STEPPING STONE PROJECTS
The Charity's principal objectives are to relieve persons who are homeless or in necessituos circumstances.
Objects
The Company is established to relieve persons who are homeless, threatened with homelessness, vulnerable or in necessitous circumstances by:-a. providing an advice and counselling service in matters relating to housing and associated social and economic problems and,b. providing temporary accommodation, permanent accommodation or assistance in the provision of permanent accommodation and housing related support and intensive management services for such persons.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity closed the year with a net surplus of £358,228 and unrestricted reserves of £3,769,859. Per the trustees' report, these reserves exceed the stated policy target of £1.92m, leaving £348k free for service expansion. The auditor confirmed that the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.
What the accounts disclose
“The reserves policy requires free reserves of £1.92m at 31 March 2025 compared with the actual amount of £2,268,384” — page 16
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 4
- Government income: £6,085,420 — contracts £6,085,420 (24); 42% of the £14,458,467 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£60,001–£70,000: 2; £70,001–£80,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 2
- Government income: £7,164,051 — contracts £7,164,051 (26); 60% of the £11,904,998 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 3 (£70,001–£80,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 1)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023
- Volunteers: 2
- Government income: £6,852,829 — contracts £6,852,829 (30); 69% of the £9,861,057 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 3 (£70,001–£80,000: 2; £80,001–£90,000: 1)
In the news
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Dave Smith — Chief Executive
- Ben Courtney — Director of Operations
- Chris Tait — Director of Resources
Public-sector contracts awarded
| Buyer | Contract | Awarded | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough of Bury | Huntley House and Silver Street Temporary Accommodation and Support Service | — | — |
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- SUSAN ASHBYchair
- Alexander David Lyons
- Colin Royle
- DAVID BERRY
- Elisabeth Therese Lilley
- Janet Hardwick
- Martin Davies
- Michaela Louise Orr
- Nicholas Joseph Cox
- Steven James Grycuk
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £14.5m | £14.1m |
| 31/03/2024 | £11.9m | £11.8m |
| 31/03/2023 | £9.9m | £9.2m |
| 31/03/2022 | £6.8m | £6.2m |
| 31/03/2021 | £5.0m | £4.6m |
Common questions
Is STEPPING STONE PROJECTS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity closed the year with a net surplus of £358,228 and unrestricted reserves of £3,769,859. Per the trustees' report, these reserves exceed the stated policy target of £1.92m, leaving £348k free for service expansion. The auditor confirmed that the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BK Plus Audit Limited.
Who funds STEPPING STONE PROJECTS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name STEPPING STONE PROJECTS as a grant recipient include THE COTTON INDUSTRY WAR MEMORIAL TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE COTTON INDUSTRY WAR MEMORIAL TRUST | FY2025 | £10k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE PETER MINET TRUST | 1 | £65k |
Charities like this
- STEPPING STONES PRE-SCHOOL, LITTLEPORT
- STEPPING STONES (NOTTS) LIMITED
- STEPPING STONES CHILDCARE (CORNWALL)
- STEPPING STONES LEARNING AND LEISURE
- STEPPING STONES STRATFORD ON AVON
- STEPPINGSTONES CHARITY
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEPPING STONE PROJECTS | £14.5m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| STEPPING STONES PRE-SCHOOL, LITTLEPORT | £221k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| STEPPING STONES (NOTTS) LIMITED | £38k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| STEPPING STONES CHILDCARE (CORNWALL) | £502k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| STEPPING STONES LEARNING AND LEISURE | £80k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| STEPPING STONES STRATFORD ON AVON | £29k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |