**LIFT OFF Charity Aberfield Gate** Belle Isle Leeds LS10 3QH ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** ## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** ## **Governing Framework** LIFT OFF is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation based upon the Association Model provided by the Charity Commission. It is registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales 19[th] June 2024, Number 1208724 ## **Trustees who served during the year** Leon Kirkham* retired 18.11.24 Harry Austin* from 28.11.24 Robert Chesterfield Deborah Kelly* Jonah Ulebor Rev Christopher Buckley * Ex officio postholders within the sole member body, Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation – see below. ## **Membership** Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO) is the sole member body of the Charity. It is a not-for-profit social housing provider registered as a Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative and Communities Benefit Societies Act 2014. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 29817R. The registered office of BITMO is the same as that of the Lift Off charity. ## **Where possible LIFT OFF can provide information in a variety of formats including large print, audio CD/tape, Braille or translated into another language. For further help or information please telephone us care of BITMO on 0113 3782188** LIFT OFF Charity Registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales number 1208725 Registered Office: Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, Leeds LS10 3QH ## **Charitable Objects Clause** The Objects of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) are the Relief of Poverty or Financial Hardship of those living in Belle Isle, Leeds, for the benefit of the public by the provision of support, including (but not limited to) financial support. ## **Mission** The mission of Lift Off is to raise residents of Belle Isle out of severe poverty circumstances they may face. In the start up phase, this will be through the direct provision of goods provided by the Charity, such as winter warmth items, or essential household goods, or by the provision of hardship grants to individuals. Help will be given to those identified as being in need because of dire financial circumstances. In the longer term the relief of poverty activities will expand to include the facilitation of self help amongst those in need, by the provision of education and training services to help lift people out of long term poverty. ## **Activities** Since registration with the Charity Commission the organisation has investigated fundraising activities to fund its charitable activities and has sought to engage a fundraiser on a paid basis. No contract has, however, been entered into because of the need to establish banking facilities. ## **Operations** The Charity will make use of facilities within BITMO to enable activities to take place. This will include input from BITMO members of staff to identify those in need and to administer the required charitable actions. ## **Banking facilities** Following considerable delays outside of their control, the Trustees were finally able to establish a bank account for the charity in December 2025. This means that initial funds of £10k can be transferred from the sole member body (BITMO) to ensure that charitable activities can commence. It is expected that work will begin in late January 2026. ## **Accounts for the Year 2024-25** Due to the lack of an available bank account during the year, the Charity was not able to initiate activities and fundraising. There was therefore no income or expenditure for the financial year. It is expected that activity and transactions will occur in 2026. ## **Risk Management** Trustees have overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining the organisations system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. Now that operations are about to commence there will be the following systems in place to mitigate risks to the organisation: - Regular updates to Trustees of fundraising operations and success. - Clear identification of individuals requiring assistance via procedures established within BITMO. - Regular Trustee review of spend recommendations. - A two person sign off of any expenditure. - Regular review of income and expenditure. - Regular reviews of performance. ## **Going concern** Given the recent establishment of a bank account, the agreed seed corn funding from the sole member body and in principle agreement with the fundraiser, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity will continue for the foreseeable future. Signed: Harry Austin: Deborah Kelly: Date: 21[st] January 2026 On behalf of the Trustees