Patrons
EXPLORE ARE HONOURED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING PATRONS:
Sir Paul Coleridge, Chairman of the Marriage Foundation
The Reverend Les Isaac OBE, Founder of the Ascension Trust and Ecumenical Canon at Southwark Cathedral
Sir Anthony Seldon MA PhD FRSA, MBA, FRHisS, Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham
The Rt Reverend Paul Butler Bishop of Durham
The Trustees of the charity who are also Directors for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 201 9.
Trustees Report
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act 2006 and “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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016)
The mission of the charity is to empower young people, through open dialogue with volunteer couples, to explore what is involved in creating and sustaining a loving, healthy and happy long-term relationship. Our aim is to reduce future family breakdown by encouraging young people to think differently about commitment and long-term relationships.
Known operationally as Explore, the charity delivers against this mission through youth-led sessions, primarily in schools. We facilitate, within an established and proven structure, a discussion between young people and volunteer couples. Volunteers talk openly and honestly about their own experiences within their relationship. Young people participating in Explore sessions learn that relationships require time and effort, about the power of compromise, communication and forgiveness, and that all couples will face challenges but these can be overcome.
Significant activities
During the 2018-19 financial year, the charity delivered sessions in schools which reached nearly 5,000 young people. This brings the total number of participants to over 100,000 from more than 250 schools and in prisons and a night shelter. Most of our participants are 14-17 years old. We are no longer focussing on prisons, with schools and 6th form colleges taking priority. We are also piloting sessions in other settings such as Pupil Referral Units (“PRUs”) and with other partners, to support more young people from disadvantaged communities.
We gather feedback from students and schools after every Explore session. 4,984 students took part in the survey in the year ended 31 August 2019. When asked how they would rate the session, over 96% of students responded either good, very good or excellent. 144 teachers took part in the school survey with 98% stating they would recommend Explore to other schools.
At the end of this financial year, we launched a trial to test a new approach to gathering feedback from students. This involves obtaining feedback before the session to create a benchmark against which the results of a survey after the session can be measured. The charity expects to rollout this new survey for all sessions in Spring 2020.
A summary of results from the 2018-19 surveys is provided below:
Selection of student responses to the question “What has been the most significant aspect of the Explore session for you today?”
“The amount of trust”
“What is important in a relationship”
“All feeding back together about what we had seen and heard”
“Learning about relationships from real people”
“Finding out about real life couples and the highs and lows and what makes a good relationship”
Selection of teacher responses to the question “What was good about the Explore workshop for you as a member of staff?”
“Students were able to ask personal questions which they are not able to ask of leaders”
“The material engaged the students and allowed them to see something not offered in the general curriculum”
“All qualities of a positive, healthy relationship were discussed”
“The couple were open and approachable.”
“Brilliant opportunity to ask important questions in a judgement free environment”
In September 2020, the UK government is introducing a mandatory curriculum for Relationships & Sex Education (RSE). We are delighted with this development and have been working with a number of like-minded organisations throughout the year to develop best practice for RSE delivery and raise awareness of the curriculum change, as this represents a significant opportunity for the charity to extend its reach.
As we work with young people, we have in place a safeguarding policy, staff code of conduct and whistleblowing policy, all of which are reviewed annually. A member of our Trustees is trained to safeguarding level 3. All members of staff complete an annual safeguarding training refresher, safeguarding is incorporated into our induction plan for all new staff and volunteers, and all staff and volunteers are DBS checked before attending schools.
Public benefit
The Trustees review on a regular basis the aims, objectives and achievements of the charity to ensure it remains focused on its stated purpose. The Trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act to have due regard to the Public Benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The main activities carried out by the charity further its charitable purposes for the public benefit.
Marketing
The charity does not engage in direct marketing however we do produce brochures that we share with prospective schools and volunteers in our regions. We attend low cost or free volunteer recruitment events to promote our work with potential volunteers. Our team of Local Development Officers market our services to local community groups in their regions. Additionally, we promote our work through campaigns with other charitable organisations we work alongside, such as Marriage Week with the Marriage Foundation, RSE Day with the Family Stability Network (FASTN) and Volunteer Week with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Internal Organisation
The charity has a lean and flexible management structure in place. In June 2019 the charity’s interim CEO was replaced with a permanent CEO, Amanda Edwards. Our staff work from home and have regular online and offline contact with the leadership team and their peers. We hold quarterly training days with the operational team. The charity has minimal central assets and costs, and the operational team moved to term-time working in July 2019 to reflect their work with schools and to reduce core costs.
Financial Stability
Explore has in place robust processes to plan and monitor finances. The charity’s Honorary Treasurer works alongside our Accountants and CEO to produce monthly cashflow reports for Trustees. Detailed funding and operational reports, which include an overview of the funding pipeline to support forecasting, are produced for Trustee meetings, held on a quarterly basis. Members of our Trustees have financial services and fundraising backgrounds, and our Chair has led charities in the past including financial management.
Financial position
Against at economic backdrop of limited resources and insecurities over funding, both in the education sector and charitable funders, it has continued to be difficult to launch our long-term plan to grow and develop Explore’s services. Nevertheless, the charity has succeeded in raising funds and continuing to secure strong support from its base of volunteers, to maintain a steady level of operations. Total net funds stood at £34,812 which places Explore within the reserve level recommended by the Charity Commission and in accordance with the Trustees Reserves Policy.
However, the relative decline in funds remaining at the end of the year compared to the year ending August 2018 has promoted the Trustees to review their short term strategy and implement a plan to reduce the level of expenditure in areas where the scale of activity has been consistently lower than anticipated, while redoubling efforts to secure income from previous and new fundraising sources. This process has been continued into the current year to positive effect.
Reserves policy
The charity’s reserves policy is three months of operational expenditure.
Principal funding sources
The charity’s main sources of income are:
Grants from trust funds and charitable foundations
Fees from client schools
Donations from individuals
The Trustees would like to offer their sincere thanks to all donors for their contribution to the charity’s work during the year.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems are in place to enable the charity to take the necessary steps to manage those risks.
Financial and risk management objectives and policies
The Trustees have devoted significant time to the consideration of financial management of the charity, and have taken all necessary steps to make themselves aware of the relevant financial information. The charity’s accounts are prepared monthly and are reviewed in depth with management and at each quarterly Trustee’s meeting. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that proper accounting records are maintained as required. The accounts are prepared at financial yearend to provide a true and accurate record of affairs and of income and expenditure for the period.
Future plans
The priorities of the charity, set in the summer of 2017, remain the same:
Promote, and assist with, attaining greater self-sufficiency among the local areas that conduct Explore activities across the country through seeking out and cultivating regional funders
Prioritise new initiatives for Explore, in the fields of service improvement and communication
Seek partnership agreements with other charities able to co-operate in supporting Explore’s objectives
We have had some success against these priorities with:
8 small grants and donations from regional community funds or donors in the financial year
Introduction of an annual volunteer satisfaction survey from which improvements have been identified and implemented
Introduction of a volunteer engagement strategy and plan to improve communication with our valued volunteer community
New partnerships being negotiated with three other charities
Governing document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee and incorporated on 25 January 2000. The company was established under a Memorandum which established its objects and powers, and it is governed by its Articles of Association.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The existing Board of Trustees is responsible for the appointment and removal of trustees. Recruitment of Trustees is a formal process involving interview with the Chair and another Trustee to determine suitability to join the board.
Risk management
The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems are in place to enable the charity to take the necessary steps to manage those risks. A suitable risk register has been developed and is monitored regularly.
Organisational structure
The Board of Trustees of the Students Exploring Marriage Trust consists of up to 15 members who meet at least 4 times a year and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At present the Board has 4 members from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the charity. The Chief Executive also sits on the Board but has no voting rights. During the financial year ending 31st August 2019, the Board met 4 times. Day to day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive.
Induction and training of new trustees
New Trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the contents of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making process, the business plan, financial accounts and risk profile of the charity. As part of this process, they meet other members of the Board of Trustees and staff, and are encouraged to observe Explore sessions in schools.
Trustees are encouraged to participate in operational meetings and events of Explore, to represent the charity to external networks, and attend relevant training courses; all towards facilitating the undertaking of their role.
The trustees r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Students Exploring Marriage Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Students Exploring Marriage Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2019.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) . In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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 charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Students Exploring Marriage Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 102, 5 Charter House, Lord Montgomery Way, Hampshire, Portsmouth, PO15 5JL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act 2006 and “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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling , which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary a mounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised on receipt from HMRC. Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
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.
Grants offered are accrued as expenditure in the year of offer but will be credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of expiry if any conditions are not met.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future p aymen ts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received and t ermination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Gift aid
Marketing and promotion
Travel
Meeting expenses
Office expenses
Insurance
Training and recruitment
Professional fees
Accountancy
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
There are 7 part-time Local Development Officers who represent the equivalent of 3 full-time employees.
Unrestricted
Restricted
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2018 - none).