Charity Registration No. 1198961
GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Kirsten Lees Andrew Whalley Lady Lavinia Grimshaw Chloe Franklyn Jeremy Tate Simon Allford
Charity number 1198961 Independent examiner Zome 5th Floor 111 Charterhouse Street London EC1M 6AW
GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 2 |
| Independent examiner's report | 3 |
| Statement of financial activities | 4 |
| Balance sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the accounts | 6 - 7 |
GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 30 September 2025.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005.
Structure, governance and management
The charity was established by a charitable trust deed on 10 October 2019.
The trustees who served during the period were: Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (Resigned 14 September 2025) Kirsten Lees Andrew Whalley Lady Lavinia Grimshaw Chloe Franklyn Jonathan Snow (Resigned 19 November 2025) Jeremy Tate Simon Allford (Appointed 27 November 2025)
The number of trustees shall be not less than three and not more than ten.
The trust board make all necessary arrangements for the recruitment and appointment of trustees. When appointing new trustees, the trustees will give consideration to the skills, knowledge and experience necessary for the effective administration of the charity and contribution to the charity's objectives.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the charity. All of the trustees are members of the charity.
The trustees has assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Objectives and activities
The Charity's mission is to elevate the role of creativity as an essential skill for the future.
The Grimshaw Foundation believes that creativity is the power behind unlocking solutions, the stimulus that connects people and enables the joy of making. It is at the heart of innovation, driving insights and learning, and expanding what’s possible.
Today the importance of creativity in education is marginalised, and insufficiently translated into national curriculum or policy. Working together with artists, architects and designers, we are committed to connecting young people to creativity and making creative careers, particularly in the built environment, accessible to all. We want to ensure a future that enables new ways of thinking, making and doing: supporting the next generation of agile, adaptable entrepreneurs equipped to solve local and global challenges.
Our commitments
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Improve access to creative education nationally and internationally
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Enable collaboration connecting schools to artists and the creative industry
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Foster the freedom to be curious imagining and creating with purpose
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Increase diversity in creative careers working with young people from different backgrounds
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Leverage our influence to action change in education, communities and global challenges
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Achievements and performance
The Grimshaw Foundation's impact so far has already been significant - delivering programmes for over 600 young people, collaborating with inspiring institutions and building a network of like-minded people, organisations and volunteers that share and champion the Foundation’s mission.
In July 2025, the Grimshaw Foundation launched its inaugural residential programme at Hooke Park, Dorset, inspired by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw’s vision of extending learning beyond the classroom. Over four days, 15 students from London secondary schools designed and built a treehouse, gaining hands-on skills, learning to use tools, and working with timber and repurposed materials. The immersive outdoor setting fostered collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, while providing space for reflection and teamwork. Beyond constructing a treehouse, participants developed confidence, practical skills, and a real-time understanding of the design process — an experience that transformed their learning and celebrated the potential of learning in the outdoors.
Our careers showcase events have been highly successful in helping young people make informed subject choices and career decisions by providing practical guidance, resources, and real-world insights into the built environment. Building on this success, the Grimshaw Foundation is expanding the initiative nationally, partnering with 20 like-minded UK practices to create a network of organisations delivering Careers Showcases in the Foundation’s format. This expansion will reach a broader and more diverse group of students, while feedback from parallel sessions will help us capture and demonstrate impact. To align with school calendars and key decision points, the programme will now run twice yearly, during National Careers Week in March and at the start of term in September, supporting students as they make subject and further education choices.
Breaking from the nepotism that often defines architectural work placements, the Grimshaw Foundation offers young people from partner schools meaningful access to architectural studio experience. This year, up to 15 students participated across two weeks. The first cohort, lead brilliantly by Francesca Frangiamore and Elise Nwokedi collaborated with the October Gallery in London (an independent contemporary art gallery) to design and build ‘Beyond the Weave’, a parametric installation using laser-cut loom structures and repurposed materials, exhibited at the gallery. The second cohort joined the Heathrow team to design a terminal attraction. Students gained hands-on experience in creative, technical, and collaborative skills, mastering tools from Photoshop to Midjourney, sketching to model-making, while their energy and ingenuity inspired the architects themselves.
This year’s artist lecture was led by the acclaimed Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke. The event included a conversation with writer and curator Ekow Eshun, and open Q&A, offering a deep dive into Locke’s practice and artistic philosophy. The lecture explored themes of freedom, identity, and the creation of spaces for discovery and revelation, highlighting how Locke’s work engages with history, memory, and cultural heritage. Students attending (50 free tickets are given to participating schools each year) were particularly captivated by the opportunity to hear Locke articulate his own perspectives and experiences, gaining insight into the cultural references and personal narratives that inform his art. This lecture series continues as an important part of the Foundation’s calendar bringing young people closer to artists and the world of art that otherwise may seem inaccessible.
Financial review
At the balance sheet date the funds balance was in surplus totalling £31,846 (2024: £25,591).
The trustees have performed an analysis of forecast future cashflows and have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
On behalf of the board of trustees
Kirsten Lees
Trustee Dated: 15 January 2026
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 30 September 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 7.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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(i) examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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(ii) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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(iii) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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(i) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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(ii) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act;
have not been met; or
- (b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Roy Davis Zome
Chartered Accountants 5th Floor 111 Charterhouse Street London EC1M 6AW
Dated: 20 January 2026
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Notes Incoming resources from generated funds Donations and legacies 2 Investment income 3 Total incoming resources Resources expended 4 Charitable activities Charitable expenditure Governance costs Total resources expended Net income/(expenditure) for the year/ Net movement in funds Fund balances at 1 January 2025 Fund balances at 30 September 2025 |
2025 £ 75,165 302 75,467 19,472 49,740 69,212 6,255 25,591 31,846 |
2024 £ 77,546 328 77,874 85,129 45,994 131,123 (53,249) 78,840 25,591 |
|---|---|---|
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| 2025 Notes £ Current assets Debtors 7 - Cash at bank and in hand 50,233 50,233 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 8 (18,387) Total assets less current liabilities Income funds Unrestricted funds The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 15 January 2026 Kirsten Lees Andrew Whalley Trustee Trustee |
2024 £ £ 37,500 6,255 43,755 (18,164) 31,846 31,846 31,846 |
£ 25,591 |
|---|---|---|
| 25,591 | ||
| 25,591 | ||
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The trustees have performed an analysis of forecast future cashflows and have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005 and the Charities Act 2011.
2 Donations and legacies
| 3 4 |
Donations and gifts Investment income Interest receivable Total resources expended Charitable activities Charitable expenditure Activities undertaken directly Governance costs |
2025 £ 75,165 2025 £ 302 2025 £ 19,472 49,740 69,212 |
2024 £ 77,546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 £ 328 |
|||
| 2024 £ 85,129 45,994 |
|||
| 131,123 |
5 Trustees
During the period one trustee was paid a total of £12,000 (2024: £29,812 ) for editorial fees.
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GRIMSHAW ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
6 Employees
There were no employees during the period.
| 7 Debtors Trade debtors 8 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Other creditors Accruals |
2025 £ - 2025 £ 14,592 600 3,195 18,387 |
2024 £ 37,500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 £ 5,149 600 12,415 |
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| 18,164 |
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