The Degrees Initiative
The Degrees Initiative
Reference and administrative details
The Degrees Initiative – 2025 Annual Report
Contents
| Future plans ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. ... 11 |
|---|
| Fund research ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. ........ 11 |
| Build community ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. .... 11 |
| Amplify voices ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. ....... 12 |
| Structure, governance and management ................................ ............................. ............. 12 |
| Fundraising ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. ... 12 |
| Risks and uncertainties ................................ ............................. ............................. ............. 13 |
| Financial review ................................ ............................. ............................. ........................... 13 |
| Going concern ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. 14 |
| Statement of trustees’ responsibilities ................................ ............................. .................. 14 |
| Independent auditor’s report to the members of the Degrees Initiative ........................ 16 |
| Statement of financial activities ................................ ............................. ............................. 20 |
| Balance sheet ................................ ............................. ............................. ............................. 21 |
Message from the Chair
Message from the CEO
Approach
Achievements
Progress to date
Timeline of key developments
Our volunteers
Impacts in 2025
Fund research
Amplify voices
Build community
Additional progress
Future plans
Priorities in 2026
Fund research
Build community
Amplify voices
Structure, governance and management
Fundraising
Risks and uncertainties
Team capacity and key person dependencies
Financial review
Going concern
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
Independent auditor’s report to the members of the Degrees Initiative
Opinion
Basis for opinion
Conclusions relating to going concern
Other information
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
Responsibilities of trustees
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Use of our report
25 June 2026
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Statement of Cash Flows
Notes to the financial statements
| 202 5 |
202 5 |
202 4 |
202 4 |
202 4 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Restricted ** | **Unrestricted ** | Total | Total | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Staff and related costs | 598,265 | 100,740 | **699,005 ** | 421,273 | ||||||
| Consultancy | 438,12 8 |
69,630 | **507,758 ** | **202,535 ** | ||||||
| Outreach & community building |
353,371 | 269,451 | **622,822 ** | **249,851 ** | ||||||
| Grants | 439,005 | 187,078 | **626,083 ** | 411,022 | ||||||
| Support costs | 142,872 | 9,974 | **152,846 ** | **88,934 ** | ||||||
| Total | 1,971,641 | **636,873 ** | **2,608,514 ** | 1,373,615 | ||||||
| 202 5 |
202 4 |
|||||||||
| Other Expenditure | **179,084 ** | **(86,626) ** | ||||||||
| Other expenditure in the year is unrestricted and relates to unrealised foreign exchange losses /(gains) on translating the USD account to GBP at the end of the year. |
||||||||||
| . Support Costs Governance Fundraising Activities IT Costs Other Total Support Costs |
||||||||||
| 202 5 |
**2024 ** | |||||||||
| **Restricted ** | **Unrestricted ** | Total | Total | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Governance | 24,050 | 34 | 24,084 | 28,844 | ||||||
| Fundraising Activities |
10,394 | - | 10,394 | - | ||||||
| IT Costs | 75,047 | 7,215 | 82,262 | 20,024 | ||||||
| Other | 33,381 | 2,725 | 36,106 | 40,067 | ||||||
| Total Support Costs | 142,872 | **9,974 ** | **152,846 ** | 88,93 5 |
| **d Employees ** | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Staff Costs ** | ||||
| 202 5 |
202 4 |
|||
| £ | £ | |||
| Salaries & Wages | 523,015 | 324,437 | ||
| Social SecurityCosts | 67,380 | 35,896 | ||
| Pension Costs | 41,475 | 26,014 | ||
| **Total Staff Costs ** | **631,870 ** | **386,347 ** | ||
| **Employee Banding ** | 202 5 |
202 4 |
||
| Number of **Employees ** |
Number of **Employees ** |
|||
| £60,00 1 to £70,000 |
1 | 0 | ||
| £70,00 1 to £80,000 |
2 | 1 | ||
| Key Management Personnel | 202 5 |
202 4 |
||
| £ | £ | |||
| The amount paid to key management personnel |
91,394 | 90,095 |
| Average Headcount | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The average headcount for the year was | 11 | 7 | |
| Pension Scheme | |||
| The charity operates a defined contribution scheme | 202 5 |
202 4 |
|
| £ | £ | ||
| The amount of pension contributions recognised as an expense during the year was: |
41,475 | 26,014 |
| btors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 5 |
202 4 |
|||
| £ | £ | |||
| Prepayments and Accrued Income | 45,337 | 72,01 1 |
||
| Other Debtors | 49,871 | 69,271 | ||
| Total | **95,208 ** | 141,282 |
| 202 5 |
202 4 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Trade Creditors | 2,337 | 5,993 | ||
| Accruals | 59,459 | 68,877 | ||
| Total | 61,796 | **74,870 ** |
| 202 5 |
202 5 |
202 4 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Deferred income at 1 January | 1,363,606 | - | ||
| Released duringtheyear | (1, 363,606 ) |
- | ||
| Resources deferred in theyear | 852,706 | 1,363,606 | ||
| Deferred income at 31 December | **852,706 ** | **1,363,606 ** |