The Trustee presents its annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 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 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's objects are to further education and relieve poverty by providing financial or other assistance to poor young people, relieve persons in need by reason of youth, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantages and advance citizenship by facilitating volunteering by young people for projects or events carried out for the public benefit.
The Trustee has paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
During the financial year, the company associated with the charity (Online Radio Broadcasting Limited) continued to develop and modernise its Crowdcaster online audio broadcasting platform, which was first launched on 31 August 2016. The activities of the Foundation are dependent on the functionality of that platform eventually being of sufficient quality to support its charitable goals, and some delays in development adversely affected performance during the year.
The Crowdcaster audio platform has a mission of “Giving people a Voice”, and believes in the power of the spoken word, as a positive force in:
• social welfare and health
• creativity and education
• communities and raising awareness of causes
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustee considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The Trustee has assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and is satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
The members of the Trustee, 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:
There are no current plans to recruit Trustees in the near future.
None of the members of the Trustee has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the members of the Trustee are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
These financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis. The Trustee has a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, however, the Trustee is aware of certain material uncertainties which may cause doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. These material uncertainties are mitigated by the fact that the company to which the majority of debts are due is under common control and has committed to supporting the Foundation for at least the next 12 months.
The trustee's report was approved by the Trustee.
The Trustee, who are also the directors of The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited for the purpose of company law, is responsible for preparing the Trustee's 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 Trustee 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 Trustee is 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 Trustee is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. It is 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.
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have prepared for your approval the financial statements of The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited for the year ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the statement of financial activities and the related notes from the charity’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at https://www.icaew.com/regulation.
This report is made to the charity's Trustee, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 25 September 2025. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial statements of The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the charity's Trustee, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited and the charity's Trustee as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and deficit of The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited. You consider that The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year, and is not required to obtain an independent examiner's report.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the financial statements of The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory financial statements.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Online Radio Broadcasting Foundation Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Lodge Farm, Lodge Lane, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, SO42 7XP.
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.
These financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis. The Trustee has a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, however, the Trustee is aware of certain material uncertainties which may cause doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. These material uncertainties are mitigated by the fact that the company to which the majority of debts are due is under common control and has committed to supporting the Foundation for at least the next 12 months.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustee in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors 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.
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.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of activities undertaken to further the purpose of the charity.
Expenditure on generating funds includes the costs of activities undertaken to generate further funds for the charity.
Support costs are those costs incurred during activities that are not directly associated with the purpose of the charity, nor the fundraising for it.
Support costs are allocated proportionally between charitable activities and fundraising based on the proportionate value prior to the support cost reallocation. In the absence of other costs, the support costs are allocated to charitable activities.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
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 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.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.