## **MAGIC FOR SMILES** ## **Report of the Trustees** ## **for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025** |**Charity:**|Magic for Smiles (MFS)| |---|---| |**Registraton number:**|1182676| |**Address:**|77 Percy St, Oxford OX4 3AD| |**Trustee names:**|Nick Roseveare (Chair, appointed 16thApril 2025)| ||Sioned Jones (Chair untl 16thApril 2025)| ## **The Trustees present their report for the year ended 31 December 2025** ## **1. Structure, Governance, Management** ## **Structure** Magic for Smiles (MFS) is a charitable incorporated organisation constituted under the foundation model and registered on 28 March 2019. ## **Governance** For the reporting period the charity had two trustees and a technical adviser. Nick Roseveare was recruited and appointed as a Trustee and took over the role of Chair, from fellow Trustee Sioned Jones, in April 2025. Sioned remains as a Trustee with the role of Treasurer. Having considered the plans for Magic for Smiles and the skills and experience of the two trustees it is felt this is sufficient governance at this time and will be regularly reviewed by the Trustees. The trustees met regularly during the year to monitor the activities of the charity against its strategic objectives and review and amend these, as well as providing support, advice and governance of the charity. Meetings were attended by Jamie Balfour-Paul, the Founder and de-facto CEO of the charity. ## **Management** Day to day management of the charity is carried out, by Jamie Balfour-Paul. He is also the charity’s humanitarian magician and for this work he is retained by the charity on a consultancy basis and is remunerated. He is supported in the charity’s management by the Trustees. ## **2. Objectives and Activities** The charitable objects of Magic for Smiles are: _the relief and assistance of refugees and other vulnerable children in the Lebanon and other countries of the Middle East and beyond through the provision of magic as a form of entertainment and psychosocial support, with a view to the relief of stress and trauma and improving the lives of such persons_ . The objectives in place for the year were **:** **Objective 1** : MFS to be more established regionally and to continue on a reduced scale in the UK **Objective 2** : MFS to focus down on sustained partnerships as well as further consolidation of its spread in the region. **Objective 3:** Successful funding from donations, Trusts and Foundations **Objective 4** : A campaigning response to regional crises where MFS could add value, and a more compassionate and fairer policy environment for asylum seekers to the UK. The Trustees confirm they have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on public benefit when determining the charities activities. ## 3. **Achievements and Performance,** ## Objectve 1: Strengthened establishment in region and UK The Gaza crisis has dominated both our programming and campaigning work. Due to the displacement of Gazan families to Egypt, before the Rafah border closed in May 2024,) as well as a few medical evacuees to Jordan, we strengthened a new frontier of work in Egypt and focussed on here, where we made two visits, one of which was combined with a visit to Jordan. In the UK itremained increasingly difficult to operate due to changes in policies in regard to refugees and asylum seekers, which made it hard for volunteers with whom we had previously worked to be able to organise activities for children and families and to convene them in one place. Most of their time and energy went towards finding alternative accommodation to asylum hotel evictees. Overall, we conducted 35 events, including 1 workshop, with 30 of these being conducted in our trips to the Middle East region, benefiting 2460 children, plus one fundraiser. By way of comparison, previous FYs saw the following: FY 2024 46 events (Including 9 workshops) for 2590 children (plus 1 fundraiser) FY 2023 54 events (including 4 workshops) for 3560 children (plus 2 fundraisers) FY 2022 64 events (including 7 workshops) for 3575 children (plus 5 fundraisers) FY 2021 33 events (including 1 workshop) for 1515 children (under Covid constraints) FY 2020 40 events (28 shows, 20 workshops) for 1574 (under Covid constraints) FY 2019 62 events (57 shows, 5 workshops) for 4055 children (plus 9 networking & fundraising events) We continue to receive very positive feedback from event attendees and partners. The shows impacted particularly on emotional benefits (especially entertainment, de-stressing and happiness), cognitive benefits (concentration, analysis and imagination) and social benefits (especially interaction, and self-confidence) even if one off, which was the majority of cases. _Quote from our partner, UNHCR Egypt:_ _The series of magic shows performed by the humanitarian magician from Magic for Smiles was a true highlight of the World Refugee Day celebrations 2025. The shows captivated and entertained a total of 205 refugee children. The shows were filled with joy, laughter, and wonder, creating a space where children could momentarily step away from their daily challenges and simply enjoy the magic of the moment. The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many shared how much they enjoyed being part of the events, emphasizing how special it felt to celebrate together. These shows were not only a celebration of resilience and hope, but also a testament to the power of art and creativity in bringing people together._ MFS continued to strengthen its profile with its visibility and networking events through magic conventions, and it was recognition of our work that we were invited by the World Health Organisation to attend a reference group meeting on psychosocial support, though unfortunately we were unable to attend. ## Objectve 2: Sustained partnerships The war on Gaza is still ongoing over two years later. Because of the extent of the humanitarian impact, it has been the priority of our limited campaigning and programme resources and finding and sustaining partnerships in Egypt and Jordan. In the UK, as there was a continued shift away from asylum seekers towards refugees reflecting the difficulty of operating in asylum seeker hotels the shows we did do were with existing partners. ## Objectve 3: Successful funding from donatons, Trusts and Foundatons No regular trust was found to provide substantive ongoing funding. However, one Trust from last year was able not only to contribute in 2025 but at double the amount, as laid out below. ## Objectve 4: Campaigning as the situaton dictates The main focus during the year, as stated, was the continuing war in Gaza, and the distress and suffering this is having on children in the region. Key messages have been the sanctity of adherence to international humanitarian law, respecting agreed ceasefires and having an unconditional permanent ceasefire and the stopping of all arms to the region. Key campaign activity included attending, along with allied humanitarian organisations, 27 events including national and local protests. Red Line events organised by Oxfam and a pilgrimage co-ordinated by the Hands Up Project. :As part of the Together with Refugees coalition, we supported the Fair Begins Here campaign calling for a compassionate, fair and well managed asylum system. ## **4. Financial review** Total income for the year 2025 was £19,029 compared to £13,659 for 2024. Expenditure for the year 2025 was £15,746 compared to £13,564 for 2024. The charity does not have a reserves policy but strives to manage expenditure so that there is always at least £2000 in the charity account. As of 31[st] December 2025 there was £7,917 cash in the bank (£4,633 at 31/12/24). ## **Fundraising:** Magic for Smiles raised the majority of its funds, from donations from the general public, through its online presence on Justgiving (also on our website) via an ongoing appeal and presence. Two major boosts came from a very generous individual donor giving £8,000 which we could claim an additional £2,000 in Gift Aid, and the relaunch of the 60 Second film summary of MFS which generated just under £3,000. In addition, there was an increased donation from the Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust of £1,000. We do not work with professional fundraisers. ## **5. Details of any funds held as a custodian trustee** No funds are held as a custodian trustee. ||**Magic for Smiles**
**1**|**Magic for Smiles**
**1**|**Magic for Smiles**
**1**|**182676**|**CC16a**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**For the period**
**from**|Period start date
1/1/2025||Period end date
31/12/2025|| ||||||| |**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||| |**A1 Receipts**
Grants
**1,000**
Donations
**15,474**
Earned income(donations from shows)
**555**
Gift Aid
**2,000**
**19,029**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total receipts_ 19,029**
**A3 Payments**
Humanitarian Magician
**10,625**
IT, administration and membership
**751**
Magic supplies
**440**
UK travel and expenses
**650**
International travel
**3,280**
**_Sub total_ 15,746**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total payments_ 15,746**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ 3,283**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**4,634**
**_Cash funds this year end_ 7,917**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_
**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Restricted**
**funds**|**to the nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**1,000**
**15,474**
**555**
**2,000**
**19,029**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**19,029**
**10,625**
**751**
**440**
**650**
**3,280**
**15,746**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**15,746**
**3,283**
**-**
**4,634**
**7,917**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**| ||||**-**|**1,000**|**2,000**| ||||**-**|**15,474**|**9,969**| ||||**-**|**555**|**1,690**| ||||**-**|**2,000**|**-**| ||||**-**|**19,029**|**13,659**| ||||||| ||||**-**|**-**|| ||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||| ||||**-**|**19,029**|**13,659**| ||||||| ||||**-**|**10,625**|**9,000**| ||||**-**|**751**|**579**| ||||**-**|**440**|**236**| ||||**-**|**650**|**760**| ||||**-**|**3,280**|**2,989**| ||||**-**|**15,746**|**13,564**| ||||||| ||||**-**|**-**|| ||||**-**|**-**|| ||||**-**|**-**|**-**| ||||||| ||||**-**|**15,746**|**13,564**| ||||||| |||**-**|**-**|**3,283**|**95**| |||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**| |||**-**|**-**|**4,634**|**4,539**| |||**-**|**-**|**7,917**|**4,634**| |**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|| |---|---|---|---| |**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|**Details**
At bank
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
S M Jones
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**4,634**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**4,634**
**-**
Agreement Error
OK
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Sioned M Jones
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||OK| ||||**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||**-**| ||||**-**| ||||**When due**
**(optional)**| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||Date of
approval| ||S M Jones|Sioned M Jones|12th July2026| |||||