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2025-04-28-accounts

Annual Report 2024-25 BRIDGING THEn FUTURE Bridging the Future

Contents

Chair’s Statement ii
Trustees’ Report iii
Objectives and Activities iv
Review of the Year v
Impact and Public Beneft x
Governance xi
Acknowledgements xii
Future Plans xiii
Annual Report for the Period xiv
Financial Information xxiv

i

Chair’s Statement

It is a privilege to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Bridging the Future, a charity dedicated to opening up educational opportunities for young people from refugee, forced migrant and asylum-seeking backgrounds through high-quality academic enrichment.

Bridging the Future designs and delivers summer schools and online mentoring programmes centred on STEM, complemented by IT skills training and tailored English instruction. These initiatives are intended not merely to support students, but to challenge and energise them—developing the knowledge, confidence, and ambition required to pursue demanding pathways in STEM related disciplines. Our programmes run both online and in collaboration with world-class academic institutions. Through these partnerships, participants gain access to undergraduate teaching laboratories and specialist research facilities, experiencing an authentic introduction to the culture and expectations of higher education.

Over the past year, we have continued to strengthen our governance, refine our programme delivery, and broaden partnerships. As trustees, we remain committed to careful stewardship of resources, clear accountability, and long-term sustainability. We monitor ground-level outcomes closely, ensuring that our input translates into tangible organisational progress. The collective efforts of everyone involved in the charity are evident not only in the steady growth in applications each year, but in the intellectual curiosity sparked, the confidence built, and the seeds of academic potential realised. For many students, participation represents their first experience of advanced STEM study in a university-style environment—an experience that can be transformative.

On behalf of the Board, I extend sincere thanks to our volunteers, academic collaborators, charitable partners, and supporters. Their commitment and generosity enable Bridging the Future to remain ambitious in its pursuit of educational equity.

Dr Nick Nicolaou

ii

Trustees’ Report

Bridging the Future is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1201227), registered at Batford Mill, Lower Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 5BZ.

The charity supports young refugees, asylum seekers, and forced migrants aged 16–21 by improving access to education, skills, and opportunity. Our work focuses on addressing barriers to higher education through two core programmes: a STEM-focused Summer School at University College London and a year-round mentoring programme. Both initiatives are volunteer-led and delivered free of cost.

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

Trustees

Nick Nicolao (Chair) Jack O’Neil (Treasurer) Sara Abbasi

Daniel Gradeci

iii

Objectives and Activities

The objects of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), as set out in its constitution, are:

To act as a resource for young people from refugee, forced migrant and asylumseeking backgrounds between the ages of 16–21 living in the United Kingdom, by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of educational activities as a means of:

To deliver these charitable objects during the period April 2024 to April 2025, Bridging the Future focused on the following principal activities:

These programmes are designed to improve educational access, build confidence, and support progression into further and higher education for young people from refugee and forced-migration backgrounds.

iv

Review of the Year

Overview

During the period April 2024 to April 2025, Bridging the Future continued to deliver structured educational support through its Summer School and mentoring programme. Our work focused on improving educational access, building academic confidence, and providing exposure to university environments for young refugees and forced migrants.

The year demonstrated the importance of sustained, supportive educational engagement for young people facing complex challenges. Through volunteer-led delivery, the charity maintained consistent support and meaningful participation across its programmes.

Summer School 2024

The Summer School, held at University College London, provided a structured academic programme combining English development, scientific learning, and university preparation. Students participated in interactive teaching, laboratory visits, and collaborative learning designed to build confidence, curiosity, and academic motivation.

Participants engaged with a wide range of scientific disciplines including physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, mathematics, and materials science. Laboratory visits within the London Centre for Nanotechnology and the UCL Physics Department gave students direct exposure to real scientific environments and research culture, helping demystify higher education and inspire future aspirations.

The programme also included poster preparation and presentation training, enabling students to develop communication, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills.

Participation

v

While the period presented external challenges affecting travel and confidence among some participants, the consistent support provided by the team enabled students to engage with the programme and participate as fully as possible.

Learning Outcomes

Funding

The Summer School was supported by funding from:

London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, UCL

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Bridging the Future: Summer School 2024 - Applicant Information Country of Orfgln Y••r Moved iothè UK .11 o* Ag• DlstrlbutSon FqmB 37 MAle Cvrrent Education Level Motivation forjoinirbg ESOL vii

Summer School Images Iqi viii

Mentoring Programme

Alongside the Summer School, the charity continued its mentoring programme, providing – individual academic guidance and support throughout the year. During April 2024 April 2025:

Mentoring focused on academic development, study skills, confidence-building, and educational progression. Participants reported increased clarity in their academic direction, improved confidence, and stronger engagement with learning.

The mentoring programme remains an important element of the charity’s long-term educational support.

ix

Impact and Public Benefit

Bridging the Future provides clear public benefit by improving educational access and opportunity for young refugees, asylum seekers and forced migrants. Through structured academic support, mentoring, and exposure to higher education environments, participants gain knowledge, skills, and confidence that contribute to long-term educational progression and social integration.

During the year:

Beyond academic outcomes, the charity’s work promotes confidence, belonging, and motivation, supporting young people in overcoming barriers and pursuing meaningful educational pathways.

x

Governance

Bridging the Future is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England (Charity No. 1201227). The charity operates in accordance with its constitution and the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the strategic direction, governance, and compliance of the charity. Trustees oversee the charity’s activities, ensure that resources are applied solely in furtherance of its charitable objectives, and meet regularly to review progress and impact. Operational delivery of the charity’s programmes is supported by Bridging the Future senior team who work closely under the guidance of the Trustees. The operations team typically consists of undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and educators associated with University College London, including the London Centre for Nanotechnology, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and the Institute of Education.

This team leads the organisation and delivery of the Summer School at UCL and coordinates the mentoring programme, ensuring consistent educational support for participants.

xi

Acknowledgements

The Trustees would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the work of Bridging the Future during the period April 2024 to April 2025.

We thank all our volunteers whose dedication, time, and commitment made it possible to deliver both the Summer School and mentoring programme. Their continued support remains central to the charity’s work and impact.

We are especially grateful to the researchers and educators who delivered the STEM teaching sessions, and to the teachers from the UCL Institute of Education who provided the English learning programme, helping participants build confidence and strengthen their academic skills.

We extend our sincere thanks to Professor Steve Bramwell (London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL) and Dr Robert Thomson (Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, UCL) for their continued support and for helping provide the funding that enabled the Summer School 2024 to take place.

We also thank Derek Thomas and Fahad Ihsan (Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCL) for their generous assistance during the Summer School and for facilitating access to laboratory space within the department.

The Trustees are deeply grateful to all who contributed their time, expertise, and support to help young people engage with education and build pathways toward their future.

xii

Future Plans

During the forthcoming year, Bridging the Future will continue delivering its core programmes: the STEM Summer School and the mentoring scheme, building on the foundations established during 2024–25.

For the Summer School, we will strengthen outreach efforts across London by developing new partnerships with charities, schools, and colleges working with refugee and forcedmigrant communities. Our aim is to ensure that as many deserving young people as possible are aware of and able to access the programme. By broadening our engagement network, we seek to increase participation and ensure the programme reaches those who can benefit most.

Within the mentoring programme, we plan to enhance the structure and efficiency of online delivery by transitioning to Google Workspace. This will provide a more organised and collaborative digital environment for mentors and students, improving communication, resource sharing, and continuity of support.

Securing a Google for Nonprofits account will mark an important milestone for us, as it will give the charity access to tools and support that will strengthen our digital capacity and outreach. Over the coming year, we will use the Google Ad Grants programme to launch targeted advertising campaigns that increase awareness of our mission and drive potential donors to our charity website. We will use these campaigns to test and refine messaging, improve online conversion pathways, and grow a consistent base of supporters. In doing so, we will work towards establishing a more independent and sustainable revenue stream that reduces reliance on university-linked funding and helps secure the long-term delivery of our programmes.

In addition, we will work to expand the charity’s public presence and accessibility. This includes further development of our website, increasing engagement through professional platforms such as LinkedIn, and creating informative and inspiring educational content for platforms such as YouTube. Through these improvements, we aim to broaden awareness of our work, attract new supporters and volunteers, and increase the long-term sustainability of Bridging the Future.

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Annual Report for the Period xiv

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 29/04/2024 Period start date To 28/04/2025 Period end date

Charity name: Bridging the Future Charity registration number: 1201227

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 Through our programmes, we aim to:
●
upskill young people from low
socioeconomic and/or forced
migration backgrounds in English
and STEM subjects;
●
support young people in their
educational and career pursuits.
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		 The main charitable activities for the public
benefit were:
●Running summer schools, relating
to the teaching of science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM).
●Operating mentorship schemes for
our student cohorts.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 Yes

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making

N/A Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 Within the timeframe of this report, April
2024 until April 2025, Bridging the Future
received 39 applications and supported 22
students from low socioeconomic and/or
forced migration backgrounds for a 2 week
summer school, introducing students to
concepts in Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
Computing and Mathematics. To support
the summer school we recruited 12
volunteers to teach lessons and maintain
our safeguarding practices.
Subsequently, 4 students were supported
through an online mentoring scheme for a
total of 30 hours of teaching, with help from
6 volunteer tutors and 4 session
moderators.
Our students have benefited from tailored
teaching and extra-curricular support on
applications to higher education
institutions.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

----- Start of picture text -----
Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
----- End of picture text -----

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 financial position at the end of the period Statement explaining the Para 1.22 policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 reserves Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 deficit Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern

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 Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 Charitable Incorporated Organisation (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 (1) Apart from the first charity trustees,
every trustee must be appointed [for a term
of [three] years] by a resolution passed at a
properly convened meeting of the charity
trustees.
(2) In selecting individuals for appointment
as charity trustees, the charity trustees
must have regard to the skills, knowledge
and experience needed for the effective
administration of the CIO.

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 the Future
Other name the charity uses BTF
Registered charity number 1201227
Charity’s principal address Batford Mill, Lower Luton Rd, Harpenden AL5 5BZ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

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20		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Dr Nick Nicolaou Chair of Trustees
Mr Jack O’Neil Treasurer
Dr Daniel Gradeci
Miss Sara Abbasi

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A 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)

Dr Safe Khan, Ms Muslihah Albakri, Dr Massimiliano Ramsay, Guillermo Herrera Sanchez

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Nick Nicolaou Full name(s) Jack O’Neil Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair Chair, etc) Date 26/2/2026 22/02/2026

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