## **SAMMY’S FOUNDATION** Registered Charity Number: 1209562 Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts For the period ended 30 September 2025 1 ## **Reference and Administrative Details** **Charity name:** Sammy’s Foundation **Legal structure:** Charitable Incorporated Organisation **Date of registration:** 12 August 2024 **Principal operating area:** Kent, England **Registered address:** 2 Queens Road, Ramsgate, CT11 8DZ **Email:** sammysfoundationcharity@gmail.com ## **Trustees during the period:** - Amanda Batten (Chair) - Andrew Waller (Treasurer) - Stephen Kingdon (Governance Lead) - Jonathan Deslandes (Safeguarding Lead) – appointed 5 September 2024 ## **Founder:** - Patricia Alban ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Sammy’s Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution registered with the Charity Commission. The only voting members are the trustees. Three trustees were in place at registration. A fourth trustee was appointed in September 2024. Trustees are appointed for a three-year term. Trustees were recruited through local networks, public advertisement and social media. Induction follows Charity Commission guidance and includes review of the governing document, safeguarding responsibilities, and trustee duties. Trustees have a range of experience including disability, charity leadership and management, finance and safeguarding. In addition, Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts, was co-opted into trustee meetings later in the year to provide a valuable perspective from the heritage crafts sector. ## **Organisational Structure** The charity does not yet employ staff. Operational delivery is led by the Founder, Patricia Alban, supported by trustees, volunteers and freelance administrative support. Specialist heritage craft training is delivered by expert craftspeople engaged on a freelance basis. Trustees meet regularly and maintain oversight of strategy, safeguarding, financial management and risk. 2 ## **Forward from Charity Founder, Patricia Alban** This first year of Sammy’s Foundation has been both humbling and extraordinary. When I created the charity in memory of my son, Sammy Alban-Stanley who died prematurely at the age of 13, my hope was simple but ambitious: to build something that honoured his craftsmanship, his determination, and the enormous potential that he and so many other young people like him have, but are too often denied the chance to fulfil. Sammy was born with a genetic neuro-developmental disability called Prader Willi Syndrome and living with complex needs, his life was full of challenges but he also faced systemic barriers every day of his life. His life was cut short due to inadequate care from state agencies meant to support disabled children and he had a full, human rights inquest exposing significant failings which led to a national Prevention of Future Deaths notice sent to Government. Yet he was eager, curious, and capable of working at a very high level with his hands, particular favourites being carpentry, sewing and upholstery - he wanted to contribute and to belong and should have been given a chance to do so. His sudden death left an indescribable loss. With grief at the unnecessary waste of life as the driver behind the charity at the outset, I was determined to give other young people with complex needs and learning disabilities the chance at a future that Sammy never had. This year, that vision began to come alive. As we move into our second year, I do so with gratitude for the growing community of supporters who believe in our mission. We have established strong partnerships, and laid the foundations for a programme that can scale and endure. Most importantly, we have created a space where young people can be seen for their abilities, not their limitations - where they can learn, grow, and find a future previously out of reach. Thank you to everyone who has helped bring Sammy’s Foundation to life; our master craftspeople, our advocates, our funders, our trustees, our partners and volunteers, and the families who have trusted us with their young people’s aspirations. Your belief has made this year possible. This work will always carry Sammy’s spirit at its heart. And it will always strive to ensure that every young person who comes through our doors is valued, challenged, celebrated, and given the chance to build a meaningful and connected life. ## **Forward from Chair of Trustees, Amanda Batten** It has been an incredible founding year for Sammy’s Foundation. I would like to thank our Founder, Patricia Alban, and the trustees for all their efforts this year to launch the charity. Thanks to all those who have volunteered their advice and support over the year. Starting a new charity is challenging. What makes Sammy’s Foundation special for me is the clarity of vision and purpose that drives every decision we make. We are ambitious for the young people we work with, and ambitious for what we can achieve working together. We can only deliver on this ambition by securing funding and wider support for our cause. So as we reflect on a wonderful start, we are hopeful for the future. We are setting out to build support for our vision in the years ahead and transform lives. 3 ## **Public Benefit Statement** The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and planning its activities. In doing so they remain confident that the Charity’s purpose continues to serve a clear public interest. This commitment to public benefit is a guiding principle in all of the Charity’s endeavours. ## **Objectives and Activities** ## **Charitable Purpose** Founded in memory of Sammy Alban-Stanley, who tragically died aged 13, the charity is dedicated to providing young people with complex neurological conditions access to highquality training in heritage craft skills, leading to meaningful occupation and enabling them to live connected lives. ## **Vision** _“A new generation of master artisans supported, valued and thriving in their communities.”_ We work towards our vision by delivering high quality training in heritage craft skills to young people with complex neurological conditions. Sammy’s Foundation aims to teach skilled, technical crafts to young adults with complex neurological conditions. Training in these traditional crafts is tailored to individual needs. We work to help uncover hidden talents and develop practical skills which can lead to meaningful occupation in the traditional heritage craft sector and recognition to build confidence and self-esteem. Providing young adults with complex conditions the support to live meaningful and connected lives. We do this by developing and delivering structured training courses to teach endangered heritage craft skills including traditional upholstery, French polishing and passementerie alongside other valuable artisan skills. ## **Scope of Activities** The charity works towards its objectives by: - Delivering structured heritage craft training programmes - Partnering with specialist schools and master craftspeople - • Securing bursaries to remove financial barriers - Providing mentoring and progression pathways Craft disciplines delivered or developed include: - Traditional upholstery - French polishing - Passementerie - Canework - Wood carving - Wood-turning - French wool mattress making 4 ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Overview of First Year** This was the Foundation’s inaugural year of operation. Key achievements include: - Formal public launch event in December 2024 - Partnerships with two local special schools - Engagement of 19 young people across pilot programmes - Securing two City & Guilds bursaries - Establishing relationships with four master craftspeople - 100% of participants reporting increased confidence ## **Objective 1: Launch the Foundation** The Foundation was formally launched on 5 December 2024 at the Furniture Makers’ Hall in London. The launch was hosted by Evan Davis (BBC Radio 4, Dragon’s Den), who gave a thoughtful address on the relationship between craft, giving, and happiness. The programme of speakers included Polly Billington MP, Daniel Carpenter (Heritage Crafts Association), Sonnaz Nooranvary (BBC’s Repair Shop), Holly Howe (HOWE London), Emma Bulmer (Bulmer Natural Heritage Paint), and Stephen Unwin (Theatre Director and disability campaigner). Their contributions reflected the Foundation’s aims and the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for young people. Media coverage included BBC News and local press. This coverage enabled us to raise awareness of our charity’s mission and of the challenges many young people with complex neurological conditions face, and at the same time to highlight their potential. We were glad to be able to take this message to a wide public audience. Ahead of the launch, participants in the pilot training programme produced a series of technically skilled pieces, which were displayed and auctioned during the evening. Several young people attended the event, providing a powerful demonstration of the potential impact of the Foundation’s work and raising awareness of their capabilities within the heritage craft community. ## **Objective 2: Deliver Heritage Craft Training** We delivered a six-day pilot programme in two phases (November 2024 and April 2025), partly funded by Kent County Council. The programme focused on four specialist heritage crafts: passementerie, French polishing, canework and tick wool mattress making. Over the course of the both pilot phases we engaged 19 young people from schools supporting those with complex needs, as well as individuals not in education, employment or training (NEET). Participants developed practical craft skills alongside transferable skills such as teamwork, focus, and resilience. Evaluation indicated strong positive outcomes, with 100% of participants reporting increased confidence, and teachers noting higher engagement levels following the programme **.** We delivered supplementary workshops in partner schools, enabling continuity of learning beyond the pilot. Ongoing individual support was provided to selected participants to reinforce progress and explore pathways to further training. 5 We were delighted to secure two bursaries from City & Guilds. We have identified experts to deliver and design the training programmes. Recipients of the bursaries will commence training in the next financial year in passementerie and French polishing. These bursaries ensure that financial constraints will not prevent participation in advanced training opportunities. ## **Case Study: Kyle's Journey** Kyle is a young man with a passion for art. He attends a school for young people with severe learning disabilities, and is autistic and non-verbal. Prior to the programme, he had limited opportunities for skills development or future employment pathways. Through the pilot programme, Kyle discovered a natural aptitude for French polishing. He developed technical skills, built confidence in his abilities, and began to express aspirations to continue training with a career in heritage crafts in mind. Kyle is one of our trainees who will benefit from the Foundation's City & Guilds bursaries to support his continued development. This case demonstrates the programme's potential to achieve meaningful and sustained impact for individuals who have historically faced significant barriers to education and employment. ## **Objective 3: Establish Effective Foundations** During the year the charity: - Established banking and financial systems - Developed safeguarding and health & safety policies - Implemented risk monitoring processes - Launched the charity’s website and social media channels - Developed a modular, costed training curriculum Instagram following reached over 550 by year-end. In our inaugural year we have focused on getting the foundations in place to grow an impactful charity. With limited resources we established the basics, from opening a bank account to creating policies to govern how we would operate. Trustees met regularly with the Founder throughout this period. It was particularly important for us to establish a safeguarding policy and ways of working to ensure this was put into practice. Trustees also met to discuss key risks and mitigations regularly. We launched the charity’s brand, website and social media channels. Our work supports young people into careers in heritage crafts on the basis of the excellence they can achieve. Therefore, it was important for the Foundation’s brand and communications to reflect the high standards of craftsmanship that we aspire to with the young people we work with. We established a training curriculum for the Foundation. This is a modular curriculum and covers Traditional upholstery, French polishing, canework, wood carving, wood-turning, passementerie and French wool mattress making. Modules can run as stand-alone workshops, or be combined to provide a more comprehensive offer. A focus for this year has been to raise funds in order to roll out workshops and training programmes to more young people. We are grateful to the individuals and funders who have shown an interest in our work and been willing to support the start-up of the charity. 6 ## **Outcomes and Impact** ## **Direct Impact** - 19 young people accessed specialist heritage training, opportunities not otherwise available to them - Participants developed practical and creative skills, and reported improved selfesteem, and a strong sense of achievement - Several young people expressed interest in continuing their craft training, with clear pathways now established ## **Wider Impact** - The charity has contributed to the preservation and promotion of heritage craft skills by starting to engage a new generation of learners - The pilot demonstrated that heritage crafts can act as an effective medium for engagement and inclusion, providing a scalable model for future programme delivery - Awareness raised through events, communications, and partnerships has strengthened community understanding of the needs of beneficiaries and the importance of inclusive education ## **Foundation for Growth** - The charity established its public identity through professional branding, website, and social media platforms - A supporter base has been built, including individual donors, corporate partners, and institutional supporters - Strong relationships have been established with master craftspeople, schools, heritage craft organisations, and potential commercial partners - The launch created visibility and credibility within the heritage craft sector, disability networks, and the wider community - A structured, evidence-based training model has been developed that can be replicated and scaled in future years Our approach to skills training has been deliberately strategic. Throughout the year, we have identified and partnered with master craftspeople in rarely taught heritage crafts that carry significant market value and cultural prestige. This intentionality has been central to our mission. We recognise that young people deserve pathways to financially sustainable careers, not merely occupational activity. By focusing on high-end, exclusive heritage crafts, our trainees can develop skills that translate directly into economic security and social recognition. Our aim is to are build lasting partnerships with premium brands and retailers to establish a distinguished Sammy's Foundation product range. This commercial dimension is purposeful: it creates tangible career pathways whilst positioning our young craftspeople within markets that value excellence and mastery. Through rigorous training, professional mentorship, and strategic brand development, we are establishing Sammy's Foundation as a hallmark of quality and credibility. Our aim is that 7 young people will enter their professions equipped not only with exceptional skills, but with the respect and recognition those skills inherently deserve - directly challenging prejudice and opening doors to genuine opportunity. ## **Financial Review** For the period 12 August 2024 ending 30 September 2025 Income was primarily derived from donations and grants, with expenditure focused on programme delivery and essential operational costs. While fundraising remained challenging, prudent financial management ensured that core activities were maintained. ## **Financial Position** Total income for the period: **£34,237.81** Total expenditure: **£12,836.14** Funds carried forward: **£21,401.67** Of this: - **£12,188** is restricted - **£9,213.67** is unrestricted Income was primarily from grants and donations. Expenditure focused on programme delivery and essential operational costs. The trustees are satisfied that financial controls are appropriate for a charity of this size. ## **Statement on Reserves Policy** The trustees aim to hold unrestricted reserves equivalent to 3–6 months of core operating costs to ensure continuity. At year-end unrestricted reserves stood at **£9,213.67,** which is within the target range based on current expenditure levels. This is on target level, and trustees will prioritise building reserves through future fundraising and careful cost management. ## **Fundraising** Fundraising activities included: - Grant applications - Individual donations - Pro-bono fundraising support As a new and small charity, securing sustainable income continues to be a significant challenge. 8 All fundraising efforts were led by the Founder, Trustees, volunteers, and administrative support, and the charity did not engage any professional fundraisers. Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen and diversify our fundraising base through targeted grant applications and the development of partnerships with local organisations. The charity complies with recognised fundraising standards and received no complaints regarding fundraising during the period. ## **Going Concern** The trustees consider there to be no material uncertainties regarding the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from approval of these accounts. ## **Risk Management** The trustees have reviewed major risks and established mitigation strategies. ## **Key risks identified:** 1. Funding sustainability 2. Founder capacity and sustainability 3. Safeguarding risks when working with vulnerable young people ## **Mitigations:** - Diversified funding strategy - Administrative and trustee support structures - Robust safeguarding and health & safety policies - Risk assessments prior to workshops The primary risks during our first year have been securing sufficient funding and managing the potential for Founder burnout. Trustees monitor both risks on an ongoing basis. As Founder, Patricia Alban has invested countless voluntary hours as well as significant financial contributions to establish the charity. While the organisation has benefited greatly from her commitment and expertise, trustees recognise that this level of voluntary contribution must remain sustainable. Mitigation measures include securing administrative assistance, accessing pro-bono fundraising support, and holding regular trustee meetings. Fundraising is a common challenge for small, newly established charities. Our mitigation strategies include seeking pro-bono fundraising advice, drawing on trustee support, and exploring a range of funding opportunities. Without adequate income, we are unable to deliver our courses, which restricts what we can offer young people. To mitigate this risk we have planned a series of taster workshops for the next financial year. At Sammy’s Foundation we work with young people with complex conditions. We have a robust safeguarding policy and health and safety policy in place. All young people are risk assessed before they take part in a workshop to ensure that the activities will be safe and meaningful for them. 9 ## **Plans for 2025/26** Planned priorities include: - Delivery of three full heritage craft modules - Expansion of taster workshops - Development of trainee manuals - Establishment of regular training hubs - Formation of a Fundraising Committee - Hosting a Garden Party fundraising event - Increased grant applications The charity aims to scale delivery responsibly while maintaining quality and safeguarding standards. In 2025/26, Sammy’s Foundation will build on its successful inaugural year by expanding training opportunities, including delivering 3 modules from our heritage craft programme and offering more taster sessions to increase accessibility. We plan to develop high-quality trainee manuals to support continued learning and practice outside of workshops, ensuring participants can consolidate skills independently. The Foundation will continue to formalise progression pathways, provide individualised mentoring, and strengthen partnerships with schools, master craftspeople, and commercial partners to create meaningful opportunities for skills development, recognition, and employment. Our plan is to establish regular hubs where young people can come together to practice the skills they’ve learned through the Heritage Crafts program and create high-quality products they can be proud of. Raising sustainable funding remains a priority. Plans include establishing a Fundraising Committee to coordinate general fundraising activities and hosting a Garden Party fundraising event to broaden our income base. We will also pursue targeted grant applications to support programme expansion and maintain high-quality delivery. Through these initiatives, we aim to scale responsibly, deepen our impact, and ensure that every young person who engages with Sammy’s Foundation can learn, thrive, and be celebrated for their talents. ## **Thank you** Trustees would like to thank all those who have supported Sammy’s Foundation this year. Including, Patricia Alban, Daniel Carpenter, Lucy Bradshaw, Michelle Malinek, Joshua Lumley, Elizabeth Ashdown, Gareth Rees, Stewart Kemp, Rachael South, Kent County Council, City & Guilds, The AMUSF, The Guild of Traditional Upholsterers, The Worshipful Company of Upholders, Evan Davis, Polly Billington MP, Heritage Crafts Association, Sonnaz Nooranvary, Holly Howe and HOWE London, Emma Bulmer (Bulmer Natural Heritage Paint), and Stephen Unwin. We would also like to thank the young people who have engaged with such enthusiasm and interest this year. 10 ## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The trustees declare that they have approved this report. Signed on behalf of the trustees: Signature: ___________________________ Name: Amanda Batten Position: Chair of Trustees Date: 10/03/2026 11 Sammy's ib• Foundation Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Sammy's Foundation I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sammy's Foundation for the year ended 30 September 2025 as set out on page 8. Rosponsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1"the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Ch8rity Commission for England and Wales under se¢lion 1451511bl of the Act. Independent examiner's Ststement I have completed my examination. l ¢onfirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in Connection wilb the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act., or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable reqLtifemenls concerning the form and conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charrties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations I have no concefns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name of Independent Examiner: Ben Cedolin Relevant Professional Qualification: ICAEW Chartered Accountant Membership 5300769 Address.. 66 Fox Avenue, Shrewsbury, SY2 6FX Dat8.' 6 March 2026