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2024-03-31-accounts

Charity number: 1195386

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

RPGCC Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor 40 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0BT

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers 1
Trustees' report 2 - 8
Trustees' responsibilities statement 9
Independent auditors' report on the financial statements 10 - 12
Statement of financial activities 13
Balance sheet 14
Statement of cash flows 15
Notes to the financial statements 16 - 36

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Trustees Val Davison, Chair
Mash Seriki, Vice Chair (resigned 1 November 2024)
Adam Barrett, Treasurer
Catriona Coleman, nee MacLaine
Gülen Petty (resigned 31 December 2023)
Kylie Thompson (appointed 22 August 2023)
Terry James (resigned 16 July 2023)
Mervyn Kaye (resigned 12 April 2023)
Charity registered
number 1195386
Principal office Bellingham Gateway Youth and Community Centre
185 Brookhowse Road
London
SE6 3TT
Chief executive officer Chris Price
Independent auditors RPG Crouch Chapman LLP
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
40 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0BT
Bankers Lloyds Bank
120 Lewisham High St
Lewisham
London
SE13 6JG
Solicitors Trowers & Hamlins LLP
The Senate
Southernhay Gardens
Exeter
EX1 1UG

Page 1

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the Youth First Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Charity's rules.

Objectives and activities

a. Vision and Mission

To use the power of our youth work to guide young people to develop their ambition and achieve their potential whatever their background or circumstances.

This is guided by the desire for Youth First to be attractive and inclusive for all. We do not seek a reputation of only working with challenging or difficult young people as we believe such "deficit" positioning is likely to undermine our overall effectiveness. However, our intent is to focus on those in our society who are most vulnerable, discriminated against and under privileged. As such we would like potential funders and other professionals to see us as the best in the world, at working with these young people.

By 2032 to be a leading organisation with strong youth, youth worker and community voice that offers young people access to exemplar youth work that guides them to live safe and happy childhoods and thrive into adulthood,

Specifically, we aim to:

Ensure our people:

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.

Achievements and performance

a. Main achievements of the Charity

In the period April 2023 to March 24 Youth First provided open access positive activities from 5 Youth Clubs and 4 adventure playgrounds. Through these facilities we were able to host 2,232 young people across our different activities, some young people attended more than one of our service offers.

Page 2

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Achievements and performance (continued)

In the period April 2023 to March 24 Youth First provided open access positive activities from 5 Youth Clubs and 4 adventure playgrounds. Through these facilities we were able to host 2,232 young people across our different activities, some young people attended more than one of our service offers.

2023/2024 2022/2023
Number of Number of
Individual Individual Change from
Activities attended Young People Young People Previous year
Open Access Youth Clubs 1,447 1,271 14%
Adventure Playgrounds 826 328 152%
Holiday Activities 1,053 639 65%
One to One support 94 47 100%

Across the year we have delivered the following number of sessions across our centres and services.

2023/2024 2022/2023
Sessions Sessions
for for Change from
Activities attended Young People Young People Previous year
Open Access Youth Clubs 754 697 8%
Adventure Playgrounds 321 126 154%
Holiday Activities 72 99 -27%
One to One support 752 341 121%
Total footfall - all visits to
sites & services 47,685 33,070 44%

During the year our groups took part in a number of targeted activities and workshops including the Discover your Rhythm programme funded by the National Trust exploring the built environment, greening our spaces and the flow of music in street spaces. In addition, we were able to run workshops on boxing, money management, cooking,self esteem and confidence, managing anger, stop and search, serious youth violence, bullying, street robberies, relationships, teenage love and vulnerabilities. In addition we completed a course with National Trust on community gardens, architecture, music and community history.

With the increasing cost of living crisis, our partnership with Legendary Community Club has progressed well with food parcels and cooked meals being provided twice a week to youth club sessions. Food insecurity has played a significant role in the increase of people coming to services, with food now being offered at each session and the Holiday Activities and Food programme seeing a rise of 65% in people attending, whilst at the same time delivering 27 less sessions.

Our 121 mentoring service launched in the previous year and has proved to be very popular. Towards the end of the year, we have had to suspend our waiting list so that we could ensure that all young people waiting will secure a place on the programme within a reasonable time. Our results from the first year of operation show a great success for young people with 80% of participants already making progress in Health and Wellbeing. This is vital as good wellbeing means that you have the strength to develop our other outcomes.

“I was able to understand how I was feeling and was able to identify the cause of how I was feeling.”

The voice of young people needs to be a golden thread that runs through the organisation. Employing a new Youth Voice Practitioner in September meant that we are now amplifying that voice within the charity. This has included working in partnership with the Lewisham Young Mayor team and developing a group to support Riverside Youth Club developments.

Page 3

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Achievements and performance (continued)

Since the pandemic we have not had volunteers. With a new Volunteer Coordinator we have been able to refresh our offer to volunteers. During the next financial year we will see the role that volunteers play in enhancing the youth club experience growing, with new positive relationships and role models being established.

b. Fundraising activities and income generation

Youth First CIO is thankful to all the organisations and individuals that supported our work in 2023-24. Their donations make our work possible.

We would especially like to thank Lewisham Council, MOPAC, Deptford Challenge Trust, DfE Holiday Activities Fund, Jack Petchey Foundation, Lee Charity of William Hatcliffe and NCIL, alongside the many other donors and supporters who have given generously this year. Their support has helped to fund activity such as our streetbased outreach team to work with young people on the streets, to provide more holiday activities and food sessions, for family food parcels, street robbery safety sessions in schools and other venues, and girls’ empowerment sessions. We are also hugely thankful to our high net worth donors and other supporters of the Lewisham led Riverside Youth Club Redevelopment that we have partnered to fundraise and develop. The building is due to reopen with new sports and youth facilities in 2025.

We fundraise through events, individual giving appeals, trusts and foundations, grants and contracts. We do not face to face (or door to door) fundraising activities. In addition, funds are raised from trusts and foundations, government grants and corporate partnerships. We are compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation and only contacts prospective and existing supporters in line with our Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement. We recognise the importance of protecting our vulnerable supporters and adhere to the Institute of Fundraising Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Regulator on treating donors fairly. The charity welcomes feedback on its fundraising activities and has a complaints policy which outlines how the charity will react should a complaint be received regarding fundraising methods. We received no complaints during the year.

Financial review

a. General Review

The trustees consider the financial performance by the CIO during the year to have been satisfactory given the initial reserves position of the organisation and the funding environment.

The annual income for 2023/24 as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities was £1,664,424, with £384,192 of this being restricted and £1,280,232 being unrestricted. Annual expenditure amounted to £1,899,645, of which £400,353 represented restricted expenditure and £1,499,292 represented unrestricted expenditure. This generated an overall deficit of £235,221, £16,161 restricted and £219,060 unrestricted.

During the year, the trustees transferred £28,784 into a designated fund to cover contingencies. More details of this fund can be found in note 17 to the financial statements.

b. Going concern

In October 2024, Youth First were informed by Lewisham Council that the Youth Service contract that represents over 70% of income, and represents the majority of most staff contracts including all senior managers, is being taken in house from April 2025. This leaves two significant remaining contracts, Adventure Playgrounds and Mental Health Wellbeing. The Adventure Playgrounds are also funded by the council and represent a significant proportion of the remaining contract. In December 2024, a national charity, who trustees have been in merger conversations with for 2 years, decided to withdraw from negotiations. Therefore, the trustees made the decision to close Youth First as we will no longer be able to deliver our vision and purpose. To this end, we will cease activity on 31st March 2025 as a charity and over the following weeks will complete the full closure. As we wind up the charity we will following the reserves policy to distribute remaining funds.

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YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

c. Reserves policy

The trustees seek to retain a prudent level of reserves from unrestricted income. Trustees reviewed and updated their reserves policy during the year.

Youth First holds financial reserves to be applied to future activities in two categories:

Unrestricted: are available to be applied, at the discretion of the trustees to any of Youth First's charitable purposes. This includes designated funds which could be put aside by the trustees for specific future purposes.

Restricted: are to be applied to the specific purpose intended by the donor. Youth First up to 31[st] March 2025 is funded by few sources of income, with the main source being a contract to deliver services for the London Borough of Lewisham. This is supplemented with some grants and donations from a variety of other sources. This lack of income diversity poses a risk that should the contract by which the majority of Youth First's income and its core income is received, is not renewed, Youth First will have insufficient income to continue to operate for more than approximately 6/7 months. The Board had taken steps to mitigate this risk through adding capacity around business development and the creation of a clear Business Development Plan. Furthermore, the trustees would like to specifically point out that the latest contract with the London Borough of Lewisham was signed in 2021 and runs for 4 years, it has not been renewed and will end on 31[st] March 2025.

Trustees base the reserves policy on the identified needs to support one or more, but not all of the following:

Provide sufficient working capital for the following year, particularly to provide against a downturn in revenue generation and an uncertain fundraising climate.

Mitigate the risk of losing our main source of funding to cover 3 to 4 months of expenditure, including the 4 months of delivery cost, additional fundraising support, redundancy cost and legal costs of wind up

Mitigate the risk of unforeseeable expenditure, with particular consideration of building costs.

Support innovative grassroots training programmes where such require a period of development and testing prior to proving their case to external funders including an apprenticeship programme and SEND training.

Mitigate the risk of having reduced funding and the need to reorganise/ redesign the service in line with total available funding.

Invest in organisational development, strengthening our organisational infrastructure to better support front line delivery and boost long term stability and sustainability.

Youth First therefore believes that its unrestricted reserves should be between three and four months’ expenditure. This means that we would seek to hold unrestricted free reserves of between £450k to £650k.

In case of a need to wind up, we would donate remaining funds to organisations/organisation with similar charitable purpose to be decided upon by the board.

At 31 March 2024, total reserves were £1,456,621 comprising £518,738 in restricted funds, and unrestricted funds of £937,883. The unrestricted funds comprise general funds of £175,217, which the trustees consider to be free reserves, and designated funds of £762,666, which represent a contingency reserve as described in note 17. The current level of reserves is due to the transfer of assets and liability from Youth First Limited.

Trustees therefore believe unrestricted reserves stand at a satisfactory level in light of the adopted policy.

Page 5

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

d. Principal risks and uncertainties

The Charity has been subject to a critical and principle risk by the in London Borough of Lewisham taking the main Youth Service contract back in house on 1st April 2025, this will result in the loss of over 70% of income and all key staff. As the charity has not been able to secure a merger with a national charity, the trustees made the decision to close the charity and will distribute reserves in line with the reserves policy. Therefore the charity will cease operating on 31st March 2025.

e. Principal funding

The principal funding sources for the charity in 2023/24 were by way of grant and contract income from the following sources:

Lewisham Essentials Fund Phoenix Community Housing HAF Projects NCIL Street-based Projects MOPAC NCIL New Cross Jack Petchey NCIL Walking Bus London Borough of Lewisham

Structure, governance and management

a. Constitution

Youth First Charitable Incorporated Organisation was registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1195386) on 04 August 2021.

The CIO is governed by a constitution, which was approved by the board on 13/10/21.

b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees

The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are appointed and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.

The trustees are appointed via a public recruitment process which includes advertising, application of candidates and interviews. They are recruited for the skills and experience that they bring and their ability to assist Youth First in meeting its charitable objects. Once recruited the new trustees go through a process of induction and training, which includes looking at safeguarding of young people.

c. Organisational structure and decision-making policies

Board

Responsibility for Youth First's affairs is vested in a Board of trustees who oversee an executive management team led by Youth First's chief executive officer.

Board Committees

The main board meets at least once a quarter working to formal, pre planned, agendas supported by professionally assembled papers. It is assisted in its work by the following board committees, meeting between four times a year before board meetings unless stated.

Finance and investment committee chaired by Adam Barrett and responsible for monitoring finances and investment decisions. The committee met 3 times during the year. The final meeting of the committee was on 28.5.2024 and the committee was collapsed on this date.

Page 6

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Risk and Audit Committee chaired by Catriona Coleman, nee MacLaine and responsible for identifying and mitigating strategic and operational risk for Youth First; and independently reviewing the annual accounts. The committee met 4 times during the year.

People Committee (aka Work Force committee) is to assist the organisation to achieve Youth First's vision 'to put the next generation first' and our stated mission including to protect professional youth and play work. The committees didn’t meet during the year.

Impact and Safeguarding is to develop and monitor a means to demonstrate impact and ensure statutory safeguarding standards. The committee met once during the year.

Remuneration Committee made up only of independent Trustees this meets as needed to review executive salaries and performance and any changes to staff salaries and terms. The committee met once during the year.

Decision Making

Decisions at Youth First are made by an Executive team with oversight from a non executive Board. The Board meet quarterly with all meetings and decisions minuted. In addition, the board has a range of subcommittees that look in more detail at specific areas of the organisation. This includes a Finance and Investment committee chaired by our non executive treasurer and a Risk and Audit committee that offers audit oversight on finances and all activities. This is chaired by a non executive director who does not sit on the Finance and Investment committee. The board has developed and agreed a delegation of authority which has been adopted by the CIO.

The Board includes executive as well as non executive roles – all now called Trustees as per our Constitution. It is chaired by an Independent Trustee and has a majority of Independent Trustees.

Youth First CIO evaluates salaries against market rates and for frontline staff is aligned to Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). In addition, it has two subcommittees of the board Remuneration and People. The former is independent of the executive and oversees the setting of salaries and ensuring all terms and conditions are in line with the market and fit for purpose.

Plans for future periods

Youth First will cease activities on 31st March 2025. The Youth Service and Adventure Playground contracts will transfer back to London Borough of Lewisham. Other funded services are being negotiated with funders and will either be transferred to another charity or will be returned to the funders. Remaining reserves will be distributed by trustees following a transparent process to fund youth activities in Lewisham and provide a legacy for Youth First.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' report is approved has confirmed that:

Page 7

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Disclosure of information to auditors (continued)

Auditors

The auditors, RPG Crouch Chapman LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Val Davison

~~................................................~~ Val Davison (Mar 12, 2025 17:44 GMT) ................................................ Val Davison Chris Price Chair CEO

Date: 27[th] February 2025

Page 8

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

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 and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. 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.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Val Davison ~~................................................~~ Val Davison (Mar 12, 2025 17:44 GMT) ................................................ Val Davison Chris Price Chair CEO Date: 27[th] February 2025

Page 9

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Youth First Charitable Incorporated Organisation (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion

Conclusions relating to going concern

We specifically draw your attention to the Emphasis of Matter paragraph below.

Emphasis of Matter

We draw attention to the disclosure regarding the charity's going concern status in the Trustees report and to Accounting Policy 2.2 which explains that the directors intend to cease the charity's activities with effect of 31 March 2025 and therefore do not consider it to be appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. Accordingly the financial statements have been prepared on a basis other than going concern as described in Accounting Policy 2.2. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Page 10

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CONTINUED)

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditors' report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Capability of the audit to detect irregularities including fraud

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the charity and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the charity which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. These included, but were not limited to, compliance with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities SORP and FRS102.

We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment.

We focused on laws and regulations that could give rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements. Our tests included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Page 11

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CONTINUED)

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed in the relevant paragraph above.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors' report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

RPG Crouch Chapman RPG Crouch Chapman (Mar 14, 2025 11:11 GMT)

RPG Crouch Chapman LLP

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 40 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0BT

Date:

RPG Crouch Chapman LLP are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Page 12

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
4
Charitable activities
5
Investments
6
Other income
7
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
8
Charitable activities
9
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
259,345
124,116
-
731
384,192
-
400,353
400,353
(16,161)
534,899
(16,161)
518,738		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
35,485
1,165,000
12,233
67,514
1,280,232
70,418
1,428,874
1,499,292
(219,060)
1,156,943
(219,060)
937,883		 Total
funds
2024
£
294,830
1,289,116
12,233
68,245
1,664,424
70,418
1,829,227
1,899,645
(235,221)
1,691,842
(235,221)
1,456,621		 Total
funds
2023
£
425,131
1,350,504
3,632
147,994
1,927,261
-
1,778,687
1,778,687
148,574
1,543,268
148,574
1,691,842

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 16 to 36 form part of these financial statements.

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YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
14
Current assets
Debtors
15
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
16
Net current assets
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
17
Unrestricted funds
17
Total funds		 195,988
1,560,313
1,756,301
(302,022)		 2024
£
2,342
2,342
1,454,279
1,456,621
518,738
937,883
1,456,621		 651,441
1,328,198
1,979,639
(292,466)		 2023
£
4,669
4,669
1,687,173
1,691,842
534,899
1,156,943
1,691,842

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Val Davison ................................................ Val Davison (Mar 12, 2025 17:44 GMT) ................................................ Val Davison Chris Price Chair CEO

Date: 27[th] February 2025

The notes on pages 16 to 36 form part of these financial statements.

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YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
The notes on pages 16 to 36 form part of these financial statements		 2024
£
244,907
(12,233)
(559)
(12,792)
-
232,115
1,328,198
1,560,313		 2023
£
387,263
(3,632)
(71)
(3,703)
-
383,560
944,638
1,328,198

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YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. General information

Youth First Charitable Incorporated Organisation was registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1195386) on 04 August 2021.

The address of the registered office is:

Bellingham Gateway Youth and Community Centre 185 Brookehowse Road Bellingham, SE6 3TT

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

The presentation currency is £ sterling and all amounts are rounded to the nearest £.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 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) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Youth First Charitable Incorporated Organisation 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.

The trustees confirm their explicit and unreserved compliance with the above legislation.

2.2 Going concern

The trustees consider that, for reasons specified in the Trustees Report, the charity is not a going concern and will cease its activiites with effect of 31 March 2025.

2.3 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.

The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate.

Page 16

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.3 Income (continued)

Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Charity, can be reliably measured.

Grants are included in the statement of financial activities 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. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.

2.4 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, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.

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.

2.5 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.

2.6 Taxation

The Charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the Charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

2.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing £NIL or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.

Page 17

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation (continued)

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, .

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Computer equipment - 3 years straight line

2.8 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.

2.9 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.

2.10 Liabilities and provisions

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 advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

2.11 Financial instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2.12 Pensions

Pension contributions are included in the SOFA as and when payable.

Page 18

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.13 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes, as described in Note 16.

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. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

2.14 Support cost allocation

Support costs are based on actual invoices for a sub-set of expenses.

3. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgment

Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical expenditure and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:

The Charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

Accruals

Accrued expenditure is based on subsequently received invoices or experience.

Page 19

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4. Income from donations and legacies

Donations
Legacies
Grants
Donations
Legacies
Grants		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
259,345
259,345
Restricted
funds
2023
£
-
60,000
318,753
378,753		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
30,995
-
4,490
35,485
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
678
40,000
5,700
46,378		 Total
funds
2024
£
30,995
-
263,835
294,830
Total
funds
2023
£
678
100,000
324,453
425,131

Page 20

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Breakdown of Grants

HAF
Jack Petchey
MOPAC
NCIL
Other Grants
Phoenix Community Housing
HAF
Jack Petchey
MOPAC
NCIL
Other Grants
Phoenix Community Housing		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
88,000
12,600
54,759
95,061
5,000
3,925
259,345
Restricted
funds
2023
£
131,900
10,200
54,758
77,916
43,979
-
318,753		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
-
4,490
-
4,490
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
-
-
-
-
5,700
-
5,700		 Total
funds
2024
£
88,000
12,600
54,759
95,061
9,490
3,925
263,835
Total
funds
2023
£
131,900
10,200
54,758
77,916
49,679
-
324,453

Page 21

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities - London Borough of
Lewisham
Income from charitable activities - London Borough of
Lewisham		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
124,116
Restricted
funds
2023
£
100,504		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
1,165,000
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
1,250,000		 Total
funds
2024
£
1,289,116
Total
funds
2023
£
1,350,504

6. Investment income

Interest
Interest		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
12,233
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
3,632		 Total
funds
2024
£
12,233
Total
funds
2023
£
3,632

Page 22

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

7. Other incoming resources

Long-term rental
Short-term rental
Telecommunication mast
Other
Long-term rentals
Short-term rentals
Telecommunication mast
Other		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
731
731		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
49,335
15,359
-
2,820
67,514
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
40,400
9,107
93,000
5,487
147,994		 Total
funds
2024
£
49,335
15,359
-
3,551
68,245
Total
funds
2023
£
40,400
9,107
93,000
5,487
147,994

Page 23

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8. Expenditure on raising funds

Costs of raising voluntary income

Sundry fundraising expenditure
Non-payroll related staff costs
Wages and salaries
NI
Pension costs		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
200
54,948
14,256
705
309
70,418		 Total
funds
2024
£
200
54,948
14,256
705
309
70,418		 Total
funds
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
-

9. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type

Direct costs
Direct costs		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
400,353
Restricted
funds
2023
£
461,355		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
1,428,874
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
1,317,332		 Total
2024
£
1,829,227
Total
2023
£
1,778,687

Page 24

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Charitable Activities
Charitable Activities
Analysis of direct costs
Staff costs
Programme Costs
Agency Staff
Marketing
Human Resources
Rent & Rates
Memberships & Subscriptions
Non-Payroll Related Staff Costs
Sundries		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
1,522,396
Activities
undertaken
directly
2023
£
1,557,348		 Support
costs
2024
£
306,831
Support
costs
2023
£
221,339
Total
funds
2024
£
968,869
125,435
170,902
37,992
13,429
23,905
8,045
79,829
93,990
1,522,396		 Total
funds
2024
£
1,829,227
Total
funds
2023
£
1,778,687
Total
funds
2023
£
1,077,979
174,370
81,175
54,961
12,560
15,794
4,018
136,491
-
1,557,348

Sundries in 2024 includes an exceptional write off of a large trade debtor.

Page 25

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of support costs

Depreciation
Participation & Engagement
Gas & Electricity
Repairs & Maintenance
Audit and accountancy
Sundries
Bank Charges
Insurance
Legal & Professional
ICT
Office Expenditure
Other Property Costs
Governance Costs		 Total
funds
2024
£
2,886
-
93,026
413
14,300
29,809
2,677
13,676
43,666
4,381
26,082
73,793
2,122
306,831		 Total
funds
2023
£
2,850
-
38,500
1,670
4,670
25,782
1,133
13,099
21,748
10,168
35,075
61,049
5,595
221,339

11. Auditors' remuneration

2024 2023
£ £
Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual
accounts 7,350 7,000
Fees payable to the Charity's auditor in respect of:
All non-audit services not included above 2,120 2,800

Page 26

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

12. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2024
£
816,145
73,701
94,293
984,139		 2023
£
874,545
83,681
119,753
1,077,979

Included in Wages and Salaries are redundancy payments of NIL (2023: £23,654).

The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:

2024 2023
No. No.
Staff 37 42
The average headcount expressed as full-time equivalents was:
2024 2023
No. No.
Staff 21 27
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded
£60,000 was:
2024 2023
No. No.
In the band £60,001 - £70,000 - 2

Apart from the trustees, key management comprises the CEO and the Deputy CEO (2023: also the Operations Director. The total remuneration for the period for key management amounts to £60,259 (2023: £187,847)

Page 27

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, one or more Trustees have been paid remuneration or have received other benefits from an employment with the Charity. The Charity's governing document, as approved by the Charity Commission, requires employee representation on the Board. The value of Trustees' remuneration and other benefits was as follows:

2024 2023
£ £
Mervyn Kaye Remuneration 2,867 68,351
Pension contributions paid 657 15,652
Gülen Petty Remuneration 48,476 59,299
Pension contributions paid 1,981 2,642

Mervyn Kaye (resigned April 2023) was the CEO and Gülen Petty (resigned December 2023) was the Deputy CEO then interim CEO.

During the year, Mash Seriki (Vice Chair) received £33,228 (2023: £11,076) for consultancy services provided to the charity between March 2023 and September 2023.

During the year ended 31 March 2024, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2023 - £NIL) .

14. Tangible fixed assets

Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023		 Computer
equipment
£
8,450
559
9,009
3,781
2,886
6,667
2,342
4,669

Page 28

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

15. Debtors

Due within one year
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2024
£
178,544
17,444
195,988		 2023
£
571,115
80,326
651,441

16. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2024
£
114,915
55,306
13,002
118,799
302,022		 2023
£
28,490
171,032
2,911
90,033
292,466

Page 29

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current year

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Contingency Reserve
General funds
General Funds
Total Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Lewisham Essentials Fund
HAF Projects
NCIL - Girls R Us
MOPAC
Jack Petchey
LB of Lewisham - APGs
LB of Lewisham
London Community Foundation
London Youth
Phoenix Community Housing
Phoenix Housing Youth
Riverside Redevelopment
Riverside Young Seniors
Street Games
YLF - Carnival Routes
YLF - Staying Safe in
Lewisham
NCIL - Street Based Projects
NCIL Ward LLC
NCIL - New Cross
NCIL - Walking Bus
Total of funds		 Balance at 1
April 2023
£
733,882
423,061
1,156,943
-
46,008
10,775
40,017
33,319
-
12,610
25,000
13,239
5,170
1,595
271,625
17,770
840
-
8,929
34,597
-
10,595
2,810
534,899
1,691,842		 Income
£
-
1,280,232
1,280,232
5,000
88,000
-
54,759
13,331
124,116
-
-
-
3,925
-
-
-
-
-
-
47,688
-
26,515
20,858
384,192
1,664,424		 Expenditure
£
-
(1,499,292)
(1,499,292)
(3,571)
(87,038)
(10,512)
(96,152)
(12,864)
(122,158)
-
(25,000)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(26,559)
-
(442)
(16,057)
(400,353)
(1,899,645)		 Transfers
Balance at
31 March
in/out
£
2024
£
28,784
762,666
(28,784)
175,217
-
937,883
-
1,429
-
46,970
-
263
1,376
-
-
33,786
-
1,958
-
12,610
-
-
-
13,239
-
9,095
-
1,595
-
271,625
-
17,770
-
840
-
-
-
8,929
(1,376)
54,350
-
-
-
36,668
-
7,611
-
518,738
-
1,456,621

Page 30

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Statement of funds (continued)

The transfer of £1,376 from NCIL - Street Based Projects into MOPAC is based on an agreement between both parties.

Designated Funds

The Contingency Reserve comprises monies designated to cover the closure costs of the charity.

Restricted Funds

Lewisham Essentials Fund: This is a fund that we can apply to on behalf of individuals in times of hardship. They will pay for school uniforms, food and small items needed for households

Jack Petchey Foundation: To support activities in youth clubs where funds are applied for by young people themselves and therefore are restricted to be spent on these activities only. E.g. Cinema trip.

London Borough of Lewisham : This includes two Local Assembly awards for additional youth work and three awards from Lewisham Young Mayor’s Young People’s Funding Pot awarded to us for three separate projects.

Phoenix Community Housing (Bellingham & Downham) Ltd: Grant to support Youth First in providing holiday activities for young people living in the Phoenix Community Links area.

Healthy Activities and Food Programme (HAF): Grant to provide activities and food during the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays.

London Youth: Funds were awarded to run sports activities in a number of our sites and to run youth leadership activities in North and South Lewisham Borough.

Riverside Redevelopment: Donations to contribute to the capital development of our Riverside location.

YLF - Staying safe in Lewisham is a 3 year project (October 2019 to September 2022) funded by the GLA Young Londoner's Fund to deliver personal safety workshops with over 500 young people at risk of exclusion through youth clubs in Lewisham. It covers themes including substance misuse, knife crime, sex and healthy relationships, online safety and emotional wellbeing.

YLF - Carnival Routes is a 3 year project (January 2020 - December 2022) funded by the GLA Young Londoner's Fund to engage young people at risk of involvement in crime in a preventive programme of carnival-themed performing arts and crafts workshops building their resilience and self-esteem. Focused on the Woodpecker Youth Club, workshops will build towards celebratory carnival events each year. Workshops will provide a safe space for young people to build stronger peer relationships and receive support from expert youth workers.

Riverside Young Seniors Project - this project over 9 months (Oct 2019 to July 2020) provided weekly focused sessions for older young people aged 13+ to build stronger peer and adult relationships, with access to mental and sexual health counselling and support and positive activities chosen with and tailored to their needs. Sessions include cooking and sharing a meal, workshop discussions, structured activities and drop-in sports and wellbeing activities. This project has been extended to 2022 due to delay caused by Covid-19.

London Community Foundation: One-year Covid recovery programme of study skills sessions, creative workshops, and open access at Deptford APG.

Street Games relates to funding made available to provide sports activities and sports equipment for young people in the Bellingham area.

Page 31

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Statement of funds (continued)

NCIL Grants

Girls R Us

This is a one year project operating at Wesley Halls to offer empowerment activities for young girls and young women.

Street Based Projects

We were awarded 3 separate grants to deliver detached youth work in Central Lewisham, New Cross Gate and Evelyn Wards on the streets in hotspot areas, offering advice and information to help young people make safe choices. This is a 2-year project finishing in June 2024.

Ward LLC

NCIL funded a project in collaboration with Legendary Community Club to provide food for young people.

Walking Bus

This is a project to operate a Walking Bus and after school activity at Honor Oak Youth Club. The Bus walks children from the Turnham Academy to the Youth Club once a week for up to 60 primary age young people.

MOPAC: This is a grant from MOPAC to deliver street robbery awareness workshops in schools and youth clubs across the borough, with the project due to report in January 2024. This project has enabled us to recruit a safety team.

NCIL – New Cross: This is part of the funding for the Street based project. We are funded for this through 3 different NCIL areas and MOPAC

Phoenix Housing Youth : We secured funding for the Phoenix Summer Funday

Page 32

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Statement of funds (continued)

Statement of funds - prior year

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Contingency Reserve
General funds
General Funds
Total Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Lewisham Essentials Fund
HAF Projects
NCIL - Girls R Us
MOPAC
Jack Petchey
LB of Lewisham - APGs
LB of Lewisham
London Community Foundation
London Youth
Phoenix Community Housing
Phoenix Housing Youth
Riverside Redevelopment
Riverside Young Seniors
Street Games
YLF - Carnival Routes
YLF - Staying Safe in
Lewisham
NCIL - Street Based Projects
NCIL Ward LLC
NCIL - New Cross
NCIL - Walking Bus		 Balance at
1 April 2022
£
-
1,012,103
1,012,103
-
62,771
-
-
27,220
94,920
12,610
25,000
13,239
14,868
1,595
211,625
17,770
840
39,778
8,929
-
-
-
-
531,165		 Income
£
-
1,448,004
1,448,004
-
131,900
14,589
54,759
10,200
100,504
-
-
-
-
-
60,000
-
-
29,390
-
42,390
15,000
10,595
9,930
479,257		 Expenditure
£
-
(1,317,332)
(1,317,332)
-
(133,477)
(3,814)
(14,742)
(4,101)
(195,424)
-
-
-
(9,698)
-
-
-
-
(70,186)
-
(7,793)
(15,000)
-
(7,120)
(461,355)		 Transfers
in/out
£
733,882
(719,714)
14,168
-
(15,186)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,018
-
-
-
-
-
(14,168)		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
733,882
423,061
1,156,943
-
46,008
10,775
40,017
33,319
-
12,610
25,000
13,239
5,170
1,595
271,625
17,770
840
-
8,929
34,597
-
10,595
2,810
534,899

Page 33

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

17. Statement of funds (continued)

Total of funds

1,543,268 1,927,261 (1,778,687) - 1,691,842

18. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current period

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
519,238
(500)
518,738
Restricted
funds
2023
£
-
534,899
-
534,899		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
2,342
1,237,063
(301,522)
937,883
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
4,669
1,444,740
(292,466)
1,156,943		 Total
funds
2024
£
2,342
1,756,301
(302,022)
1,456,621
Total
funds
2023
£
4,669
1,979,639
(292,466)
1,691,842

Page 34

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

19. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/expenditure for the period (as per Statement of Financial
Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities		 2024
£
(235,221)
2,886
12,233
455,453
9,556
244,907		 2023
£
148,574
2,850
3,632
172,535
59,672
387,263

20. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents		 2024
£
1,560,313
1,560,313		 2023
£
1,328,198
1,328,198

21. Analysis of changes in net debt

Cash at bank and in hand At 1 April
2023
£
1,328,198
1,328,198		 Cash flows
£
232,115
232,115		 At 31 March
2024
£
1,560,313
1,560,313

22. Pension commitments

The charity operates two pension schemes for its employees:

Standard Life is open to all new employees and is a defined contribution pension scheme.

LGPS, which 26 employees who transferred from Lewisham Council in 2016 belong to, is a defined benefit scheme, but due to the contractual indemnity that the London Borough of Lewisham have entered into, is treated as a defined contribution scheme for accounting purposes by the charity.

Page 35

YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

23. Related Party Transactions

There were no related party transactions other than those disclosed in Note 13 (2023: the same situation applied).

24. Subsequent Events

In October 2024, the trustees were informed of the loss of their main source of income, this being the Youth Service Contract with Lewisham Council which represented 70% of the charity's income. In November 2024, the trustees made the decision to close the charity and cease activities with effect of 31 March 2025. The charity is therefore not a going concern.

Page 36

Youth First CIO 2024 – Final Accounts Preparation (005)

Final Audit Report

2025-03-14

Created: 2025-03-10 By: Youth First CIO (Corporate@youthfirst.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAh-iyvSAN7v8NjdY50N9GMup0X4Nn9oS2

"Youth First CIO 2024 – Final Accounts Preparation (005)" Histo ry

Document created by Youth First CIO (Corporate@youthfirst.org.uk) 2025-03-10 - 16:48:35 GMT

Document emailed to Val Thompson (val@dulwichconsulting.co.uk) for signature 2025-03-10 - 16:48:46 GMT

Email viewed by Val Thompson (val@dulwichconsulting.co.uk) 2025-03-12 - 17:41:26 GMT

Signer Val Thompson (val@dulwichconsulting.co.uk) entered name at signing as Val Davison 2025-03-12 - 17:43:59 GMT

Document e-signed by Val Davison (val@dulwichconsulting.co.uk)

Signature Date: 2025-03-12 - 17:44:01 GMT - Time Source: server

Document emailed to jtyrrell@rpgcc.co.uk for signature

2025-03-12 - 17:44:08 GMT

Email viewed by jtyrrell@rpgcc.co.uk

2025-03-12 - 17:47:56 GMT

Signer jtyrrell@rpgcc.co.uk entered name at signing as RPG Crouch Chapman 2025-03-14 - 11:11:02 GMT

Document e-signed by RPG Crouch Chapman (jtyrrell@rpgcc.co.uk) Signature Date: 2025-03-14 - 11:11:04 GMT - Time Source: server

Agreement completed.

2025-03-14 - 11:11:04 GMT