2025-05-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTERED NUMBER: 1170393

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

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
	D Fairhead
	R Fairhead
	K Pamphilon
Accountants:	S J Pickup & Co.
	Chartered Accountants
	Long Acre
	Milton Street
	Polegate
	BN26 5RW

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

CONTENTS

	Page
Charity - Examiners report	1
Trustees' report	2
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 2025

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: 24th October 2025

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

Page 1

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

The Trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31 May 2025 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 7 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

We are now in our 10[th] year and this report is regarding our ninth year.

The closure of the asylum seeker hotels in Eastbourne in the Spring of 2024 was in many ways a loss to our town. Of course, there are many people who feel that this was a good thing but all those who met and supported the asylum seekers, lost friends. All the effort that had been put into finding volunteer work, teaching English, providing warm clothes and just befriending, disappeared, but hopefully lived on in the people who had stayed in Eastbourne and had found a welcome.

A young Iranian person spent long hours in the hotel studying English and medicine with the aim of being able to study medicine at university. We supported her financially, as did many befrienders, so that she had the technology she needed and the guidance to apply to universities. She is now in Plymouth University. She recently received a letter which stated that she had been awarded the 24/25 Doc Martin Award for Excellence and that she was the overall highest scoring student. What an achievement! The letter from the Head of medical studies continued, ‘I want to take a moment to personally commend you on your outstanding hard work and dedication that led to this well-deserved recognition.’ It makes us glad that we chose to support her and her studies. She was just one of the many people in the hotels who have gone on to study and to work in the UK.

Our focus in the Spring of 2024 then turned to the Iranians who were arriving in Eastbourne. Most of the Iranians we have met are Christians who had to leave their country due to the persecution they were subject to, for their faith. One person had been so severely tortured that he had many medical issues to face. The most obvious issue was that he no longer had any teeth in his mouth due to having been kicked in the mouth with heavy boots. [This was 3 years previously when he was in detention in the Evin prison.] It was clear that the cost of implants was very high, more than we could afford. We applied for a couple of grants unsuccessfully so we knew we would have to find the funds ourselves. We became aware of a dental group in London where all the dentists and doctors are young skilled foreigners and they will do implants at a fraction of the cost we would generally pay. We visited the Practice and found a very capable and large, professional group of people who would be able to help our Iranian friend. Appointments were booked, for the mouth to be cleaned, stumps to be removed, and temporary teeth fitted until the mouth could be reshaped and strengthened with the use of liquid bone. This would take 9 months to harden. The final implants have not yet been fitted. The first phase took place in early 2025. Amazingly, the donations we received to pay for this phase of the work were £7,895. The cost was £7,685 leaving us a balance of £210 which paid for our taxi back to Eastbourne, following the final

Page 2

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

dental operation of this phase. It was amazing provision for what we needed. The second phase will start in January 2026 and we have funds received from our donors, specifically for this purpose

There is a friendly group of Iranians who meet at Church. They are well integrated into our community, they are very approachable and happy and it’s good to see them receiving a warm welcome and encouragement from the Church community.

The fall of the Syrian President Assad in December 2024 dramatically changed the country of Syria. The new regime is led by Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, politician and a former rebel Commander. Much of what he has achieved appears to be for the safety of the people of Syria. Unfortunately, many Syrians are not convinced that this former terrorist really does mean that he wants peace. The EU and UK have eased trade restrictions with Syria but some restrictions still remain. Many Syrians have a desire to return to Syria but the fear that it is not yet safe remains. Our 2016 Syrian families are all doing well. The children don’t remember much about Syria and will often say that they feel British. One father is a taxi driver, another an electrician and another a restaurateur. They are even at the point of buying their own homes. They are strong and very grateful for the support which they still receive when it’s required. We recently supported a family with a successful school appeal. And the father has supported us with a couple of complicated car journeys to London.

One of the hardest aspects of resettlement is appropriate schooling especially for teenagers who arrive with no English and find themselves studying a GCSE curriculum. This requires determination on the part of the student to succeed and finance to fund extra lessons, provided by ex-teachers of maths, science and English in particular.

Family reunion is a very special moment, which has now been closed by the Home Office, unless a very strong case can be made for it. Family Reunion is very complicated as people change so much in the many years that they are apart. The culture shock is considerable for many. The lack of language, and complex systems and documentation all involving a lot of paperwork, all wear people down who are already highly depressed.

However, the overriding feedback is that they feel comfortable and respected in our town, they are pleased to be in a place where they feel safe and that their children can grow up in friendly and supportive schools. Once they are comfortable enough to volunteer, they are pleased to be of value and valued. We hope that this environment will continue to exist in Eastbourne. We do not advertise our work, which is confidential, and we aim to provide dignity, friendship and hope for our foreign friends. We are grateful to all the donors who continue to provide us with the funds to make a difference. We are all volunteers. No money goes into transport costs or room hire. Every penny donated is for the people we serve.

Financial review

We were grateful to receive a third 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 second grant, enabled us to invest £31,913 in helping to equip families as they settle in Eastbourne.

We were grateful also to continue to receive donations from our regular and one-off supporters which enable us to respond to the needs of families as and when they arise. The level of donations received was higher than those received in the previous year and these, together with the receipt of gift aid from HMRC, helped us to achieve a surplus in the year which adds to our balances and our cash in the bank.

At a recent trustees’ meeting when we discussed finance, we were confidently able to state that we have the finance we need for this time and that we are in a position to continue our work for another year. We trust that our donors will continue to support us to be able to continue our work into our 11[th] year.

Plans for future periods

The trustees are confident to continue their support of vulnerable families.

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (Continued)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

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 24th October 2025 signed on its behalf by:

A Reid

Trustee

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EASTBOURNE NETWORX

BALANCE SHEET

	AT 31 MAY 2025	AT 31 MAY 2025
	Note		2025		2024
		£	£	£	£
Current assets
Debtors	2	14,400		13,280
Bank Accounts		28,175		25,588
		––––––		––––––
		42,575		38,868
Net current assets			42,575		38,868
			––––––		––––––
Total assets less current liabilities			42,575		38,868
			––––––		––––––
Net assets			42,575		38,868
			––––––		––––––
Movement in Funds
General Fund 26,365 22,268	General Fund 26,365 22,268	General Fund 26,365 22,268	General Fund 26,365 22,268	General Fund 26,365 22,268	General Fund 26,365 22,268
Eastbourne Borough Council - 850	Eastbourne Borough Council - 850	Eastbourne Borough Council - 850	Eastbourne Borough Council - 850	Eastbourne Borough Council - 850	Eastbourne Borough Council - 850
3VA 2,035 2,660	3VA 2,035 2,660	3VA 2,035 2,660	3VA 2,035 2,660	3VA 2,035 2,660	3VA 2,035 2,660
Kingdom Way Trust 400 -	Kingdom Way Trust 400 -	Kingdom Way Trust 400 -	Kingdom Way Trust 400 -	Kingdom Way Trust 400 -	Kingdom Way Trust 400 -
Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -	Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -	Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -	Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -	Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -	Health and Wellbeing 3,423 -
Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265	Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265	Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265	Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265	Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265	Homes for Ukraine 10,352 12,265
East Dean Communities Together			-	825	825
			–––––––		–––––––
Total funds		42,575	42,575		38,868
			–––––––		–––––––

Approved by the trustees on 24th October 2025 and signed on its behalf.

A Reid

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements.

Page 5

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

		2025	2024
	£		£
INCOME
Donations and grants
Gifts and Donations	16,664		11,394
Gift Aid	3,662		12
Grants	34,300		30,000
	––––––		––––––
	54,626		41,406
	––––––		––––––
FUNDS FOR ENGLISH LESSONS
Grants from Councils	19,163		22,768
English Lessons	(15,985)		(24,761)
	––––––		––––––
	3,178		(1,993)
	––––––		––––––
		––––––	––––––
Total Receipts		57,804	39,413
		––––––	––––––
Expenditure
	2025	2025	2024
	£	£	£
Administration Costs	1,254		1,111
Family Support	5,734		4,023
Housing Costs	1,618		3,451
Training and Education	-		1,794
East Dean Communities Together	-		700
Food and Fuel Poverty	2,975		7,020
Rent Support	1,600		-
Covid Support	-		228
Refugee Week	800		-
Health and Wellbeing	8,203		-
Afghan Project	-		178
Homes for Ukraine/ Rest of the World	31,913		33,971
Sanctuary Cafe	-		324
Asylum Seekers in Hotels	-		2,007
	–––––––		–––––––
		54,097	54,807
		––––––	––––––
Surplus/(Deficit) for the Year		3,707	(15,394)
		––––––	––––––

Page 6

EASTBOURNE NETWORX

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

1. English Lessons

English Lessons are provided by a business selected solely by Eastbourne Borough Council to deliver tuition to refugees accepted under HM Government’s Vulnerable Persons resettlement Scheme (initially known as the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme) In an arrangement With Eastbourne Borough Council, Eastbourne Networx pays for the English language tuition services delivered against a list of refugees determined by the Council, and then claims reimbursement in full from the Council This arrangement has existed since 2017.

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

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 addition, a further £21,112 for English lessons were made via the Homes for Ukraine/Rest of the world, which was part of the grant of £30,000 from East Sussex County Council, and fully disclosed to them.

2. Loan Movement

Loan Movement
	2025	2024
	£	£
Opening Balance	13,280	9,700
Loans Granted	13,100	5,200
Loans Repaid	(11,980)	(1,620)
	––––––	–––––
–
Closing Balance
	14,400	13,280
	––––––	––––––

Page 7