Revoelution Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Report
Year ending 15[th] November 2025
Revoelution Legal and Administrative Information
| Trustees: | Angie Buss (Chair) |
|---|---|
| Zaida Ali (Treasurer) | |
| Joyce Folkett (Secretary) | |
| Pat Heaton | |
| Bev Bradley | |
| Vicky Dwyer | |
| Charity Number: | 1209564 |
| Revoelution is a Charitable Incorporated | |
| Organisation. | |
| Registered Ofice: | 1, Ibbison Court, |
| Blackpool FY1 4AU | |
| Independent Examiner: | Jayne Callaghan, |
| Rosscon Training Limited | |
| Cocker Trading Estate, Cocker St, | |
| Blackpool FY1 2EP |
Trustees’ Report for Year Ending 15[th] November 2025
Revoelution was established as a ‘Big Local’ project, funded by the National Lottery through the Local Trust, in 2016. In common with other Big Local projects Revoelution was not originally constituted or established as a charity, but hosted by a ‘locally trusted organisation’ (LTO). Revoelution’s current LTO, Blackpool Coastal Housing, holds Revoelution’s Big Local funding and any significant contracts (including contracts of employment). However, Blackpool’s Big Local project will end in December 2025 (all Big Local funds to be spent by 31[st] March 2026). Revoelution was therefore registered as a charity in August 2024 to continue its work, and a charity bank account with the Co-Op bank was set up to hold future funding.
The charity constitution of Revoelution sets out its purposes as follows:
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To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of Revoe* and surrounding areas of Blackpool in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
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To relieve the needs of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of Revoe* and surrounding areas of Blackpool by:
a. the relief of poverty and financial hardship, in particular but not exclusively by the provision of advice and information on housing and welfare benefits, financial grants and food parcels
- b. the preservation and protection of good physical and mental health
c. the advancement of education and training of those in the community who are in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within the wider community
- d. relief of unemployment
e. the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances
f. such other means as may from time to time be determined subject to the prior written consent of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
*Revoe, Revoelution’s primary area of benefit, is defined as the area of Blackpool bounded by Palatine Road and Chapel Street to the North West, Park Road and Thornber Grove to the North East, Lune Grove and Levens Grove to the South East, and Seasiders Way, Princess Street, Kent Road, Salthouse Avenue, Rigby Road and Queen Victoria Road to the South West (see map).
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Activities and Delivery :
Revoelution’s services, provided for the wellbeing of Revoe residents as set out in the constitution, can be divided into six categories: Support, Health, Social, Youth, Consultation and Community Facilities.
Support:
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Benefits advice: Our experienced and legally trained benefits adviser, Adam Evenson, provides advice every Thursday on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments and other benefits. He is always busy and sees four or five people every week.
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Romanian support: We provide general form-filling and advice with a Romanian translator (Ana Botu) every week. This service is extremely popular, supporting well over ten families per week. We also host English lessons on Mondays, provided by Blackpool and Fylde College.
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Work Club: Run by two volunteers, Nicola Priest and Joyce Folkett, our twiceweekly Work Club helps residents with Universal Credit, job searches and a wide range of other official form-filling.
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Household Essentials: Funded by Blackpool Council’s Household Support Fund we provide items such as beds, fridges and washing machines for residents.
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We host housing and financial advice from Shelter once a week, depending on availability of staff.
Health:
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Priority Wards: We have been working with Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB on a project looking into reasons for high levels of unplanned hospital admissions in Bloomfield Ward. This has involved doorstep conversations with residents and focus groups on specific health issues, particularly mental health and respiratory conditions such as COPD.
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Health Research: Following on from the Priority Wards work we are running a research project with the Health Research team at Lancaster University, supported by a PhD researcher from Lincoln College Oxford, looking into the most effective community-based ways to improve residents’ wellbeing. This has involved one-to-one interviews with 25 residents around wider determinants of health and will move on to focus groups in the new year.
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Counselling: Revoelution hosts counselling sessions by the Birchall Trust once a week. Blackpool Children and Young People’s Primary Mental Health Service are looking at the possibility of running sessions at the Hub.
Social :
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Social Groups: Revoelution runs several weekly social groups including gardening, a music group, art sessions with a tutor and our Wednesday Chill ‘n’ Chat – friendly informal chat with free food. We have also supported two new independent groups meeting at Ibbison Court – the Singalong Club and Women’s Walking Group – and helped other groups at Ibbison Court such as the bingo club with contributions for food and trips.
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Cohesion: Our cohesion group, funded by Blackpool Council, has been set up to celebrate the cultural diversity of Revoe and reduce tensions between different communities. The group has organised activities such as a Romanian Children’s Day event and supported Eid and Easter celebrations and is discussing a regular food-sharing session.
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Green Alleys: Funded by Know Your Neighbourhood we are encouraging residents to brighten up their alleys with plants and decorations. We brought in a street artist to decorate walls and bins in the alley between Harrison St and Freckleton St and held a barbeque for residents.
Youth:
For the Revoelution trustees supporting residents has always included supporting young people in the area. We therefore continue to provide a range of youth activities:
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Our Juniors Club, for ages 8-11, runs every Thursday at Ibbison Court with up to 20 children – games, arts and crafts and snacks. This group is generally split around 50/50 between British and Romanian children.
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Art Club on Tuesdays – a small but enthusiastic group of young people (ages 1216), with demonstrations about different art techniques including photography. Two of the participants have signed up for their Silver Arts Award and the group have been to several exhibitions and events.
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Physical Activities on Revoe Park: based on the small football pitch on the park (soon to be re-surfaced, see facilities below), we run regular sessions – mainly football but other activities as well – to improve health and wellbeing and engage young people in the area.
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: As Blackpool Council are no longer an umbrella body for DofE, and Revoelution is moving forward as an independent charity, we are becoming an official Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Centre, starting in the new year.
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Partnership work: Our youth groups have participated in several activities with partner organisations, including skateboarding and dance at Skool of Street, book promotions with the National Literacy Trust and photographing musical artists with Loud in Libraries.
Consultations :
Gathering the views of residents through surveys and consultations has always been an important element of Revoelution’s work. Our Big Local funders, Local Trust, required consultation of residents every two years on their priorities. We will continue these doorstep conversations as a charity as the feedback enables our resident trustees to identify, and help meet, the needs of the community and enable residents to participate more fully in society – as set out in the constitution.
As well as consulting residents about their health and wellbeing on behalf of the ICB we have also helped residents set up Revoe Together, a campaigning group focusing on Blackpool Council’s proposed regeneration project in Revoe. A Council team are running a door-to-door support offer to residents, but Revoelution have offered to run further consultations and discussion groups if required.
Community Facilities :
The Revoelution Hub is small – originally a residential property. Improving and extending community facilities in Revoe is important for the Revoelution trustees.
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The Hub was redecorated by volunteers early this year and we have recently bought new carpets. We have arranged the installation of a new kitchen with Blackpool Coastal Housing in December.
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We funded the development of the Revoe Square (the ‘Platform’) in partnership with Leftcoast in the summer of 2024 and continue to work with residents organising events on the space.
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We funded the resurfacing of the football pitch on Revoe Park; this will take place in January next year.
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We are working with the Volunteer Centre in their proposal for the use of 186 Central Drive as the venue for workshops and community activities, work due to start in March 2026.
Funding :
We have been very lucky to have received £100,000 per year for ten years through the Big Local project, and we are extremely grateful to the Lottery for their support. Moving forward as an independent charity we will need to apply for funding from a range of sources. We have applied to, or are in discussion with, the following potential funders:
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a. Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, funding for continuation of Priority Wards project, in discussion.
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b. A local businessman has offered funding for food and household essentials.
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c. Allen Lane Foundation, bid submitted for Romanian advice.
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d. Duke of Edinburgh Award Access funding up to £10,000, application in progress
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e. Reaching Communities bid for core costs including management and engagement staff. Through to Stage 2.
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f. Cohesion funding, preparing a bid to Blackpool Council for continuation funding for our successful project.
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Revoelution
24/11/2025 Charity Number: 1209564
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Revoelution the for the year ended 15.11.25
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Jayne Callaghan Address: 24 Briercliffe Avenue, Blackpool FY3 9LY Date: 20.11.25
REVOELUTION PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT PERIOD Nov 24 to Nov 25
| 26,639.83 | FUNDING / INCOME | |
|---|---|---|
| 26,639.83 | TOTAL FUNDING / INCOME | |
| EXPENDITURE: | ||
| 8,978.58 | CHARITABLE GIFTS | |
| 1,483.13 | EXPENDITURE OTHER | |
| 276.36 | EXPENDITURE ART | |
| 293.75 | EXPENDITURE FOOD | |
| 2,162.50 | EXPENDITURE LABOUR | |
| 617.12 | EXPENDITURE OFFICE COSTS | |
| 13,811.44 | TOTAL EXPENDITURE | |
| 26,639.83 | 13,811.44 | TOTALS |
| 12,828.39 | TOTAL FUNDS C/F | |
| 12,828.39 | BANK BALANCE 15/11/25 |
: income Notes to financial statement
| Beacon Church: | £500.00 |
|---|---|
| Blackpool Council | £340.00 |
| Blackpool Youth Service | £500.00 |
| Blackpool Council Cohesion Fund | £9,284.00 |
| Blackpool Council Household Essentials |
£8,750.00 |
| LSCICB Health funding | £7,265.83 |
Notes to financial statement : expenditure
| Notes to fnancial statement: expenditure | |
|---|---|
| Household Essentials items | 8668.60 |
| Cameras | 309.98 |
| PettyCash | 640.00 |
| CommunityEvents | 798.13 |
| Permits | 45.00 |
| Art Materials | 276.36 |
| Food cupboard | 190.92 |
| Meetings refreshments | 24.84 |
| CommunityCafé | 102.99 |
| Freelance staf at community events and cohesion meetings |
2162.50 |
| Internet and website | 617.12 |
| Refund CommunityEvent | -25.00 |