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2025-03-31-accounts

FSCI (UK) A Charitable Incorporated Organisation

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Charity number: 1170914 CIO number: CE009486

FSCI (UK) CONTENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Page
Legal and Administrative Information 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 12
Independent Examiners' Report 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16 to 21

FSCI (UK) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Charity Number 1170914
Charitable Incorporated Number CE009486
Registered Office St Paul's Church
Fisherton Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 7QW
Trustees Bernard Bentley
Ray Flux
Steven Parker
Elizabeth Pollard
Dr Sam Whitmarsh
Key management Chris Mould (Chief Executive)
Richard Parsons (Operations Manager)
Bankers Santander
53 Silver Street
Salisbury
SP1 2NG
Independent examiner Simon Ellingham FCA DChA
Fawcetts LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Windover House
St. Ann Street
Salisbury
SP1 2DR

1

FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

period ended 31 March 2025. The trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Prac�ce (SORP) FRS102 "Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es".

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisa�on (CIO) on 23 December 2016 and started carrying out its charitable ac�vi�es on 1 April 2017. This is its eighth accoun�ng period for the 12-month period to 31 March 2025.

FSCI (UK) also trades as House of Opportunity and as the Founda�on for Social Change and Inclusion.

The trustees who served during the period and up to the date of this report were:

Bernard Bentley Ray Flux Steven Parker Elizabeth Pollard Sam Whitmarsh

The charity is managed by the trustees who make strategic decisions and are legally responsible for the management of risks faced by the charity. The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Chief Execu�ve. The Chief Execu�ve a�ends all mee�ngs of the trustees and regularly reports and updates the Board between their formal mee�ngs.

experience in relevant fields that they can bring to the charity.

Risk Management

The trustees are responsible for iden�fying and reviewing the risks to which the charity is exposed and for ensuring appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable safeguards against fraud and error.

Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es

communi�es, focussing on Southeast Europe. Together with grassroots NGOs we work to prevent poverty and modern slavery amongst some of the most marginalised people in Southeast Europe, intervening at key life transi�ons to deliver effec�ve programmes that build resilience, foster social and economic independence and generate long-term impact.

FSCI aims to:

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FSCI operates four programmes:

The House of Opportunity Programme (HOP) is a residen�al training programme for vulnerable young people at risk of exploita�on, par�cularly those leaving orphanages and foster care. A network of small group homes supports these care leavers through the difficult transi�on to independence by helping them complete or con�nue their educa�on, assis�ng them to find employment and helping them develop vital life skills. In this way they have every opportunity to lead a normal, fulfilling life.

Over the last seventeen years the House of Opportunity Programme has supported 293 young Bulgarians and 253 young people outside of Bulgaria. This year FSCI provided four Houses of Opportunity in Bulgaria and six in other Southeast European countries. Evalua�on shows that the programme is highly effec�ve in helping young people establish posi�ve and enduring founda�ons for life.

of care leavers to equip them with what is required to succeed in the workplace. HOP Belgrade has seen great success with its social enterprise programme, not only developing skills amongst residents, but producing up to 1/3 of the income needed to run the Belgrade HOP.

The Early Years Educa�on Programme provides a vital pathway into educa�on for disadvantaged children from Roma neighbourhoods and other vulnerable communi�es. Working with the families, this holis�c interven�on leads to educa�onal integra�on and the preven�on of early school dropout. During 2024/25 FSCI ran kindergartens in Fakulteta, Bulgaria, and Peqin & Rrogozhine, Albania and an Early Child Development Centre in Chisinau, Moldova. Over 400 children benefi�ed and at least 300 mothers.

The FSCI Development Programme builds the capacity of small, like-minded NGOs in Southeast European countries that share the problems FSCI is seeking to address. FSCI has seven partners in the Development Programme. Together with three of them we ran five Houses of Opportunity in Serbia, Croa�a, Albania and Moldova and Early Years Educa�on Programmes in Albania and Moldova during 2024/25. We began the Development Programme in 2015 as proof-of-concept work to test our social franchising approach to replica�on which is centred on the use of detailed opera�ng manuals, with training, technical support and quality assurance delivered by our central team. The proof-of-concept pilots in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croa�a and Serbia worked well, delivering good outcomes for the individual beneficiaries and good value for money.

Other ac�vi�es

Each Christmas FSCI delivers thousands of shoeboxes with gi�s to poor people in Southeast Europe. In the summer FSCI runs a football camp in Bulgaria for House of Opportunity residents and young men from a youth prison.

FSCI’s achievements and performance are the result of the hard work and commitment of a dedicated group of people based in a number of different countries and employed by a number of different organisa�ons who all come together as the FSCI Network. The team during 2024/25 included seven FSCI project staff in Bulgaria, as well as 5 regular volunteers and 50+ one-off volunteers, two staff and an (unpaid) chief execu�ve in the UK and twenty-three project staff and sixteen regular volunteers in FSCI partner organisa�ons. We also benefited from the support of over 300 volunteers in the UK.

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Trustees wish to pay tribute to the resilience and the ongoing professionalism, integrity and personal commitment of the opera�onal leaders in the UK and in Bulgaria and to the leaders of FSCI’s partner organisa�ons in the FSCI Development Programme. Their dedica�on and for�tude are very valuable assets which help to make the charity stand out in its field. We take this opportunity to thank them.

The reputa�on of the House of Opportunity Programme and of FSCI means government agencies are making more frequent approaches to FSCI and its partners and regularly referring vulnerable individuals, but there is no public funding a�ached and the o�en-chao�c poli�cal context makes longer term partnerships close to impossible.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Overview

par�cularly encouraging given FSCI’s investment over the past five years to build the network. FSCI, with its dedicated and experienced group of partners presents serious prac�cal poten�al as an agent of change, evidenced through our regional House of Opportunity network and the transforma�ve impact of our Building Resilience in Vulnerable Communi�es programme, encompassing Moldova, Bulgaria and Albania.

The charity maintained its project por�olio throughout the year providing a full range of services to its

Nothing explains be�er why FSCI’s work is so important than a story of what it has meant for

The boy who wants to be a man February 2025. Growing up is so very hard when you have no one to look up to.

Young Yanislav visited many countries with his family during his childhood, but he never got to see much. Whilst his father and mother sought work on farms and construc�on sites in Spain, Germany or Greece, Yani was locked up in an apartment with his five older siblings.

undocumented families also made their homes. The community there lived in extreme poverty. They did not even have running water or electricity.

One day Yani got into a big argument with a rela�ve. Fearing the repercussions, Yani ran away. He was picked up by social services and placed in a crisis centre.

Yani began school, but his a�endance was patchy, and his behaviour poor. He was constantly arguing or figh�ng; a child without anyone to show him how he could cope with his emo�ons or focus on the posi�ves. Yani was moved to a family type home in the town of Dupnitsa, then when he was 15, he was moved again. All the while he was making li�le headway at school; he had large gaps in his educa�on, and his behaviour was a major factor in his lack of progress. Like so many kids in care, he was bullied and this caused him to miss school or get into more fights. The staff at the home where he lived said

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

children.

place in the House of Opportunity programme for Yani. The programme exists for young people just like Yani; care leavers who, with no good place to go, end up facing desperate choices about how to survive, or fodder for those who will make choices for them. With a warning about his behaviour from social services ringing in the House of Opportunity team’s ears, and just as he started 8th grade at school (Year 9), Yani came to live in one of the Sofia Houses.

university. He does not want to end up like his parents, whose lack of any kind of educa�on led to his childhood being blighted by poverty and negligence. He wanted some responsibility.

Even though he has only been in the programme for a few short weeks, Yani has made some posi�ve progress. He is ge�ng good feedback from school and is showing real focus. He reads and discusses his reading with the team and is working on his own development. He has made friends with two fellow House of Opportunity residents. He cooks and cleans! He has joined a church where he is making friends and receiving encouragement and has had an offer for a job that he can fit around school.

Yani is taking responsibility and is pu�ng his, understandably, childish behaviour behind him. He wants to be a man. There are sure to be challenges ahead, but at House of Opportunity, Yani will have the space, support and all the �me he needs to learn how.

Christmas Box Appeal 2024 In brief

The 2024 Christmas Box Appeal followed much the same pa�ern as the previous years. Numbers of par�cipa�ng organisa�ons, boxes and associated shipping dona�ons, remain much lower post-COVID. A slight increase in box numbers were offset by higher costs, but all the costs were covered with a small margin. Our volunteers were amazing, again.

Enthusiasm for the project in Bulgaria remains high. Our local partner organisa�ons are very grateful for the boxes, perhaps nearly as much as the ul�mate recipients.

2024/25

The majority of FSCI’s direct charitable ac�vity was in Bulgaria. The rest is delivered through the FSCI Development Programme with its focus being prac�cal replica�on of programmes developed by FSCI

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

in Bulgaria, and delivered in other Southeast European countries that face similar challenges to those that Bulgaria faces.

Further details about both aspects of FSCI’s work follow.

Ac�vity of FSCI Bulgaria

House of Opportunity Programme (HOP)

The House of Opportunity programme (HOP) is a series of family-style homes, providing a lifeline to marginalised young people at risk of modern slavery, exploita�on, homelessness and abuse. The project began as a response to seeing vulnerable children dragged into early marriage, exploita�on and extreme poverty. We wanted to offer a different pathway, breaking the cycle of poverty for good.

two managed by local civil society organisa�ons with a substan�al degree of locally generated funding.

We have seen a notable increase in number of young people who have been assisted by the Programme in recovering lost school years to a point where they have been able to pass missed exams, graduate high school and secure university places. We are adap�ng to the implica�ons for ongoing support beyond the two years of the House of Opportunity Programme.

Related ac�vity

Early Years Educa�on Programme (EYEP) in Bulgaria

The EYEP is designed to increase access to primary level educa�on and beyond for marginalised children at high risk of falling into a life of poverty and exploita�on.

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Only 25% of Roma children go on to complete their secondary educa�on. Research tells us that kindergarten a�endance has a drama�c effect on the chances of comple�ng secondary educa�on (2/3 �mes higher comple�on rate) and raises employment levels by 40%.[1] Our results from the past ten years, with all kindergarten graduates s�ll in educa�on demonstrates the effec�veness of our holis�c early years approach and con�nued a�er-school provision.

FSCI Development Programme

The Balkans is poorer than any other region of Europe. Many of the na�ons in that area face shared problems as a consequence of a long history of children being abandoned into state care, large, closed communi�es of marginalised and very poor Roma people, low par�cipa�on in educa�on by children from those communi�es and high unemployment. These issues fuel crime and help explain why some of the countries in the region are major source countries for human trafficking and exploita�on. The FSCI Development Programme is the outworking of a vision to take what has been achieved by the Founda�on for Social Change and Inclusion (FSCI) in Bulgaria and replicate it in other Balkan countries. The central aspects of the FSCI Development Programme include:

Under its Development Programme, FSCI is currently partnering with seven like-minded organisa�ons in Southeast Europe. Providing a manual for work on its programmes, regular professional training, supervision, quality assurance and some financial support, FSCI is helping to successfully replicate the House Opportunity Programme (HOP), started in Bulgaria over 16 years ago.

The following FSCI Houses of Opportunity were operated during 2024/25 by partner organisa�ons:

Opportunity through regular web-based supervision and training by FSCI’s Social Work Department Manager. Partners also a�ended our annual network conference in Belgrade, Serbia in October 2024. 40 staff & volunteers a�ended from across the network. A�endees reported a very posi�ve experience, enjoying the chance to reflect, review and share best prac�ce amongst like-minded organisa�ons.

HOP Review

There were 52 young people in the House of Opportunity Programme in 2024/25. Of these, nearly all the young people were in employment, or finishing school, or in further educa�on (including university).

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

A review of the impact of our programme over the past seven years yielded encouraging results. Since 2017, we have welcomed over 250 individuals onto our programme. Not all have completed the programme, for some, the trauma of their past is too overwhelming, but for the many that make it past the first six months, we can report incredible, life-changing outcomes.

their �me in the programme. Of those that graduated the programme a�er staying in it for more than one year, confidence in their ability to live independently rises to 89%.

One of our programme goals is to enable residents to se�le into either educa�on, employment or training throughout their �me on the programme and beyond, to live a sustainable, independent adult life. Achieving the necessary educa�on or training is out of reach for many of our residents prior to entering our programme. Only 53% of our residents had completed secondary educa�on on arrival, with 44% never having worked. Of those that had worked, only 30% had done so in a formal/legal environment.

Using the data from 204 surveys over the last ten years, we can see that an impressive 84% of residents engaged with, employment or training during their �me on the programme. Of those that stayed beyond six months, this figure rises to 94%. This is an incredible turnaround from where many residents began their �me in HOP and gives each resident confidence for the future that they can achieve!

Of residents who stayed beyond 12 months, 96% were in Employment, Educa�on or Training on leaving the programme. Of this group, 98% were in educa�on, employment or training one year a�er leaving the programme (57 residents).

When we compare these outcomes to successful programmes in the UK delivering EET programmes for care leavers, the HOP outcomes are far superior. We believe this is in large part due to the longterm, stable, family-style environment of the HOP. Suppor�ve rela�onships and a stable home are key to the long-term impact of this programme.

Another key measure of long-term success is the ability to build and maintain posi�ve rela�onships - one year a�er leaving the programme, 87% reported they had posi�ve, las�ng rela�onships in the community, with many seeing an improvement in their rela�onship with their biological family.

Sta�s�cs are not the whole picture of course. The majority of our residents have experienced deep trauma, exploita�on, abandonment and abuse by the �me the come to us. We rejoice in every small step they take towards independence, as they break free from the chains of their past.

Xhulio’s story demonstrates the long-term las�ng impact becoming a HOP resident can have on your life, it really is a family affair. Transforma�ve change rarely happens overnight, but at HOP we are in it for the long-run, and it’s worth it!

party to celebrate not only his birthday but also his successes. It was a joyful moment that truly reflected the deep bonds formed at HOP, showing just how much it means to those who have been part of this family.

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Back to the family

Xhulio is now living an independent life in Tirana, and we couldn’t be prouder! He grew up in an orphanage in Shkoder, and like so many who leave the Albanian care system, faced the challenge of transi�oning into the world without the family support many take for granted.

That’s where the House of Opportunity programme (HOP) came in.

A�er leaving the care system, Xhulio came to live at HOP Elbasan for two years, where he learned essen�al life skills he hadn’t picked up during his �me in the orphanage. He finished high school alongside training to become a waiter, all while living in a safe and suppor�ve environment. Last year, he took a huge step towards independence, moving into a shared flat in Tirana to begin his new life. This is exactly what HOP’s mission is all about—helping young people transi�on out of the care system into independent living. But for Xhulio, HOP isn’t just a stepping stone; it’s s�ll the place he calls home. He o�en returns to visit his ‘family’ here, feeling safe and supported by the community that helped him along the way.

Xhulio’s story is a testament to the las�ng impact the House of Opportunity Programme has on the young people it supports; we couldn’t be happier to see him thriving in his new life. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for him, and we’ll always be here to cheer him on!

Early Years Educa�on Programme Review

As well as a House of Opportunity, our Albanian partner, A2B, also operated a children’s centre in Peqin and opened a new EYE in Rrogozhine as part of the FSCI Early Years Educa�on Programme. The main goal of the centres is to prevent early school dropout, increase the rate at which Roma children successfully integrate into the Albanian educa�on system and ensure the overall welfare of Roma children.

Ac�vi�es across the two centres:

Achievements:

The early years & community centre in Peqin has been at the heart of the community for 9 years. Nothing speaks louder or more truthfully than the voices of mothers sharing about the impact the centre has had on their lives:

‘I can’t speak for others, but for myself, I can’t see anywhere else I would or could send my children to. My daughter came here for 8 years; she is now married and her children come here. She has learned such good and posi�ve things.”

“You can’t imagine how helpful this place is for us as mothers. This place is safe and treats our children with love and compassion. For us it enables us to do essen�al housework and even to find a job.”

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

to go to school. It is my strongest desire that my children go to school, go to university and break out of this poverty.”

With the new centre only opened in late October, we hope the Roma & Egyp�an community in Rrogozhine will be able to share similar stories in the years to come.

In Moldova, our partner Beginning of Life runs its Early Years Development Centre for vulnerable children, with enhanced services for single parents and guardians of children whose parents work abroad, and refugees.

Achievements:

Moldova:

Beyond Moldova

Here is a story from Moldova to show what’s at stake.

forced to flee their home in Eastern Ukraine. Chris�na had not even received birth documents for her daughter when they set out.

As they moved from place to place and from refugee camp to refugee camp over the next few months, Chris�na kept her daughter very close. The camps were no place for an infant. Every day there was the challenge to find the appropriate food, the crush of so many children and women looking for a share of limited resources, and a lack of safe spaces to let children just be children. Sofia was not developing in the normal way. She wasn’t rolling over, then she wasn’t crawling, or pulling herself up. Chris�na was holding her close to keep her baby protected, but Sofia wasn’t growing. Chris�na was ge�ng more and more distressed.

problem. The Ukrainian region in which she was born had become disputed territory, and nobody could say who was really in charge there, or for how long. There was no Local Authority which could be appealed to in order to sort out the paperwork. Chris�na couldn’t register her child. The Moldovan authori�es were threatening to take Sofia away.

Centre run by House of Opportunity partners, Beginning of Life. The team made Chris�na welcome and began a dialogue with the relevant Moldovan authori�es on her and Sofia’s behalf. The war goes on, and there is no way to get documents from home, so resolu�on may take a long �me.

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FSCI (UK) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Chris�na is not on her own though, and she is feeling a lot more upbeat now that she has support from the Beginning of Life team. Things are more se�led a�er the interminable months of searching for a place safe enough for her child. She has been able to bring Sofia to the Centre to join in with other young mums from Ukraine who find themselves in similar circumstances. There is fellowship in their shared trials. And at the Centre Chris�na can play with Sofia, and Sofia has some �me and space with her mum and other children to be normal at last. Some space to stretch. Some place to grow.

Financial Review

The charity generated income of £438K (2023/24 £453KK) and spent £423K (2023/24 £401K).

Fundraising has remained challenging. FSCI’s approach to fundraising is to ensure as far as possible diversity in income streams. Our place-based proposals for a wide-ranging resilience building programme centred on Moldova won support back in 2021. This has offered a degree of mul�-year security. This mul�year project provides FSCI with a strong backbone of sustained finance on which to build.

We con�nue to aim for a mul�-country approach to genera�ng funds and, having some experience of genera�ng support for FSCI in both Germany and Switzerland, we s�ll intend to register FSCI as a charity in Germany, a process which has been delayed by the Covid 19 crisis and the limited capacity of the small team subsequently. Germany has a strong culture of philanthropy. Addi�onally, FSCI registra�on in Germany will enable FSCI to con�nue post Brexit to submit applica�ons for EU grant funding where applicants from two member states are a minimum requirement.

Sustainability is important to FSCI. For this reason, we focus on capacity building within Bulgaria and with our partner organisa�ons. We aim to generate an increasing propor�on of the revenue required to sustain FSCI programmes Iocally, (Varna Municipality is a public sector example and Chris�an Broadcas�ng Network/Orphans' Promise which provides support towards the Houses of Opportunity in Serbia is a philanthropic example) enabling centrally generated funds to be applied primarily to the support of programme expansion and start up, to research and development, to the development programme and of course to essen�al core costs associated with a professional and high-quality organisa�on.

Reserves policy

able to, thereby building the strategic reserve un�l any target which trustees set from �me to �me is reached.

regularly reviewed from �me to �me.

That said, FSCI is opera�ng in a very challenging environment where the needs and their urgency have increased, but simultaneously, so too has the intensity of compe��on for philanthropic resources. During 2020/21 the trustees applied for a government backed Bounce Back loan of £31,000 which was generally available as part of the government's response to Covid. A�er accoun�ng for the Bounce Back loan, at the year-end the charity had a small reserve of £4K (2023/24 -£11K) which was unrestricted.

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FSCI (UK) TRusfEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The charity's financial history has its origins in decisions trustees took in 2018119 to introduce funds constituted as long-term interest free loans. Trustees took these decisions to avoid the unplanned disruption to benefic5aries which immediate reductions in expenditure would create and did so, having given reasonable consideration to known future funding and in the light of that consideration. The financial restructuring and recovery plan implemented during 2019/20 which involved some reduction5 in project expenditure and some redundancies included a loan repayment schedule. Largely as a consequence of the impact of Covid, loan repayments did not begin when planned. However significant progress has now been made. Approved by the trustees on .. z?l&J.]?d and signed on their behalf by: I I N/¥2Sri. Trustee 12

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FSCI (UK)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 14 to 21.

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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Simon Ellingham FCA DChA

Fawcetts LLP Chartered Accountants

Windover House

St. Ann Street Salisbury SP1 2DR

Date:…………………………………………………..27 January 2026

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FSCI (UK) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Funds 2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations and legacies 2 301,609 - 301,609 336,169
Charitable activities 3 136,449 - 136,449 116,510
Total income 438,058 - 438,058 452,679
EXPENDITURE ON:
-
Raising funds 2,715 2,715 5,033
Charitable activities 4 420,294 - 420,294 395,842
-
Total expenditure 423,009 423,009 400,875
-
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 15,049 15,049 51,804
Transfers between funds - - - -
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 15,049 - 15,049 51,804
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
-
Total funds brought forward (11,046) (11,046) (62,850)
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 4,003 - 4,003 (11,046)
----- End of picture text -----

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.

There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above.

The notes form part of these accounts

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Fsa {UKI BALANCE SHE AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Note CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand 43,906 34,337 43,906 34.337 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR {15,9321 112.2701 NET CURRENT ￿SET5 27.974 22,067 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE AFTER ONE YEAR 123,971} {33,1131 NET ASSETS 4003 111,046) FUNDS Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 4.003 111.0461 TOTAL FUNDS io 4,003 111.0461 The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on .......... were signed on its behalf by: .and S6gm Oh fi rf)fifL91 Trustee The notes fonn part of these accounts

FSCI (UK)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt over the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the accounts. The charity has significantly reduced its dependence on the support of the trustees who are aware of known future funding and have indicated that they will introduce funds up to £50,000 should they be required to meet the charity's liabilities. The trustees therefore consider that the going concern basis is appropriate. The accounts do not contain any adjustments that might be necessary were the going concern basis to be no longer appropriate.

The Coronavirus outbreak has left the charity with a large liability in the form of a bounce back loan received, this continues to be repaid in line with the agreement in place with the lender.

The charity has applied Update Bulletin 1 as published on 2 February 2016 and does not include a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is applying FRS 102 Section 1A.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these accounts are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

1.2 INCOME

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The financial statements are prepared in Sterling (£) which is the functional currency of the charity.

1.3 EXPENDITURE

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in furtherance of the charitable objects of the Charity. The grants are accounted for where the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition and the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant.

1.4 FUND ACCOUNTING

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund where allowable. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.5 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Debtors are measured at their recoverable amount. Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

16

FSCI (UK) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1.6 TAXATION

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

2. Donations and legacies

General donations
Christmas Box Appeal donations
MDF - Moldova Development Fund
A2B UK
Total 2024
3.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - INCOME
Grants
Gift aid
Other income
Total 2024
4.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - EXPENDITURE
Project expenses
Wages and salaries (note 5)
Accountancy and Independent Examination fees
Grants to partner organisations
Insurance
IT software and office consumables
Motor vehicle expenses
Postage and carriage
Rent
Telephone and internet
International travel
Bank fees
Returns
Loan interest
Charitable donations
Miscellaneous expenses
Total 2024		 Unrestricted
£
144,476
18,199
120,000
18,934
301,609
336,169
Unrestricted
£
107,070
28,093
1,286
136,449
116,510
Unrestricted
£
-
54,072
2,586
341,573
1,883
2,372
3,217
5,261
3,220
72
5,417
109
-
415
-
97
420,294
395,842		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2025
£
144,476
18,199
120,000
18,934
301,609
336,169
Total
2025
£
107,070
28,093
1,286
136,449
116,510
Total
2025
£
-
54,072
2,586
341,573
1,883
2,372
3,217
5,261
3,220
72
5,417
109
-
415
-
97
420,294
395,842		 Total
2024
£
140,830
17,339
178,000
-
336,169
Total
2024
£
95,000
20,429
1,081
116,510
Total
2024
£
40
56,026
694
317,379
1,918
2,526
1,827
5,070
2,300
72
6,608
105
45
501
150
581
395,842

17

FSCI (UK) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The grants to partner organisations represents £57,095 (2024: £26,358) paid to A2B (Albania), £102,320 (2024: £146,344) paid to Beginning of Life Moldova (Moldova), £30,441 (2024: £25,587) paid to Center Star (Serbia), £131,480 (2024: £107,080) paid to FSCI Bulgaria (Bulgaria), and £20,238 (2024: £12,010) to Hocu Zivot (Croatia)

5. STAFF COSTS

Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Charitable Activities:
Salaries and wages
Pension contributions
The above also represents the key management personnel remuneration.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
Project management		 2025
£
52,898
1,174
54,072
2025
No.
2		 2024
£
55,286
740
56,026
2024
No.
2

There were no employees who earned in excess of £60,000 per annum or more (including taxable benefits) during the year.

6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

None of the trustees received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in respect of their duties as trustees during the year.

As at 31 March 2025 the charity owed £20,000 to its trustees and key management personnel for interest free loans (2024: £20,000).

During the year 2 trustees made donations to the charity totalling £21,499 (2024: 4 - £17,123).

There were no other related party transactions during the year.

7.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accruals and deferred income
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors
Loans		 2025
£
995
3,244
3,802
7,891
15,932		 2024
£
945
5,099
-
6,226
12,270

18

FSCI (UK)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

8.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE AFTER ONE YEAR
Other loans
Other loan repayments:
Less than 1 year
Between 2 and 5 years
In 5 years or more		 2025
£
23,971
23,971
2025
£
-
23,971
-
23,971		 2024
£
33,113
33,113
2024
£
-
33,113
-
33,113

£20,000 of the loans are interest free with no fixed repayment terms, the remaining £3,971 is repayable over 4 years with an interest rate of 2.5%.

9. FUNDS

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Total funds		 Balance
b/fwd
(11,046)
(11,046)		 Incoming
resources
438,058
438,058		 Outgoing
resources
(423,009)
(423,009)		 Transfers
-
-		 Balance
c/fwd
4,003
4,003

Comparative statement of funds for the period ended 31 March 2024:

Restricted funds
Salary Funding
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Total funds		 Balance
b/fwd
-
-
(62,850)
(62,850)		 Incoming
resources
-
452,679
452,679		 Outgoing
resources
-
(400,875)
(400,875)		 Transfers
-
-
-
-		 Balance
c/fwd
-
-
(11,046)
(11,046)

Unrestricted funds

General fund:

This represents funds which have been accumulated for the general purposes of the charity.

19

FSCI (UK) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Restricted funds
Unrestricted general funds
Net Assets at the end of the year		 £
-
4,003
4,003
Net
current
assets		 Total
£
-
4,003
4,003

Comparative statement of net assets between funds for the period ended 31 March 2024:

Restricted funds
Unrestricted general funds
Net Assets at the end of the year		 £
-
(11,046)
(11,046)
Net
current
assets		 Total
£
-
(11,046)
(11,046)

20

FSCI (UK) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

11. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Transfers between funds
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total income
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Total funds brought forward
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities		 Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
336,169
-
116,510
-
452,679
-
5,033
-
395,842
-
400,875
-
51,804
-
-
-
51,804
-
(62,850)
-
(11,046)
-
Funds		 2024
Total
£
336,169
116,510
452,679
5,033
395,842
400,875
51,804
-
51,804
(62,850)
(11,046)

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.

There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above.

21