Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date
Charity name: Bridging Barriers
Charity registration number: 1196973
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Bridging Barriers exists to equip ambitious young people from underrepresented backgrounds with the networks, resources, and opportunities they need to become the best version of themselves and achieve career success. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Our work is delivered through three core activities: • Structured mentoring programmes matching young people with experienced professionals in their desired industries. • Virtual masterclasses and employer insight days co- designed with corporate partners to increase access to elite professions. • In-person networking events to build confidence, social capital, and real-world connections between young people and professionals. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In shaping all programmes and initiatives, the trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Our activities are designed to reduce barriers to social mobility and employment, particularly for young people from Black and other underrepresented communities. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference Key highlights include: • Impact across 300+ young people through mentoring, events, and Summary of the main Para 1.20 tailored support. • achievements of the charity, 100% of mentees reported identifying the difference the increased confidence and access charity’s work has made to to professional networks. the circumstances of its • Delivery of high-quality sessions beneficiaries and any wider with firms across law, finance, and benefits to society as a tech. whole. •
-
Delivery of high-quality sessions with firms across law, finance, and tech.
-
Notable organisational growth in volunteer coordination, partnerships, and programme structure.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance | Para 1.41 |
againsl objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity received a total income of £85,312 during the year (2024), comprising £59,035 in unrestricted funds and £26,277 in restricted funds. Total expenditure amounted to £90,263, resulting in a net deficit of £4,951. The charity ended the year with total cash reserves of £13,577. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Bridging Barriers aims to maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months of core operating costs. This policy provides financial stability and ensures the continuity of services in the event of income delays or unforeseen expenses. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | At year-end, the charity held total cash reserves of £13,577, comprising £7,215 in unrestricted funds and £6,362 in restricted funds. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable – the charity held reserves at the end of the year. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None of the charity’s funds were in material deficit during the reporting period. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The trustees have no material uncertainties regarding the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The reserves policy, continued grant funding, and income diversification strategy provide confidence in the charity’s future financial sustainability. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO Foundation Model |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The charity trustees have signified agreement to the resolution in a document which has been authenticated by their signature, by a statement of their identity accompanying the document or documents, or in such other manner as the charity trustees have previously resolved, and delivered to the CIO at its principal office or such other place as the trustees may resolve. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Bridging Barriers |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1196973 |
| Charity’s principal address | BB, PO Box 59099, London, E13 3EX |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Donkor | N/A | 01/10/2024 | Michael Adesite, Kevin Osei BEM |
|
| Sharon Dorsen | N/A | 01/10/2024 | Michael Adesite, Kevin Osei BEM |
|
| Jade Adewunmi | N/A | 01/10/2024 | Michael Adesite, Kevin Osei BEM |
|
| Michael Adesite | N/A | Wholeyear | ||
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved – N/A Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity – N/A
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
– Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others N/A
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
On 1st October 2024, new trustees Sharon Dorsen and Alex Donkor were appointed to the board. Prior to this, the board consisted of Michael Adesite, Folayemi Ojo, and Andrea Fidelis. The transition in trusteeship occurred due to personal reasons and limited capacity on the part of the outgoing trustees. The board remains committed to ensuring strong governance, strategic oversight, and alignment with Bridging Barriers' mission.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Michael Adesite | ||
Chair |
||
| 03/06/2025 | ||
| 03/06/2025 |
| Bridging Barriers | 1196973 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
01/01/2024 | To | 31/12/2024 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 5,350 5,000 41,039 3,668 3,977 - - - 59,035 - - - 59,035 350 - 4,661 335 147 358 558 - 61,771 1,325 - 757 70,263 - - 70,263 - 11,228 - 18,443 7,215 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - 26,277 - - - - 26,277 - - - 26,277 - - 3,509 - - - - - 14,724 1,767 - - 20,000 - - 20,000 6,277 - 85 6,362 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 5,350 5,000 67,316 3,668 3,977 - - - 85,312 - - - 85,312 350 - 8,170 335 147 358 558 - 76,495 3,092 - 757 90,263 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Corporate Donations | 5,350 | 6,500 | ||||
| Corporate Sponsorships | 5,000 | - | ||||
| Grants from Trusts and Donations | 41,039 | 5,208 | ||||
| Individual Donations | 3,668 | 13,335 | ||||
| Other Income | 3,977 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
59,035 |
25,044 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - |
- | |||||
| ~~Sub total~~ | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 25,044 | ||||||
| Accountancyfees | 350 | 35 | ||||
| Bank Interest & Charges | - | 150 | ||||
| Event Expenses | 4,661 | - | ||||
| Governance & LeadershipExpenses | 335 | - | ||||
| Insurance | 147 | 118 | ||||
| Merchant fees | 358 | - | ||||
| Printing& Postage | 558 | 378 | ||||
| Rent/ hire of rooms | - | 954 | ||||
| Staff Costs | 61,771 | - | ||||
| Subscriptions | 1,325 | - | ||||
| IT software | - | 2,988 | ||||
| Other Direct Costs | 757 | 1,345 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 70,263 | 5,967 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
Computer equipment **Sub total ** |
- | - | 549 | |||
| - | - | 549 | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 6,516 | ||||||
| - 11,228 | 6,277 | - 4,951 |
18,528 | |||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 18,443 | 85 | 18,528 | - | |||
| 7,215 | 6,362 | 13,577 | 18,528 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
04/06/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Computer Equipment Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 7,215 6,362 - - - - 7,215 6,362 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Restricted 549 - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Michael Adesite |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Michael Adesite | 03/06/2025 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
04/06/2025
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Bridging Barriers On accounts for the year 31/12/2024 Charity no 1196973 ended (if any) Set out on pages
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2024 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
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(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns 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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 30/5/2025
Signed: Name: MABEL BALOGUN Relevant professional FCCA – FELLOW OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED CHARTERED qualification(s) or body ACCOUNTANTS (if any): Address: 18 WOODFIELD AVENUE, NORTH WEMBLEY HA0 3NR
October 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
N/A
October 2018
2
IER