SECOND STAGE
Second Stage supports the rehabilitation of offenders and those at risk of offending or re-offending through training programmes in prisons and in the community to assist them in finding employment, primarily but not exclusively in backstage skilled crafts in the theatre and live events industries. We also work with potential employers to break down barriers and promote Fair Chance Employment.
Objects
3.1 THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, TO:3.1.1 PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS AND THOSE AT RISK OF OFFENDING OR RE-OFFENDING AND TO ASSIST THEM IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT, PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE THEATRE INDUSTRY; 3.1.2 ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF OFFENDERS AND THOSE AT RISK OF OFFENDING OR RE-OFFENDING AND ANY OTHER PERSONS WHO ARE IN NEED BY REASON OF UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR OTHER ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE, PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY PROVIDING OR SUPPORTING THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN (A) SKILLS FOR ROLES IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE THEATRE INDUSTRY); (B) OTHER ANCILLARY SKILLS AND (C) OTHER SKILLS LIKELY TO IMPROVE EMPLOYABILITY GENERALLY; AND 3.1.3 PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION BY PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING SOCIALLY EXCLUDED, RELIEVING THE NEEDS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED AND ASSISTING THEM TO INTEGRATE OR RE-INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY. 3.2 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLAUSE 3.1.3, SOCIALLY EXCLUDED MEANS BEING EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY, OR PART OF SOCIETY, AS A RESULT OF BEING A MEMBER OF A SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED COMMUNITY.
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity incurred a small unrestricted deficit in its first year of operation, with free reserves in deficit of £7,717. Per the trustees' report, this is below the stated policy target of £30,000, but the trustees are confident that reserves will build with significant funds already received for the next financial year.
What the accounts disclose
“At the year end, free reserves (unrestricted funds excluding fixed assets and designated funds) were in deficit of £7,717, below the target range.” — page 9
“During the period, prior to the opening of the charity’s bank account, J Hutchison (CEO) received funds on behalf of the charity into their personal bank account of £32,000 and paid expenses on behalf of the charity of £34,450. The net balance owed to the CEO of £2,450 was reimbursed during the period.” — page 22
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Risk management
- 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
In the news
- Tiny Homes … Big Impact campaign aims to add second-stage housing for women in Perth County
- Second-stage housing opens in Meadow Lake for women and children fleeing violence
Funders the charity credits
Trustees
- Colin Margetson Howes
- Edward George Crighton Snape
- Emily Jane Milburn
- Kathryn Ruth Bennett
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £207k | £202k |
Common questions
Is SECOND STAGE financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity incurred a small unrestricted deficit in its first year of operation, with free reserves in deficit of £7,717. Per the trustees' report, this is below the stated policy target of £30,000, but the trustees are confident that reserves will build with significant funds already received for the next financial year. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 29/01/2026 | £20k | Second Stage – Community Workshops for Ex-offenders |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE BROMLEY TRUST | 2 | £85k |
| THE WINDFALL FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2.0m |
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | 1 | £250k |
| DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £100k |
| CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON | 1 | £100k |
| THE INNHOLDERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £90k |
| THE COOKS CHARITY | 1 | £89k |
Charities like this
- 2ECOND CHANCE
- STANDOUT PROGRAMMES
- UNREBEL
- SECOND TIME AROUND CHARITIES
- BOUNCE BACK FOUNDATION
- THE THEATRE IN PRISONS AND PROBATION CENTRE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECOND STAGE | £207k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| 2ECOND CHANCE | £266k | — | 0 | below | — | noted |
| STANDOUT PROGRAMMES | £953k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| UNREBEL | £153k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| SECOND TIME AROUND CHARITIES | £160k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BOUNCE BACK FOUNDATION | £2.8m | £60,000 - £69,999 | 1 | unclear | — | noted |