect on the prior period figures (31 December 2024)**<br>**Year ended 31 December 2024**<br>**As reported**<br>**Adjustment**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Cash at bank at 31 December 2024<br>13,459<br>(4,310)<br>Reserves at 31 December 2024<br>13,459<br>(4,310)|**Restated**<br>**£**<br> <br>9,149|
|---|---|
||<br>9,149|



## **Treatment under the Charities SORP** 

In accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and FRS 102 Section 10 (Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors), the error has been corrected by adjusting the opening balance of reserves brought forward into these financial statements. The adjustment is reflected in the statement of changes in reserves at Note 5 above. 

## **Corrective action** 

The omitted bank transactions have been imported into the accounting records and properly categorised as well as a new process in place to manually reconcile bank statements monthly vs imported transactions.