REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06318127 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1125609
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025 for
Hope and Play Ltd
Hope and Play Ltd
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 to 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
Hope and Play Ltd
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Why we exist
Hope and Play brings hope to Palestinian children who are denied hope through the circumstances and environment which they find themselves in. This is reflected in our charity’s objects, which are:
(1) To relieve the needs of children, in particular but not exclusively those affected by conflict, occupation or poverty, by providing items, services and facilities calculated to relieve their needs and by raising awareness amongst the public of their circumstances;
(2) To advance education for children for the public benefit by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for education;
(3) To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of children who have need of such facilities by reason of financial hardship or social or other detrimental circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Activities
The challenges facing Palestinian children in our accounting period of 1st August 2024 to 31st July 2025 were considerable - in the refugee camps in Lebanon, for those under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank coming under increasing attacks by emboldened settlers, and especially in Gaza, where the attacks on the Palestinian population showed no signs of abating. Our focus remained in Gaza, as that was where the need was greatest in this terrible league table of suffering.
Almost the entire population of Gaza by this stage, and for the whole year, remained forcibly evacuated from their homes, and the basic infrastructure of life, such as water plants, hospitals, food shops and schools remained destroyed.
We continued with the programmes we started the previous year, namely:
-
Life . To keep Gaza’s children, their families, and our partner teams supporting them alive. Buying and providing food and water, fixing sanitation in camps, providing health supplies, clothing, tarps and tents and small distributions of cash to families. This has been achieved mostly through our partners at the Canaan Institute of New Pedagogy, with some limited informal involvement by our artists who would sometimes also provide food and water to the children they had at their workshops. Over 127,000 people were reached this way.
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Hope . To give Gaza’s children respite and some form of reminder as to why to live. This involved a combination of art workshops, play activities, education and sports delivered against incredible odds by members of the Canaan Institute, artists in the Shababeek Arts Collective, a group of Palestinian artists in Gaza, and a group led by an ex-employee of the Canaan Institute who was located in another area of Gaza that Canaan could not readily reach. Over 43,000 people were reached this way.
In making all decisions regarding our activities, the trustees have had due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance.
Continued over page….
Page 1
Hope and Play Ltd
Report of the Trustees - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (continued)
Funds raised
We are grateful as always for our kind donors and supporters, without whom none of our activities would be possible. This year’s funding was up 65% on last year, which was our previous year of highest income. The primary reason for this increase was the enormity of the need brought on by the crisis in Gaza, and public awareness of the suffering of the Palestinians there. As Hope and Play was in the position through our partners to deliver direct and impactful help to the children and families there, our team of volunteers worked hard to provide a highly effective way to support those children and families to a public that increasingly wanted to find ways to do so.
Funding for Hope and Play came primarily through 3 sources:
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Donations – a combination of direct and regular donations and fundraisers;
-
Grants – grant-funders whose goals align with Hope and Play’s;
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The Hope and Play shop – primarily through sales of merchandise over Christmas.
Our overarching philosophy is to use all funds received through public donations for the delivery of projects on the ground, and as such, the charity has no paid employees nor paid trustees. Save for the deduction by others of financial costs (e.g. credit card or PayPal fees), all public donation monies were used directly in project delivery in Gaza. No public donations were used for any of our administrative or organisational costs outside Palestine.
Administration, Product and Marketing Activities and Costs
All direct UK activity was carried out on a voluntary basis by a team of kind volunteers and by the trustees. We are grateful to all of those who have been generous enough with their time and conscience to help the charity support Gaza’s children by providing us with support on all aspects of keeping the charity going, including social media, fundraising, website, email campaigns, accounts, legal advice, design and creation of shop products, postage and packing for the shop, and storage.
Where costs were incurred for various administrative or related activities, these were covered either by the trustees directly, or by donations made by the trustees.
Costs relating to the shop, mostly the shop platform, products (where these were purchased rather than donated) and postage, were entirely funded from shop sales and not from donations.
Delivery of Projects
As Hope and Play does not maintain offices or employees in the occupied Palestinian territories or in the refugee camps in the area, all work is delivered through our grassroots partners on the ground. All are vetted and checked against sanctions lists to ensure Hope and Play’s compliance with the various regulations it is subject to. Most importantly, we are grateful to these partners who despite themselves being dislocated and traumatised, still worked with children and their families to bring some respite and make their lives a little easier.
Our condolences go to the extended family and friends of Dergham Qureiqi, talented artist and humanitarian with Shababeek, who delivered many workshops for hundreds of children on our behalf, and who was killed along with his family on 18th March 2025.
We also extended our condolences and support to the family and friends of Mahmoud Shabit, 20-year-old stilt-walker and clown with our partner the Canaan Institute, who brought smiles and laughter to hundreds of children in the midst of ongoing atrocities, and who was killed on 1st August 2025.
Both, like their surviving colleagues, worked and continue to work selflessly bring some joy and childhood to children in the midst of a crisis where over 20,000 children have been killed. It is their spirit of service and bravery that inspires us all.
Page 2
Hope and Play Ltd
Report of the Trustees - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles dated 16 August 2008.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
06318127 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1125609
Registered office
42 York Street Twickenham TW1 3BW
Trustees
Iyas Anis Alqasem Tony Rahman Kevin Bibby Saskia Theresia Daniela Marsh
Company Secretary
Iyas Anis Alqasem
Independent Examiner
Alan Griffin FCA TBLC Limited
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 27 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Iyas Anis Alqasem - Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Hope and Play Ltd
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Hope and Play Ltd ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
TBLC Limited Alan Griffin FCA 27 April 2026
Page 4
Hope and Play Ltd
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Other trading activities 2 Total EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 3 Charitable activities Trauma program Grants paid Other Total NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds 7 Net movement in funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted fund £ 268,238 44,424 312,662 11,826 - 358,944 902 371,672 (59,010) - (59,010) 67,804 8,794 |
Restricted fund £ - - - 14,186 14,186 |
31.7.25 Total funds £ 268,238 44,424 312,662 11,826 - 358,944 902 371,672 (59,010) - (59,010) 81,990 22,980 |
31.7.24 Total funds £ 162,309 47,650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 209,959 | ||||
| 13,383 142,675 1,453 |
||||
| 157,511 | ||||
| 52,448 - |
||||
| 52,448 29,542 |
||||
| 81,990 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Hope and Play Ltd
Balance Sheet
31 July 2025
| Balance Sheet 31 July 2025 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 Cash in hand NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 7 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Unrestricted fund £ 1,295 7,499 8,794 8,794 8,794 |
Restricted fund £ 14,186 14,186 14,186 14,186 |
31.7.25 Total funds £ 1,295 21,685 22,980 22,980 22,980 8,794 14,186 22,980 |
31.7.24 Total funds £ 3,525 78,465 |
| 81,990 | ||||
| 81,990 | ||||
| 81,990 | ||||
| 67,804 14,186 |
||||
| 81,990 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 27 April 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
Iyas Anis Alqasem - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Hope and Play Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
| Shop income 3. RAISING FUNDS Other trading activities Purchases |
31.7.25 £ 44,424 31.7.25 £ 11,826 |
31.7.24 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 47,650 | ||
| 31.7.24 £ |
||
| 13,383 |
"Expenditure on raising funds" represents purchases of goods for resale and is funded by shop sales.
continued...
Page 7
Hope and Play Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Other trading activities Total EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds Charitable activities Trauma program Other Total NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 6. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other debtors Other debtors represent the Charity's undrawn Paypal balance. |
Unrestricted fund £ 162,309 - 162,309 - - 1,453 1,453 160,856 (110,000) 50,856 16,948 67,804 |
Restricted fund £ - 47,650 47,650 13,383 142,675 - 156,058 (108,408) 110,000 1,592 12,594 14,186 31.7.25 £ 1,295 |
Total funds 31.7.24 £ 162,309 47,650 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 209,959 | |||
| 13,383 142,675 1,453 |
|||
| 157,511 | |||
| 52,448 - |
|||
| 52,448 29,542 |
|||
| 81,990 | |||
| 31.7.24 £ |
|||
| 3,525 | |||
continued...
Page 8
Hope and Play Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| At 1.8.24 Net movement in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 67,804 (59,010) Restricted funds Restricted fund 14,186 - TOTAL FUNDS 81,990 (59,010) Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 312,662 Restricted funds Restricted fund - TOTAL FUNDS 312,662 Comparatives for movement in funds At 1.8.23 Net movement in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 16,948 160,856 Restricted funds Restricted fund 12,594 (108,408) TOTAL FUNDS 29,542 52,448 |
Transfer between funds £ - - - Resources expended £ (371,672) - (371,672) Transfer between funds £ (110,000) 110,000 - |
At 31.7.25 £ 8,794 14,186 |
|---|---|---|
| 22,980 | ||
| Movement in funds £ (59,010) - |
||
| (59,010) | ||
| At 31.7.24 £ 67,804 14,186 |
||
| 81,990 |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 162,309 47,650 209,959 |
Resources expended £ (1,453) (156,058) (157,511) |
Movement in funds £ 160,856 (108,408) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52,448 |
continued...
Page 9
Hope and Play Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.8.23 £ 16,948 12,594 29,542 |
Net movement in funds £ 101,846 (108,408) (6,562) |
Transfer between funds £ (110,000) 110,000 - |
At 31.7.25 £ 8,794 14,186 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22,980 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 474,971 47,650 522,621 |
Resources expended £ (373,125) (156,058) (529,183) |
Movement in funds £ 101,846 (108,408) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (6,562) |
8. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Page 10
Hope and Play Ltd
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
| for the Year Ended 31 July 2025 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Other trading activities Shop income Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Other trading activities Purchases Charitable activities Grants to institutions Grants for children’s activities, art workshops, food and emergency supplies Support costs Management IT costs Fund-raising costs Finance Bank charges Total resources expended Net (expenditure)/income |
31.7.25 £ 268,238 44,424 312,662 11,826 358,944 398 - 504 371,672 (59,010) |
31.7.24 £ 162,309 47,650 |
|---|---|---|
| 209,959 13,383 142,675 - 1,013 440 |
||
| 157,511 | ||
| 52,448 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 11