ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT
Latest income
£12.5m
Latest spending
£17.8m
Registered
2014
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity had unrestricted reserves of £9.4 million at year-end, which is significantly above its stated policy target range of £1.25 million to £1.5 million. The trustees anticipate that these reserves will reduce to within the target range over the current four-year budget cycle as funds are deployed in furtherance of charitable objectives.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £110,001 - £120,000 — below the median for charities its size (£125k)
“The Chief Executive received actual salary of £118k (2024 - £107k) in the financial year.” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: £1.25m - £1.5m (held: £9.4m)
“The trustees have therefore set a target reserves range of £1.25m - £1.5m of unrestricted funds to provide flexibility to manage uncertainty while ensuring funds continue to be deployed in furtherance of the charity’s charitable objectives.” — page 20
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Nick Hurd received £6,000 remuneration.
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee remuneration
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
“During the period £3,986 (2024 - £2,702) was reimbursed and paid on behalf of trustee expenses relating to travel and subsistence to the annual board and staff away day costs to ten (2024 - ten) trustees.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee expenses
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
“During the period £3,986 (2024 - £2,702) was reimbursed and paid on behalf of trustee expenses relating to travel and subsistence to the annual board and staff away day costs to ten (2024 - ten) trustees.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Rent to related party
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
“During the period £3,986 (2024 - £2,702) was reimbursed and paid on behalf of trustee expenses relating to travel and subsistence to the annual board and staff away day costs to ten (2024 - ten) trustees.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payments to related party
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
“During the period £3,986 (2024 - £2,702) was reimbursed and paid on behalf of trustee expenses relating to travel and subsistence to the annual board and staff away day costs to ten (2024 - ten) trustees.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Pro-bono services from trustee
“The Chair of Trustees, Nick Hurd, received remuneration of £6,000 during the year (2024: £6,000) in recognition of the breadth of responsibilities of the role. This payment is permitted under the charity’s governing document and has been authorised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. No other trustees received remuneration for their services as trustees during the year.” — page 46
“During the period £3,986 (2024 - £2,702) was reimbursed and paid on behalf of trustee expenses relating to travel and subsistence to the annual board and staff away day costs to ten (2024 - ten) trustees.” — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Seb Elsworth — Chief Executive
- Mel Palmer — Director of Finance and Operations
- Chloe Stables — Director of Partnerships and Advocacy
- Lydia Levy — Director of Impact and Evaluation
- Neil Berry — Director of Programmes
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Total income
£12.5m
Total spending
£17.8m
Cost of raising funds
£39k
Reserves (reported)
£9.4m
Employees
13
Trustees
- Emilie Goodall
- Felicia Mattis-Rome
- Franz Ranero
- Kate Kuper
- Mohammed Sarwar
- Nicholas Hurd
- Robert John Williamson
- Roshana Arasaratnam
- Simon Hewett-Avison
- Whitni Thomas
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £12.5m | £17.8m |
| 31/12/2024 | £18.2m | £24.6m |
| 31/12/2023 | £11.8m | £19.8m |
| 31/12/2022 | £3.4m | £9.6m |
| 31/12/2021 | £7.4m | £12.9m |
Common questions
Is ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity had unrestricted reserves of £9.4 million at year-end, which is significantly above its stated policy target range of £1.25 million to £1.5 million. The trustees anticipate that these reserves will reduce to within the target range over the current four-year budget cycle as funds are deployed in furtherance of charitable objectives. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £110,001 - £120,000 band.
Who funds ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT as a grant recipient include POWER TO CHANGE TRUST, THE FEDERATION OF GROUNDWORK TRUSTS.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TO CHANGE TRUST | FY2022 | £400k |
| THE FEDERATION OF GROUNDWORK TRUSTS | FY2022 | £134k |