Registered Charity No; 289413
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
FORUM FOR ACCESS & CONTINUING EDUCATION (FACE)
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Index to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
| Charity Information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 4 - 8 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 9 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 10 |
| Balance Sheet | 11 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 12 - 16 |
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Charity Information
for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
TRUSTEES: Co-Chair: Gino Graziano Co-Chair: Wendy Fowle Treasurer: Andrew Ross CHARITY REGISTRATION: 289413
Independent Dr Shona F Wardrop Examiner Bk Plus Limited 44 Grand Parade Brighton BN2 9AQ Bankers Nat West Chatham Customer Centre Westen Avenue Waterside Court Chatham Kent ME4 4RT Principal place of University House Business Bishop’s Road Peterborough PE1 5BW
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
CHARITABLE DEED
The charity is governed by Charitable Deed dated 1993.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY AND OBJECTIVES
The object of the charity is the advancement of continuing education with specific reference to continuing education in the university and college sector and related contexts in the United Kingdom. FACE provides an independent space for dialogue, critical inquiry, and collaborative practice across the higher education sector, with a particular focus on widening participation and educational equity.
Public benefit
From 1 April 2008 section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 requires all charities to meet the legal requirement that it aims are for the public benefit. The Charity Commission in its 'Charities and Public Benefit' guidance states that there are two key principles to be met in order to show that an organisation's aims are for the public benefit: firstly there must be an identifiable benefit and secondly the benefit must be to the public or a section of the public.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the charity. The Trustees are satisfied that the aims and objectives of the charity, and the activities reported on above to achieve those aims, meet these principles.
TRUSTEES
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were:
Co-Chair: Gino Graziano Co-Chair: Wendy Fowle Treasurer: Andrew Ross (appointed June 2024)
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
The following trustees’ term of office ended at the AGM in June 2024, prior to the start of this financial year:
Andrew Rawson (resigned June 2024)
The following trustees resigned during the financial year:
Ross Renton (resigned November 2024) Deirdre Lynskey (resigned February 2025)
The trustees wish to record their gratitude to the outgoing Chair, Treasurer and trustees for their long-standing leadership and commitment, and the strong foundations they leave behind. The trustees also want to recognise the contribution of the Secretary, a role which has been subsumed as a result of our restructure.
The trustees are also delighted that Ross Renton will continue in a position as President, which is not a trustee position.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
During 2024, FACE introduced a new co-chairing model and welcomed a new Treasurer, as part of a broader evolution in how the charity operates. A refreshed Management Group was established to oversee delivery and day-to-day activity, and an Advisory Board was created to guide longer-term strategic vision. This refreshed leadership approach supports greater inclusivity and shared responsibility, helping FACE respond more effectively to the changing educational equity landscape.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Disseminar series: A key development during the year was the successful launch of the disseminar series, designed to combine dissemination with meaningful sectorled conversation. Three well-attended events were delivered, focused on school outreach, collaboration and partnerships, and innovation in widening participation. These helped reinvigorate engagement across the sector and supported the exchange of emerging ideas and good practice.
Annual summit: The annual summit hosted at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama brought together professionals, researchers, and policymakers to identify shared concerns and future priorities. One outcome was the identification of a gap in sector knowledge regarding the influence of social media on young people’s decisions not to go to university, an area FACE is now positioning as a key focus for future research.
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Annual conference: The annual conference was held in June 2025 at the University of Bath, with strong attendance from across the sector. The manifesto output created using the input of all attendees will be worked on during 25/26 with a plan to use this to structure the sector engagement of the charity in the future.
This year saw a significant restructuring of the conference funding model. Previously operated on a franchise basis, with the host institution bearing the financial risk, FACE recognised that this was becoming increasingly difficult for institutions to take on given the financial challenges across the sector. FACE has therefore taken on the financial risk directly, removing the franchise fee and managing all bookings centrally, with FACE paying the hosting expenses to the institution. This new model has made conference hosting a more attractive proposition and helped secure continued sector engagement with the event.
Strategy development: A series of strategy away days were held with members of the Management Group and wider community. From these discussions emerged five principles to underpin all of FACE’s future work, reflecting values of independence, collaboration, evidence-informed practice, and inclusive leadership: by the sector, for the sector; responsible investment for advancing our community; practical and pragmatic; leading in leadership; and advocating and influencing for equity of opportunity in education.
Special Interest Groups: The portfolio of Special Interest Groups was expanded with the addition of the Student Voice Practitioners SIG. The established Access and Participation Plan SIG (APPSIG) continues to offer strategic and operational support to APP leads, with an evolving sub-group focusing on evaluation.
Sector engagement: FACE continues to engage with other networks, specifically the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL), and has established regular meetings with the Director of Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students.
Publications and research: Work continued on the annual publication, and a research project on collaborative outreach was supported.
Operational development: FACE has invested in strengthening its operational infrastructure during the year. A digital financial management system (Xero) was introduced to improve financial reporting and oversight. Microsoft licences were acquired to enable use of Teams for community building and event hosting, supporting greater member engagement. A new membership management system (WildApricot) was also implemented, providing a more efficient and professional approach to managing the membership base.
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During the year, the membership renewal process was restructured. Previously, memberships were renewed on the anniversary of each institution joining. This has been replaced with an annual renewal period running from June to September, providing greater flexibility to institutions and aligning the renewal cycle with the academic year. As a consequence of this change, at the year end £14,350 of membership fee invoices were outstanding. This level of debtors was planned for and expected given the timing of the renewal window, and the trustees are satisfied that these amounts are recoverable.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total income for the year was £59,648 (2024: £32,664). Membership fees were increased during the year, from £195 to £400 for institutional members and from £75 to £150 for individual members. This was necessary to ensure the charity has sufficient income to cover its ongoing administration costs, including the cost of contracted administrative support. The revised fee levels, combined with the new conference funding model, contributed to the growth in income.
Total expenditure was £51,534 (2024: £20,355), reflecting the increased level of activity including the conference at the University of Bath, the summit at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, publication work, and commissioned research. The net surplus for the year after a prior year adjustment was £8,114, bringing total unrestricted resources carried forward to £71,821.
Reserves approach
The charity holds reserves of £71,821 at the year end. The trustees recognise that this level of reserves is high relative to the charity’s size and annual expenditure. The trustees have therefore agreed to invest a proportion of these reserves in contracted project management support to advance the charity’s development. This will include work on business planning, governance reviews, consideration of conversion to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), and professional event management support. This investment will be in the form of contracted support rather than direct employment, maintaining the charity’s lean operating model while building capacity for the future.
FUTURE PLANS
Looking ahead, FACE is focused on developing a growth strategy to strengthen reach and resilience, and a partnerships strategy to enhance collaboration and innovation across the sector. Plans include establishing additional Special Interest Groups, including one on student success, continuing the commitment to building a connected, practice-led, and impact-driven community.
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ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES:
Dr Wendy Fowle Co-Chair of FACE and Trustee
Gino Graziano Co-Chair of FACE and Trustee
Approved by the Trustees on ....22 May 2026..................
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Independent Examiner's Report
for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE) for the year ended 31 July 2025.
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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
26 May 2026
Dr Shona F Wardrop C.A.
Date:
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland bk plus Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 44 Grand Parade Brighton East Sussex BN2 9QA
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
| 31.7.25 Unrestricted Total Notes £ £ INCOME Conference Income 2 24,925 24,925 Membership Income 33,651 33,651 Other income 506 506 Interest received 566 566 Total Income 59,648 59,648 RESOURCES EXPENDED Direct Charitable Expenditure Administration 3/4 51,534 51,534 51,534 51,534 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) 8,114 8,114 RESOURCES Funds b/fd 64,583 64,583 Prior year adjustment 8 (876) (876) Funds c/fd 71,821 71,821 |
31.7.24 Total £ |
|---|---|
| 16,500 15,177 354 633 |
|
| 32,664 20,355 |
|
| 20,355 12,309 52,274 |
|
| 64,583 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
| Balance | Sheet as at 31 July 2025 | Sheet as at 31 July 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.7.25 | 31.7.24 | ||||
| FIXED ASSETS: | Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Tangible Assets | 0 | 0 | |||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||
| Balance at Bank Current Ac | 15,878 | 21,756 | |||
| Balance at Bank Reserve Ac | 44,593 | 44,027 | |||
| Sundry Debtors | 5 | 14,350 | - | ||
| 74,821 | 65,783 | ||||
| CREDITORS: | |||||
| Amounts falling due within one | |||||
| year | 6 | 3,000 | 1,200 | ||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS: | 71,821 | 64,583 | |||
| NET ASSETS | **71,821 ** | 64,583 | |||
| =========== | ========== | ||||
| FUNDS | 7 | ||||
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||
| Brought forward | 64,583 | 52,274 | |||
| Prior year adjustment | 8 | (876) | |||
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||
| (deficit)/Surplus | 8,114 | 12,309 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | **71,821 ** | 64,583 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES:
Dr Wendy Fowle Co-Chair of FACE and Trustee
Gino Graziano Co-Chair of FACE and Trustee
Approved by the Trustees on ......22 May 2026................
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
Conference income comprise conference ticket and accommodation income. Membership income represents institutional and individual membership fees. The surplus for the year is attributable to the principal activity of the charity.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
2.Incoming resources
| 2.Incoming resources | |
|---|---|
| 31.7.25 31.7.24 £ £ |
|
| Conference Income - tickets Conference Income - accommodation Membership Fees Publications Raffle Income (for donation) Interest received Total Income 3. Expenditure |
17,700 16,500 7,225 - 33,651 15,177 - 354 506 - 566 633 |
| 59,648 32,664 |
|
| 31.7.25 31.7.24 £ £ |
|
| Admin Support Advertising & Marketing Audit & Accountancy fees Conference costs Conference costs - accommodation Donations to Other Charities Expenses – external conference attendance Expenses - Trustees Payment processing fees Member Management System Printing & Stationery Publication expenses Research Projects System subscriptions (finance, membership etc) Summit costs Website and hosting costs Administration (total) |
16,250 - 235 - 3,000 1,200 13,197 - 7,225 - 506 - 208 - 92 - 609 - 713 - 6 - 4,850 - 1,500 - 645 - 1,520 - 978 - |
| 51,534 20,355 |
Note: The 2024 comparative figure of £20,355 was reported as a single administration total. A detailed breakdown by category was not provided in the prior year accounts.
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
4. Trustees Remuneration and Benefits
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2025.
There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
The key management personnel consists of the trustees and they were not remunerated.
5. Debtors
| 5. Debtors | |
|---|---|
| 31.7.25 31.7.24 £ £ |
|
| Sundry Debtors (membership fees receivable) 6. Creditors |
14,350 - |
| 14,350 - |
|
| 31.7.25 31.7.24 £ £ |
|
| Accrued Expenses 3,000 1,200 3,000 1,200 7. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 31.7.25 31.7.24 £ £ Opening Balance b/fwd 64,583 52,274 Conference Income 24,925 16,500 Membership Income 33,651 15,177 Other income 506 354 Interest received 566 633 Total Income 59,648 32,664 Expenditure 51,534 20,355 Closing Balance c/fwd 71,821 64,583 |
3,000 1,200 |
| 3,000 1,200 |
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Forum for Access & Continuing Education (FACE)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
8. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT
Opening unrestricted resources have been adjusted by £876 to reflect a conference attendance expense relating to 2023/24 (attendance at a conference) which was invoiced prior to the year end but was not accrued in the prior year accounts. The amount was paid in August 2024.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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