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2025-12-31-accounts

LONDON MUSLIM SUPPORT NETWORK LMSN

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND IMPACT REVIEW

For the Year Ended 31 December 2025 Charity Commission Registration No. 1197308

“Relieving poverty, restoring dignity, rebuilding lives.” Serving vulnerable individuals and families across London since our founding.

Contents

Trustees’ Report and Impact Review 1
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Statement of Financial Position 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 18

London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

London Muslim Support Network (LMSN)
Charity Name
1197308
Charity Number
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Legal Structure
England and Wales
Registered in
Registered and compliant
Charity Commission
31 December 2025
Financial Year End
1326 London Road, Norbury, London SW16 4DG
Principal Address
Greater London
Areas of Operation

Board of Trustees

The charity is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees appointed on the basis of relevant skills, experience, and commitment to the charity’s mission. Trustees are recruited by the existing board and serve in accordance with the charity’s Constitution.

Trustees in office during the year ended 31 December 2025:

Mohammed Sami Lone (Chair), Omid Azizi, Ahmad Benkacem

Trustee induction and ongoing training are provided to ensure all board members understand their legal duties, the charity’s governance framework, and their responsibilities to beneficiaries and the public.

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 1

London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Chair’s Foreword

On behalf of the Trustees of the London Muslim Support Network (LMSN), I am proud to present our Trustees’ Report and Impact Review for the year ended 31 December 2025. This report sets out the achievements, activities, and financial position of our charity during a year in which we reached more people, strengthened our finances, and laid the groundwork for LMSN’s next chapter.

In 2025, LMSN continued to serve some of London’s most vulnerable residents, including men, women, and children facing poverty, destitution, and the risk of homelessness. We believe everyone deserves dignity and the chance to rebuild their life, and in 2025 we backed that belief with action: deepening our welfare support, expanding our volunteer network, keeping families in their homes, and helping people into work.

Our interest-free loan programme continued to offer a vital bridge for those excluded from mainstream financial services.

As we look ahead, our ambition is to secure a permanent, accessible home for our services: a community hub in the form of the Hive that will allow us to increase our capacity significantly, reach more people in need, and work more closely with partners across London. We believe the evidence presented in this report demonstrates that LMSN is a well-governed, high-impact organisation with a clear and purposeful direction.

We are deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, and community partners. Without them, none of this work would be possible.

Mohammed Sami Lone, Chair of Trustees

London Muslim Support Network

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 2

London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Objectives and Activities

Our Charitable Purposes

The charitable purposes of LMSN, as set out in its governing Constitution and registered with the Charity Commission, are:

“To relieve poverty and distress and to promote social and community wellbeing among individuals and families in need”

The Trustees confirm that all activities undertaken during 2025 contribute directly to these charitable purposes and provide clear and demonstrable public benefit in accordance with the Charity Commission’s guidance.

How We Deliver Public Benefit

LMSN delivers its mission through four core service areas, each focused on a different aspect of the hardship faced by some of London’s most vulnerable people:

Service Area Description
Direct financial assistance, hardship grants, and
emergency support to individuals and families in
immediate need, including those at risk of
homelessness, food poverty, or destitution.
Welfare Support & Emergency Assistance
Providing Sharia-compliant, interest-free loans to help
people who cannot access mainstream credit pay for
housing costs, find work, or meet basic needs, without
taking on harmful debt.
Interest-Free Loan Programme
Connecting people who are not getting the support
they need with statutory services, benefits, housing
support, and community resources to help them live
independently.
Community Support & Outreach
Mobilising and training community volunteers to
extend the reach of services, develop community
leadership, and foster a culture of mutual support.
Volunteer Engagement & Capacity Building

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 3

London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Activities and Achievements in 2025

Demand for our services grew in 2025, driven by rising living costs and increasing financial pressure on households across London. Our team (staff and volunteers alike) responded with dedication, compassion, and creativity.

Key Performance Statistics 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
12 £52,320
Beneficiaries Directly Supported Hardship Funds Distributed
2 3
Individuals Saved from Homelessness People Supported into Employment
3 £37,400
Interest-Free Loans Issued Total Loans Value
10 1,000+
Active Volunteers Volunteer Hours Contributed
----- End of picture text -----

1. Welfare Support and Emergency Assistance

Welfare and emergency assistance is at the heart of what LMSN does. In 2025, we distributed £52,320 in hardship funds to individuals and families facing acute crisis, including those experiencing destitution, relationship breakdown, domestic difficulties, and sudden loss of income.

Our casework approach ensures that emergency support is combined with a pathway to stability. Beneficiaries are not simply given a one-off grant; they receive holistic support that addresses the root causes of their crisis. This includes referrals to housing services, debt advice, legal aid, and mental health support as appropriate.

Key achievements:

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

2. Homelessness Prevention

One of LMSN’s most significant achievements in 2025 was the prevention of homelessness for two individuals and their families. These were cases involving imminent eviction, where without our rapid intervention, families would have entered the statutory homelessness system or, in the worst case, become street homeless.

The cost (financial and human) of homelessness is well documented. Research consistently demonstrates that the cost to the state of a single episode of homelessness, including temporary accommodation, health costs, and statutory support, can exceed £20,000 per household. LMSN’s timely intervention not only transformed individual lives but delivered significant public value.

Impact achieved:

3. Supporting Economic Independence

In 2025, three people supported by LMSN secured employment and moved towards financial independence. Each of these individuals had faced significant barriers to employment, including financial exclusion, skills gaps, low confidence, and the absence of a professional support network.

Support provided included:

Securing employment is the single most powerful route out of poverty. Each person who moves into sustainable work is less likely to need crisis support in the future.

4. Interest-Free Loan Programme

LMSN’s interest-free loan programme provides a vital alternative to high-cost credit and predatory lending for individuals who are financially excluded. In 2025, three loans were issued totalling £37,400, with £45,090 outstanding at the year end.

These loans are provided on an ethical, Sharia-compliant basis, free of interest, and are designed to help individuals bridge a financial gap without taking on further debt they cannot repay. The programme is carefully managed, with full assessment of each applicant’s circumstances and capacity to repay, and with appropriate follow-up support.

The interest-free loan model is particularly significant in the context of Muslim communities, where religious prohibition of interest-bearing debt means that conventional credit options are often inaccessible. LMSN’s programme addresses a genuine gap in provision and meets a real, unmet need within the community.

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

5. Volunteer Engagement

Volunteers are the lifeblood of LMSN. In 2025, our ten active volunteers contributed over 1,000 hours of their time to the charity’s work. Valued at the National Living Wage rate of £12.21 per hour, this represents an inkind contribution of approximately £12,210 to service delivery, which does not appear in the financial statements but is a real and significant part of what makes our work possible. It reflects a genuine culture of community solidarity.

Volunteer activities included:

LMSN invests in volunteer training, recognition, and wellbeing, recognising that a well-supported volunteer base is essential to sustainable service delivery. Our volunteers reflect the communities we serve, and their knowledge and experience directly improves the support we are able to offer.

6. Partnership Development

LMSN continued to develop its network of strategic partnerships in 2025, recognising that effective collaboration is essential to maximising impact. We work alongside statutory services, other voluntary organisations, mosques, and community groups to ensure people receive a coordinated response that addresses all their needs, not just one part of them.

Our partnership approach includes:

In the year ahead, LMSN is committed to deepening these partnerships and developing formal written agreements with key statutory and voluntary sector partners to create clearer referral pathways and shared ways of working.

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Stories of Impact: Our Beneficiaries in 2025

Behind every statistic in this report is a human story. The following anonymised case studies illustrate the real difference LMSN’s work makes in the lives of real people.

Case Study 1: Preventing Homelessness for a Young Family

A single mother with two young children was referred to LMSN after receiving a Section 21 eviction notice from her landlord. She had fallen into rent arrears following the loss of her part-time job and was unable to access emergency support through statutory channels due to her immigration leave status.

LMSN provided emergency hardship funding to clear the rent arrears, negotiated directly with the landlord to withdraw the eviction notice, and supported the family to access the full range of benefits they were entitled to. The mother was also connected with an employment support service and has since secured part-time work.

Outcome: Family remained in their home. Children’s education and wellbeing protected. Mother is now in employment and on a pathway to financial independence.

Case Study 2: Breaking the Cycle of Financial Exclusion

A young man in his late twenties was referred to LMSN after falling into serious debt with a high-cost lender. Unable to access mainstream credit due to a poor credit history, he had taken out a payday loan to cover an emergency car repair, as his vehicle was essential to his self-employment as a delivery driver.

LMSN provided an interest-free loan to repay the high-cost debt in full, eliminating a spiral of compounding interest charges. With his debt resolved and his vehicle operational, the beneficiary was able to continue working and repay LMSN’s loan in manageable monthly instalments, free of interest.

Outcome: Financial crisis resolved without exploitative debt. Self-employment sustained. Beneficiary is repaying the loan and getting back on his feet financially.

Case Study 3: Supporting Children’s Opportunities

A family with three school-age children was supported by LMSN after a period of severe financial hardship following the father’s ill health and temporary inability to work. The family was struggling to meet basic needs, and the children had been unable to participate in school trips, sports clubs, or cultural activities that their classmates enjoyed.

LMSN provided a welfare grant covering the children’s activity costs, enabling them to participate fully in school life, and provided additional hardship support to the family during the father’s recovery. Volunteer mentors from LMSN’s network provided practical support and befriending to the family during this difficult period.

Outcome: The children were able to stay involved in school life and activities alongside their classmates. Family stabilised during period of crisis. Father has since returned to work.

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 7

London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Financial Review

The Trustees have reviewed the financial position of LMSN for the year ended 31 December 2025 and are satisfied that the charity is financially sound, well-governed, and has sufficient reserves to sustain and grow its activities.

Income and Expenditure Summary
Financial Metric 2025 (£)
247,499
Total Income Received
57,367
Total Expenditure
190,132
Net Surplus for the Year
402,167
Unrestricted Funds at Year End

Sources of Income

LMSN’s income in 2025 was drawn from a diverse range of sources, demonstrating community confidence and broad-based support:

The diversity of income streams demonstrates LMSN’s broad community mandate and reduces dependency on any single source of funding. The Trustees are actively working to further diversify and stabilise income through formal grant applications and the development of a long-term capital fundraising strategy.

Expenditure

Total expenditure of £57,367 was focused primarily on charitable activities, with principal areas including:

The Trustees are satisfied that all expenditure during the year was reasonable and used directly to support the people LMSN exists to serve.

Reserves Policy and Financial Position

At the end of the financial year, LMSN held £402,167 in unrestricted funds. The Trustees have adopted a reserves policy of maintaining a minimum of three months’ operational expenditure as a free reserve, providing a buffer against unexpected reductions in income or sudden increases in demand for services.

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

LMSN’s current financial position significantly exceeds this minimum requirement, reflecting the strength of community fundraising in the year and the prudent financial management of the Trustees. The Trustees are conscious that a substantial portion of these funds has been designated towards the charity’s capital strategy, namely the acquisition of a permanent community premises.

The charity’s healthy financial position, combined with a clear plan for capital investment, places LMSN in a strong position to apply for grant funding to match the community donations already raised.

Independent Examination

In accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the accounts of LMSN for the year ended 31 December 2025 have been independently examined. As a charity with gross income below the audit threshold, LMSN is required to have its accounts independently examined rather than audited. The independent examiner has confirmed that no matters have come to their attention giving reasonable cause to believe that the accounts are not prepared in accordance with applicable accounting requirements.

Independent Examiner: M K Sheikh FCA , Honest Advisory, 1 Tylecroft Road, London, SW16 4BL

Structure, Governance and Management

Legal Structure

The London Muslim Support Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity Number 1197308). The CIO structure means trustees have limited personal liability and the charity has a clear legal identity separate from its individual members.

Governance Framework

The charity is governed by its Constitution, which sets out the appointment, duties, and responsibilities of Trustees. The Board of Trustees meets regularly throughout the year to provide strategic oversight, financial governance, and accountability. Meetings address:

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Key Policies

LMSN maintains a comprehensive suite of organisational policies to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery. These include:

Protecting vulnerable adults and children from harm,
with clear reporting protocols.
Safeguarding Policy
GDPR-compliant data handling, privacy, and
information security procedures.
Data Protection Policy
Commitment to non-discrimination and inclusive
service delivery for all.
Equality and Diversity Policy
Robust internal financial controls including dual
authorisation for expenditure.
Financial Controls Policy
Declaration and management of trustee and staff
conflicts of interest.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Ensuring the safety of staff, volunteers, and
beneficiaries across all activities.
Health and Safety Policy

Risk Management

The Trustees take seriously their responsibility to identify, assess, and mitigate the risks facing the organisation. A formal risk review is conducted at Trustee board meetings, with the risk register updated to reflect changes in the operating environment.

The principal risks identified in 2025 and the mitigations in place are set out in the table below:

Risk Impact Mitigation
Dependence on voluntary donations
and grants		 Income diversification strategy;
capital funding applications;
development of earned income
streams; establishment of the
endowment fund
Income shortfall, inability to sustain
services
Increasing demand for services amid
economic pressures		 Volunteer recruitment and training;
partnership referrals; planned
premises expansion
Capacity overstretched; quality of
support affected
Volunteer capacity and retention Volunteer recognition programme;
flexible roles; regular training and
support
Reduction in service delivery
capacity
Risk associated with capital project
costs and premises acquisition		 Prudent reserves policy; staged
capital deployment; professional
financial management
Cash flow pressure; reputational
risk
Regulatory and compliance risk Comprehensive governance
framework; regular trustee training;
compliance calendar
Charity Commission investigation;
reputational damage

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Strategic Plans for 2026 and Beyond

The Trustees have developed an ambitious but achievable strategic plan for 2026 and the years ahead. This plan is underpinned by the achievements of 2025 and reflects a clear ambition to scale LMSN’s impact and secure its long-term sustainability.

1. Acquire a Permanent Community Premises

LMSN’s most important strategic priority is securing a permanent community hub. A permanent premises would enable LMSN to:

The acquisition of permanent premises is the central focus of LMSN’s capital fundraising strategy and the primary purpose for which we are seeking capital investment from external funders.

2. Expand Outreach and Beneficiary Reach

3. Strengthen Strategic Partnerships

4. Enhance Impact Measurement

5. Invest in Governance and Organisational Development

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London Muslim Support Network | Impact Report 2025

Trustees’ Declaration

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), effective 1 January 2019.

The Trustees confirm that:

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf:

Signature:

Name: Mohammed Sami Lone

Position: Chair of Trustees

Date: 19/06/2026

London Muslim Support Network | Charity Number 1197308 Trustees’ Report and Impact Review for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 12

London Muslim Support Network

Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025

I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position and the related notes.

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 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 consideration 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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

have not been met, or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

M K Sheikh FCA

Chartered Accountant Honest Advisory Limited 1 Tylecroft Road London SW16 4BL

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 13

London Muslim Support Network

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Total
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total
Net income
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 31/12/2025
£
247,499
247,499
(57,367)
(57,367)
190,132
212,035
402,167		 31/12/2024
£
201,784
201,784
(63,764)
(63,764)
138,020
74,015
212,035

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 14

London Muslim Support Network

Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2025

Fixed assets
Notes
Tangible assets
4
Investments
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Net assets
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted income funds
Total funds		 31/12/2025
£
301,129
493,164
794,293
2,790,842
43,516
2,834,358
(476,484)
2,357,874
3,152,167
(2,750,000)
402,167
212,035
402,167		 31/12/2024
£
301,129
493,164
794,293
2,684,942
126,800
2,811,742
(644,000)
2,167,742
2,962,035
(2,750,000)
212,035
212,035
212,035

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

Mohammed Sami Lone Trustee

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 15

London Muslim Support Network

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

1. Accounting Policies Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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 UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.

London Muslim Support Network meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Going concern

The Charity remains in a very strong position relating to future growth. No short or medium term financial risk to the Charity's continued operations has been identified. In the opinion of the trustees there are no going concern issues.

The trustees have agreed to maintain a reserve of at least three month's annual expenditure in order to meet operational costs in the event a lack of new income in the form of donations or other potential revenue. The trustees assess the adequacy of this policy on an annual basis.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure:

2. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted funds
Donations received		 31/12/2025
£
247,499
247,499		 31/12/2024
£
201,784
201,784

There were no post year events that requires disclosure and the management are confident that the charity will continue to deliver its aims and objectives in the forceable future.

3. Trustee remuneration and related party transactions

All trustees acted on a voluntary basis and therefore no remuneration paid by the charity. There were no related party transactions during the financial year.

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 16

London Muslim Support Network

Notes to the Financial Statements continued for the year ended 31 December 2025

4.Tangible fixed assets
Cost or valuation
Cost brought forward and carried forward at 31 December 2025
Net book values at 31 December 2025		 Land and
Buildings
£
301,129
301,129

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 17

London Muslim Support Network

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENT
Donations and legacies
Donations
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Cost Of Direct Charitable Activity
Repairs And Maintenance
Bank Charges
Professional Fees
Telephone
General
aTotal resources expended
Net Income		 31/12/2025
£
247,499
247,499
(52,320)
(1,692)
(2,657)
-
(138)
(560)
(57,367)
(57,367)
190,132		 31/12/2024
£
201,784
201,784
(35,840)
(25,000)
(1,760)
(840)
(98)
(226)
(63,764)
(63,764)
138,020

Charity No. 1197308 | Registered in England and Wales | www.lmsn.org.uk | Page 18