Sussex Syrian Community CIO Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31. March 2025 The trustees present their annual report and examined accounts frjr the year ended 31 March 2025. Name of charity Sussex Syrian Community CIO Registered Charity number 1196947 Address St Mary Ma8dalens Community Centre, 55 Upper North Street, Brighton, BNI 3FH Website address sussex5yriancommunlty.co.uk Trustees Ahmad Yabroudl Ichalrl Fathi Khalil Mohamad Khaled Morad Johnny Massara Esam Albdin Jamal Alsakka Accounts Examiners Resource Centre, 6 Tllbury Place, Brlghton. BN2 OGY Bank Barclays Bank PLC, 8 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TNI 2TB Governing document Sussex Syrian Community CIO is constituted as a Charitsble Incorporated Organisation re8lstered wlth the Charity Commission on 6, December 2021 under charity number 1196947. It Is governed by the constitution of a Charltable Incorporated Organlsation (Association Modell with voting members other than its trustee5 Organisational structure The charlty trustees are responsible for the general control and rnanagernent of the charity. The trustees give their time freely and recelve no remuneration or other tinancial benefit5. The trustees meet together monthly and are responsible for all decislons taken in relatton to running all the activities provided by the charitv. Appointment of trustees Trustees a elected by the member5 of the Charity at the Annual General Meeting IAGMI. At each AGM half of the existing Trustees retire. The membership then elects the trustees for the coming year, which can be new Trustees or those who have retired at the beginnin8 of the meeting. Pagelof6
Induction and training of Trustees Following appointrnent, new trustees are provided with a copy of the constitution and advised of their responsibilities a5 a charity trustee. They are provided with copies of all the charity's policies and advised to familiari5e themselves with them. They are asked to SlBn the Charity Trustee declaration of ellgibllity and responsibilitv. Risk management The trustees discuss possible risks to the charlty and how to mitigate them at our regular monihly meetings. We have identitied the main risks faced by the charlty a5 follows. Insufflclent funds to run our core activities In 2022 we prepared a 5-year plan of activitie5 and budget. Thls allows for inflationary Increases in our costs as forecast by the Office for National Statistics. Thi5 15 reviewed each year going forward. We prepared a fundraising plan based on this budget and secured five-year funding from The Lottery Communities Fund, starhng in October 2023. This fundin8 will not cover all of our actIvle5 and we will still need to apply to other funders. At the beginning of each year we review our budget and plan our fundraisin8 applications accordingly. We review this throughout the year and adèpt our activities dependin8 on the level of funds we have been able to raise. Provlslon of venues for our activities The majority of our activitie5 take place at Brighton Colle8e. Eastern Road, 8N2 OAL and St. Mary Magdalens Community Centre, 55 Upper North Street, Brl8hton. BNI 3FH, We pay an hourly fee for the use of St Mary Ma8dalens, which we include In our budgeting. Brighton College very kindly provldes us wlth Space free of charge as an In-kind donadon. We are aware that this may not alway5 be available to us and so maintain regular contact wlth the college to ensure we will know In advance if there are anv chanBes to thls arrangement and wlll be able to adjust our fundin8 or activlttes as necessary. We have allowed for this eventuallty in our 5-year bud8et running 2023-28. Rlsk of a serious incldent or 5afeguardin8 Incldent We have robust 5afeguardlng procedure5 as set out In our Safeguarding pollcles for children and adults at risk and ensure that our designated safe8uardin8 lead recelves regular trainin8. Objectives and actlvltles Our objects, as set out in our charity constitution are: 11 To promote social inclusion for the publlc benefit by working wlth people in Sussex who are socially excluded on the grounds of their ethnic oriBln, rell8lon, belief or creed lin pardcular, members of the Syrian communltyl to relieve the need5 of such people and asslst them to integrate into society, In particular by providing: al education and training in the English language and in other skllls and subjects; bl a local network group that encourage5 and enables members of the Syrian community to participate more effectively with the wider community; c} Social and recreational facilitie5 and events involving the local community. 21 The promotion of raclal harmony for the public benefit by.. al promoting knowledge and mutual understanding between the Syrian community and all other racial groups; Page2of6
b} advancing education and raising awareness about the Syrian community to promote 8ood relations between persons of different racial grpups,. cl raising awareness of Syrian culture by running classes, holding events and sharing information. Activities and achievements Publlc benefit The trustees are mindful of our duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance publlshed by the Commission. We have referred to this guidance when reviewing our alms and objectives and in planning our future activities. We believe the summary of our activities, outlined below, demonstrates our commitment to creatin8 publlc benelit in all our work. Summary of activities In 2024-25, we continued to run our core actlvities to make our communlty stronger and more coheslve, improve our members, mental and physical wellbelng, and support Syrians to access acttvities and servlces they need. Over 6 adults and children attended our activltie5 over the year. This includes those who were already livin8 in the areo prior to the war in Syria, those who have settled here slnce as refu8ees and those who are still arriving. 10-30 dlfferent people per week recelved support from our drop In service 25-35 people attended each of our fortnightly Breakfast Clubs 220 adults and children came to our Christmas party 200 adults and children attended our graduation celebratlon IIXJ children attended our Arablc language school 20 community members volunteered to support our artfjvitles Our vibrant Children's Arablc School 100 chlldren attended our Sunday Arnbic School held at Brighton College. Due to the popularity of our Arabic School, we Increased the number of weekly classes to 10 and the number of teachers went up to 15. We continued to run this free of char8e in 2024-25 to make sure no one was excluded. This has helped children and youn8 people from Arablc-speakin8 families to communicate wlth their parents and older relatlves, to better connect with their herltsge, to read literature and access written and spoken informatlon from Syria, and to feel a sense of belonging In the Syrian community locally. In additlon, our Students who passed GSCE or A-levels in Arabic this year gained not only a great sense of achlevement but also added a strinB to their bow when aiminB for higher education and/or employment. At our graduation event we thanked our teachers for all thelr hard work and care during the year and celebrated our children'5 achievement5 50 they could understand how valued they are by all of our communlty. We or8ani5ed an educational and fun outing to the Sea Llfe Centre in Brlghton for the chlldren In June 2024, which was 8reatly enjoyed by our young people. Seeing wonderful marine life up close was a magical moment for them. and connected them to the wider world.. thelr envlronment, wildlife and the planet. Festivals and celebrations Our celebrations bring our community together and enable us to build a bridge between our lives in Syria to our new lives in Brighton and Hove. Our Christmas Party in 2024 was a great svccess. Over 21JJ adults and children attended. We shared food and cake, and we organised a DJ and face-painting, and our very own Father Christmas handed out gifts to the children. Page3of6
In December 2024, we also held celebrations to commemorate the end of the war in Syria. Thi5 was a very emotional and Special day for all of us. Our planned celebrations for Mother's Day and Eid al-Fltr 2025 were postponed this year as Mother's day (which we celebrate on 21st March every yearl fell in the middle of Ramadan and many Syrian Christians were fastin8 for Easter. Wednesday Advice Drop-in and Breakfast Club Every Wednesday our team of volunteers provide a free advice Service, which 15 available to everyone and accessed by many people beyond our own community. We help people to access the services they need, Signpost them to specialist agencies- anything from housing, managing utility bills to communlcating Wlth medical professlonals. We provide a listening ear, translation, accompany people to appointments, and continue to provide support until it is no longer needed. There ha5 been an increase in the need for dlgltal/technical support as many services have moved to online platforms and some of our members elther don't have the digital skillslknowledge or access to the internet or smart device5. Every two weeks we hold our Breakfast Club of traditional Syrian food. where everyone gathers and we invite representatives from the wider communlty to join us. The value of long-term wrap-around support We not only provide in-person support but we also share notlces about other opportunitles, tralning, 5kllls, employment opportunities, job fairs, and cultural actlvlties throu8h our Facebook group. Our committee has also been helplng famille5 and individuals outslde of our Wednesday drop-In5 to help them access seNlces, to accompany people to appointments or helplng with translation. We have supported many Tnembers over the course of months and years, enablSng them to build confldence and re-build their lives here In the UK. The lonB-term effect5 of this support are visible: we were proud to see our members gain employment, start thelr own small businesses and 8raduate from university thls year. Makln8 our mark In the city We connect with and sUPPOrt many other organisations In the clty, by 5harin8 our knowledge, experience and culture. Over the year we have worked with organisatlons supportin8 refu8ees: in partlcular, Voices in Exile, Sanctuary on Sea, Worthing Refugee Action, sussex Interpreting Services, Refu8ee Radio, Network of Internatlonal Women. Universlty of Sanctuary, Euromernet, Best Foot Music, T4K, Jollof Café, Nam Yang, Migrant Engllsh Project. We receive referrals from these orgonisations and we also refer people to them. We have continued our longstanding partnerships with Brighton College (who provide a free venue for our Sunday classes) and St Mary Magdalens CommLsnity Centre (where our weekly advice drop-in and Breakfast Club are held). We have received 5UPPOrt from the Resource Centre, and our Chair is one of their Trustees. We are part of the Funrtional Skllls UK network and a150 $18np05Vrefer people to support or8anisations. such as CAB, 8HESCo, Money Advice Plus, Trust for Developing Communitie5, Bridging Change, Brighton and Hove Clty Council, East Sussex County Council, local churche5, mosques, universities, and schools. We also have networks with the local Sudanese, Egyptian, Lebanese, Libyan and Moroccan communitie5 through the work we do. Page4of6
Use of volunteers Volunteers are an important resource to us in all our achvities. They run the activtties, prepare the food, provlde transport, give advice and 5UPPOrt, and help in too many ways to list. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without them. The majority of our volunteers are also members and beneficiaries. We alm for our volunteers to gain skllls, knowledBe and experience through their volunteering role that Is also an asset to them in sustaining and Improving the lives of thernselve5 and their families. All our trustees also give thelr rne freety. Financial review Funding sources In 2024-25 we received grant5 of £1,930 from Brighton and Hove City Councll, £5,240 from Sussex Community Foundation and £28.334 frorn The Lottery Communities Fund (Reaching Communftlesl. We also received varlous donattons. including £250 from the CO-OP. From October 2023 we have a 5-yeargrant from The Lottery Communities Fund, which will amount to £144,211 over the 5 years. Reserves Pollcv At 315t March 2025 we held £23,351, of which £5,664 wa5 UnstrICted funds. We rety entlrely on grant fundin8 to run our activities and therefore have a very small level of free reserves. We have always had very limited funds and to date we have aways been fortunate enou8h to recelve sufficient funding to cover our costs. Over the years we have learned to manage our expectatton5 and our budgets carefully to ensu we are consistent, sustainable and inclusive. As the year progresses we revlew our budget and make adjustments accordin8 to the success of our grant appllcatSons and the cost of actlvities. Statement of Trustees, responsibilities The charity trustees are responsible for preparln8 an annual report and financial statements In accordance with appllcable law and SORP IFRS 1021. The Trustees are reqUId to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affair5 of the charlty and of the incoming SOurceS and appllcation of resource5 of the charity for that period. In preparing the financ131 statement, the trustees are requlred to.. Select sultable accounting policles and then apply them consi5tentlv Observe the methods and prlnciples in the Charities SORP Make judgements and estTmates that are reasonable and prudent, and Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it Is inappropriate to a55ume that the company will continue on that basis The Trustees are responsible for maintainin8 proper accounting records whlch dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable thern to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detethon of fraud and other irregularitres. The trustees for the purposes of charlty law who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page l. Page5D16
Approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by Ahmad Yabroudi (Chairl Signature Date Z4/40/202f PaÈe6of6
Sussex Syrian Community CIO st Accounts year ended 31 March 2025 Registered charity: 1196947 Charity correspondent: AHMAD YA8AOUDI ST. MARY MAGDALENS COMMUNITY CENTRE 55 UPPER NORTH STREET BRIGHTON BNI 3FH These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basls from Information and explanatlons supplied by the charlty. Mlreille Shimoda Resource Centre 6 Tilbury Place Bri8hton BN2 OGY th 20 May 2025 These accounts have been approved by the Trustees of the charity. Si8ned by one or two Trustees on behalf of all the Trustees Date Page lof4
Sussex Syrian Community cio Statement of Flnanclal Actl¥ltles year ended aist March 2025 Donatlons & Tliial M•¢l rani$ 35,501 35.504 550 sso 36.054 3&054 18.309 1&109 18,309 1&309 •ym•ntx 26.749 26.749 26.749 26.749 15,620 lSh20 Ico 15,720 15,YlO Totsl P• m•nis Net recelptslpaymentslorthèy••r 8.755 10,787 11,8S51 17,687 9,305 14,046 2,689 8,110 ii(x)I 3,347 12 2,589 11,457 3.259 I55 Trnn5fer Df fvnds. See nDte L4nt• olfunth•t 31itM•r¢h 1025 io.n7 N8wmeJddltk)n nwviryby +l.£lduet• Tour *Nots../und5 prevlouslyfecordt¢lps rvstrtcted, bvtwtrtoctuollyunff5trkred. Plf4
Sussex Syrian Communlty CIO Recelpt5 and Payments Arwuntyear ended Jtst March 2025 Re#irted Vnr¢thrt 2025 Re5trfrted Vnrewkted 2024 RecelO5 ReachiniCommunitles- National Lottpry Brl8hton and Hove City Coun¢ll Sussex Communitv Foundatio BdBhton Colle8e Co-op Donation Total Vlecel ts 28.334 1,930 5,240 28,334 1,930 5.240 13,309 13209 S00 250 3W 550 250 3W 36,054 35.504 ,309 18.309 P•ymentS Araèic 5choDI- teacheis. lees Arablc School- starionery, printin& supplies Arablc SchoDI- refreshments Arabic School- graduallon party Arabic Sthool. volunieer expense5 15,645 2J77 15,645 2,377 9,975 121 9,975 38 1,141 625 555 469 1,141 625 555 469 1,440 78 BreakFast Club- feod Drop-In- room hire Orop-In- refreshments Orop-In- 4drnin and supplles Events- Mather's day & Easter Events- Chrlstmas & New Year Events- Iftar Events- Other EvonLS. Wcrthln8 RelusEeChdr 347 347 1,080 78 52 52 2,273 Ico 236 2,273 Ico 236 1,905 1,905 100 210 ILY) 210 Dr48theor¥ classes Itutol feesl Commlttee & volunteer EXPEn5es Admln.. stationery, println8 etc M15¢ellaneous emer eneyfJmll Tot•1 Pa ments 1,690 92 28 1.69D 92 28 1,425 52 1,425 52 su ort loo ICN) 26,749 15.6ZO Net recelptslpaymentsforthe year Funds at 1st April 2024 Transfer ol funds see note b•lne• olluhds at 31st March 2025 8,7S5 10,787 1,85SI $50 3,259 I55 5,664 9,305 14,046 11(x)I 3,347 12 259 2,589 11,457 8.110 23,351 10.7B7 N6 50rno addltltsn5 rnay vary by /- £1 due io roundin8 • Ilote..fvnds orevlovslyrecordedus restrkie4 but were tolty vnrejtrfcted. PJge3o14
Sussex Syrian Community CIO Statement of Assets and Llablllties at 31st March 2025 Monetary Assets & Liabilities Barcloys current account Minus uncleared cheques1126, 250-2661 Cash in hand 25.186 11.8351 Balance of fund5 held at 31st March 2025 Z3,351 Non-monetary Assets None Breakdown of funds at 31st March 2025 Re5trictedfunds ReachSng Communltles- NatSonal Lottery (Year 21 8rlghton and Hove City Councll (Fairness Fund, 20241 Sussex Community Foundation120241 Generolfunds 10,857 1,848 5,140 5,506 23,351 Page4of4
Sussex Syrian Community CIO st Accounts year ended 31 March 2025 Registered charity: 1196947 Charity correspondent: AHMAO YABROUDI ST. MARY MAGDALENS COMMUNITY CENTRE 55 UPPER NORTH STREET BRIGHTON BN13FH These accounts have been prepared on the Recelpts and Payments basis from informatlon and explanations supplled by the charlty. MireSlle Shlmoda Resource Centre 6 Tllbury Place Brlghton BN2 OGY th 20 May 2025 These accounts have been approved by the Trustees ofthe charity. Sl8ned by one ortwo Trustees on behalf of all the Trustees Date Page lof4