REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1191408
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE PERIOD 1[st] January 2025 TO 31[st] December 2025
FOR
THORNTON EDUCATION TRUST
Forward from Chair
Thornton Education Trust aims to advance education and youth engagement in architecture and the built environment by combining research, programmes, and sector-wide collaboration so that children and young people learn about and have real influence over the places that shape their lives.
Year in review: 2025
2025 was a year of consolidation and growth for Thornton Education Trust, with progress across awards, research, resources, and curriculum-focused activity.
Inspire Future Generations Awards and community of practice
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Delivered the fifth Inspire Future Generations Awards, further strengthening TET’s position as a reference point for youth engagement in the built environment.
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Used the growing body of submissions and case studies to deepen a sector-wide community of practice, connecting practitioners, educators, and clients interested in meaningful involvement of children and young people.
Research and publications
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Updated and published Empowering Environments , drawing on four years of IFG Awards submissions to map areas of greatest activity, geographical reach, and funding opportunities, -
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and to highlight gaps where children and young people’s voices are still under represented.
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Updated and republished the Learning Environments Report , identifying UK Schools of Architecture that integrate outreach to children and young people within their training, and showcasing models that can be expanded and replicated.
Resources, tools, and capacity building
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Continued to update and refine the ENGAGE Toolkit, ensuring it reflects current best practice and supports practitioners and educators in involving young people in real-world projects, planning, and decision-making.
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Began development of a Resource Bank informed by IFG and other programmes, creating a growing repository of case studies and guidance for use by teachers, built environment professionals, and partners.
Dialogue, networks, and thought leadership
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Extended the TET Dialogues series, facilitating exchanges between educationalists and built -
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environment professionals. 2025 highlights included an in person Urban Planners event hosted by Hawkins\Brown and an online Learning Environments dialogue.
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Maintained a regular newsletter, profiling TET’s work alongside external projects and programmes, helping to knit together a wider network committed to youth engagement in the built environment.
Education and the Imagine Programme
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Built on the 2023 pilot awards scheme (initially Architecture into Education) supported by Twelve Healers, refining it for the development of the upcoming 2026 Imagine Awards to better reflect teachers’ and collaborators’ needs.
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Planned the first Imagine Awards cycle during Autumn 2025, ensuring alignment with curriculum priorities and school timetables.
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Developed and launched teacher training content, including a workshop now available via TET’s YouTube channel, aimed at supporting educators to embed architectural thinking, creativity, and citizenship into everyday classroom practice.
Across these strands, TET in 2025 continued to shift from isolated projects to a more connected ecosystem of awards, research, tools, and training – strengthening the foundations for systemic change in how children and young people engage with, and help shape, their built environment.
Victoria Thornton, OBE Chair and Founder
THORNTON EDUCATION TRUST CIO
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
TRUSTEES REPORT
The Trustees are pleased to present their Annual Report together with the Financial Statements of the Charity for the period from 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2025.
The Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the constitution, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity.
Objectives and Activities
The advancement of education in the subject of architecture and urban design for children and young people through creative learning, the provision of grants, resources and research to support teachers, educationalists and built environment professionals
Beneficiaries of our Activities
The primary beneficiaries of our activities are educationalists, built environment professionals and teachers and through them the future generation’s children and young people
Achievements and Performance in 2025
In 2025, Thornton Education Trust consolidated its role as a leading advocate for youth engagement in the built environment.
The fifth Inspire Future Generations Awards expanded our community of practice and generated a richer evidence base, directly informing the updated Empowering Environments report and the development of a new resource bank.
The ENGAGE Toolkit and TET Dialogues series were further strengthened, providing practical support and peer learning for educators and built environment professionals, while our regular newsletter helped maintain and grow an active network. We also progressed the Imagine Awards and associated teacher training, building on the earlier pilot to move closer to embedding architectural thinking and pupil voice within the school curriculum.
Our network continues to grow with 2500 strong through our regular TET Newsletter.
Future Plans
Over the coming years, Thornton Education Trust will focus on strengthening the ways children and young people influence real decisions about the places where they live, learn, and play.
We will build on our existing programmes to generate a stronger evidence base, share models of effective practice, and support wider adoption across schools, universities, and the built environment sector.
Our youth-focused awards and research will be used to surface and spread approaches that improve confidence, skills, and agency among young people while raising standards of engagement among professionals and clients. In parallel, we will expand our toolkits, teacher training, and dialogue
platforms so that more educators and practitioners can embed architectural thinking and pupil voice in their work, helping to shift norms, policy, and curricula towards meaningful, long-term youth participation in shaping the built environment.
The Imagine Awards and associated training workshops for teachers will play a key role in this next phase. By recognising innovative, curriculum-linked projects and providing practical, example-led training, the programme will support teachers to use architecture and place as a framework for creativity, citizenship, and problem-solving in the classroom. Over time, we aim for these awards and workshops to help normalise built-environment learning in schools, creating a growing cohort of confident educators who champion children’s voices and integrate real-world spatial issues into their teaching.
THORNTON EDUCATION TRUST CIO
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Financial Review
Thornton Education Trust is entirely dependent upon voluntary income, mostly in the form of grants from trusts and foundations, sponsorship, and other income.
During the year ended 31 December 2025, total receipts amounted to £51,155, comprising £45,075 from charitable activities, £6,058 from donations and legacies, and £22 from other income. Total payments were £48,568, all relating to the delivery and support of our charitable activities, resulting in a net surplus of £2,587 for the year.
Cash funds increased from £16,774 at 31 December 2024 to £19,361 at 31 December 2025, comprising unrestricted funds of £16,772 and restricted funds of £2,589.
The charity holds no fixed assets, investments, or debtors, and creditors at the year end relate to routine salary and payroll liabilities only ~~.~~[[1][2]]
There is a reserves policy of holding approximately three months’ overheads, and the Trustees maintain a policy of not committing expenditure before funds are in place. They believe that these reserves, together with good prospects for further fundraising, are sufficient to ensure the continuing activities of the charity ~~.~~[[3]]
Reporting requirements for charities that fundraise
All income generation activities are undertaken in compliance with the requirements of: the Fundraising Regulator; Charities Acts; Charity Commission regulations; HMRC regulations; the Gambling Act; local licensing laws, GDPR and Data Protection legislation. This list is not exhaustive.
We adhere to the Fundraising Code of Practice.
During the year ending 31 December 2025, we received no complaints relating to fundraising activity. Furthermore, we know of no failure by the charity or by a person acting on its behalf, to comply with fundraising standards.
Governance and Management
Governing document
Thornton Education Trust is a registered charity governed by a constitution. The charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 22 September 2020 by the Charities Commission
Governance
The trustees undertake periodic reviews of governance and these include skills audits for the current board. When a vacancy occurs on the trustee board it will be advertised via appropriate media, with an indication of the skills that are sought. Applicants are invited to apply by CV and covering letter with suitable candidates interviewed. A recommendation to appoint a suitable candidate will be put to the whole board for their approval.
The Charity is managed by the Board of Trustees which meets at least 2 times per year.
Risk management
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The Trustees are mindful of this and put policies and controls in place to mitigate risks as appropriate and to be reviewed in 2026.
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Name Thornton Education Trust CIO
Charity Number 1191408 Trustees
Victoria Thornton, OBE Chair Kenneth Allinson, RIBA Neil Pinder
THORNTON EDUCATION TRUST Registered Charity Number: 1191408
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 19,361 | 16,774 | |
| ----------- | ----------- | ||
| Total current assets | 19,361 | 16,774 | |
| ----------- | ----------- | ||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due | within one year 1 | 1,275 | |
| ------------ | ------------ |
||
| Total current liabilities | 1,275 | ||
| ------------ | ------------ |
||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
||
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
||
| FUNDS OF THE CHARITY | |||
| Unrestricted funds: | |||
| General fund | 16,772 | 16,774 | |
| Restricted funds: | 2 |
2,589 | ----------- |
| TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 21 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
____ ____ Victoria Thornton, OBE Kenneth Allinson Chair of Trustees Trustee Date: 21/03/2026 Date: 21/03/2026
NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
- CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 1. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE | WITHIN ONE YEAR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| PAYE and National Insurance | 1,275 |
|
| ------------ | ------------ | |
| Total | 1,275 | |
| ======= | ======= |
2. RESTRICTED FUNDS
The restricted funds comprise grants received for the delivery of specific charitable activities as defined by the funders:
| Balance at 1 January 2025 - | |
|---|---|
| Incoming resources: | |
| Inspire Future Generations Awards | 7,500 |
| Imagine Programme | 4,000 |
| --------- | |
| Total incoming | 11,500 |
| Resources expended: | |
| Inspire Future Generations Awards | (7,500) |
| Imagine Programme | (1,411) |
| --------- | |
| Total expended | (8,911) |
| --------- | |
| Balance at 31 December 2025 | 2,589 |
| ====== |
The balance of £2,589 relates to the Imagine Programme and will be expended in 2026 in accordance with the grant terms.
3. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Balance at 1 January 2025 | 16,774 |
|---|---|
| Incoming resources | 39,655 |
| Resources expended | (39,657) |
| ---------- | |
| Balance at 31 December 2025 | 16,772 |
| ====== |
4. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Unrestricted Restricted Total | |
|---|---|
| Funds Funds Funds | |
| £ £ £ | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 17,047 2,589 19,361 |
| Current liabilities | (1,275) - (1,275) |
| -------- ------- ------- | |
| Net assets at 31 December 2025 | 16,772 2,589 18,086 |
| ======== ======= ======= |
5. BASIS OF PREPARATION
These financial statements have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.
The charity has taken advantage of the exemptions in the Charities SORP FRS 102 from the requirement to prepare a Statement of Financial Activities and to comply with certain disclosure requirements applicable to accounts prepared under the accruals basis, as permitted for charities with gross income below £250,000. All amounts are rounded to the nearest pound sterling.
6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions during the year (2024: £nil).
7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
No trustees received any remuneration during the year (2024: £nil).
One trustee was reimbursed expenses totalling £608 during the year (2024: £nil). These expenses related to travel costs incurred in connection with fundraising and other charitable activities undertaken on behalf of the charity.
8. STAFF COSTS
The charity employed staff on a part-time basis during the year. Total staff costs (including PAYE and employer's National Insurance contributions) amounted to £12,872 (2024: £1,016).The average number of employees during the year was 1 (2024: 0.1 FTE). No employee received total employee benefits of more than £60,000.
9. TAXATION
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation on its charitable activities under Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
THORNTON EDUCATION TRUST Registered Charity Number: 1191408
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 19,361 | 16,774 | |
| ----------- | ----------- | ||
| Total current assets | 19,361 | 16,774 | |
| ----------- | ----------- | ||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 1 | 1,275 | ||
| ------------ | ------------ |
||
| Total current liabilities | 1,275 | ||
| ------------ | ------------ |
||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
||
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
||
| FUNDS OF THE CHARITY | |||
| Unrestricted funds: | |||
| General fund | 16,772 | 16,774 | |
| Restricted funds: | 2 |
2,589 | ----------- |
| TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS | 18,086 | 16,774 | |
| ======= | ======= |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 21 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Victoria Thornton, OBE Kenneth Allinson Chair of Trustees Trustee Date: 21/03/2026 Date: 21/03/2026
NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
- CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| PAYE and National Insurance | 1,275 |
|
| ------------ | ------------ | |
| Total | 1,275 | |
| ======= | ======= |
2. RESTRICTED FUNDS
The restricted funds comprise grants received for the delivery of specific charitable activities as defined by the funders:
| Balance at 1 January 2025 - | |
|---|---|
| Incoming resources: | |
| Inspire Future Generations Awards | 7,500 |
| Imagine Programme | 4,000 |
| --------- | |
| Total incoming | 11,500 |
| Resources expended: | |
| Inspire Future Generations Awards | (7,500) |
| Imagine Programme | (1,411) |
| --------- | |
| Total expended | (8,911) |
| --------- | |
| Balance at 31 December 2025 | 2,589 |
| ====== |
The balance of £2,589 relates to the Imagine Programme and will be expended in 2026 in accordance with the grant terms.
3. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Balance at 1 January 2025 | 16,774 |
|---|---|
| Incoming resources | 39,655 |
| Resources expended | (39,657) |
| ---------- | |
| Balance at 31 December 2025 | 16,772 |
| ====== |
4. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Unrestricted Restricted Total | |
|---|---|
| Funds Funds Funds | |
| £ £ £ | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 17,047 2,589 19,361 |
| Current liabilities | (1,275) - (1,275) |
| -------- ------- ------- | |
| Net assets at 31 December 2025 | 16,772 2,589 18,086 |
| ======== ======= ======= |
5. BASIS OF PREPARATION
These financial statements have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.
The charity has taken advantage of the exemptions in the Charities SORP FRS 102 from the requirement to prepare a Statement of Financial Activities and to comply with certain disclosure requirements applicable to accounts prepared under the accruals basis, as permitted for charities with gross income below £250,000. All amounts are rounded to the nearest pound sterling.
6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions during the year (2024: £nil).
7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
No trustees received any remuneration during the year (2024: £nil).
One trustee was reimbursed expenses totalling £608 during the year (2024: £nil). These expenses related to travel costs incurred in connection with fundraising and other charitable activities undertaken on behalf of the charity.
8. STAFF COSTS
The charity employed staff on a part-time basis during the year. Total staff costs (including PAYE and employer's National Insurance contributions) amounted to £12,872 (2024: £1,016).The average number of employees during the year was 1 (2024: 0.1 FTE). No employee received total employee benefits of more than £60,000.
9. TAXATION
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation on its charitable activities under Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to the trusteesl members of Thornton Education Trust On accounts for the year ended 31. December 2025 Charity no {if any) 1191408 Set out on pages 1and2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended 3111212025. RpOnSibl11tieS and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in acGordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b} of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination wthich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wtth the accounting records Independent examinarfs statement I have no COnrn5 and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Mftyk RiLhoYdsokL Dats: 24th March 2025 Name: Mark Richardson Relèvant professional qualificationlsl or body (If any): ACA Address: 16 Maple Grove, Bath BA2 3AF Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of conrn (see CC32, Independent examination of charity acG¢)unt$". directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any itsms that tho examiner wlshes to disclose. IER October 2018
Thomton Edu¢atlon Trust 1191408 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For tho parlod from Period start dat8 0110112025 Pariod dato 31112r2025 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlctod fund$ to the nèarest £ toth• MaroSt£ Restri¢tod fund$ Endowment funds tothe n8aMt£ Total fund$ LatyMr toth• n•aro•t£ to th• Faro8te A1 Re¢8lpts Charitable AGtivitOS Donations Bank Ini8re5t 33.$75 6.058 22 11.600 4LI.078 6.05B 22 15,026 4,100 13 Sub total(GnS incon78 forAR) A2 Alsot and inv¢stment sates. {8 table). 39,665 19,139 Sub total Total r8c•lpts 39,655 11.500 61,155 19,139 A3Pa 8.91 s,soo 198 527 Charitable actWi&S r4)5ts FundraisSng IT Office pxp8nses Travel arKI Att0rnfflOdatn Wag8S 1626 1,219 ,626 1,219 95 1.016 11.677 11,877 Sub total A4 Asset ond inve8knant purchas05. {see tsblel Sub total Totalpayments 39.667 8.911 Not of recelpts/(payments) . A5 Tran¥fers botwaan fund$ A6 Cash funds last y•ar ond Cash funds thi$ year end 2,$89 1587 10A73 16.77 16.77 6.774 19,361 16,776 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted Restri¢t8d funds funds to nonr•8t£ to 0g•re8t£ Endowmont funds to n8a¥e¥t £ Categories D•tails B1 Cash fvnds Curr&)t 18,772 rev188d 21 M8rch re ¢haritkgbb fund5Thomlon Education Trust 2026 Draft CC16a amendBd
Totsl cash funds 16,772 2,689 b4larK••wlh fgwpts8Dd wymgnts accW811 Unrestricted funds Restrleted funds Endowment funds ts) n01£ Fund to whkh a888t bolong8 Details Cc•Jt ltytionall Cuffèrttvluo loptlonall B3 Investment assets Furbd to whlch bèlong8 ¢urv•rrtvalug opuonall Dètails Co#t loptlottll B4 Assets retslned for the charity's own use Fund to which I11ty rgkte ihreslricted Arnount du loptlonall 1.27B When due lopttonall Details PAYE and Natial In&uAnce B5 Liabilltle8 Slgned by one or trustees on behaw of all the trustO0$ Signature Print Nam8 Date of roval Vicknia Thomton 21-Mar-26 Kenneth Alinsor 21-Mar-26 rev150d 21 March re charitiable fvnd$Thomton Educalion Trusl 2025 Draft CC16a am8nd8d