Finance Score: 4
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 17
  • Poor Liquidity: -1
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Future income +5
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +17
Overall GiG Score: 27 ?

THE ADVOCACY ACADEMY

The Advocacy Academy trains young people to engage in collective action to improve their communities and tackle social issues that directly affect them.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/23£912£1,245£-333£136£196£1961.9180
31/03/22£719£887£-168£104£529£5297.2100
31/03/21*£739£507£232£50£697£62714.870
31/03/20£823£464£360£47£464£3739.760
31/03/19£308£242£65n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/18*£137£107£31n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/17*£58£57£1n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/16£34£24£10n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 15.1%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 11%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 13%
Highest pay band: £60,000-£70,000
Liabilities/Assets: 27%
Liabilities/Income: 8%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 100%
Reserves/Spending: 1.9 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 2 months
Quick Ratio: 3.1
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 10 years

www.theadvocacyacademy.com

hello@theadvocacyacademy.com

07596 564449

Charity Commission for England and WalesX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
GiG Classification
  • Social advocacy & research
How it operates
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Lambeth,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • The General Public/Mankind

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
Paul Hamlyn Foundation£665,000
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity£594,679
Esmee Fairbairn£590,000
National Lottery Community Fund£334,990
The Blagrave Trust£186,000
John Ellerman Foundation£120,000
Lankelly Chase Foundation£78,000
City Bridge Trust£65,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Exceptional support for ‘critical infrastructure’
£50,000 31/01/2024
50
The Advocacy Academy is an activist youth movement of young leaders fighting for justice and equality. They serve as the political home for grassroots youth organising and are the catalyst for collective action. The Advocacy Academy are moving ....more
AB Charitable Trust - A grant to The Advocacy Academy
£20,000 25/01/2024
An unrestricted grant of £20,000. The Advocacy Academy are youth organisers working to create a more fair, just, and equal society, by building the collective power of young people.
Mission 44 - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£10,000 11/12/2023
Capacity Building grant will support TAA to overhaul current monitoring and evaluation processes - a crucial step toward better articulating their impact and strengthening the organisation’s infrastructure, influence and reach.
Esmee Fairbairn - Social investment to The Advocacy Academy
£250,000 06/12/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs A bridging loan to help The Advocacy Academy refurbish their new youth and community centre in Brixton.
Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund - Unrestricted grant
£21,000 14/11/2023
Unrestricted grant
Postcode Society Trust - Project Funding
£25,000 29/09/2023
Funding supported The Advocacy Academy’s Spark Programme, equipping marginalised young people with the skills they need to participate in social activism.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Advocacy Academy
£334,990 03/08/2023
This funding will be used for a training programme for young people in Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham with lived experience of injustice. The programme will give them the knowledge experience and community of support to take action and make systemic ....more
The Blagrave Trust - Infrastructure and Fieldbuilding Grants
£96,000 30/06/2023
AA repeat unrestricted grant
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Increasing reach and influence
£550,000 28/03/2023
The Advocacy Academy is a youth organising movement, working to create a more fair, equal and just society where young people with lived experience of injustice have the power to make lasting change for themselves and their communities. It focuses ....more
Mission 44 - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£50,000 01/03/2023
To support The Advocacy Academy to advance their 12 month key strategic priorities; to strengthen and grow campaigning for change activity, stabilise organisational infrastructure, and activate new allies to build the youth campaigning movement.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£20,000 30/01/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
John Ellerman Foundation - Contribution towards the CEO and Senior Leadership Team salaries
£120,000 26/01/2023
Contribution towards the CEO and Senior Leadership Team salaries
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£300,000 08/11/2022
Towards unrestricted core costs of an activist youth movement of young leaders fighting for just, systemic change as it grows its campaigns and community teams and develops ways to sustain the momentum its Alumni have achieved
BBC Children in Need - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£500 20/10/2022
0
‘Cost of Living uplift: £500 to help projects meet their rising costs and respond to increased demand 31/10/2022’
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£30,000 17/12/2021
The Advocacy Academy Core Costs
Joseph Rowntree Foundation - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£50,000 27/11/2021
The Advocacy Academy
Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund - Core costs
£20,000 23/11/2021
Its core costs
Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund - Core costs
£20,000 23/11/2021
Its core costs
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Advocacy Academy, The
£10,000 06/10/2021
Advocacy Academy, The
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Advocacy Academy, The
£50,000 20/09/2021
Advocacy Academy, The
The Blagrave Trust - AA repeat unrestricted grant
£90,000 08/07/2021
Unrestricted funding for an organisation nurturing, training and supporting a community of young activists. Although the grant is unrestricted, it will likely be to used to support their work with their community of alumni
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity - Advocacy Academy Youth Leadership
£554,679 03/02/2021
To support Advocacy Academy's core model and work with their alumni to create youth-led initiatives/campaigns around the health effects or air pollution and children's mental health
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Sustaining and Developing the Social Justice Leadership Fellowship
£40,000 18/01/2021
The Advocacy Academy runs a six-month Social Justice Fellowship for young people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. This grant will support the organisation to hire a Programme Director to focus on developing its model and ....more
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity - Advocacy Academy Covid Emergency funding
£40,000 23/09/2020
Contribution to core funding to support Advocacy Academy during Covid
City Bridge Trust - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£50,000 11/09/2020
towards the costs outlined in your application of adapting the Social Justice Leadership Fellowship programme to deliver the service online and toward safely re-opening the Campus for Young Activists.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - COVID19 Emergency Funding
£20,000 10/07/2020
3
Support to aid the organisation in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID19.
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Advocacy Academy, The
£18,000 08/07/2020
Advocacy Academy, The
BBC Children in Need - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£3,000 17/06/2020
6
COVID19 - This grant will fund staffing costs to deliver the advocacy academy online to BME children and young people who are isolated at home due to Covid-19, and help to motivate them to achieve their goals and improve their self-confidence.
City Bridge Trust - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£15,000 28/05/2020
A grant of £15,000 to fund the essential and urgent costs outlined in the application, so that the organisation can carry on providing support to Londoners.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£20,000 05/05/2020
6
towards unrestricted core costs as a COVID-19 Fast Response grant
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Sustaining and Developing the Social Justice Leadership Fellowship
£5,000 16/03/2020
The Advocacy Academy runs a six-month Social Justice Fellowship for young people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. This grant will support the organisation to hire a Programme Director to focus on developing its model and ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Unleasing the Power of Young People to Transform their World
£60,000 14/10/2019
24
Follow-on funding to scale a leadership programme and launch a three-day intensive Spark programme to provide an alternative entry point to the Academy for young people.
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Advocacy Academy
£294,000 16/09/2019
36
To develop a systems change model, in partnership with other organisations that are working to promote youth advocacy
Greater London Authority - The Advocacy Academy
£90,000 01/09/2019
Positive activities for young people involved in crime or at risk of crime or exclusion
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£120,000 28/08/2019
36
Towards the future sustainability of an organisation that supports marginalised young people to tackle the social challenges of the 21st century.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£30,000 15/03/2019
36
The activity will run residential and afterschool sessions in leadership, personal development and social change to young BAME people who have low aspirations and confidence. The aim is to improve their self-belief and encourage positive ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Sustaining and Developing the Social Justice Leadership Fellowship
£100,000 21/11/2018
24
The Advocacy Academy runs a six-month Social Justice Fellowship for young people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. This grant will support the organisation to hire a Programme Director to focus on developing its model and ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Funding the opening of the UK's first Youth Organising Centre
£7,000 29/08/2018
12
The Advocacy Academy is a charity based in London which supports marginalised young people to understand and tackle the social issues that directly affect them. This grant will support the opening of the first youth organising centre in the UK. From ....more
The Blagrave Trust - Alumni programme
£60,000 19/07/2018
Supporting young people to continue to make change
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to The Advocacy Academy
£60,000 10/07/2017
24
Towards the future sustainability of an organisation that supports marginalised young people to tackle the social challenges of the 21st century.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Unleashing The Power of Young People to Transform Their World
£60,000 10/07/2017
24
The Advocacy Academy is a charity based in London which supports marginalised young people to understand and tackle the social issues that directly affect them. A grant will enable the organisation to employ a Commercial Director to focus on income ....more
Tudor Trust - Grant to Advocacy Academy
£60,000 27/03/2017
24
over two years towards core salaries at a charity which runs a social justice fellowship for young people in the London Borough of Lambeth
National Lottery Community Fund - The Advocacy Academy Fellowship
£10,000 27/04/2016
12
The group will use the funding to run a residential retreat empowering young people to become involved in social change. This will inspire beneficiaries’ to become more active citizens, improving their confidence, aspirations and leadership ....more
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (6)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 5/6 persons

  • ABIMBOLA WINGATE-SAUL Appointed: 2020
  • DANIEL TAYLOR (Chair) Appointed: 2022
  • JACK VAN COOTEN Appointed: 2024
  • MARK CHRISTOPHER STRAW Appointed: 2024
  • MICHELLE KING Appointed: 2020
  • THISHANI NADESAN Appointed: 2018
Legal constitution
  • Charity registered in England & Wales on 21/05/2015, number: 1161785
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
8 returns made; AR21: 224 days late, AR18: 1 days late, AR17: 1 days late,
Main office

Unit 1, 2 Beehive Place
LONDON
SW9 7QR

Objectives

THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO:(1) ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 25, IN SUCH WAYS AS THE CHARITY TRUSTEES THINK FIT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IN THE SUBJECT OF POLITICS; AND(2) TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND HELP MEET THEIR NEEDS AND ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE ADULTS.

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

Tips for Selecting Charities

Which areas of philanthropy are most effective?
The text of this post is taken from an article on the Effective Altruism forum. It suggests that you can achieve the most impact by supporting causes that fight extreme poverty, improving animal welfare....more
Our Top Tips for Philanthropy
Here are some ideas to help you gain more satisfaction from your philanthropy and confidence that the causes you have selected are impactful. Engage your brain, as well as your heart You....more
How to become a Philanthropist
In this Blog we outline a strategy to help people who are new to philanthropy and for those who feel dissatisfied with the impact they are having. Effective philanthropy is immensely rewarding for donors,....more

Giving is Great