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2025-12-31-accounts

Annual Report 2025 Period ending Dec 31 2025 Charity #: 1198420

Connecting the unconnected internet is a human right

The problem

The Barrier to Global Inclusion and Resilience

Despite being essential for sustainability and inclusion, digital connectivity remains deeply unequal.

3.45 billion people or 43% of the global population remain unconnected to mobile internet.

This is not telling the full story. An estimated 1.5 billion people have limited or 2G/3G only to the internet access.

43% of the world remains unconnected

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The problem

What are the barriers causing a digital divide?

Affordability

We seek new technology innovations across the value chain that can create stepped change in the delivery of connectivity and devices. We work closely with network operators to implement cost-reduction strategies, ensuring that affordable connectivity becomes accessible to all.

Culture

We place a significant emphasis on fostering a culture of inclusion, particularly targeting younger students. Our mission is to actively engage and educate young females, ensuring they have equal access to the invaluable information that the internet provides.

Our focus areas

Coverage

Over 85% of the world is covered by a 4G network, but we recognize the need to address areas where coverage is lacking. Therefore we are actively installing satellite dishes and range extenders, ensuring that even the most remote locations are included in our connectivity efforts.

Literacy

We are dedicated to early education, primarily focusing on young students. By incorporating interactive digital tools, we aim to provide them with a dynamic learning environment, significantly enhancing their literacy skills, including reading and writing proficiency.

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Who are we?

OUR VISION & MISSION No digital poverty

by lowering the cost of network and device access to catalyze sustainable growth.

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Who are we?

We are a registered charity building an catalysing partners globally, and enabling a return on investment for them to bridge the digital divide.

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Who are we?

We are reaching over 40+ million people.

At unconnected.org, we are reshaping how the world tackles digital inequality by creating practical, scalable solutions for the most underserved communities.

Funded projects-

Advocacy -

Marketplace-

A platform offering discounted solutions for partners connecting the unconnected.

Providing funding and access to various funding sources for partners

Sharing insights on policy, tech, and regulation and highlighting partners/leaders delivering real impact.

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity for the period ending 31 December 2025.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS 102) (effective 01 January 2015).

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Reference and Administrative Information Charity Name The Unconnected Foundation Charity Reg. No 1198420 Independent Examiner: Principal Location 124 City Road, London Jason Foxwell EC1V 2NX 12 Hillbourne Rd Poole United Kingdom BH17 7JB jason@independent-examiner.net 07939 806705 Board of Trustees: Bankers: Atul Wahi (Chair) Wise, 56 Shoreditch High St, Carolina Almeida Cruz London, E1 6JJ Steve Logue

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~~Structure, Governance and Management~~

The Unconnected Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the charity commission with charity number 1198420 on the 29th of March 2022 and governed by the deed of trust last updated on the 21st of March 2023.

Organisational Structure: The independent trustees are responsible and oversee the general management of the charity, the trustees give their time freely and without remuneration or other financial benefits.

The trustees meet once a quarter to hear and all major decisions are presented for approval. This includes the strategic direction of the charity, any and all initiatives for the acquiring of funds and the distribution of funds. The financial status of the charity is presented and approved by the trustees.

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~~Structure, Governance and Management~~

Recruitment and appointment of trustees:

Those appointed must act solely in the best interests of the charity and not in the interests of the organisation that appointed them. In selecting individuals for appointment as Trustees, the Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. The Trustees may, by and from their number and from time to time, elect such officers (chair, secretary, treasurer) as they see fit.

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~~Structure, Governance and Management~~

Management: The organisation operated with only 3 senior management and expects to continue to do so. ● CEO - Andrew Atkinson ● CCO - Mea Thompson ● CFO - Silvia Atkinson

Contractors: In 2025 unconnected.org utilised contractors within the local countries of the funded projects it was running.

Contractors played the following roles with great effect: ● Communications and media ● Impact reporting ● Technical support roles ● Country launches and establishment

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.un kql Objectives & Activities 12

~~Our aims~~

2.6 billion people don’t have access to the internet globally and perhaps 3.5 billion don’t have adequate access for equal opportunity. Our multi-year vision remains unchanged, we want to get 1 billion of them online. Our organisation believes that internet access is a key component in this digital age for people to have equal access to opportunities in life. Digital skills and tools are critical to lift people out of poverty. We seek to bridge the digital divide and have internet access and skills reach people who need it.

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~~Strategies~~

In 2025, our work expanded with due to some key partnerships for funding and subsidised connectivity products.

Our strategy focused on passing on the funding and subsidy benefits in local communities in low income economies, with particular successes being found in the Philippines.

35 million people

Are now within a 2 kilometer walk now of high speed internet thanks to the programs run in 2025.

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~~Focus on RoI~~

2025 saw the Foundation double down on its focus of enabling the internet industry to find returns on investments from projects where it hadn’t been seeing those before, by:

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~~How do our activities deliver public benefit?~~

The trustees acknowledge that they have read, digested and have due regard for the Charity Commissions published guidance on public benefit.

The value of internet access is no longer seen as a luxury but as a necessity . Those who remain unconnected are often among the most economically disadvantaged, with limited opportunities for advancement.

1. Our Focus on Digital Education continued in 2025

While not our sole priority, we place a strong emphasis on providing internet access to students aged 12-16, particularly young females.

Studies show that developing digital skills at this stage increases the likelihood of completing education, enhances employability, and enables economic participation— whether in formal jobs, remote work, or entrepreneurial activities. For young women, these skills are especially vital, offering opportunities even if they are homebound as mothers, caregivers, or working in agriculture.

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~~How do our activities deliver public benefit?~~

Our work delivers real public benefit by enabling students to complete their education, boosting employment prospects, and uplifting entire communities. By collaborating with key partners, we ensure digital access drives equitable opportunities rather than deepening inequality.

Nearly 2,000 schools have been connected to the internet in the Philippines, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Mexico and Colombia in 2025

Over 65% of all nearly 3,000 subsidised Starlink connections were placed into learning centers. With an average 250 students per school this is enabling digital education for over:

800,000 students and 80,000 teachers are now accessing digital education for the first time

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~~How do our activities deliver public benefit?~~

Internet access in times of natural disaster can make the difference between life and death, and also become the centrepiece for local recovery and aid efforts.

1. Disaster recovery in the Philippines

In 2025, with the aid of grant funding from the Internet Society Foundation, unconnected.org implemented a 750 disaster resilience hot spots using Starlink technology, including training for over 1,500 disaster recovery experts. Stationed all over the country the technology has played a pivotal role during earthquakes, typhoons, floods and volcanic eruptions.

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Plans for 2026

In 2026 we are further defining our commitment to creating returns on investment by clarifying our role in the ecosystem with:

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Financial Review rp

Statement of Trustees responsibilities

The charity trustees are responsible for ensuring that proper accounting records are kept with reasonable accuracy at any time reflects the financial position of the charity and for authorising the annual report and financial statements in accordance to the Charities Act 2011 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the provisions of the trust deed.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity (if any exist) hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The law applicable to Charities in England and Wales requires the charity's trustees to authorise the financial statement each year which gives a fair view of the affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and the application of those resources of the charity for that period.

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In authorising the financial statement the trustees are required to

The trustees for the purpose of the charity law who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 8.

Approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Atul Wahi (Chairperson)

14-04-2026 Date:

……………………………………………………….

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Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of the Unconnected Foundation for the period ended 31 December 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the period ended 31 December 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Association of Charitable Independent Examiners (ACIE), both of which are listed bodies.

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Independent examiner’s report (continued)

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and 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.

Jason Foxwell FCCA FCIE, 12 Hillbourne Road, Poole, BH17 7JB Date:

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

All the charity’s activities derive from continuing operations.

The notes on pages 29 to 33 form an integral part of these accounts.

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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Atul Whal Wahi Trustee and Chair

Date: 14-04-2026

The notes on pages 29 to 33 form an integral part of these accounts.

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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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CASH FLOW NOTES REcJnciJiution olnetJnovemeNt Infunds to net CGpsh used in OPErlltirpg Dctivities Net movement in fund5 for the period 187,412 270,633 Adjustments for: Add back depreci3tlDn charge Decrea5el(increa5e} in stock Decrea5el(increa5e} in debtors Increa5el{Deciea5e) in ciedit015 64,766 24,564 6,401 40,813 (32,011} 110,1981 72,481 Net cash used in opeiating actiVLtie5 282,793 348,068

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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un Thank you Contact help@unconnected.org 34