SUSSEX HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements for the year 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), 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). Since the company qualifies as small under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director's Report) Regulations 2013 is not required. Objectives and Activities . POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the charity commission relating to public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance as to deciding what activities the trust should undertake. b. ACTIVITIES FOR ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES The Trust is principally engaged in preserving, improving and encouraging the appreciation of the architectural and natural heritage in the counties of East and West Sussex. c. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Sussex Heritage Trust is a registered charity established in 1977 to preserve, improve and encourage the appreciation of the architectural and natural landscape of Sussex. We do this by: Recognising and celebrating high quality conservation, restoration and new build projects in Sussex Taking a strategic interest in Sussex building and landscape conservation issues Highlighting, surveying, and reporting on Buildings at Risk Working with government agencies, local authorities, and community groups on heritage projects Offering relevant educational opportunities for young people based in Sussex The year 2025 was one of both challenge and transformation for the Sussex Heritage Trust. Financially and operationally, the year was shaped by two defining factors: tragedy and transition. During the first half of the year, a valued member of the Trust team experienced a deeply personal loss. This tragedy was keenly felt throughout the organisation and inevitably impacted operational capacity during an already demanding period. In the lead up to the Annual Awards, the team worked under increased pressure and the Trust incurred additional costs to ensure that delivery and standards were maintained whilst colleagues continued their work through difficult circumstances. The resilience and professionalism shown by the team throughout this period was exceptional Page 2 SUSSEX HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED (A Company Llmited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 2025 also marked a period of significant organisational transition. We said farewell, with enormous gratitude, to our outgoing Chief Executive Helen Reeve, whose contribution to the Trust has been immense, and welcomed Claire Robinson into the role as the organisation enters an exciting new phase. Trustees will recognise that these upheavals have had an effect on our finances. Firstly, as noted above, in order to ensure the smooth running of the Awards we had to expend a considerable sum on overtime by our erstwhile CEO to maintain the momentum. We considered that the reputation of the trust and the Awards programme was of the greatest importance and that these additional costs were therefore justifiable. This was followed by the cost of recruiting a new CEO, and I would like to recognise the assistance of both James Whitmore and Nick Jones in participating in this process. We also had to say goodbye to our administration assistant Genea Pretorius due to long-term sickness. In the short time that she was with the Trust she was instrumental in digitising many of our systems and increasing our efficiency. It followed that we also had to spend further sums on the recruitment process. In consequence of these exceptional circumstances we have had to dip into our reserves and this is identified within the financial report. Notably, the Trust secured a transformational three-year grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This support has enabled the charity to evolve its previous pilot heritage construction skills and bursary programme into a focused initiative aimed at encouraging 16-25 year old construction students to consider careers in heritage skills and conservation retirement. an area facing growing shortages as experienced craftspeople approach Through Heritage Skills Taster Days, young people are introduced to a range of traditional skills before being offered the opportunity to progress into short courses and work placements where aptitude and enthusiasm are shown. This important work has been made possible through the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and match funders, alongside key partners including the South Downs National Park Authority, Chichester College Group and the Sussex Community Foundation. The Sussex Heritage Awards also continued to grow in strength, attracting a record number of applications and welcoming almost 400 guests to the Awards Lunch at the Amex Stadium to celebrate excellence in craftsmanship, conservation and design across Sussex. Further positive change came with the appointment of Sarah Nute as the Trust's first Education Officer, a role created through the new funding programme and one which significantly strengthens the Trust's educational capacity and future ambitions. As the year drew to a close, Trustees and staff worked together to shape a new five-year strategy focused on education, training, partnership development and more enterprising, sustainable income generation aligned with the Trust's charitable objectives. Whilst 2025 presented financial and operational pressures, it also laid the foundations for a highly positive future. The Trust enters 2026 with renewed optimism, stronger partnerships, growing educational impact and increasing recognition of the vital role it plays in protecting Sussex's built and landscape heritage for generations to come. Page 3 SUSSEX HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 Financial review . REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES There was a loss this year of £27,509 (2024 - loss £17,556). b. INVESTMENT POLICY AND PERFORMANCE The charity holds no investments except as described as Legacy Assets in note 1.17. c. GOING CONCERN After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies. d. RESERVES POLICY It is the policy of the trust that it should maintain unrestricted funds that have not been designated for a specific purpose at a level equivalent to six months of expenditure, taking into consideration the trust's two-year activity cycle. The Trustees consider that reserves of this level will ensure that in the event of a significant drop in funding they will be able to continue the Trust's current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which activity can be continued and additional funds may be raised. The Trustees consider the present level and reserves to be adequate in this respect. Structure, governance and management . CONSTITUTION The company is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was constituted by a Trust Deed on 23 September 1977 and is a registered charity (number 274366). The principal object of the company is to preserve, improve and encourage the appreciation of the architectural and natural heritage in the counties of East and West Sussex. b. METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OR ELECTION OF TRUSTEES The management of the company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association to meet the needs of the Trust. c. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The Trust considers the Charity Governance Code for smaller charities and the principles and recommended practice it sets out. Page 4 SUSSEX HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limlted by Guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 d. RISK MANAGEMENT The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the company is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the company and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS The charity has sufficient resources for the foreseeable future and development plans continue. The expansion of our apprentice and endangered crafts stheme will continue to be developed through new partnerships with local like-minded organisations. We are exploring encouraging environmental considerations and improvements through our planned work. FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN There are no funds held as custodian. MEMBERS. LIABILITY The Members of the company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up None of the Members has any benefiaal interest in the company. All of the Trustees are Members of the company. This report was approved by the Trustees, on i-J