The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
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)".
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The Foundation received donations of £nil from Ross A&P (2024: £200) and £nil (2024: £300) from Peto Robert. A grant of £14,000 (2024: £nil) was paid to Artis Foundation and £50,000 (2024: £50,000) was paid to Music for All.
The financial statements have been drawn up in order to comply with the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities. This requires investments to be shown at market value and any movement to be taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
The Statement of Financial Activities disclose a net outflow of funds of £72,700 for the year (2024: £90,052).
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds should be maintained to ensure a margin of at least £5,000 between anticipated income and expenditure on a year by year basis unless there are particular educational programmes that are deemed worthy of immediate support. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure a conservative use of the charities funds.
The charity is constantly looking for ways to promote its educational and charitable objectives as a result of which the trustees are frequently receiving application for funds and projects. The board therefore consider it prudent to keep at least £25,000 in total liquid funds available to fund such activities.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and having established that financial sustainability is the major risk for both the charity and its subsidiaries, are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these risks.
The charity continues to develop its aims to bring educational learning processes within the reach of as wide a section of the public as possible.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
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:
In accordance with the Articles of Association all the trustees retire at the forthcoming annual general meeting and those being eligible will offer themselves for re-election.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
When a new trustee is appointed they will undergo any necessary training that may be deemed to be required at that time. By virtue of their appointment all trustees are required to become members and they remain as members even though they ceased to be trustees.
The trustees' investment powers are unrestricted except by general charity law. Investment policies for the charity's fund balances have been formulated by the company secretary and approved by the trustees. These policies are subject to annual review.
The trustees have an annual meeting to keep up to date with the developments of the charity and to each provide their support for any important future decisions.
The charity has two subsidiary undertakings, Lifelong Learning Trust (No.1) and Lifelong Learning (No.2) Limited. Lifelong Learning Trust (No.1) has negative reserves at the year end of £16,367 (2024: £16,367) and Lifelong Learning (No.2) Limited has aggregate share capital and reserves at the year end of £401 (2024: £401). Both did not trade during the year.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees (who are also Directors for the purpose of company law) on my examination of the financial statements of The Harris Foundation For Lifelong Learning (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.
This report is made solely to the Charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extend permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinion I have formed.
Having satisfied myself that the accounts 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 accounts 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.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial statements. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no opinion as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair' view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner's statement.
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 Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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 statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
The Harris Foundation For Lifelong Learning is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Level 5A, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". 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 not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts 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.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.
The trust's objects are not restricted and can be used for any general charitable purposes. The main activity is to make donations to other registered charities.
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 or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Donations and legacies are accounted for when received, as long as they are capable of financial measurement.
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 settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure.
Grants payable are recognised as expenditure when the commitment is entered into. Where such a grant is to be paid over instalments, the outstanding balance is disclosed as a liability.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in income/(expenditure for the year, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried in at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
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.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors 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 payments 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.
Basis of non consolidation
The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 399 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts, on the basis that the group of which this is the parent qualifies as a small group. The financial statements present information about the company as an individual entity and not about its group.
No grants were paid to individuals in the current or comparative period.
The average monthly number of employees (including trustees) during the year was:
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits, or claimed any expenses from The Harris Foundation For Lifelong Learning.
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Impairment tests have been carried out where appropriate and the following impairment losses have been recognised in profit or loss:
Endowment funds represent assets which must be held permanently by the charity. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the assets form part of the fund.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The endowment funds represent a bequest from the late Edward John Glyde to support lecture costs incurred by the Foundation.
At the year end, the company was owed £16,367 (2024: £16,367) by Lifelong Learning Trust (No.1), a subsidiary company of the charity which is limited by guarantee. Full provision was made against this loan in the previous year.
At the year end, the company owed £401 (2024: £401) to Lifelong Learning (No.2) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary.