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I was delighted to visit Stepney Bank Stables and to join in with the celebrations at the grand opening of the new Learning Centre, a LandAid-funded refurbishment.

I arrived at Newcastle YMCA after an invigorating cycle from Newcastle's Central Station - east along the Tyne and then uphill through Byker to Walker - to find a site in the final stages of construction.

After a summer of crunching numbers, reviewing targets and drawing up graphs, LandAid can now proudly announce the launch of its 2013/14 Financial Review. A detailed summary of the charity's performance over the 12 months from April 2013 to March 2014 can be found in the document below, but for starters, here's a selection of our highlights:

On Thursday, Elise, Elizabeth and Alex boarded a train bound for West Byfleet to join Chairman Robin Broadhurst on a visit to our Surrey-based, grant-funded project Eikon.

On a beautifully sunny day in June, Liz Potts, Elise Austin and I travelled south west to Jamie's Farm in Wiltshire. A number of students from a south west London secondary school were half way through their five day residential visit. Aged 11 to 16 years, they had various emotional and behavioural problems - the type of young people who benefit from the holistic approach of Jamie's Farm.

The glorious weather of 'Flaming June' really showcased the inspiring grounds of Trafford Hall during my visit last week. Joined on my charity visit by Danielle Rorison of LandAid Foundation Partner McLaren Property, we were welcomed to the 18th century manor house by Trafford Hall's Chief Executive Sally Wyatt.

The stark figures released by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty (SMCP) Commission last week highlight the real challenges facing young people in the UK. The most sobering statistic is that 3.5 million children will be in absolute poverty by 2020 - the very year that the Government's aim of eradicating child poverty will expire. The Commission's damning assessment in response to the Government's draft child poverty strategy 2014 to 2017 is that the Coalition is not doing nearly enough to address the problem.

After a very rewarding day in Glasgow and Kilmarnock, LandAid had two more stops to make in our trip to Scotland. The day began with a very enjoyable visit to our charity partner Four Square at their hostel for homeless young people in Edinburgh. Homelessness is a major problem in Scotland's capital, with the city's streets home to the greatest number of rough sleepers in the country.

First stop - Glasgow; or more specifically, the offices of Glasgow City Council, where we met with Donna Cunningham, Skills and Aspirations Lead Officer in the Education Department.