ONWARDS & UPWARDS
Our mission is to free ex-offenders from the cycle of reoffending by creating jobs that change lives for good. We are creating a suite of companies in which to employ ex-offenders, bringing employment rates up & re-offending rates down. By creating best-in-class products and services and shining a light on our staff, we will also help shift business attitudes towards employing ex-offenders.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated a surplus of £145,865 for the year ended 31 May 2025, with total income of £1,212,487 against total expenditure of £1,066,622. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £260,151, which is above the stated policy target of holding between 3 and 6 months of operating expenditure.
What the accounts disclose
“In the band £80,001 - £90,000” — page 26
“Our policy is to aim to hold between 3 and 6 months of operating expenditure in reserve.” — page 6
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Ian Priest — CEO
- Will Evans — Managing Director
- Maria Harcourt — Operations Director
- Sir John Sunderland — Trustee
- Judy Khan — Trustee
- Jonathan Sellors — Trustee
- Zenna Hopson — Trustee
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/05/2025)
Trustees
- CHRISTOPHER ALAN MOORE
- Jonathan Sellors
- Judge Judith Khan
- Sir John Michael Sunderland
- Zenna Atkins
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/05/2025 | £1.2m | £1.1m |
| 31/05/2024 | £624k | £418k |
| 31/05/2023 | £252k | £237k |
| 31/05/2022 | £139k | £87k |
Common questions
Is ONWARDS & UPWARDS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a surplus of £145,865 for the year ended 31 May 2025, with total income of £1,212,487 against total expenditure of £1,066,622. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £260,151, which is above the stated policy target of holding between 3 and 6 months of operating expenditure. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by TC Group.
What does the highest-paid employee of ONWARDS & UPWARDS earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,001 - £90,000 band.
Who funds ONWARDS & UPWARDS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ONWARDS & UPWARDS as a grant recipient include IGY FOUNDATION, DRAPERS CHARITABLE FUND, THE WILLIAM WATES MEMORIAL TRUST, THE WEAVERS' COMPANY BENEVOLENT FUND, THE W A HANDLEY CHARITY TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGY FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £323k | |
| IGY FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £200k | |
| DRAPERS CHARITABLE FUND | FY2025 | £75k | Social enterprise XO Bikes training ex-offenders |
| THE WILLIAM WATES MEMORIAL TRUST | FY2024 | £50k | |
| THE WILLIAM WATES MEMORIAL TRUST | FY2025 | £50k | |
| DRAPERS CHARITABLE FUND | FY2024 | £25k | Second of three annual grants for XO Bikes |
| THE WILLIAM WATES MEMORIAL TRUST | FY2023 | £20k | |
| THE WEAVERS' COMPANY BENEVOLENT FUND | FY2023 | £13k | Support for new project - XO Bikes providing training for 12 ex-offenders |
| THE W A HANDLEY CHARITY TRUST | FY2024 | £10k | |
| WATES FOUNDATION LIMITED | FY2024 | £10k | Grant to Onwards & Upwards |
| THE WOODWARD CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £1k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 06/06/2024 | £20k | Community That Cares |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 06/04/2023 | £10k | Onwards to Community Engagement |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | 2 | £560k |
| The Goldsmiths' Foundation | 2 | £116k |
| FISHMONGERS' COMPANY'S CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £70k |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2.0m |
| THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £111k |
| SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST | 1 | £104k |
| DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £100k |
| CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON | 1 | £100k |
Charities like this
- PROGRESS TO CHANGE
- THE CLINK CHARITY
- THE SHERIFFS' AND RECORDERS' FUND
- GRACE ENTERPRISES NOTTINGHAM LTD
- BOUNCE BACK FOUNDATION
- THE RIGHT COURSE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONWARDS & UPWARDS | £1.2m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | above | — | no doubt |
| PROGRESS TO CHANGE | £2.5m | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| THE CLINK CHARITY | £6.9m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| THE SHERIFFS' AND RECORDERS' FUND | £439k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| GRACE ENTERPRISES NOTTINGHAM LTD | £608k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| BOUNCE BACK FOUNDATION | £2.8m | £60,000 - £69,999 | 1 | unclear | — | noted |