Spire Foundation – Chair’s Report
AGM 2026
Report covering – June 2025 – May 2026
Activities and Objectives and Achievements over the relevant period
The Foundation’s Objectives over the course of the relevant period had been fourfold:
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Achieve an external membership structure for individuals and organisations.
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Widen the scope of fundraising methods/activities.
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Support at least a further 5 beneficiaries beyond those committed to in the previous year.
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Secure at least one new trustee.
External Membership
This has not been achieved. The focus of the Foundation has been on bringing down cash reserves by supporting further beneficiaries. There needs to be an active move towards securing this aim over the coming 12 months, in my view. Whilst we have not achieved this aim, we have widened the source of our potential beneficiaries.
Fundraising Methods/Activities
We have added to the number of regular donors to the foundation, and during induction of new members to chambers the invitation become a benefactor is made. Hopefully more new regular benefactor will join going forward.
More focus needs to be given to other fundraising through out the year, this should be a priority on new Chair.
Further beneficiaries
We have supported a higher number of beneficiaries over the course of the year. The details of those donations will be included in the treasures report for the Foundation AGM.
Gaining an additional trustees
The Foundation has recruited two new trustees to the Foundation, Sarah Hutchinson and Donna Gaughan
Aims for the Next 12 Months.
A complete review of the content on the Foundation’s website, and updating/refreshing where appropriate.
Identifying additional fundraising opportunities, through sponsored entry of events and recruitment of more Members and Staff in making regular donations.
Exploring opportunities to “sign-up” other external benefactors to the Foundation.
Exploring opportunities to open the pool of qualifying beneficiaries, including through the widening of the geographical qualification for applications for grants.
LEIGH ROYALL CHAIR, SPIRE FOUNDATION 06 MAY 2026
Secretary’s Report
AGM May 2026
The Spire Foundation – Registered Charity 1199524
Third Floor,
Ambler House,
Trevelyan Square,
Leeds LS1 AE
Hon President – Jacqueline Thomas KC
Chair – Leigh Royall.
Secretary – Sharon Tappin
Treasurer – Colin Philpott
Other Trustees – Ashley Lord, Sarah Hutchinson and Lauren Gardner
Meetings have been held on regular occasions throughout the year as well as by round robin email.
The constitution provides as follows;
Not less than three nor more than five elected trustees, not more than one ex-officio trustee and not more than two nominated trustees.
There must be at least three charity trustees.
Officers and trustees are appointed in accordance with the constitution for terms of 1 year, renewable, for up to two years.
This year Leigh Royall and Colin Philpott are due to retire by rotation and cannot seek re-election for a period of two years.
It is therefore proposed and subject to a vote of all eligible members that, if willing to stand, that:
Sharon Tappin, Ashley Lord and Lauren Gardner be elected as the three Charity Trustees, Sarah Hutchinson and Donna Gaughan are the Elected Trustees.
Leigh Royall and Colin Philpott have been approved as the two Spire Barristers Nominated Trustees. Jacqui Thomas KC remains the Ex Officio member.
Appointments of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be held at the AGM on 6 May 2026.
The object of the organisation remains as set out in the constitution;
A charity aimed at supporting vulnerable adults and children, who have learning or physical disabilities, or have experienced the care system, in the North of England. The North of England for these purposes refers to the geographical area from the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire in the west, across Greater Manchester, and covering Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Humberside and Lincolnshire in the east. The charity has the aims of supplying those individuals with funds and support to enable them to advance themselves, through education such as the funding of courses or work placements, or other means including funds for equipment or assistive technology. This is in order to help them to improve their life outcomes, and their interactions with the care system where appropriate.
It is proposed that the Charity amends and increases the geographical area it covers to the whole of the North of England. This will hopefully mean that a greater diversity and range of applications can be encouraged, received and granted.
As always, the AGM welcomes any member who wishes to attend as well as any future participants.
The Treasurers report sets out the financial review over the last year.
Sharon Tappin 6 May 2026
Treasurer’s Report for the period 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025
I am pleased to report that this year has been much better in that we were able to help more people by managing to increase our spending by almost a factor of three. But receipts first.
As usual, the majority of the Foundation’s income came from the generosity of the members of Spire Barristers and our heartfelt thanks go to all who contributed throughout the year and continue to do so. Without them we could do so little.
There were two events during the year, both walks one to the Lake District and the other the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. A good time was had by all. Tuck box receipts were down £30 to £171.
We additionally received more interest on the monies on deposit, up 35%.
On the Payments side, unusually in this year we provided more equipment than donations. This was mainly due to our commitment to fund a large interactive table to Seacroft Primary school. At £7000 our largest single donation to date.
Specific help continues to go to Ask the Question where we sponsor three students instead of the two in previous years. We have provided grants to Affinity CIC and Lawyers who Care, as well as a grant for specialist training to Field Head Carr primary school.
On the equipment provision front and in addition to the Seacroft Primary grant, we have also provided laptops for individuals through Lawyers for Children, Fresh Futures as well as an iPad to a student at Field Head Carr school.
Website domain costs have two years charges because of timing and bank charges account for the remaining expenditure.
We hope to be able to maintain this level of giving help and grants in the coming year.
Colin Philpott
Treasurer 4 April 2026
Spire Foundation Registered Number 1199524 Accounts Statement, 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2025
| Spire Foundation Registered Number 1199524 Accounts Statement, 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2025 |
Spire Foundation Registered Number 1199524 Accounts Statement, 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2025 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and Payments basis | ||||||
| Section A, Unrestricted funds Receipts Net Membership Subscriptions Gift Aid Donations Miscellaneous+Tuck Box Events Raffles Bank Interest Total receipts Payments Administration Grants and Donations Equipment Provided Events Publicity Website Miscellaneous Bank Charges Total payments Net Receipts (Payments) Cash funds Transferred Cash funds this year end |
2024 / 25 0.00 |
2023 / 24 0.00 |
||||
| Gift Aid | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Donations | 10,540.03 | 11,578.92 | ||||
| Miscellaneous+Tuck Box | 171.20 | 206.60 | ||||
| Events | 525.62 | 141.22 | ||||
| Raffles | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Bank Interest | 289.08 | 213.62 | ||||
| Total receipts | 11,525.93 | 12,140.36 | ||||
| 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||
| Grants and Donations | 4,560.00 | 5,337.50 | ||||
| Equipment Provided | 9,203.44 | 0.00 | ||||
| Events | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Publicity | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Website | 187.06 | 0.00 | ||||
| Miscellaneous | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| Bank Charges | 60.00 | 60.00 | ||||
| Total payments | 14,010.50 | 5,397.50 | ||||
| Net Receipts (Payments) | (2,484.57) | 6,742.86 | ||||
| Cash funds Transferred | 18,205.26 | 11,462.40 | ||||
| Cash funds this year end | 15,720.69 | 18,205.26 | ||||
| Section B, Restricted income funds The charity has no restricted income funds |
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| Section C, Endowment funds The charity has no endowment funds |
||||||
| Section D, Statement of Assets and Liabilities at year end Cash funds Caf Cash Bank account Cash Deposit account Other account Other monetary assets Investment assets Assets retained for the society's own use Debtors Liabilities - Funding and Underwritten by Trustees |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 7,213.48 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 7,928.59 |
||||
| Cash | 41.00 0.00 |
41.00 0.00 |
||||
| Deposit account | 8,466.21 | 10,235.67 | ||||
| Other account | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||
| 15,720.69 0.00 |
18,205.26 0.00 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
0.00 0.00 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
0.00 0.00 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
0.00 0.00 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
0.00 0.00 |
|||||
| 0.00 0.00 |
0.00 0.00 |