ANNUAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT
Reporting Period : 22 April 2024 – 21 April 2025
Date of Trustee Approval: 27/01/2026
Name of Charity: Revolution Youth
Operating Name: Revolution Youth
Charity Number: 1207957
Registered Office: 109 Moorcroft Road, M23 0WP
Independent Examiner for Accounts: Alan Clements, MA ACIB FCIE.
Trustees during the period :
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Rachael Wright – Chair
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Joshua Gaunt – Treasurer
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Michael Astley (Cyprian) – Secretary (until 07/08/2024)
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Thomas Hockley – Secretary (from 30/09/2024)
Director: John Hopkins
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Revolution Youth is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by its constitution and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The CIO is governed a board of trustees, who meet regularly during the year to review Revolution Youth’s strategy, legal compliance, safeguarding, risks and finances.
The trustees were appointed in accordance with the constitution whilst registering as a CIO. During this reporting period, one founding trustee stepped down and Tom Hockley was appointed as our third trustee and Secretary as per our constitution. Every appointed trustee undertakes online training via the ICAEW Charity Trustee training programme, to ensure consistent understanding of role and responsibilities. The trustees would like to formally express our thanks to Cyprian Astley who served the trustee board until August 2024.
Revolution Youth’s day-to-day management and organisation of activities, including session planning and delivery, is led by our paid Director John Hopkins. Session delivery is also supported by a dedicated team of adult volunteers and young leaders.
OBJECTIVES AND PUBLIC BENEFIT
The charitable objects of Revolution Youth are:
“ To advance in life and help young people aged 11–18 in Wythenshawe, with a focus on those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, in accordance with a Christian ethos, primarily through:
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A) The provision of recreational and leisure-time activities in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life;
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B) Providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities, and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals”
The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and confirm that the activities undertaken during the year furthered the charity’s charitable purposes for the public benefit.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The majority of our youth activities take place during term time on Mondays and Wednesdays, for young people aged 11-18. Our sessions take place primarily in areas in the bottom 10% of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, working with children in the most deprived areas. Whilst activities are open to all, we know that the majority of our young people come from homes in deprived backgrounds.
Our main youth activities involved games, provision of free hot meals, talks and discussion groups based around topics generally related to wellbeing or social development. We have also had the opportunity to invite guest speakers to teach on prevalent issues for young people such as knife crime, as well as work with other organisations to deliver skills-based workshops, including music, rap, and DJ skills.
Holiday Provisions
A large portion of our funding has been for the development of holiday activities, including funding provision of food and activities for young people eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). According to statistics provided by the council, 95% of our young people are eligible for FSM. Our holiday sessions operated four days per week and included free food provision alongside engaging leisure activities. Attendance has increased to around 60 bookings per session, with holiday provision acting as an effective opportunity to attract new service users to join our term-time activities.
Residential
In the summer of 2024, Revolution youth facilitated a residential trip for 12 young people to Newday, a Christian camping festival. Although the trip is a Christian event, participation was open to all regardless of faith background. The trip proved successful in supporting personal development, peer relationships, and reflection. These experiences also lead to greater engagement with our other youth-based activities.
Volunteer and Young leaders
Our team comprises of Christian volunteers from Wythenshawe and the surrounding area. We have maintained a steady team of roughly 20 adult volunteers. However, we have also been able to develop a team of young leaders – young people aged 14-18 who have demonstrated a desire to learn leadership. Working with them, we have been able to help them develop skills in leadership, hospitality, public speaking, administration, cooking, event management and more. We have since observed improved confidence, responsibility and engagement among young leaders through this development programme. Our young leaders now form a crucial part of our team.
Growth
The number of our service users has grown, ending the year with between 30–50 young people engaging at our 11-14’s sessions on Wednesday, and between 15–25 young people engaging on a Monday.
SAFEGUARDING
Revolution Youth works with children and young people and is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment. A designated Safeguarding Lead is in place with responsibility for overseeing safeguarding practice and reporting to the trustees.
Safeguarding policies and procedures are maintained and reviewed regularly. All adult volunteers are subject to appropriate DBS checks, and safeguarding training is provided in line with roles and responsibilities.
RISK MANAGEMENT
As trustees, we regularly review key risks facing the charity, including safeguarding, financial sustainability, reliance on grant funding, volunteer capacity, and regulatory compliance. These
risks are managed through safeguarding policies, financial reviews, and regular evaluation of activities and resources. The trustee board consider the current arrangements proportionate to the size and nature of the charity.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Following our transition from a CIC to a CIO, our income has grown significantly through several successful grant awards. At present, 48% of our total income is restricted to holiday session delivery. We are keen to balance this growth by developing more unrestricted funding for our year-round main sessions. Our goal for the coming fiscal period is to improve our voluntary donation base and implement Gift Aid, thereby increasing our unrestricted reserves and ensuring the charity is not over-reliant on fixed-term grants.
Total income: £95,611
Restricted funds: £55,747
Unrestricted funds: £39,864
RESERVES POLICY
We aim to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately three months of core operating costs. At year end, unrestricted reserves stood at £22,209, which we consider to be adequate in accordance with the target level. The reserves position is reviewed regularly.
Full accounts are provided separately.
SUSTAINABILITY AND FUTURE PLANS
We remain mindful that continued growth must be balanced with available resources. Ensuring sufficient volunteer capacity, maintaining safeguarding standards, and securing sustainable funding remain key considerations as the charity plans future expansion.
In the next reporting period, Revolution Youth intends to:
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Continue delivering high-quality youth provision to disadvantaged young people
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Strengthen funding for core weekly activities by growing unrestricted income streams
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Continue to develop our young leader team
TRUSTEE DECLARATION
The trustees confirm that this report has been prepared in accordance with Charity Commission guidance and accurately reflects the charity’s activities and governance during the reporting period.
Approved by the trustees on: 28/01/2026
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Name.. Rachael Wright Role.- Chair of Trustees
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