## THE EQUIANO PROJECT (CIO) Registered Address: 87-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE Charity Number: 1198468 TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 1 October 2025 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **CONTENTS PAGE** Trustee Report ........................................ 2 Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities ............... 4 Independent Examiner's Report .......................... 5 Receipts and Payment Accounts .......................... 7 Balance Sheet .......................................... 8 1 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **Trustee Report** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Equiano Project was granted charitable status on 31 March 2022 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The organisation consists of trustees, freelance support, and voluntary contributors. The Director also provided paid services in a project management capacity, which were properly authorised and disclosed. ## **Trustees** Oliver Langton Wright (Chair) Inaya Folarin Iman Katharine Birbalsingh CBE Dr Marie Kawthar Daouda All trustees were appointed on 31 March 2022. Charity number: 1198468 Registered office: 87-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE ## **Objectives and Activities** The Equiano Project exists to advance the education of the public—particularly young people—on the subjects of tolerance, universalism, freedom of expression, and citizenship. ## **Public Benefit** The charity has referred to Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when reviewing its aims and activities. ## **Achievements and Performance** Between October 2024 and October 2025, the Equiano Project maintained a strong presence across national media and public debate. The Director’s contributed to major platforms including BBC Radio 4, BBC Politics Live, ITV, and Sky. The charity hosted public events on identity, immigration, and social cohesion, and launched The Flip Side podcast. Speakers included John Gray, Trevor Phillips, Matthew Syed, Helen Lewis, Mustafa Akyol, Kenan Malik and others. ## **Financial Review** Total income for the year was £47,362 (2024: £31,674). Total expenditure was £55,267 (2024: £31,238), primarily on charitable activities including events, speaker fees, venue hire and production. Net expenditure was £7,905 (2024: net income of £436), reducing reserves to £140 (2024: £8,046). 2 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees review the charity's reserves on a regular basis. The charity aims to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to meet its ongoing commitments and to provide a reasonable level of financial stability in the event of unexpected expenditure or a temporary reduction in income. Given the charity's current size, limited overheads and absence of long-term contractual commitments, the trustees consider it appropriate to hold reserves at a level that enables the charity to continue its charitable activities while alternative sources of funding are secured if required. At the year end, unrestricted reserves amounted to £140 (2024: £8,046). The trustees are satisfied that this level of reserves is appropriate in light of the charity's current operating model and anticipated future income. 3 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). They are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed; - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless inappropriate. Trustees must also: - Keep adequate accounting records; - Ensure the financial statements comply with charity law; - Safeguard the assets of the charity and take reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and irregularities. Approved by the board of trustees: Trustee: __________________ Oliver Langton Wright Chair: __________________ 22 Jun 2026 Date: __________________ 4 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE EQUIANO PROJECT** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Equiano Project for the year ended 1 October 2025. ## _**Responsibilities and basis of report**_ As the charity's trustees of the Trust 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 Trustee’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 Act. An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their Opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner's statement. ## _**Independent examiner’s statement**_ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or (2) the accounts do not accord with those records. (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. 5 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** 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. Michaela Johns FCCA Hopper Williams & Bell Limited Chartered Accountants Highland House Mayflower Close Chandler's Ford Eastleigh Hampshire SO53 4AR ## 23 Jun 2026 Date ………………………………………... 6 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** **Statement of Financial Activities (Receipts and Payment Account)** |**Category**|**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**| ||**Funds (£)**|**Funds (£)**|**(£)**|**(£)**| |Donations and|6,940|39,720|46,660|29,004| |legacies||||| |Charitable activities|686|-|686|2,660| |Investment income|16||16|10| |**Total receipts**|**7,642**|**39,720**|**47,362**|**31,674**| |Charitable activities|15,548|39,720|55,268|31,232| |expenditure||||| |Governance|-|-|-|6| |**Total payments**|**15,548**|**39,720**|**55,268**|**31,238**| |**Net Cash**|**(7,906)**|**-**|**(7,906)**|**436**| |**receipts/(payments)**||||| |**Reconciliation of**||||| |**funds**||||| |Total funds brought|8,046|-|8,046|7,610| |forward||||| |**Total funds carried**|140|-|140|8,046| |**forward**||||| 7 ## **The Equiano Project (CIO)** ## **Balance Sheet** |**Balance Sheet**||| |---|---|---| ||**2025 (£)**|**2024 (£)**| |Current assets||| |Cash at bank and in hand|140|8,046| |Total current assets|140|8,046| |Liabilities|-|-| |**Net current assets**|**140**|**8,046**| |Total assets|140|8,046| |Unrestricted funds|140|8,046| |Restricted funds|-|-| |**Total charity funds**|**140**|**8,046**| ## **Funds Reconciliation** |**Funds Reconciliation**|| |---|---| |Opening funds (1 Oct 2024)|£8,046| |Net expenditure for the year|£7,906| |Closing funds (1 Oct 2025)|£140| |All funds are unrestricted.|| ## **Payment to Trustees** For the delivery of major projects and project management services, Inaya Folarin Iman (Trustee) was paid a day rate of £250. This totaled £9,200 for the year ending 1 Oct 2025 (2024: £3,650). 8 ## **Issuer** **Issuer** HWB Chartered Accountants **Document generated** Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:13 BST **Document fingerprint** f3ff6952e50360fbf8137361fc78351c ## **Parties involved with this document** ## **Document processed** ## **Party + Fingerprint** Mon, 22nd Jun 2026 18:07:45 BST Tue, 23rd Jun 2026 8:08:16 BST Tue, 23rd Jun 2026 8:08:16 BST Oliver Wright - Signer (a09decdd904f00bbde938087283fd64f) Michaela Johns - Signer (155d71aca093db5c51f8d56e484a3f91) Gemma Wood - Copied In (177cd67b72f7be3ffe21a050da40b69c) ## **Audit history log** ## **Date** ## **Action** Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:13 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:17 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:17 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:18 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:10:18 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:19:48 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:19:48 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:19:52 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:26:59 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:27:17 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 16:59:47 BST Wed, 17th Jun 2026 22:56:59 BST Thu, 18th Jun 2026 16:18:23 BST Fri, 19th Jun 2026 16:19:39 BST Fri, 19th Jun 2026 16:50:47 BST Sat, 20th Jun 2026 16:20:07 BST Envelope generated by Accounts Department (172.167.101.232) Document generated with fingerprint 61a391ed369782e2324294501cc7319b (172.167.101.232) Document generated with fingerprint 55de97b7e53ddc82b819648e6004ec13 (172.167.101.232) Document generated with fingerprint 27444375961e23bfae9698a9ba6ed6ed (172.167.101.232) Document generated with fingerprint f3ff6952e50360fbf8137361fc78351c (172.167.101.232) Sent the envelope to Oliver Wright (oliver.wright.oxford@gmail.com) for signing (172.167.101.232) Document emailed to oliver.wright.oxford@gmail.com Oliver Wright opened the document email. 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