The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
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 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) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The charity's objectives include:
the application of income for the benefit of such charitable purposes as the trustees may from time to time determine and for the benefit of children supporting projects that enable them to fulfil their potential in an environment that they feel safe, valued and inspired to achieve; and
To promote all other purposes recognised as charitable under the law of England and Wales to the benefit of the general public as the trustees shall from time to time determine.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Our purpose is to create empowering opportunities where disadvantaged young people feel safe, valued and inspired to achieve their full potential both on and off the pitch.
Now in its ninth year, the charity continues to support young people living in disadvantaged communities across Greater Manchester and the North East, where the need for positive intervention is greatest.
At the heart of our work are Carrick’s Street Reds, delivered in partnership with Manchester United Foundation, and Carrick’s Kicks, delivered in partnership with Wallsend Boys Club. Through these established partnerships, we draw on the experience and expertise of trusted coaches and mentors to ensure our programmes are impactful, sustainable and delivered efficiently.
Alongside these core programmes, the Foundation has continued to provide a range of additional activities, experiences and practical support throughout the year. These have included supporting school holiday camps, distributing hundreds of Back-to-School Packs, and continuing our long-standing Carrick’s Boot Room initiative, providing football boots to those who may otherwise be unable to afford them.
We have also continued to distribute football kits and sportswear, alongside practical items such as hats, gloves and other essential clothing, helping to ensure that our young people can participate confidently in sport and other activities.
Throughout the year, we have provided participants with a variety of enriching experiences, ranging from sporting and recreational activities, to educational and personal development opportunities.
These additional opportunities form an important part of our wider approach. They provide young people with access to positive, safe and engaging experiences outside of their everyday environment, while helping them to develop confidence, resilience and aspirations for the future.
Through our core programmes, partnerships, and wider activities, we remain committed to creating opportunities that have a lasting and positive impact. We are proud of the progress made to date and remain focused on continuing to develop our work and reach those young people who can benefit most from the opportunities and support we provide.
During the year, incoming resources raised amounted to £109,027 (2025: £346,979). Resources expended on the activities of the charitable company, including the cost of raising funds, amounted to £137,601 (2025: £309,704). The closing fund balance is £1,125,434 (2025: £1,036,961) and will be utilised in the future for funding charitable events and making further donations.
Reserves policy
The charity has designated funds to cover committed future spend.
Based on the charity's current and future operating costs, the present value of its investments and the challenging environment in terms of charitable fundraising as a result of the cost of living crisis, the Trustees consider it prudent to hold unrestricted reserves in the sum of £50,000. These reserves are intended to potentially cover any shortfall in the medium term funding plans and also cover the charity's running costs for at least a six month period in the event that income streams were to cease completely. The trustees note that the medium and long term funding proposals can be reconfigured in the event of a substantial shortfall but the trustees' view is that reserves of £50,000 should enable the Charity to fulfil its plans and also funds its general operation should any shortfall occur.
The balance held as unrestricted funds at 31 March 2026 was £1,125,434 (2025: £1,036,961) of which £1,054,434 (2025: £894,961) is regarded as free reserves. Within unrestricted reserves is an amount of £71,000 (2025: £142,000) which has been designated for known future spend.
The balance held as restricted funds at 31 March 2026 was £Nil (2025 £Nil). The charity’s policy in respect of restricted funds is to record separately any donations and other income received where restrictions are imposed that are narrower than the Charity’s overall objectives.
As a result of the reserves policy adopted by the trustees, they have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Risk
The principal risks faced by the Charity lie in operational risks from ineffective grant making and the capacity of the Charity to make effective grants. The risk is mitigated by the trustees being involved in the grant making process and grants being awarded to established charities who are required to meet appropriate financial regulatory requirements.
The Charity will continue to make grants in line with the objectives and distribute income received.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The charitable company is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association which were laid down at the incorporation of the charitable company on 17 February 2017.
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:
Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the Charity. All of the trustees are members of the Charity and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees consider the board of trustees as comprising the key management personnel of the charitable company in charge of directing and controlling the charitable company and running and operating the charitable company on a day to day basis. All trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the period.
Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them and in accordance with the charitable company’s policy withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Michael Carrick Foundation (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 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. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
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.
Michael Carrick Foundation is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Brabners LLP, 9th Floor, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3AB.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". 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 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.
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.
Liabilities are recognised as soon as a legal or constructive obligation exists committing the charitable company to pay out resources; it is probable that the settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
Where the charitable company gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of services or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the charitable company. The charitable company considers that commitments only arise when sufficient funds have been raised to fulfil pledges made.
All expenses involving support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
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.
Other fundraising activities
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
The grants are for the delivery of projects which aim to use the power of football to offer young people the opportunity to pursue their interest in playing, leading and coaching.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
There were no employees during the year, or during the prior year.
No provision is required for taxation as the company is a registered charity and exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Listed investments
The investments are managed within a portfolio held with Rathbones Investment Management in the United Kingdom. The historic cost of the investments is £1,017,935 (2025 - £883,496)
These are unrestricted funds which are material to the charity's activities made up as follows:
The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
Incoming resources
Transfers
Transfers
Designated funds have been set aside by the charity to meet future spending commitments. The trustees have taken the view that the funds associated with the short, medium and long term should be classed as designated.
Whilst the charity has rights to withhold payments in particular circumstances the trustees' position is that these sums will be paid and as such are not "freely available".
During the year to 31 March 2026, consultancy fees amounting to £16,278 (2025: £24,417) were payable by the charitable company to Tongue Tied Media Limited. Joanna Tongue, a trustee, is also a member of Tongue Tied Media Limited.
On 28th February 2025, Michael Carrick Foundation had hosted a fundraising dinner, facilitated by Tongue Tied Media. At the year end an amount of £Nil (2025: £62,460) was owed to the charity by Tongue Tied Media.
These financial statements are separate charity financial statements for Michael Carrick Foundation.
Details of the charity's subsidiaries at 31 March 2026 are as follows:
As at 31 March 2026, the charitable company had entered into two agreements to provide grant funding over a three year period to Manchester United Foundation and Wallsend Sporting Club. The amount committed but not reflected within these financial statements amounts to £75,900 (2025: £142,000).