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DEMOCRATYS
UNAUDITED RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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DEMOCRATYS LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Registered Charity number: 1203611 Registered Address: PO Box 762, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 1RL Governing document: Trust Deed dated June 2023 Website: www.democratys.org.uk Trustees: Baroness Nicola Morgan Appointed 17 February 2025 Stefan Cross KC Mark Stephens CBE Sir Nicholas Harvey KB Independent Examiner: C J Goodhead FCA, Knight Goodhead Limited, 7 Bournemouth Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO53 3DA Banker: HSBC, 30 Princes Mead Shopping Centre, Farnborough, GU14 6YB
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Development of Educational Programme and Launch of Ctrl Alt Deceit: Democracy in Danger
The year 2024 represented a key period of development and definition for Democratys, during which the trustees and senior team worked to determine the most effective way for the charity to deliver on its founding purpose: to educate the public on threats to democratic integrity in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Early in the year, the trustees and executive team explored a range of educational and outreach routes — including panel discussions, expert roundtables, media engagement, and digital communications — to assess how best to reach a broad audience and promote informed public debate. These discussions led to the decision to commission and launch a podcast series as the charity’s primary educational platform.
The outcome of this strategic work was the creation of Ctrl Alt Deceit: Democracy in Danger , a podcast commissioned and produced by Democratys to explore the key questions shaping the health of democracy today. The podcast was conceived as an accessible, public-facing medium through which the charity could host informed conversations with leading journalists, policymakers and experts. Its central aim was to deepen understanding of how democratic systems can be influenced, undermined and distorted and to encourage greater civic awareness and engagement.
Ctrl Alt Deceit: Democracy in Danger launched on 31 October 2024 , marking the formal start of Democratys’ public activity. The first season concluded on 21 December 2024 and established the charity’s educational footprint. Across its initial series of episodes, the podcast examined a broad spectrum of global and domestic issues affecting democracy, including:
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US election interference, voting machine vulnerabilities, and the “who’s who” of disinformation.
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Donald Trump’s political comeback, Project 2025, and the future of Ukraine.
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Elon Musk and the emergence of the American oligarchy.
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The chilling effect of lawfare on freedom of speech.
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Hybrid warfare and the future of the Russian opposition.
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China versus democracy and the fate of Jimmy Lai.
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Prince Andrew allegations and the decline of investigative journalism.
While many of the subjects discussed were international in scope, each episode was designed to draw lessons for the UK, examining how these global trends in disinformation, political finance, lawfare and media control are manifesting in and threatening our own democratic institutions. In particular, the series highlighted how developments in the United States during 2024, including the run-up to the presidential election, offered stark parallels and warnings for democratic resilience in Britain.
Although the podcast launch came late in the financial year, much of the strategic planning, content development and operational groundwork was undertaken throughout 2024. This included establishing the charity’s advisory network, defining the educational
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scope of its work, preparing fundraising approaches and completing key administrative tasks such as the set-up of the HSBC charity account and governance processes.
The activities of 2024 therefore represent the formative year of Democratys’ operations - translating its founding mission into a public-facing programme and establishing a platform from which future educational and advocacy work would expand in 2025.
DOCU1 EnvdLye ID". 83E1431E-C86D4¥JO.9084.101EE4CEfjF9F INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF DEMOCRATYS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Democratys for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are Sel out on pages 4 to 7. RESPONSIBILtnES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the trustees of the Charity you are responslble for the prepafation of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlfements of the Charities Act 2011. I report in respect of my examlnation of the Trustee's accounts carried out under sertlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my emamlnation I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charlty Commlsslon under 5ectlon 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. INDEPENDENT EXAMINÉR'S STATEMENT I have Completed my examlnation. I conflrm that no materlal matters have come to my attention In Connection wlth the examlnatlon 6ivlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect.. 111 accountin6 records were not kept In respect of the Charlty as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Act,. 121 the accounis do not accord wlth those records,. or 131 the accounts do not comply with the appllcable requlrements concernlng the form and content of accounts set out In the Charltles (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than anv requirement that the accounts gSve a 'true and falr vlew, which Is not a matter consldered a5 part of an Independent examlnatlon. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connettion with the examination to which attent5on should be drawn In th15 report In order to enable a proper understandln8 of the accounts to be reached. C J Goodhead FCA Knight Goodhead Limited Chartered Accountants 7 Bournemouth Road Chandler's Ford Eastlelgh Hampshire S053 30A Dated: £? OthLef
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DEMOCRATYS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes RECEIPTS Voluntary income Donations 2 Bank interest TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Charitable activities 3(a) Governance costs 3(b) TOTAL PAYMENTS Net of receipts / payments before transfers Transfers between funds 4 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 4 4 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD Total funds brought forward |
General Restricted Total Total funds funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 68,510 - 68,510 - - - - - 68,510 - 68,510 - 50,977 - 50,977 - - - - - 50,977 - 50,977 - 17,533 - 17,533 - - - - - 17,533 - 17,533 - - - - - 17,533 - 17,533 - |
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DEMOCRATYS STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| A CASH FUNDS Cash at bank with immediate access Bank deposits B OTHER MONETARY ASSETS Donations Gift aid due to charity Bank interest C LIABILITIES Independent examination Podcast costs Freelance costs |
General Restricted Total Total funds funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 17,533 - 17,533 - - - - - 17,533 - 17,533 - 13,000 - 13,000 - - - - - - - - - 13,000 - 13,000 - 960 - 960 - 21,000 - 21,000 - 5,527 - 5,527 - 27,487 27,487 27,487 - |
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All liabilities noted fall due for settlement within one year.
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The accounts were approved by the trustees on …............................ and signed on their behalf by
TRUSTEE TRUSTEE
TRUSTEE TRUSTEE
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DEMOCRATYS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Charity Information
Democratys is a CIO with the registered charity number 1203611. It was registered in England and Wales on 19 June 2023.
Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are monies which can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the Trustees’ discretion.
Donations earmarked by the donor for specific purposes are held within restricted funds.
| 2 INCOME Voluntary income Donations Gift aid refunds on donations |
General Restricted Total Total funds funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 68,510 - 68,510 - - - - - 68,510 - 68,510 - |
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DEMOCRATYS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 3 PAYMENTS a) Charitable expenditure Hire of Studio Podcast costs Bank Fees IT & Website Costs Hire of premises Rent / Licence of Old Chambers Freelance costs Licences b) Governance Independent examination Accounting software |
General Restricted Total Total funds funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 648 - 648 - 27,620 - 27,620 - 45 - 45 - 309 - 309 - 577 - 577 - 379 - 379 - 19,575 - 19,575 - 1,824 - 1,824 - 50,977 - 50,977 - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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