FREE TO BE KIDS — Charity Commission profile

01 Identity

Registration and reporting

Registration status: Registered
Reporting status: Submission Received
Charity type: CIO
Registered: 22 February 2016
Removed: Not supplied
Financial period: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024
Latest income: £701,056
Latest expenditure: £649,652
Gift Aid: Yes
Owns or uses land: No
In administration: No
Insolvent: No
CIO: Yes

Public contact address: Free to Be Kids c/o Living Space, 1 Coral Street, Lambeth, London, SE1 7BE

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

02 Activities

What the charity does

Free to Be Kids provides respite holidays, therapeutic adventures, after-school support and a range of year round residentials for children who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, significant social/financial disadvantage or who are growing up in marginalised communities. Without our work, many would not have support or a break from often extremely difficult home circumstances.

03 Official extract

Charity Annual Return History

Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2024
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Reporting Due Date: 31 October 2025
Date Annual Return Received: 28 October 2025
Date Accounts Received: 28 October 2025
Total Gross Income: £701,056
Total Gross Expenditure: £649,652

Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2023
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Reporting Due Date: 31 October 2024
Date Annual Return Received: 30 October 2024
Date Accounts Received: 30 October 2024
Total Gross Income: £663,991
Total Gross Expenditure: £600,461

Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2022
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Reporting Due Date: 31 October 2023
Date Annual Return Received: 28 October 2023
Date Accounts Received: 28 October 2023
Total Gross Income: £412,030
Total Gross Expenditure: £428,031

Fin Period Start Date: 6 December 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2021
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Reporting Due Date: 31 October 2022
Date Annual Return Received: 28 October 2022
Date Accounts Received: 28 October 2022
Total Gross Income: £456,809
Total Gross Expenditure: £264,336

Fin Period Start Date: 6 December 2019
Fin Period End Date: 5 December 2020
Ar Cycle Reference: AR20
Reporting Due Date: 5 October 2021
Date Annual Return Received: 5 October 2021
Date Accounts Received: 5 October 2021
Total Gross Income: £191,555
Total Gross Expenditure: £146,630

04 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Parta

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2025
Ar Received Date: 28 October 2025
Total Gross Income: £701,056
Total Gross Expenditure: £649,652
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 5
Count Govt Grants: £0
Income From Government Contracts: 52200
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
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: No
Count Volunteers: 225

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2024
Ar Received Date: 30 October 2024
Total Gross Income: £663,991
Total Gross Expenditure: £600,461
Grant Making Is Main Activity: No
Count Govt Contracts: 5
Count Govt Grants: £0
Income From Government Contracts: 33470
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
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: No
Count Volunteers: 210

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 3
Ar Cycle Reference: AR22
Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2022
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2022
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2023
Ar Received Date: 28 October 2023
Total Gross Income: £412,030
Total Gross Expenditure: £428,031
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: No
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 5
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: No
Income From Government Contracts: 41075
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 201

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 4
Ar Cycle Reference: AR21
Fin Period Start Date: 6 December 2020
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2021
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2022
Ar Received Date: 28 October 2022
Total Gross Income: £456,809
Total Gross Expenditure: £264,336
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: No
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: Yes
Count Govt Contracts: 5
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: Yes
Count Govt Grants: £1
Income From Government Contracts: 36800
Income From Government Grants: £10,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 181

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 5
Ar Cycle Reference: AR20
Fin Period Start Date: 6 December 2019
Fin Period End Date: 5 December 2020
Ar Due Date: 5 October 2021
Ar Received Date: 5 October 2021
Total Gross Income: £191,555
Total Gross Expenditure: £146,630
Charity Raises Funds From Public: Yes
Charity Professional Fundraiser: No
Charity Commercial Participator: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts: No
Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants: Yes
Count Govt Grants: £1
Income From Government Grants: £5,000
Charity Has Trading Subsidiary: No
Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit: No
Trustee Resigned Employment: No
Employees Salary Over 60k: No
Count Volunteers: 178

05 Official extract

Charity Annual Return Partb

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: Yes
Fin Period Order Number: 1
Ar Cycle Reference: AR24
Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2024
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2024
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2025
Ar Received Date: 28 October 2025
Income Donations And Legacies: 680509
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 16520
Income Investments: 4027
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 701056
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £67,168
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £582,484
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 649652
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 2408
Expenditure Support Costs: 132620
Expenditure Depreciation: 8153
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: 0
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £266,167
Assets Total Fixed: 14260
Assets Own Use: 14260
Assets Long Term Investment: 0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £410,371
Assets Total Liabilities: £54,258
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £370,373
Creditors One Year Total Current: 54258
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £401,818
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 366167
Funds Restricted: 4206
Funds Total: 370373
Count Employees: 8
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind: No
Fin Period Order Number: 2
Ar Cycle Reference: AR23
Fin Period Start Date: 1 January 2023
Fin Period End Date: 31 December 2023
Ar Due Date: 31 October 2024
Ar Received Date: 30 October 2024
Income Donations And Legacies: 641671
Income Other Trading Activities: 0
Income Charitable Activities: 22250
Income Investments: 70
Income Other: 0
Income Total Income And Endowments: 663991
Income Legacies: 0
Income Endowments: 0
Expenditure Raising Funds: £59,879
Expenditure Charitable Expenditure: £540,582
Expenditure Other: 0
Expenditure Total: 600461
Expenditure Investment Management: 0
Expenditure Grants Institution: 0
Expenditure Governance: 1911
Expenditure Support Costs: 138206
Expenditure Depreciation: 5924
Gain Loss Investment: 0
Gain Loss Pension Fund: 0
Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment: -5924
Gain Loss Other: 0
Reserves: £293,977
Assets Total Fixed: 5923
Assets Own Use: 5923
Assets Long Term Investment: 0
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme: 0
Assets Other Assets: £338,687
Assets Total Liabilities: £25,641
Assets Current Investment: 0
Assets Total Assets And Liabilities: £318,969
Creditors One Year Total Current: 25641
Creditors Falling Due After One Year: 0
Assets Cash: £293,977
Funds Endowment: 0
Funds Unrestricted: 318969
Funds Restricted: 0
Funds Total: 318969
Count Employees: 7
Charity Only Accounts: Yes

06 Official extract

Charity Area Of Operation

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: East Sussex
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: West Sussex
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Essex
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Oxfordshire
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Kent
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Cambridgeshire
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Region
Geographic Area Description: Throughout London
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Buckinghamshire
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Hertfordshire
Welsh Ind: No

Geographic Area Type: Local Authority
Geographic Area Description: Surrey
Welsh Ind: No

07 Official extract

Charity Classification

Classification Code: 117
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Other Charitable Purposes

Classification Code: 102
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Education/training

Classification Code: 201
Classification Type: Who
Classification Description: Children/young People

Classification Code: 116
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: Recreation

Classification Code: 306
Classification Type: How
Classification Description: Provides Services

Classification Code: 103
Classification Type: What
Classification Description: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

08 Official extract

Charity Event History

Charity Name: FREE TO BE KIDS
Charity Event Order: 1
Event Type: CIO registration
Date Of Event: 2016-02-22T00:00:00

Charity Name: FREE TO BE KIDS
Charity Event Order: 3
Event Type: Asset transfer in
Date Of Event: 2026-02-07T00:00:00
Reason: Ceased to exist
Assoc Organisation Number: 4007342
Assoc Registered Charity Number: 1103356
Assoc Charity Name: POTTERSPURY LODGE TRUST LIMITED

Charity Name: FREE TO BE KIDS
Charity Event Order: 2
Event Type: Asset transfer in
Date Of Event: 2024-02-22T00:00:00
Reason: Does not operate
Assoc Organisation Number: 265840
Assoc Registered Charity Number: 265840
Assoc Charity Name: OLIVER '68

09 Official extract

Charity Governing Document

Governing Document Description: CIO - Foundation Registered 22 Feb 2016 as amended on 10 Apr 2022
Charitable Objects: THE OBJECTS OF FREE TO BE KIDS AS THEY APPEAR WITHIN SECTION (3) (THE "OBJECTS" CLAUSE) OF THE GOVERNING DOCUMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:3. OBJECT[S] (1) THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, THE RELIEF OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE RESIDING IN LONDON AND THE SOUTH-EAST, OR ANY OTHER UK LOCATION WITH A SIMILAR NEED PROFILE AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE, WHO ARE IN NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, ILL-HEALTH, DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE VIA THE PROVISION OF SERVICES THAT:(A) SUPPORT THEM TO DEVELOP BETTER EMOTIONAL HEALTH, BUILD INNER STRENGTHS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR LIVES AND CONSEQUENTLY TO MANAGE BETTER WITHIN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME, SCHOOL OR WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.(B) PROVIDE PRACTICAL SUPPORT, ADVICE OR GUIDANCE.(C) INCREASE ACCESS TO NEW OR ENRICHING EXPERIENCES THAT WILL FACILITATE SOCIAL LEARNING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SKILLS.(2) IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, WE WILL PROVIDE:(A) A RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC ADVENTURES AND RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS.(B) INDIVIDUAL MENTORING SUPPORT.(C) GROUP BASED ACTIVITIES WITH A THERAPEUTIC COMPONENT.(D) GROUP BASED ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW LIFE SKILLS.(3) DEFINITIONS:FOR THE PURPOSES OF THESE CLAUSES:(A) 'CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE' MEANS INDIVIDUALS AGED 0-18. (SUPPORT MAY BE EXTENDED TO THE FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD THE PRINCIPLE AIM OF THIS SUPPORT BE TO BENEFIT A PARTICULAR CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON WITHIN THE FAMILY.)(B) 'LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST' MEANS ANY OF THE LONDON BOROUGHS AND ANY COUNTY SHARING A BOUNDARY WITH A LONDON BOROUGH, NAMELY ESSEX, HERTFORDSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, BERKSHIRE, SURREY AND KENT. ADDITIONALLY THE COUNTIES OF OXFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND EAST & WEST SUSSEX ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE DEFINITION.(C) 'EMOTIONAL HEALTH' MEANS THOSE ASPECTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKE UP WHICH AFFECT CAPACITY TO APPROPRIATELY RECOGNISE AND DISPLAY EMOTION, THEIR SENSE OF WHO THEY ARE IN THE WORLD AND THEIR CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO SOCIAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES.(D) 'SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS' MEANS INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS IN SOCIETY E.G. SIBLINGS, PARENTS, FRIENDS, SCHOOL TEACHERS, CLASSMATES.(E) 'THERAPEUTIC' MEANS EITHER INTRINSICALLY BY ITS NATURE, OR SPECIFICALLY IN THE WAY THE ACTIVITY IS SET UP, SUPPORTIVE TO RECOVERING FROM A DIFFICULTY OR PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE DIFFICULTIES IN TERMS OF EMOTIONAL HEALTH.(F) 'RESIDENTIAL' MEANS THE PROJECT WILL CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE OVERNIGHT STAY AWAY FROM THE CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON'S HOME.(4) NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CIO FOR THE PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH UK LAW.

10 Official extract

Charity Policy

Policy Name: Volunteer management

Policy Name: Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures

Policy Name: Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries

Policy Name: Risk management

Policy Name: Financial reserves policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints policy and procedures

Policy Name: Serious incident reporting policy and procedures

Policy Name: Paying staff

Policy Name: Safeguarding policy and procedures

Policy Name: Social media policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Policy Name: Internal risk management policy and procedures

Policy Name: Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Policy Name: Bullying and harassment policy and procedures

Policy Name: Conflicting interests

Policy Name: Investing charity funds policy and procedures

Policy Name: Complaints handling