UPTOWN YOUTH SERVICES
Uptown provides support and mentoring to young people - including those with disabilities - in the borough of Merton in a youth club setting. Uptown provides a safe environment to get young people off the streets, to partake in activities such as music, dance and drama, sports, and arts and craft and various programmes (eg anti-gang; first aid training, inspirational speakers; maths tutoring.)
Objects
TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO THE AGE OF 17 OR 25 FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE BOROUGH OF MERTON BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND ORGANISING PROGRAMMES OF PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS OF:(A) ADVANCING IN LIFE AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS;(B) ADVANCING EDUCATION;(C) RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT;(D) PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £55,590 against a policy target of six months' core operating costs. The trustees note a pressing need to secure further funding, warning that without it, the charity expects to breach its reserves policy in 2026.
What the accounts disclose
“The vast majority of Uptown Youth Services' income is derived from grants.” — page 15
“Uptown has a pressing need to secure further sources of funding without which Uptown expects to have to partially fund operations from its unrestricted reserves in calendar year 2026 and may breach its reserves policy.”
Policies the charity declares
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
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: 6
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 10
- Government income: £22,162 — grants £22,162 (5); 25% of the £88,464 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023
- Volunteers: 12
- Government income: £31,994 — grants £31,994 (4); 37% of the £86,650 total gross income on the same return
Trustees
- LISA MARIE CONWAY-HUGHESchair
- ANNA JAKOBSEN
- David McClean
- Leslie Akirabona
- MARIE EMILY RHYS-EVANS
- Victoria McClean
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £57k | £77k |
| 31/03/2024 | £88k | £82k |
| 31/03/2023 | £87k | £76k |
| 31/03/2022 | £94k | £76k |
| 31/03/2021 | £81k | £47k |
Common questions
Is UPTOWN YOUTH SERVICES financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £55,590 against a policy target of six months' core operating costs. The trustees note a pressing need to secure further funding, warning that without it, the charity expects to breach its reserves policy in 2026. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds UPTOWN YOUTH SERVICES?
Funders whose own accounts filings name UPTOWN YOUTH SERVICES as a grant recipient include MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL | FY2022 | £13k | |
| MERTON VOLUNTARY SERVICE COUNCIL | FY2023 | £7k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/09/2022 | £220k | Uptown Youth Services |
| UK government | 11/09/2020 | £5k | VSCE CMC Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 20/07/2018 | £10k | Uptown Inspiration |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE SHAFTESBURY HOMES AND ARETHUSA | 1 | £112k |
| HAMPTON FUEL ALLOTMENT | 1 | £46k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY, HAMPTON | 1 | £8k |
Charities like this
- UPTON UNITED JUNIORS COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB
- MTV YOUTH HAMPTON
- MANCHESTER YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CLUB
- "OFF THE RECORD" YOUTH COUNSELLING CROYDON
- THE MERTON AND MORDEN GUILD OF SOCIAL SERVICE
- NUNEATON CLUB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (INCORPORATING NUNEATON BOYS CLUB) LTD
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPTOWN YOUTH SERVICES | £57k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| UPTON UNITED JUNIORS COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB | £118k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| MTV YOUTH HAMPTON | £62k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| MANCHESTER YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CLUB | £95k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| "OFF THE RECORD" YOUTH COUNSELLING CROYDON | £3.0m | Over £60,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE MERTON AND MORDEN GUILD OF SOCIAL SERVICE | £61k | — | 0 | above | — | noted |