OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2025 Period start date To 31/12/2025 Period end date

Charity name: Partnership for Research Into Sentient Machines

Charity registration number: 1184317

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The Partnership for Research Into Sentient
Machines (PRISM) is established to advance
the education of the public on the subject of
artificial intelligence and its impact on
society, including the future of work, and
especially in the event that AI becomes
conscious. These purposes are set out in
clause 3 of the CIO's constitution, registered
with the Charity Commission for England
and Wales.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 During the year, PRISM undertook a range
of educational and field-building activities in
pursuit of its charitable purposes:
PRISM delivered two educational
workshops: one at AI-UK, exploring the
implications of a future with advanced AI
systems, and an expert workshop held at the
RSA in collaboration with partner
organisations. The charity launched and
released nine episodes of Exploring Machine
Consciousness, an educational podcast
examining the topic of machine
consciousness for a broad public audience.
Four online public meetups were hosted in
collaboration with partners, providing
accessible forums for discussion of PRISM's
areas of focus.
To support ongoing public education, PRISM
published seven blog pieces on topics
relating to artificial intelligence and machine
consciousness, and released a stakeholder
mapping exercise designed to chart the
nascent field for researchers, policymakers
and other interested parties. A quarterly
newsletter was distributed to followers,
keeping them informed of developments in
the field. Trustees and staff also attended
relevant conferences to deepen the charity's
understanding of the field and develop
relationships with key stakeholders.
In addition, the charity undertook fundraising
activity with a range of philanthropic
organisations to secure the resources
necessary to sustain these programmes and
start new ones.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 The trustees confirm that they have had
regard to the Charity Commission's guidance
on public benefit when reviewing PRISM's
aims and objectives and in planning its
activities for the year. The trustees are
satisfied that PRISM's activities are carried
out for the public benefit, in that they
advance education and public understanding
of artificial intelligence — a matter of
significant and growing public importance —
without restriction as to who may benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 n/a
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 n/a
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 During the year, PRISM benefited
significantly from the contribution of
volunteers, without whom many of the
charity's activities would not have been
possible.
PRISM's trustees gave generously of their
time and expertise beyond their governance
responsibilities. Radhika Chadwick
supported the delivery and preparation of
educational workshops, provided mentoring
to the CEO, contributed to the drafting of
funding proposals, and offered strategic
direction. Calum Chace played an active role
in the_Exploring Machine Consciousness_
podcast as a host and researcher, hosted
online meetups, and provided ongoing
strategic and advisory support to the CEO.
Ed Charvet contributed particular expertise
in financial matters, supported the charity's
engagement with the Charity Commission,
and assisted with administrative and
compliance issues.

In addition, Mitch Alexander volunteered his time to publish blog posts, assist with the drafting of funding proposals, and support podcast production. Christine Lau supported the setting up of Google Ads for PRISM, and Louie Lang wrote two blog posts and supported the logistics of a workshop. The trustees are grateful for the time, expertise and commitment given by all of PRISM's volunteers during the year. Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 During the year, PRISM made meaningful
progress in raising public awareness of
machine consciousness as a serious issue
and in building a community of researchers,
and interested individuals around this
emerging field.
The launch of Exploring Machine
Consciousness was a significant milestone,
with the podcast accumulating over 5,000
listens and downloads across all platforms
during its first nine episodes. This represents
a substantial audience for a new podcast in
a specialist and nascent field, and
demonstrates genuine public appetite for
accessible, educational content on AI
consciousness. The podcast reached
listeners internationally, extending PRISM's
impact well beyond the UK.
PRISM's written output — including seven
educational blog posts and a quarterly
newsletter — helped keep a growing
audience informed and engaged. The
charity's own newsletter reached over 200
subscribers, and PRISM also supported the
wider Digital Minds newsletter, which
reached an audience of over 800
subscribers, further amplifying the charity's
educational reach.
Community-building activity was particularly
strong during the year. The meetup
community grew to 1,600 people. Four
online meetups generated over 500
responses and were attended by more than
250 people, demonstrating significant and

growing interest in PRISM's work. The two educational workshops were well received: the AI-UK workshop attracted over 40 attendees, while the expert workshop at the RSA brought together key figures from the field and helped establish PRISM as a credible convenor of serious dialogue on machine consciousness. Attendance at conferences and sector events throughout the year enabled PRISM to make important connections across the research field, laying the groundwork for future partnerships and collaborations. The relationships developed during this period position PRISM well to grow its impact in the years ahead. Taken together, these achievements represent a strong first step in building the field of AI consciousness research and public education in the UK and beyond, and in establishing PRISM as a leading voice on questions of machine consciousness and AI moral status.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 n/a
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 The main objective of fundraising was to
make PRISM self-sufficient going forward
with a full-time CEO. The target was to
achieve this within a year, this was achieved
in 9 months from when ESF changed to
PRISM.
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41 n/a
Other n/a

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 For the year ended 31 December 2025,
PRISM received total income of £16,582,
comprising general donations and grants.
This reflects the portion of income
recognised in the year from total grants of
£127,287 of which £110,705 was received
but deferred to future periods in line with the
charity's accounting policy, as it relates to
activities to be delivered in 2026. Total
expenditure for the year was £13,008,
resulting in a surplus of £3,573.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The trustees consider it prudent to hold
sufficient reserves to cover a period of
unexpected reduction in income, so the
charity can continue its activities and meet
its obligations.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 The trustees recognise the importance of
maintaining adequate reserves to ensure the
charity can continue to deliver its activities
and meet its obligations in the event of an
unexpected reduction in income. At 31
December 2025, the charity held free
reserves of £3,573. Although cash at bank
totalled £117,717, £110,705 of this relates to
a grant received in advance and deferred to
2026, and is therefore already committed to
specific future activities rather than available
as a reserve
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 n/a
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 n/a
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 The trustees have no concerns about the
charity's ability to continue as a going
concern. PRISM ended the year with a
healthy cash position, and the November
2025 grant provides a secure funding basis
for the charity's operations through to the
end of 2026. The CEO is actively engaged in
further fundraising to secure the resources
required to sustain and grow PRISM's
activities beyond this period.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising)

Investment policy and Para 1.46
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
A description of the principal Para 1.46
risks facing the charity
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 CIO

Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 PRISM is constituted as a Charitable
Incorporated Organisation using the
foundation model, in which the only voting
members of the CIO are its charity trustees.
Trustees are appointed by resolution of the
existing charity trustees at a properly
convened meeting of the trustee body,
having regard to the skills, knowledge and
experience needed for the effective
administration of the charity.
There is no external body entitled to appoint
trustees, and trustees are not elected by a
wider membership. Each trustee is
appointed for a term of three years and is
eligible for reappointment, save that a
trustee who has served three consecutive
terms may not be reappointed for a fourth
consecutive term without an interval of at
least one year.
The first trustees of PRISM, as named in the
constitution, were Calum Chace, Radhika
Chadwick and Edward Charvet, appointed
for terms of three, two and one year
respectively. New trustees are identified by
the trustee body on the basis of the skills
and experience required to further the
charitable purposes of PRISM, and are
provided with a copy of the constitution and
accounts upon appointment.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works

Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name The Partnership for Research into Sentient Machines

Other name the charity uses
PRISM
Registered charity number 1184317

Charity’s principal address		 Tall Trees
Goodley Stock Road
Crockham Hill
EDENBRIDGE
Kent
TN8 6TA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20		 Trustee name
Office (if any)
Dates acted if not for whole
year
Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee (if any)


Calum Chace
Chair
Radhika Chadwick
Ed Charvet

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date

Calum Chace Chair 7 May 2026

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

Charity number 1184317

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

CONTENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Page
Legal and Administrative Information 1
Independent Examiner's Report 2
Statement of Financial Activity 3
Balance sheet 4
Notes to the financial statements 5 - 6

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Registration Number: 1184317
Trustees Calum Chace Chair
Radhika Chadwick
Ed Charvet
Charity Offices: Tall Trees
Goodley Stock Road
Crockham Hill
Kent
TN8 6TA
Website www.prism-global.com
Email info@prism-global.com
Bankers: 86 St James's Street
London
SW1A 1PL
Independent Examiners: Winsleys House
High Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1UG

1

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

I report on the accounts of PRISM - Partnership for Research into Sentient Machines for the year ended 31st December 2025 which are set out on pages 3 to 6.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (The Act) but that an independent examination is needed. The charities gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of Association of Accounting Technicians.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 considerations 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I 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.

David Courtier FMAAT AATQB for and on behalf of:

Community360 Winsley’s House, High Street, Colchester, Essex

30/07/2026

Date

2

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Note
Income
Donations
2
Total income
Expenditure
Charitable activities
3
Total expenditure
Net income
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 2025
Total
Funds
£
16,582
16,582
13,008
13,008
3,573
-
3,573

The notes on pages 5 - 6 form an integral part of these financial statements.

3

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

Note
Current assets
Debtors
6
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities
Creditors
7
Total current liabilities
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds
Unrestricted funds
Signed
Date
26th July2026		 2025
£
388
117,717		 2025
£
118,104
114,531
114,531
3,573
3,573
3,573
3,573

4

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement on Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Cash flow

The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement because the charity, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under Financial Reporting Standard 1 "Cash flow statements".

Incoming resources

All material incoming resources have been included on a receivable basis. Grants are apportioned to the specified periods.

Resources expended

These have been analysed using a natural classification.

Going concern

The trustees of the charity deem that there are sufficient funds available to continue operating on a going concern basis for the forseeable future

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

There are no critical accounting estimates or judgements in the financial statements.

2. Donations

Donations
General donations
Grants		 2025
£
6,518
10,064
16,582

5

PRISM - PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH INTO SENTIENT MACHINES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

3. Charitable activities
Conferences & Events
Pensions Costs
Salaries
Telephone & Internet
Travel - International
Travel - National
Support costs (note 4)
4. Analysis of support costs
Audit & Accountancy fees
Bank Fees
IT Software and Consumables
5. Staffing
Salaries
Employer Pension		 2025
£
535
110
6,667
185
3,187
1,260
1,065
13,008
2025
£
1,010
24
30
1,065
2025
6,667
110
6,777

The charity employed one member of staff during the year. No member of staff received remunerations of over £60,000

6.
Debtors
Prepayment
7.
Creditors
Social Security and Pension
Deferred income
Accruals		 2025
£
388
388
2025
£
2,816
110,705
1,010
114,531

6