## Charity Number 1110013
## **SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2026**
**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **Trustees’ Report for the period ending 31 July 2026**
The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the accounts for Solar Links Initiative (the charity), for the year to 31 July 2026.
## **Achievements and performance**
Solar is the world’s most bottom-up, democratic source of energy and Sub-Saharan Africa is where there is most potential for its use because of the unlimited sunshine and its cheap availability; it is also where there is the greatest need. The state however has generally not invested in its spread, so it remains out of reach for the poorest communities. This is where Solar Links Initiative (SLI) makes its contribution bringing simple solar lighting solutions to remote rural villages.
During this year, SLI’s main focus has been on delivering solar lighting units to families in the Northern Region of Uganda, in the West Nile Sub-Region not far from the border with DRC. Beneficiaries late last year were villages in Nebbi District, as well as in Maracha Parish in Arua District and five further villages in Gulu District. Lights were also given to the six different departments of the Maracha Health Facility which was newly built but lacked any lighting and, most recently, to villages around Parombo also in Nebbi District.
SLI purchases the equipment from Greenlight Planet in Kampala and arranges for its delivery to the villages. Community leaders, identified by and known to SLI, make decisions on which working households can repay the full, or a proportion of, the cost of the equipment and over what period of time, to a central fund which will bring benefit to the wider community through interventions which are communally agreed upon. These villages have variously chosen to build a school, construct latrines for schools, support school access, seed livelihood projects and purchase mattresses for all families in the village. The community leaders send full reports to SLI on the project and on the lighting recipients and individual household and community benefits. These are always illustrated, thanks to WhatsApp, by many photographs and videos.
SLI has also helped communities in Karamoja in the North-East of the country to which lights have previously been given, with some vocational training support to a number of youth who have demonstrated exceptional potential and commitment. Returning home to Karamoja, they are training other young people. Further support was given to the youth agricultural cooperative for training in climate-smart, organic farming and tree-planting and towards seed purchases.
Working with Bridge of Solidarity SLI also gave further solar lanterns to vulnerable Burundian refugees in the Nakivale Refugee Camp with disabilities or health conditions such as epilepsy.
Solar Links Initiative is sincerely grateful to the many individuals and some larger Trusts whose generous support makes possible the work of lighting lives in villages which are even beyond the last mile, where there is no market access to solar lighting of even the simplest variety or to any loan finance. You have helped transform the lives of thousands of people living in the most basic conditions, not least by giving them hope. Thank you!
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**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **Objectives and activities**
Solar Links Initiative is a charity and its objects are:
1. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of socially and economically or socially disadvantaged communities selected by the trustees on the basis of appropriate evidence of disadvantage, for the benefit of those communities;
2. To relieve poverty for the benefit of the public by such means as the trustees think fit, including but not limited to the use of communications technology, the provision or facilitation of information and the encouragement of best practice;
3. To relieve sickness.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s objectives and in planning future activities.
SLI carries out these objects by taking action to benefit people around the world who are improving the lives of their communities, and we currently provide funds to assist disadvantaged communities primarily through the introduction of solar lighting.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Solar Links Initiative was originally established as a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 12 July 2004 with the name Global Links Initiative, and registered as a Charity on 13 May 2005. The charity changed its name to Solar Links Initiative on 9 December 2015 and on 15 July 2024 Solar Links Initiative converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Trustees may be appointed, either to fill vacancies or as additional Trustees, by resolution of the Trustees at a meeting of Trustees. Trustees are recruited to fill vacancies or to address the particular needs of the charity, as required.
## **Reference and administrative details**
Charity number: 1110013 Registered Office: 22 Old Millmeads, Horsham, RH12 2LZ Independent Examiner: David Parker, 33 Wagtail Close, Horsham, RH12 5HL Bankers Barclays Bank plc, 92 High St, Crawley, RH10 1YF
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Ian Hutchinson Nicholas Derek Feeny Bhagyashree Mandke Phillida Purvis MBE
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**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **Financial review**
Our policy is to maintain appropriate reserves to cover our immediate operating needs which, at any one time, are normally less than £1,000. At 31 July 2026 our reserves were £47,710 (2025 £59,447).
The Trustees review income and expenditure on a periodic basis and the level of expenditure is set to ensure that there will be adequate resources available to meet commitments made as they fall due.
The trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have concluded that our major on-going risk is to ensure that we have adequate financial resources available to finance our future activities.
The results for the year to 31 July 2026 amounted to net payments of £11,737 (2025 net receipts of £9,500).
Approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf on 30 August 2026.
Ian Hutchinson Trustee
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**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Solar Links Initiative (“the Trust”) for the period to 31 July 2026.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
David Parker Chartered Accountant
33 Wagtail Close, Horsham, RH12 5HL
Dated: 30 August 2026
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**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD TO 31 JULY 2026**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
|
**Receipts**
Donations and legacies
Interest
**Total receipts**
**Payments**
Charitable Activities
**Total payments**
Receipts less payments for the year
**Fund balances at 1 August 2025**
**Fund balances at 31 July 2026**|**2026**
**2026**
**2026**
**Funds Unrestricted Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
28,480 28,480
-
1,868 1,868
-
**30,34830,348**
**-**
42,085 42,085
-
**42,08542,085**
**-**
(11,737) (11,737)
-
59,447 59,447
-
**47,71047,710**
**-**|**2026**
**2026**
**2026**
**Funds Unrestricted Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
28,480 28,480
-
1,868 1,868
-
**30,34830,348**
**-**
42,085 42,085
-
**42,08542,085**
**-**
(11,737) (11,737)
-
59,447 59,447
-
**47,71047,710**
**-**|
|---|---|---|
|||
|
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**SOLAR LINKS INITIATIVE Year ended 31 July 2026**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT 31 JULY 2026**
|
**Assets**
Cash in Bank and in hand
**Total assets**
Unrestricted income funds
Restricted income funds
**Total funds**
|**2026**
**£**
47,710
**47,710**
47,710
-
**47,710**|**2025**
**£**
59,447
**59,447**
59,447
-
**59,447**|
|---|---|---|
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **1 Basis of preparation**
These accounts have been prepared on a cash basis. As the Charity is registered in England and Wales, is not a company and has gross income that is not over £250,000 it is permitted under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 to prepare receipts and payments accounts.
## **2. Restricted funds**
Restricted funds, being donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Charity’s work, are shown separately from unrestricted funds which are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity.
## **3. Staff Costs and Trustees’ Remuneration**
The Charity has no paid employees. Trustees received no remuneration (2025 £Nil), but are reimbursed for personal expenses, primarily costs of travelling to Uganda, incurred on behalf of the charity which amounted in the year to £Nil (2025 £2,110). These travel costs are financed by donations from trustees.
Approved by the Trustees on 30 August 2026 and signed on its behalf.
Ian Hutchinson Trustee
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