CCEW Charity Commission profile

ABSOLUTE RETURN FOR KIDS (ARK)

Registered charity 1095322 · organisation 3996816

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status
Registered
Reporting status
Submission Received
Charity type
Charitable company
Registered
9 January 2003
Removed
Not supplied
Company number supplied
04589451
Financial period
1 September 2024 – 31 August 2025
Latest income
£6,410,000
Latest expenditure
£7,486,000
Gift Aid
Yes
Owns or uses land
Yes
In administration
No
Insolvent
No
CIO
No

Public contact address: 1 Edcity Walk, Edcity, LONDON, W12 7TF

Website recorded by the regulator: www.arkonline.org (displayed as text)

02 Activities

What the charity does

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Ark incubates, launches and scales ventures that share our mission and values.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2025
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Reporting Due Date
30 June 2026
Date Annual Return Received
29 June 2026
Date Accounts Received
29 June 2026
Total Gross Income
£6,410,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£7,486,000
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2024
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Reporting Due Date
30 June 2025
Date Annual Return Received
27 June 2025
Date Accounts Received
27 June 2025
Total Gross Income
£31,018,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£32,351,000
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2023
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Reporting Due Date
30 June 2024
Date Annual Return Received
24 June 2024
Date Accounts Received
24 June 2024
Total Gross Income
£25,363,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£28,681,000
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2022
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Reporting Due Date
30 June 2023
Date Annual Return Received
27 June 2023
Date Accounts Received
27 June 2023
Total Gross Income
£24,388,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£24,150,000
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2020
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2021
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Reporting Due Date
30 June 2022
Date Annual Return Received
29 June 2022
Date Accounts Received
29 June 2022
Total Gross Income
£35,012,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£25,305,000

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
Yes
Fin Period Order Number
1
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2025
Ar Due Date
30 June 2026
Ar Received Date
29 June 2026
Total Gross Income
£6,410,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£7,486,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
Yes
Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
Yes
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000
2
Count Salary Band 80001 90000
2
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
3
Count Salary Band 200001 250000
1
Count Volunteers
0
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
2
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2024
Ar Due Date
30 June 2025
Ar Received Date
27 June 2025
Total Gross Income
£31,018,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£32,351,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£0
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
Yes
Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
Yes
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000
4
Count Salary Band 70001 80000
4
Count Salary Band 80001 90000
0
Count Salary Band 90001 100000
0
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
1
Count Salary Band 110001 120000
0
Count Salary Band 120001 130000
0
Count Salary Band 130001 140000
0
Count Salary Band 140001 150000
0
Count Salary Band 150001 200000
0
Count Salary Band 200001 250000
1
Count Salary Band 250001 300000
0
Count Salary Band 300001 350000
0
Count Salary Band 350001 400000
0
Count Salary Band 400001 450000
0
Count Salary Band 450001 500000
0
Count Salary Band Over 500000
0
Count Volunteers
0
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
3
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2023
Ar Due Date
30 June 2024
Ar Received Date
24 June 2024
Total Gross Income
£25,363,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£28,681,000
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Count Govt Contracts
0
Count Govt Grants
£2
Income From Government Grants
£1,234,766
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
Yes
Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
Yes
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
No
Trustee Receives Payments Services
No
Trustee Receives Other Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000
5
Count Salary Band 70001 80000
2
Count Salary Band 80001 90000
2
Count Salary Band 90001 100000
0
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
1
Count Salary Band 110001 120000
0
Count Salary Band 120001 130000
1
Count Salary Band 130001 140000
0
Count Salary Band 140001 150000
0
Count Salary Band 150001 200000
1
Count Salary Band 200001 250000
1
Count Salary Band 250001 300000
0
Count Salary Band 300001 350000
0
Count Salary Band 350001 400000
0
Count Salary Band 400001 450000
0
Count Salary Band 450001 500000
0
Count Salary Band Over 500000
0
Count Volunteers
0
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
4
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2022
Ar Due Date
30 June 2023
Ar Received Date
27 June 2023
Total Gross Income
£24,388,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£24,150,000
Charity Raises Funds From Public
No
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
Yes
Count Govt Grants
£12
Income From Government Grants
£905,278
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
Yes
Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
Yes
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000
4
Count Salary Band 70001 80000
6
Count Salary Band 80001 90000
2
Count Salary Band 110001 120000
2
Count Salary Band 140001 150000
1
Count Salary Band 150001 200000
1
Count Salary Band 200001 250000
1
Count Volunteers
0
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
5
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2020
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2021
Ar Due Date
30 June 2022
Ar Received Date
29 June 2022
Total Gross Income
£35,012,000
Total Gross Expenditure
£25,305,000
Charity Raises Funds From Public
No
Grant Making Is Main Activity
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
Yes
Count Govt Grants
£2
Income From Government Grants
£10,231,486
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
Yes
Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
Yes
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
No
Trustee Resigned Employment
No
Employees Salary Over 60k
Yes
Count Salary Band 60001 70000
10
Count Salary Band 70001 80000
6
Count Salary Band 80001 90000
4
Count Salary Band 90001 100000
1
Count Salary Band 100001 110000
2
Count Salary Band 110001 120000
2
Count Salary Band 150001 200000
1
Count Salary Band 200001 250000
1
Count Volunteers
0

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
Yes
Fin Period Order Number
1
Ar Cycle Reference
AR25
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2024
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2025
Ar Due Date
30 June 2026
Ar Received Date
29 June 2026
Income Donations And Legacies
5707000
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
0
Income Investments
365000
Income Other
338000
Income Total Income And Endowments
6410000
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£685,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£6,801,000
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
7486000
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
3621000
Expenditure Governance
277000
Expenditure Support Costs
2655000
Expenditure Depreciation
0
Gain Loss Investment
1484000
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
-1000
Reserves
£4,023,000
Assets Total Fixed
15785000
Assets Own Use
4000000
Assets Long Term Investment
11785000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£5,223,000
Assets Total Liabilities
£16,985,000
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£4,023,000
Creditors One Year Total Current
10841000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
6144000
Assets Cash
£3,182,000
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
2969000
Funds Restricted
1054000
Funds Total
4023000
Count Employees
31
Consolidated Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
2
Ar Cycle Reference
AR24
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2023
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2024
Ar Due Date
30 June 2025
Ar Received Date
27 June 2025
Income Donations And Legacies
30566000
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
0
Income Investments
244000
Income Other
208000
Income Total Income And Endowments
31018000
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£851,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£31,500,000
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
32351000
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
27939000
Expenditure Governance
372000
Expenditure Support Costs
372000
Expenditure Depreciation
0
Gain Loss Investment
1971000
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
-5000
Reserves
£3,616,000
Assets Total Fixed
19917000
Assets Own Use
1000000
Assets Long Term Investment
18917000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£8,706,000
Assets Total Liabilities
£25,007,000
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£3,616,000
Creditors One Year Total Current
13981000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
11026000
Assets Cash
£3,648,000
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
2562000
Funds Restricted
1054000
Funds Total
3616000
Count Employees
32
Consolidated Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
3
Ar Cycle Reference
AR23
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2022
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2023
Ar Due Date
30 June 2024
Ar Received Date
24 June 2024
Income Donations And Legacies
21855000
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
0
Income Investments
209000
Income Other
3000
Income Total Income And Endowments
22067000
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£791,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£27,890,000
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
28681000
Expenditure Investment Management
0
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
0
Expenditure Support Costs
3386000
Expenditure Depreciation
0
Gain Loss Investment
1651000
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
0
Reserves
£1,929,000
Assets Total Fixed
22022000
Assets Own Use
1000000
Assets Long Term Investment
21022000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£16,622,000
Assets Total Liabilities
£35,661,000
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£2,983,000
Creditors One Year Total Current
31542000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
4119000
Assets Cash
£11,989,000
Funds Endowment
0
Funds Unrestricted
1929000
Funds Restricted
1054000
Funds Total
2983000
Count Employees
42
Consolidated Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
4
Ar Cycle Reference
AR22
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2021
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2022
Ar Due Date
30 June 2023
Ar Received Date
27 June 2023
Income Donations And Legacies
11654000
Income Other Trading Activities
0
Income Charitable Activities
2474000
Income Investments
616000
Income Other
9644000
Income Total Income And Endowments
24388000
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£885,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£23,265,000
Expenditure Other
0
Expenditure Total
24150000
Expenditure Investment Management
62000
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
258000
Expenditure Support Costs
1959000
Expenditure Depreciation
0
Gain Loss Investment
1755000
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
427000
Reserves
£35,035,000
Assets Total Fixed
41783000
Assets Own Use
12030000
Assets Long Term Investment
29753000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£38,970,000
Assets Total Liabilities
£45,718,000
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£35,035,000
Creditors One Year Total Current
36641000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
9077000
Assets Cash
£23,891,000
Funds Endowment
6055000
Funds Unrestricted
4161000
Funds Restricted
24819000
Funds Total
35035000
Count Employees
110
Consolidated Accounts
Yes
Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
No
Fin Period Order Number
5
Ar Cycle Reference
AR21
Fin Period Start Date
1 September 2020
Fin Period End Date
31 August 2021
Ar Due Date
30 June 2022
Ar Received Date
29 June 2022
Income Donations And Legacies
30279000
Income Other Trading Activities
790000
Income Charitable Activities
3177000
Income Investments
549000
Income Other
217000
Income Total Income And Endowments
35012000
Income Legacies
0
Income Endowments
0
Expenditure Raising Funds
£640,000
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
£23,959,000
Expenditure Other
706000
Expenditure Total
25305000
Expenditure Investment Management
59000
Expenditure Grants Institution
0
Expenditure Governance
262000
Expenditure Support Costs
1595000
Expenditure Depreciation
0
Gain Loss Investment
4070000
Gain Loss Pension Fund
0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
0
Gain Loss Other
-155000
Reserves
£32,600,000
Assets Total Fixed
37991000
Assets Own Use
3700000
Assets Long Term Investment
34291000
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
0
Assets Other Assets
£20,662,000
Assets Total Liabilities
£26,038,000
Assets Current Investment
0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
£32,615,000
Creditors One Year Total Current
23378000
Creditors Falling Due After One Year
2660000
Assets Cash
£15,967,000
Funds Endowment
6338000
Funds Unrestricted
2486000
Funds Restricted
23791000
Funds Total
32615000
Count Employees
105
Consolidated Accounts
Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type
Region
Geographic Area Description
Throughout England
Welsh Ind
No
Geographic Area Type
Country
Geographic Area Description
South Africa
Parent Geographic Area Type
Continent
Parent Geographic Area Description
Africa
Welsh Ind
No
Geographic Area Type
Country
Geographic Area Description
India
Parent Geographic Area Type
Continent
Parent Geographic Area Description
Asia
Welsh Ind
No
Geographic Area Type
Country
Geographic Area Description
Uganda
Parent Geographic Area Type
Continent
Parent Geographic Area Description
Africa
Welsh Ind
No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code
302
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Makes Grants To Organisations
Classification Code
201
Classification Type
Who
Classification Description
Children/young People
Classification Code
304
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Provides Human Resources
Classification Code
101
Classification Type
What
Classification Description
General Charitable Purposes
Classification Code
102
Classification Type
What
Classification Description
Education/training
Classification Code
308
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Classification Code
105
Classification Type
What
Classification Description
The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Classification Code
310
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Other Charitable Activities
Classification Code
306
Classification Type
How
Classification Description
Provides Services

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name
ABSOLUTE RETURN FOR KIDS (ARK)
Charity Event Order
1
Event Type
Standard registration
Date Of Event
2003-01-09T00:00:00

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 13 NOVEMBER 2002
Charitable Objects
FOR SUCH EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD AS THE DIRECTORS MAY IN THEIR ABSOLUTE DISCRETION THINK FIT.
Area Of Benefit
ANY PART OF THE WORLD

10 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name
Complaints handling
Policy Name
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Policy Name
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Policy Name
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Policy Name
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Policy Name
Conflicting interests
Policy Name
Risk management
Policy Name
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Policy Name
Paying staff
Policy Name
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Policy Name
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Policy Name
Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Policy Name
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Policy Name
Investment
Policy Name
Investing charity funds policy and procedures