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.
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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 actIvl￿e5 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;
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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.
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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.
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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 Un￿strICted 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 reqUI￿d 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.
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Approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by
Ahmad Yabroudi (Chairl
Signature
Date
Z4/40/202f
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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
I￿55
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.
P￿l￿f4

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
S￿00
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
Dr￿4￿8theor¥ 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•l*ne• olluhds at 31st March 2025
8,7S5
10,787
1,85SI
$50
3,259
I￿55
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 ￿t￿olty vnrejtrfcted.
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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
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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
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