Sunshine Action UK
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ending 31 December 2024
England and Wales registered charity number 1202617
Table of Contents
| 1. | Introductory Overview ............................................................................................... 3 |
|---|---|
| 2. | Charity Structure and Objectives .............................................................................. 3 |
| 3. | Charity Governance ................................................................................................... 4 |
| 4. | Achievements and Performance .............................................................................. 5 |
| 5. | Future Plans ............................................................................................................... 9 |
| 6. | Financial Review ........................................................................................................ 9 |
| Independent Examiner's Report ............................................................................ 11 | |
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ............................................................. 12 | |
| BALANCE SHEET ................................................................................................... 13 | |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .......................................................... 14 | |
| 7. | Reference and Administrative Details ................................................................... 17 |
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
1. Introductory Overview
Sunshine Action was originally founded in 2008 as a charity organisation based in Hong Kong, focusing on poverty-relief. Since then, Sunshine Action has partnered with over 1000 community centres and organisations across 25 countries, spanning over 440,000 low-income individuals and families. The charity is fully composed of unpaid volunteers who operate it, and many secondary school students have become part of the network to lend a helping hand. As many of those in our network have ultimately ended up for further studies in the UK and wish to continue getting involved with such meaningful activities, we have decided to expand our outreach officially to the UK by legally registering a charity here. This not only allows for continuation of support from our volunteers, but also allows us to help local communities within the UK in more depth.
Sunshine Action UK was officially constituted and recognised by the Charities Commission for England and Wales on 4 April 2023. It took a considerable amount of time for us to legally register with the Charities Commission, and we had already started to undertake activities for public benefit since September 2021. We hope to continue to grow our presence in the UK.
2. Charity Structure and Objectives
Sunshine Action UK was constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a Foundation Model Constitution dated 17 January 2023, and accepted by the Charities Commission on 4 April 2023.
According to clause 3 of the Constitution, the object of Sunshine Action UK is:
The prevention and relief of poverty, in particular through the provision of material goods to the poor and homeless in England.
With that in mind, our motto is to ‘ feed the hungry and warm the abandoned .’
There are three charity trustees of Sunshine Action UK who are responsible for carrying out the above purpose for public benefit and acting in the best interests of the charity. Current trustees remain the same and no new trustees have been appointed in 2024.
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Volunteers distributing fortune bags at The Gatehouse, Oxford
3. Charity Governance
Sunshine Action UK operates with several values in mind:
Non-Profit Integrity:
Sustainability: We prioritise building a long-term network of volunteers and welcome innovative ideas that advance our charity’s purpose.
Compassion: Motivated by empathy, we aim to offer support and relief to those in need, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
We rely entirely on unpaid volunteers, enabling us to dedicate all our funding to achieving our charity’s purpose.
Collaboration:
Community Engagement:
We believe in the power of partnerships, working closely with local centres, organisations, and corporations to maximise impact of their knowledge and complement their efforts.
We engage local members and students in our initiatives, cultivating a collaborative spirit and inspiring young leaders to foster a sense of community involvement.
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
It is important to acknowledge a potential conflict of interest, as two trustees of the organisation also serve as directors of Sunshine Action in Hong Kong. However, all donations received by Sunshine Action UK are dedicated solely to the public benefit of the local community in the UK. Conversely, Sunshine Action in Hong Kong has actually been providing financial support to Sunshine Action UK to help facilitate programmes here.
4. Achievements and Performance
FORTUNE BAG PROGRAMMES
Sunshine Action UK’s primary initiative involves creating and distributing ‘fortune bags’ which are filled with non-perishable food items and essential supplies, such as canned foods, biscuits, toiletries, and sanitary products etc. tailored to the needs of our target beneficiaries. We typically partner with local charities and organisations to determine the most useful items to include and then distribute these bags to homeless and low-income individuals in local communities alongside our partner organisations. The contents of our fortune bags can sustain a person’s basic needs for a few weeks.
We are deeply troubled by the fact that 7.5 million people across the UK are food-insecure, including 18% of children, a figure that has increased significantly due to the cost of living crisis. Our fortune bag programme aims to address this issue by providing essential support to low-income and homeless individuals who are often preoccupied with securing their next meal. While some experience long-term poverty, we believe that any form of support is valuable and benefits the public. We also view Sunshine Action UK as part of a broader community of charitable initiatives that complement one another's services. For instance, our food support allows homeless individuals to focus on seeking assistance from other organisations that can help them find affordable housing options or employment opportunities.
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Nishkam SWAT – We packed 80 bags on the UCL/SOAS campus and distributed them with the Sikh Welfare & Awareness Team alongside their warm meal distribution service, providing low-income individuals with baked beans, biscuits and other vegetarian food items.
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The Gatehouse Oxford – We packed 55 fortune bags, working with this organisation to distribute items at their community café service frequented by homeless and lowincome individuals. The Gatehouse is a bedrock of charity in Oxford, helping the homeless population there since 1988. We were able to engage several Oxford students at this event, helping them develop a charitable and empathetic mindset which will equip them to continue improve the world long after the distribution of bags.
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It Takes a City – We packed and distributed 80 fortune bags for the Christmas season, working with a charity in Cambridge that provides emergency housing to homeless
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
individuals in London through two programmes: Crossways, for all unhoused people, and The Haven, which focuses specifically on women. These great programmes help with showers, mental-health services and more, but needed extra support from Sunshine Action UK. Our fortune bags provided great winter supplies including a mini torch and hand warmers to help these individuals survive the rough winter season.
Volunteers assembling fortune bags with food essentials at UCL, London
VOLUNTEERING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMMES
During each summer, we offer an internship programme that invites students and young professionals to contribute to our charity’s purpose. Bringing in fresh talent is essential for several reasons: new interns contribute innovative ideas, diverse perspectives, and up-to-date knowledge from their studies, all of which are invaluable as we grow and adapt to the evolving needs of our communities. Furthermore, they provide us with extra support to plan and organise charitable programmes.
Our internship focusses on practical action related to running real-life programmes. We provide young people with hands-on experience in the non-profit sector, equipping them with the skills and insights needed to become the changemakers of tomorrow. We aim to show them, through practical experience, how straightforward it can be to help others, inspiring them to integrate charitable initiatives into their lives beyond their future careers.
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Orlagh Duggan-Noone, one of our 2024 interns from the University of Oxford, joined our team as a Partnerships Manager and has continued to grow in her role as one of the leaders of Sunshine Action UK. She commented, “The 2024 summer internship was a truly meaningful opportunity as I transitioned out of university. Seeing my efforts blossom into visible support for UK communities was profoundly motivating, and the experience helped steer my long-term goals towards making a positive impact.”
Several of our interns who organised a fortune bag event at Oxford
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FUNDRAISING
In 2024, we achieved our first local donations in the UK by hosting a small bake sale in London. We also secured our first grant in the UK from the Co-op Local Community Fund, which we are hoping to use to benefit the local Poole community.
Our small bake sale in London to raise funds for our fortune bag programme
SUNSHINE CHARITHON
In 2024, we launched an initiative designed for university students to make a meaningful impact in their local communities. We had three Sunshine Charithon events during the year, partnering with UCL/SOAS, Cambridge, and Oxford students. By bringing in more student volunteers from various universities, we have broadened our outreach which helped us fulfil two objectives simultaneously: providing needed support to local communities whilst developing a philanthropic mindset in some of the nations’ brightest students. The youth have some of the lowest volunteering rates of any age group, and charitable activities can help to combat rising levels of loneliness and social isolation.
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
5. Future Plans
We are proud to have built new charity partnerships this year and achieve our first local grant. Looking ahead, we are excited to embrace evolving challenges and opportunities in the charitable sector, and we are committed to adapting our approaches to meet the needs of our communities. Our efforts will be focussed on continuing to increase the frequency of our events, securing more funding, building a sustainable team of volunteers, and strengthening our presence in the UK.
We are planning to expand our Sunshine Charithon programme by reaching more universities and schools within the London area first. We can allow more students to get involved by partnering with various university societies, enabling them to host activities for a charitable cause. Our focus is on building sustainable partnerships that can help us grow year-on-year.
This year, most of our support continued to come from Sunshine Action in Hong Kong. However, we have begun to establish local fundraising initiatives through a bake sale and grants from established organisations. We plan to continue pursuing partnerships with large companies and applying for existing grants. Since most of our funding goes directly towards fortune bag costs, donors can easily see how their contributions are being used and the direct action we are undertaking. Other fundraising opportunities involve online crowdfunding campaigns, item sales, and charity festivals. By diversifying our fundraising efforts, we can ensure the sustainability of our programmes and expand our impact on the communities we serve.
6. Financial Review
The financial statements below quantify activities that took place between 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024. Donations have decreased from the previous year due to an intentional decrease in financial contribution from Sunshine Action in Hong Kong, with some marginal contribution from the local UK community. An increase in expenses represents an increase in fortune bag events that we have conducted this year, as well as general administrative costs for running the charity. Our financial model is straightforward, with no salaried employees nor remuneration for trustees; all expenses are dedicated solely to maintaining and conducting charitable activities.
In the upcoming financial year, we expect a minimum of £500 from the Co-op grant to be reflected in donation income, as well as further contributions from the local UK community. We do not expect to receive further donations from Sunshine Action in Hong Kong. We also expect a continued increase in expenditures, reflecting the growing level of activities conducted by Sunshine Action UK.
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Registered Charity Number: 1202617
SUNSHINE ACTION UK a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 December 2024
Sunshine Action UK LYTCHETT HOUSE UNIT 13 FREELAND PARK WAREHAM ROAD POOLE, DORSET BH16 6FA
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Independent Examiner's Report
for the year ending 31 December 2024
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Sunshine Action UK
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ending 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, 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 Trust’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 Act.
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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did 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.
M.H Tuffaha BA (Hons) AFA MIPA Sterling Gate Accountants Date: 22[nd] October 2025
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
SUNSHINE ACTION UK STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Recommended categories by activity Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 3 Total Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Funds 2023 £ 2,088.35 2,088.35 3,435.44 2,088.35 2,088.35 3,435.44 2,394.09 2,394.09 964.25 2,394.09 2,394.09 964.25 (305.74) (305.74) 2,471.20 (305.74) (305.74) 2,471.20 2,471.20 2,471.20 - 2,165.46 2,165.46 2,471.20 |
|---|---|
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
SUNSHINE ACTION UK BALANCE SHEET
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 4 Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 5 Net current assets/(liabilities) Total net assets Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds 6 Restricted income funds 6 Endowment funds 6 Total funds |
Unrestricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Funds 2023 £ 2,773.39 2,773.39 2,471.20 2,773.39 2,773.39 2,471.20 607.93 607.93 - 2,165.46 2,165.46 2,471.20 2,165.46 2,165.46 2,471.20 2,165.46 2,165.46 2,471.20 - - - - - - 2,165.46 2,165.46 2,471.20 |
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board on 22[nd] October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
_________ Yiu Long Adrian Yan Trustee Date: 22[nd] October 2025
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
SUNSHINE ACTION UK
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1. Accounting Policies
1.1 Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Charity, which is a public benefit entity, in the preparation of the accounts are as follows.
1.2 Basis of preparation
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the inclusion of charitable properties and fixed asset investments and investment properties at valuation.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with “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) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
These accounts are presented in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.
1.3 Going concern
The Trustees have prepared financial projections, taking into consideration the current economic conditions and have, at the time of approving these accounts, a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Analysis Donation and gifts |
Unrestricted funds £ Total funds 2024 £ Total funds 2023 £ 2,088.35 2,088.35 3,435.45 |
|---|---|
| 2,088.35 2,088.35 3,435.45 |
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
3. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Analysis | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Total funds |
Total funds |
2024 | Total funds 2023 | Total funds 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities |
2,394.09 | 2,394.09 | 964.25 | |||||
| 2,394.09 | 2,394.09 | 964.25 | ||||||
| 4. Cash at bank and in | hand | |||||||
| Total funds 2024 | Total funds 2023 | |||||||
| £ | £ | |||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 2,773.39 | 2,471.20 | ||||||
| 2,773.39 | 2,471.20 | |||||||
| 5. Creditors: Amounts | falling due | within one year | ||||||
| Total funds 2024 | Total funds 2023 | |||||||
| £ | £ | |||||||
| Other creditors | 607.93 | - | ||||||
| 607.93 | - | |||||||
| 6. Charity funds | ||||||||
| 6.1 Details of material funds | held and movements during | the CURRENT | reporting period | |||||
| Fund names | Fund | Income |
Expenditure |
Transfers |
Gains and |
Fund | ||
| balances | losses | balances | ||||||
| brought | carried | |||||||
| forward | forward | |||||||
| £ | £ |
£ | £ | £ |
£ | |||
| Unrestricted | ||||||||
| funds | ||||||||
| 2,471.20 | 2,088.35 |
2,394.09 | - | - |
2,165.46 | |||
| Total | 2,471.20 | 2,088.35 |
2,394.09 | - | - |
2,165.46 |
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
6.2 Details of material funds held and movements during the PREVIOUS reporting period
| Fund names Unrestricted funds Total |
Fund balances brought forward Income Expenditure Transfers Gains and losses Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|
| - 3,435.45 964.25 - - 2,471.20 |
|
| - 3,435.45 964.25 - - 2,471.20 |
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
7. Reference and Administrative Details
Name of Charity: Sunshine Action UK Corporate Structure: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Regulator: Charity Commission for England and Wales Charity Registration Number: 1202617 Registered Address: Lytchett House Unit 13 Freeland Park Wareham Road Poole, Dorset BH16 6FA
Trustees: Yiu Long Adrian Yan Yiu Yeung Mak Anthony Aldcroft Email: team@sunshine-action-uk.org Phone: +44 7863 781281 Website: www.sunshine-action-uk.org Independent Examiner: Sterling Gate Accountants
Special thanks to our donors and volunteers who have supported us!
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SUNSHINE ACTION UK 2024 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT