2025-09-30-accounts - The Achieve Equity Foundation

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Achieve Equity Foundation

Charity Registration Number 1204018

Trustees’ Informal Report 30[th] September 2025 (For period 1/1/25 – 30/9/25)

		Page
1.	Legal and Administrative	2
	information
2.	Trustees’ Annual Report	3-5
	2.1 Structure, Governance and
	Management
	2.2 Objectives and Activities
	2.3 Public Beneft Statement
	2.4 Achievements and
	Performance
	2.5 Financial Review (incl.
	reserves policy)
	2.6 Plans for Future Periods
	2.7 Risk Management
3.	Statement of Trustees’	6
	responsibilities
4.	Independent Examiner’s	7
	Report
5.	Statement of Financial	8
	Activities (SOFA)
6.	Balance Sheet including	9
	Statement of Receipts and
	Payments
7.	Notes to the Accounts	10
	7.1. Accounting policies
	7.2. Trustee remuneration and
	expenses
	7.3. Related party transactions
	7.4. Grants to institutions
	7.5. Analysis of support costs

enquiries@achieve-equity.org

achieve-equity.org

1. Legal and administrative information

Trustees David Hollomby Martin Illingworth Jennifer Ford Mark Highfield Luke Bramhall Date of Settlement 18[th] July 2023 Charity Number 1204018 Principal Address Slipways 1b Pengwern Road Shrewsbury SY3 8JD Independent Examiner Rick Van Driel Bankers HSBC Bank Ltd Online Banking

2. Trustees’ Annual Report.

The trustees present their report together with the financial statements for the period 1[st] January 2025 to 30[th] September 2025. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the Charities SORP (FRS102).

2.1 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a constitution dated 18[th] July 2023 and constitutes an incorporated charity.

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year were: Katy Baker David Hollomby Martin Illingworth Jennifer Ford Mark Highfield Luke Bramhall

The power of appointing new trustees is vested in the majority of the trustees.

Risk Management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees have assessed such risks and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate their exposure to major risks.

2.2 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Mission: To empower disadvantaged[1] young people across the UK by providing targeted educational grants; allowing schools to foster equitable opportunities and promote positive social change.

Charitable Objects: For the public benefit to advance education of people under 18 in the UK, in particular but not exclusively by funding innovative projects designed to raise attainment of disadvantaged young people.

At the 19[th] September 2024 Annual General Meeting, the objectives for the first year of operations of the AEF were reviewed by Trustees. Amendments and additions were made which form the basis of the objectives outlined below for the second year of operations ready for review at the 2025 AGM.

Grant Disbursement: Distribute grants to a minimum of 25 schools serving disadvantaged communities, supporting initiatives that directly enhance access to quality education and extracurricular activities.
Engagement with Schools: Termly free online event #RadioRADY to bring schools together, share ideas and see connections to RADY to build partnerships with schools going beyond grants

1 The AEF is committed to helping young people disadvantaged by poverty.

Impact Measurement: Schools given grants have been asked to provide data by the first year as an impact assessment against their smart targets.
Outreach: In circumstances where the AEF is unlikely to distribute the minimum number of grants stated above, organise suitable outreach event(s) aimed at promoting the availability of grants to schools.
Raising awareness: Accept opportunities to speak at events and meetings in order to raise awareness about educational disparities and the foundation’s efforts to support schools to eradicate these.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with local authorities, educational organisations, and other charities to amplify the foundation's reach and impact within England and Wales.
Online Presence: Establish a user-friendly website and active social media channels to showcase the foundation's mission, success stories, and upcoming initiatives.
Strategic Planning: Begin the development of a long-term strategic plan, outlining the foundation's goals, expansion strategies, and areas of focus for the upcoming years.

These objectives reflect the AEF’s intention to focus solely on grant distribution, partnerships with schools, impact measurement, community engagement, collaboration, online presence, and strategic planning during the second year of operations.

2.3 PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT

The trustees confirm they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The charity’s work in funding schools and promoting equity in education delivers clear public benefit by advancing education for disadvantaged children.

2.4 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The trustees do not usually consider unsolicited applications unless they meet the criteria of the charity. All grants are considered by the trustees at their meetings. The trust has implemented an application process for grants and invited schools to apply for funding for innovative projects to support disadvantaged learners. The application process was adjusted to improve the acceptance rate, trying to ensure that applicants fully understand the process and what is required to be successful. The trust received 15 applications in the April 25 round. It has approved and disbursed funds to 9 schools which met the criteria for funding. The total disbursed was £13,345 to projects including early reading intervention, after school club refurbishment, breakfast club, a wildlife garden, supporting an outdoor learning space.

2.5 FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income: £85,000 Expenditure: £13,717.98 Net movement in funds: £71,282.03 Funds carried forward: £116,502.92

Reserves Policy for Achieve Equity Foundation

1. Purpose of this policy

The trustees of Achieve Equity Foundation recognise their duty to ensure the charity is financially sustainable and able to manage unforeseen events. This policy sets out our approach to holding and managing reserves.

2. What are reserves?

Reserves are funds the charity has which are freely available for use, excluding:

Restricted funds (given for a specific purpose).
Fixed assets (e.g. property or equipment).
Designated funds set aside for future projects.

3. Why we hold reserves

We hold reserves to:

Ensure we can continue essential services in the event of income shortfall.
Provide a buffer against unexpected costs.
Allow time for an orderly wind-down of operations, if ever required.

4. Target level of reserves

The trustees have agreed to maintain reserves equivalent to 6 months of core operating costs , currently estimated at £200 plus sufficient funds to cover unexpected costs and an orderly wind-down of the charity.

This figure will be reviewed annually to ensure it reflects the charity’s current commitments and risks.

5. Monitoring and review

The level of reserves will be reviewed at least once a year when approving the budget.
The policy will be revisited annually, or sooner if there are significant changes in income, expenditure, or risk.

6. Public reporting

In line with Charity Commission guidance, the trustees will explain the charity’s reserves position each year in the trustees’ annual report.

Principal sources of income: Donations.

Principal expenditure: Grant-making to schools and associated charitable activities.

2.6 PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

For 2025–26 the charity intends to:

Distribute grants to at least 25 schools.
Build partnerships with local authorities and other education charities.
• Increase outreach via online channels and #RadioRADY.
Continue development of a long-term strategic plan.

2.7 RISK MANAGEMENT

The trustees have assessed the key risks facing the charity, including funding sustainability, safeguarding grant funds, and governance capacity. Controls are in place including financial policies, independent examination, and grant monitoring procedures.

3. Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standard have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Independent Examiner's Report CHARln COMMISSION FOR ENfAAMJ AND WALES Indopendont examlnoe8 r•port on th• accounts Independenl Exarniner s Report IER

5. Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the period 1[st] January 2025 – 30[th] Sept 2025

2025 – 30th Sept	2025
Income	Unrestricted Funds(£)	Restricted Funds (£)	Total 2025 (£)
Donations and legacies Charitable activities (event income) Investments / bank interest Total Income	21250 63750 85000 0 0 0 0 0 0 21250 63750 85000

Expenditure Grant-making to schools Direct charitable activities Support costs (governance, admin, professional fees) Total Expenditure	Unrestricted Funds(£)	Restricted Funds (£)	Total 2025 (£)
	0 13345.00 13345.00 0 0 0 372.98 372.98 372.98 13345.00 13717.98

6. Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2025

	2025(£)	2024(£)
Fixed Assets Current Assets: Cash at bank and in hand Current Assets: Debtors Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets Net Assets Funds: Unrestricted general fund Funds: Restricted funds Reserves (suggested) Total Funds	0 0 116502.92 58381.78 0 0 116502.92 58381.78 0 0 116502.92 58381.78 116502.92 58381.78 29125.73 14595.44 84877.19 43786.34 2500.00 116502.92 58381.78

Statement of Net movement: Achieve Equity Foundation.

For the Period 1[st] January 2025 – 30[th] Sept 2025 September 2025

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
Category	£	£	£
Cash at start of period	11,305.23	33,915.68	45,220.91
Cash at end of period	29,125.73	87,377.19	116,502.92
Net Movement	17,820.51	53,461.52	71,282.03

7. Notes to the Accounts

7.1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
Income is recognised when receivable.
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis.
Grants are recognised when approved and payable.

7.2. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

No trustee received remuneration or expenses during the period (2024: nil).

7.3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

None.

7.4. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS

During the year, 9 schools received grants totalling £13,345 (range: £1,000–£1,500 per school).

7.5. ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS

Governance and admin £372.98, comprising insurance and professional services.