2024-05-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTERED NUMBER: 1170393

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

S J PICKUP & CO. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS LONG ACRE MILTON STREET POLEGATE BN26 5RW

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Registered Charity Number: 1170393 Chief Executive Officer: A Reid Treasurer: B Bird Trustees: A Reid B Bird J Mottram A Mottram P Bowley (resigned 19.8.24) D Fairhead R Fairhead K Pamphilon (appointed 2.2.24) Accountants: S J Pickup & Co. Chartered Accountants Long Acre Milton Street Polegate BN26 5RW

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

CONTENTS

	Page
Charity - Examiners report	1
Trustees' report	2-4
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	5
Receipts and Payments Account	6
Notes	7

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF EASTBOURNE NETWORX

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

I report on the accounts which are set out on pages 5 to 7

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and examiner

The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

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 that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. 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

4. 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 (FRS102).

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.

Dated: 20 February 2025

S J Pickup & Co. Chartered Accountants Long Acre Milton Street Polegate BN26 5RW

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

The Trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31 May 2024 under the Charities Act 2011, together with the financial statements for the year, and confirm that the latter comply with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Deed and the Charities SORP 2005.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

The charity is governed by its Trust deed dated 28 August 2016 and registered as a CIO on 25 November 2016 with the Charity Commission.

Organisation

A board of trustees of up to 6 members, who meet regularly to administer the charity.

Objectives and activities

A charity that welcomes and supports refugees. We are a voice for those in need, supporting them in housing, education and into employment.

Achievements and performance

Networx is now 8 years old. The first families we supported in 2016 have been here long enough to become citizens of the United Kingdom.

In 2023 much of our work was focused on the Asylum Seekers in the hotels. The numbers of people grew to almost 600 in the summer due to the processing of asylum seekers coming to a virtual halt at the Home Office.

Our aim was always to ensure that whilst the Asylum Seekers were in Eastbourne they felt cared for and respected, we provided what we could within the bounds of our charity budget and the law. Many still contact us and have not forgotten the welcome they received here.

As long as there is war and climate change, there will be people seeking refuge, and this not only in the UK. It has been a pleasure to be able to befriend these people who have known things we can’t even imagine or even want to consider.

In the summer of 2023, the Government had brought into Law, the Illegal Migration Bill, which sought to criminalise the asylum seeker. The Bill had created powers for mass detention and deportation. The UNHCR stated that ‘The Bill undermines the very purpose for which the Refugee Convention was established. The Convention explicitly states that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly.’

The Ukrainian Settlement had been very successful, mainly because of the huge amount of financial support which has been provided for it by Government. 2023 was the second year of considerable financial support for the Ukrainian Resettlement. The people arrived with refugee status, so did not have the pressures of asylum seeking. Ukrainians are proactive, determined and positive despite their huge trauma. If only this programme could be replicated for all our refugees and asylum seekers.

Through 2023 we supported the teaching of English at a higher level to enable better prospects of work, college and university entry and well-being. The exam course is certified by Cambridge. Most students are from Ukraine and some from Iran and Syria. This year, more than 50 certificates have been achieved. One student is now in medical school in Plymouth, and another is training as a teacher.

We remained aware of the thousands of Afghans still housed in hotels across the country. These people faced being evicted from hotels by the end of August 2023.

Six Afghan families on the Government Resettlement Scheme have been rehoused in Eastbourne and separately an Afghan mother and daughter have opened a restaurant in the town.

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

2023 brought the arrival of many Skilled Workers. We had previously known the difficulties faced by people with ‘No Recourse to Public funds’ [NRPF]. A young couple, with a baby born July 2023, had been promised so much in terms of hours of work, and the promise of citizenship after 4 years, that it was an offer they could not refuse when they signed up for it at home in Africa. Once here, given the very few hours of work they were offered, they could not pay their rent, or feed themselves. They had no way to earn and there is no recourse to public funds. The scheme is in many ways Modern Day Slavery. In 2024 this scheme was reviewed and the number of Skilled Workers coming to the UK has reduced. Many have had to rely on the Food Bank, and are living in high-cost single rooms, with no benefits of any kind apart from charity support.

The economic difficulties, which all families are facing have focussed our support on Tesco vouchers for the neediest. This has been a great help and support to families, and we are thankful that we have received the funds to be able to achieve this.

Networx aims to work in a quiet, private way with clients, thus maintaining confidentiality, and does not make client personal information public. People are referred to Networx by various organisations. Publicity would result in us being overwhelmed with people, and then we wouldn’t be able to settle people into the town as we are now doing.

2024 has brought several Iranian families to our town. Iranians are skilled and well educated and very keen to integrate into the community. They have left their country very fearful of the threat of death over them. We are honoured to be able to support the integration of these new friends.

Networx is a recognised charity in Eastbourne, making a difference and able to make a rapid response at the point of need. As volunteers, we remain key players among the migrant community in Eastbourne.

As always, our purpose is to ensure that whilst our foreign friends are in Eastbourne they will have a happy and supportive stay, and be treated with dignity, and that they know how to find the help they need whenever, and whatever, that might be.

Financial review

We were grateful to receive a second grant of £30,000 from East Sussex County Council to help us to continue to support the Homes for Ukraine resettlement programme. This, together with the balance of the first grant, enabled us to invest £33,971 in helping to equip families as they settle in Eastbourne.

We were grateful also to continue to receive donations from our regular and our one-off supporters which enable us to respond to the needs of families as and when they arise. The level of donations received was in line with those received in the previous year

Our financial resources at the end of the year remain sufficient to enable us to meet the direct aims of the charity in the coming year.

Plans for future periods

The trustees are confident to continue their support of asylum seekers and refugees.

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

Accounting and reporting responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provision of the trust deed. 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.

Approved by the trustees on 10 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

A Reid Trustee

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

BALANCE SHEET

	AT 31 MAY 2024	AT 31 MAY 2024
	Note		2024			2023
		£		£	£		£
Current assets
Debtors	2 13,280	2 13,280			9,700	9,700
Bank Accounts		25,588		44,563	44,563	44,563
		–––––––			–––––––
		38,868		54,263	54,263	54,263
Net current assets			38,868	38,868		54,263	54,263
				–––––––			–––––––
Total assets less current liabilities			38,868	38,868		54,263	54,263
				–––––––			–––––––
Net assets			38,868	38,868		54,263	54,263
				–––––––			–––––––
Movement in Funds
General Fund				22,268			25,228
Eastbourne Borough Council				850			1,355
3VA				2,660			2,985
Souter Charitable Trust				-			171
Good News Evangelical Mission Fund				-			4,240
Barnabas Trust				-			2,500
Homes for Ukraine				12,265			16,239
Food Team		-	-	-			20
East Dean Communities Together		825	825	825	1,525	1,525	1,525
				–––––––			–––––––
Total funds		38,868	38,868	38,868		54,263	54,263
				–––––––			–––––––

Approved by the trustees on 10 March 2025 and signed on its behalf.

A Reid

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements.

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

2024 £ INCOME Donations and legacies Gifts and Donations 11,394 Gift Aid 12 Grants 30,000 East Dean Communities Together` - –––––– 41,406 –––––– FUNDS FOR ENGLISH LESSONS Grants from Councils 22,768 English Lessons (24,761) –––––– (1,993) –––––– Total Receipts Expenditure Administration Costs 1,111 Family Support 4,023 Housing Costs 3,451 Training and Education 1,794 East Dean Communities Together 700 Food and Fuel Poverty 7,020 Cost of Living Crisis - Covid Support 228 PC's and Software - Winterisation Kits - Loan Cancellation - Winter Project - Project 28 - Afghan Project 178 Homes for Ukraine/ Rest of the World 33,971 Sanctury Cafe 324 Asylum Seekers in Hotels 2,007 ––––––– Total expenditure (Deficit)/Surplus for the Year	–––––– 39,413 –––––– – 54,807 –––––– (15,394) ––––––	2023 £ 10,769 3,084 - 58,343 1,676 –––––– 73,872 –––––– 35,240 (35,935) –––––– (695) –––––– –––––– 73,177 –––––– 1,054 3,692 643 2,475 151 4,738 144 - 522 12,045 100 3,100 310 1,251 13,712 313 3,202 –––––– 47,452 –––––– 25,725 ––––––

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024

1. English Lessons

English Lessons are provided by a business selected solely by Eastbourne Borough Council (the Council) to deliver tuition to refugees accepted under HM Government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Schemes. In an arrangement set up in 2017, initially to cover the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme, Eastbourne Networx pays for the English language tuition services delivered against a list of refugees determined by the Council and then claims reimbursement from the Council.

In 2020 Lewes District Council joined this arrangement with Eastbourne Borough Council continuing to act as the lead authority.

This arrangement was extended by the Council to deliver tuition to vulnerable persons from Afghanistan who were accepted as refugees by HM Government under a separate resettlement scheme.

The English lessons are delivered by a family member of A Reid who has played no part in the selection process nor any decision regarding this project or arising from it.

In a separate arrangement financed by grants provided by East Sussex County Council, English tuition has been delivered to refugees and asylum seekers from Ukraine and other parts of the world by the same business provider. In the year to 31 May 2024 total tuition costs amounted to £29,743 which are recorded within the figure of £33,971 shown in the Receipts and Payment Account (for the year to 31 May 2023 the figures are £10,971 and £13,712 respectively).

2. Loan Movement

Loan Movement
	2024	2023
	£	£
Opening Balance	9,700	63730
Loans Granted	5,200	6,950
Loans Repaid	(1,620)	(3,880)
Loans Cancelled	-	100
	––––––	––––––
Closing Balance
	13,280	9,700
	––––––	––––––

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