Registered charity number 1154658
Phan Foundation CIO
Trustees' Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Phan Foundation CIO Report and Financial Statements Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the trustees | 1-4 |
| Legal and administrative information | 5 |
| Independent examiner's report | 6 |
| Statement of financial activities | 7 |
| Balance sheet | 8 |
| Notes forming part of the financial statements | 9-14 |
Phan Foundation CIO Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2025
The Phan Foundation was founded by the four children of Padoh Mahn Sha, the General Secretary of the Karen National Union, and Nant Kyin Shwe, in their memory.
The Phan Foundation is a Charitable Incorporation Organisation, registered charity number 1154658. Our governing document is the constitution of the Phan Foundation.
Charitable objects
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TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY IN BURMA.
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TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY (INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL NEEDS) OF REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS FROM BURMA.
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TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES FROM BURMA.
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TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE SUBJECTS OF ETHNIC KAREN CULTURE, HISTORY AND TRADITIONS.
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TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS (AS SET OUT IN THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUBSEQUENT UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS AND DECLARATIONS) AND TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA AND SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT.
Grant-making approach and policy
The founders of the Phan Foundation, being from Karen State Burma, growing up in a conflict zone and having been internally displaced and refugees, have a particular experience, knowledge and expertise in both the needs of the people, and the organisations which are providing effective assistance to them.
Phan Foundation aims to support civil society organisations, specialising in small high impact grants to organisations and areas which struggle to find funding from other donors.
We provide long term commitments to some projects so they do not have to worry about funding year to year and can instead focus on the work they are doing. We also aim to be responsive to events to provide assistance at times of emergency.
At the same time as rigorously ensuring funds are spent as allocated, it is an important and integral principle of the Phan Foundation that we do not place unreasonable and unnecessary reporting burdens on recipients of our grants.
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Phan Foundation CIO Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Our grants to partners
The civil society organisations we support are facing immense challenges with a dramatic increase in conflict, human rights violations, repression, and mass displacement since the 2021 military coup. During this reporting period the number of Internally displaced people increased from the low thousands to more than 1 million people in Kawthoolei (Kawthoolei is the Karen name for Karen State. It is larger than the borders of Karen State imposed by the central government in 1951).
The Phan Foundation has sought to continue to provide stable long-term grants to our partners, to assist them to plan ahead with assured funding, while at the same time responding to the urgent humanitarian crisis. Our main grants have been to civil society organisations assisting internally displaced people, and for education, we continue to support projects for protection and promotion of Karen culture, access to medical care, and protecting human rights defenders.
We also continued with our high profile Padoh Mahn Sha Young Leader Award, recognising outstanding young Karen leaders who work in areas related to our charitable objectives.
We are grateful to the donors who enable us to carry out our life-saving and lifetransforming work.
Grant areas
Phan Foundation is proud to have been able to support the following outstanding Karen organisations in their work proving humanitarian assistance, education and health services, and promoting and preserving Karen culture.
Examples of partners we have supported in their work include:
Karen Peace Support Network
Phan Foundation provided funding to KPSN to provide a wide range of support to internally displaced people fleeing attacks by the Burmese military, including support for shelter, food, medical care, transport, training of community workers, and safe houses for people evading arrest by the Burmese military. Specific support was targeted at hygiene needs for women and children.
Karen Education and Cultural Department
Phan Foundation supported a wide range of activities carried out by KECD, including the printing of education materials, primary and higher education school programmes, scholarships, equipment for the running of KECD programmes, printers and projectors, teacher salaries and maintenance of school buildings.
Pwo Karen literature and language project
Phan Foundation funded a cultural project to protect and promote Pwo Karen language and literature. Details must remain anonymous for their security.
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Phan Foundation CIO Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Karen Department of Health and Welfare
Phan Foundation provided funding for medical equipment such as stethoscopes, blood pressure medication and laptops for healthcare records and administration, for the provision of healthcare in Karen State and neighbouring areas. We also funded the provision of communication equipment for health workers in the field.
Karen Student Network Group
We provided funding for the publication of a magazine which provides news and education for young Karen people and promotes Karen culture and language.
Ter Kwe Community Centre
Phan Foundation funded this community centre, which provides a range of services to the local population, a school for post primary age children, and a teacher training centre.
Anonymous Organisation
Working in Burmese military occupied areas to promote and preserve Karen language and publish education literature.
Anonymous Organisation
Youth organisation carrying out education and cultural projects in Burmese military occupied territory.
Anonymous Organisation
Provision of health services including emergency transport to hospitals.
Our Charitable Objectives
The grants made in this financial year all further the charitable objectives of the Phan Foundation and are undertaken for the public benefit of these objectives. We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Financial review
During the year the Charity’s income totalled £90,969 (2024: £101,218) and expenditure was £93,460 (2024: £94,457). The charity’s funds stood at £7,007 at 31 March 2025, (2024 £9,498) including £Nil (2024: £946) of restricted funds and £7,007 (2024: £8,552) of unrestricted funds.
Investment policy
The charity does not currently hold sufficient funds to warrant investment. However, the charity banks with The Co-op, which has a sound ethical banking policy.
Reserves policy
The charity holds a small cash balance and is yet to reach an operational level where it has been possible to consider establishing a financial reserve. The Trustees will continue to monitor the charity’s finances and will establish a reserves policy when funds allow.
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Phan Foundation CIO Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP,
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Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the board of trustees on December 2025 and signed 04 on its behalf.
Stephen Bates
Trustee
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Phan Foundation CIO Legal and Administrative Information
Charity name:
Phan Foundation CIO
Charity registration number:
Charity registration number: 1154658 Registered office and 110 The Bon Marche Centre operational address: 241-251 Ferndale Road London SW9 8BJ
Trustees on public record Stephen Bates
Independent examiner
Frank McDowell FJM Accountancy Limited 23 Shackleton Court 2 Maritime Quay London E14 3QF
Bankers
The Co-operative Bank plc Head Office PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
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Phan Foundation CIO Independent Examinerfs report Independent examIneS report to the Trustees of Phan Foundation CIO I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and basls of report As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparab'on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the CIO'S accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 ACL Independent exarninerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinab'on giving me cause to believe that in any material respect 1. accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Ac( or 2. the accounts do not accord bmth those records. I confIn that there are no other matters to which your attention should be dra to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Frank James McDowell FMAAT FJM Accountancy Limited 23 Shackleton Court 2 Maritime Quay London E14 3QF Date.. 10 December 2025
Phan Foundation CIO Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 Restricted Unrestricted Total Notes £ £ £ Income from: Grants and donations 2 33,001 57,968 90,969 Total income 33,001 57,968 90,969 Expenditure on: Raising funds - 113 113 Charitable activities 3,4 33,836 59,511 93,347 Total expenditure 33,836 59,624 93,460 Net (expenditure)/income for the year 6 (835) (1,656) (2,491) Transfers between funds 11 (111) 111 - Net movement in funds (946) (1,545) (2,491) Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 946 8,552 9,498 Total funds carried forward 11 - 7,007 7,007 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| Restricted Unrestricted Total £ £ £ 39,943 61,275 101,218 |
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| 39,943 61,275 101,218 |
|
| - 124 124 49,511 44,822 94,333 |
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| 49,511 44,946 94,457 |
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| (9,568) 16,329 6,761 7,108 (7,108) - |
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| (2,460) 9,221 6,761 3,406 (669) 2,737 |
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| 946 8,552 9,498 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains or losses for the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
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Phan Foundation CIO Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 8 | 214 | 642 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 7,153 | 9,216 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling | |||||
| due within one year | 9 | 360 | 360 | ||
| Net current assets | 6,793 | 8,856 | |||
| Net current assets and net assets | 10 | 7,007 | 9,498 | ||
| The funds of the charity: | 11 | ||||
| Restricted income funds | - | 946 | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 7,007 | 8,552 | |||
| Total funds | 7,007 | 9,498 |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 04 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Stephen Bates
Trustee
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year.
Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Funds structure and accounting
Restricted grants and donations are available for the charity's use only in accordance with the terms under which, and for the purposes which, the funds were donated to the charity.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Income recognition
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Grants and donations are included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable.
Donated services and facilities
In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the charity is not recognised. The trustees’ annual report provides more information about the contribution of volunteers.
Expenditure recognition
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Where expenditure includes VAT which can only be partially recovered, the irrecoverable VAT is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objects of the charity.
Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and fundraising trading costs.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting policies
Expenditure recognition (continued)
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the statement of financial activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis e.g. floor area or estimated usage, as set out in Notes 3 and 4.
| 2 Grants and donations receivable Advance Myanmar First Burmese Baptist Church of San Francisco Karen Baptist Church Sheffield Karen Community Association - London Karen Community Association - UK Karen National Union UK Micromondo Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Anonymity requested by donors Gift Aid Other grants and donations |
2025 Restricted Unrestricted Total £ £ £ - 50,000 50,000 - - - 1,060 - 1,060 1,000 - 1,000 - - - 1,000 - 1,000 1,209 - 1,209 18,937 - 18,937 600 2,000 2,600 - 3,392 3,392 9,195 2,576 11,771 33,001 57,968 90,969 |
2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total £ 50,000 11,739 - 600 2,000 450 946 21,576 3,415 - 10,492 |
||
| 101,218 |
3 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
| Grants paid (Note 4) Equipment purchased for use in Myanmar Publicity Travel IT and telecoms costs Bank charges Governance costs - independent examination Depreciation |
Grant- making Fund- raising Governance Total 2025 £ £ £ £ 90,450 - - 90,450 - - - - 1,338 - - 1,338 61 - - 61 159 - 159 551 113 - 664 - - 360 360 428 - - 428 92,987 113 360 93,460 |
Total 2024 £ 90,551 1,043 1,361 - 80 634 360 428 |
|---|---|---|
| 94,457 |
Expenditure on charitable activities was £92,987 (2024: £93,973) of which £59,191 (2024: £44,462) was unrestricted and £33,836 (2024: £49,511) was restricted.
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 4 Grants paid Dawei and Myiek Mission Karen Department of Health and Welfare Karen Education and Culture Department Karen Peace Support Network Karen Student Network Group Karen Youth Organisation Naw Hay Thi Dew Project Taw Oo Ter Kwe Community-Based Organisation Anonymity of organisations protected Others 5 Net (expenditure)/income for the year This is stated after charging: Independent examiner's fees |
2025 Restricted Unrestricted Total £ £ £ - - - 2,000 8,540 10,540 4,180 21,031 25,211 8,830 8,841 17,671 - 5,720 5,720 - - - - - - - - - - 4,273 4,273 18,826 3,187 22,013 - 5,022 5,022 33,836 56,614 90,450 2025 £ 360 |
2024 Total £ - 2,849 20,936 21,585 1,399 4,672 3,178 3,703 4,448 27,781 - |
|---|---|---|
| 90,551 | ||
| 2024 £ 360 |
6 Related party transactions and trustees’ expenses and remuneration
The trustees all give their time and expertise freely without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind. No trustees claimed any expenses in the year or the preceding year.
Trustees made donations to the charity during the year totalling £180 (2024: £180).
7 Taxation
As a registered charity, Phan Foundation is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.
The charity is registered for Gift Aid with HM Revenue & Customs under reference number W56202.
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
8 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
IT equipment £ 1,284 - |
|---|---|
| 1,284 | |
| 642 428 |
|
| 1,070 | |
| 214 642 |
There were no capital commitments at 31 March 2025 (2024: Nil)
- 9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Accrued expenses | 2025 £ 360 360 |
2024 £ 360 |
|---|---|---|
| 360 |
10 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Current year Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Prior year Tangible fixed assets Net current assets |
Restricted Designated Unrestricted funds funds funds £ £ £ - 214 - - - 6,793 - 214 6,793 - 642 - 946 - 7,910 946 642 7,910 |
Total funds £ 214 6,793 |
|---|---|---|
| 7,007 | ||
| 642 8,856 |
||
| 9,498 |
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 11 Movement in funds Current year Restricted funds: Anonymity of organisation protected Education Internally displaced people Karen Children Medical equipment Total restricted funds Unrestricted funds: Designated fixed asset fund General funds Total funds Prior year Restricted funds: Anonymity of organisation protected Internally displaced people Karen Children Karen Education and Culture Department Medical equipment Total restricted funds Unrestricted funds: Designated fixed asset fund General funds Total funds Restricted funds: |
At 1st Incoming Outgoing At 31st April resources resources Transfers March £ £ £ £ £ - 18,937 (18,826) (111) - - 3,234 (3,234) - - - 8,830 (8,830) - - 946 - (946) - - - 2,000 (2,000) - - |
|---|---|
| 946 33,001 (33,836) (111) - |
|
| 642 - - (428) 214 7,910 57,968 (59,624) 539 6,793 |
|
| 8,552 57,968 (59,624) 111 7,007 |
|
| 9,498 90,969 (93,460) - 7,007 |
|
| - 21,575 (21,451) (124) - 1,287 16,372 (24,898) 7,239 - - 946 - - 946 2,119 - (2,119) - - - 1,050 (1,043) (7) - |
|
| 3,406 39,943 (49,511) 7,108 946 |
|
| 1,070 - - (428) 642 (1,739) 61,275 (44,946) (6,680) 7,910 |
|
| (669) 61,275 (44,946) (7,108) 8,552 |
|
| 2,737 101,218 (94,457) - 9,498 |
|
Anonymity of organisation protected (for their security)
Funding for a youth project in an area of Burma under Burmese military occupation was provided to the specified organisation whose name has been withheld for their security, and used for youth education, training, capacity building and equipment required to operate their work.
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Phan Foundation CIO Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
11 Movement in funds (continued)
Restricted funds (continued):
Education
Donations raised from an appeal for funding for education were provided to the Karen Education and Culture Department for use in the running of schools in the Karen State area of Burma, including for building maintenance and educational materials.
Internally displaced people
Donations provide for the support of Internally displaced people were provided to the Karen Peace Support Network and distributed to local community organisations which provide food, shelter, blankets and other essentials to internally displaced people.
Karen Children
Donations made for children were provided to the Karen Education and Culture Department for a boarding house in Karen state, enabling children from conflict zones and remote areas without schools to travel to and stay where education is available.
Medical equipment
We provided medical equipment for people in conflict effect areas in Karen State, Kawthoolei.
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