Shasha Network Charity No.SC052049 Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 30June 2025
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the Year Ended 30 June 2025
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 30 June 2025.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name
Shasha Network
Charity No
SC052049
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Structure Governance and Management Constitution
The Charity is an unincorporated association. It is governed by its constitution. The organisation was granted charitable status by OSCR on 5 October 2022.
Appointment of Trustees
Trustees of the SCIO shall be appointed by invitation, rather than by election, in accordance with the requirements and objectives of the organisation. Appointees must possess specialist skills, knowledge, or experience relevant to the management and operations of the SCIO and must demonstrate a commitment to furthering the charitable purposes of the organisation. All appointments are subject to compliance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, which disqualifies certain individuals from serving as charity trustees. The number of trustees serving on the Board shall at no time be fewer than three (3) or greater than ten (10).
Objectives and Activities Charitable purposes
The aim of the SCIO is to empower young people aged 16-24 in Africa with soft skills to achieve their full potential and uplift their communities. In order to achieve this aim, the charitable purposes of the SCIO ("the Charitable Purposes") are to: -
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Advance education through the delivery of initiatives and programmes to young people (aged 16-24) in Africa by providing a range of learning opportunities, soft skills, leadership and personal development in order to empower, increase capacity and employability skills;
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Prevent or relieve poverty through empowering young people (aged 16-24) in Africa through the delivery of community initiatives, training, education, and engaging in social and employability research aimed at closing the career skills address and mitigate disadvantage and make a meaningful difference;
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Advancement of community development through the delivery of a mentorship programme which seeks to offer personal development of young people (aged 16-24) in Africa, to unlock potential, encourage volunteering, and participate actively in the community;
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Promotion of equality and diversity by providing and promoting equal and equitable opportunity for young people (aged 16-24) in Africa regardless of background or social demographics, challenging stigmas, barriers and inequalities and ensuring high quality opportunities are provided;
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The relief of those in need by addressing the consequences of poverty for those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship, in particular young people (aged 16-24) in Africa, by providing a resource that can help relieve financial hardship for those who do not have the resources to provide for themselves.
Activities
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Teacher Upskilling and Digital Literacy Training Partnered withTaha teach to grow our educator support program to 250 teachers across Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
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School Connectivity and Hardware Deployment Installed internet for 15 schools with 12,000 students. An additional 10 schools were recommended by the Ministry of Education in Rwanda, a total of 25 schools by the end of the financial year.
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Global Scholarship Talent Scouting Took on scouting contract for Ellison Scholars program aimed at identifying and recruiting top performing African collaboration with Interface Scotland, we hosted 12 graduate students in apprenticeship placements, providing them with practical experience and supporting their professional development.
4. Student and Graduate Apprenticeship Program
- Through collaboration with Interface Scotland, Mastercard Scholars Program Edinburgh and the Mastercard Foundation Associates program, we hosted 14 graduate students in apprenticeship placements, providing them with practical experience and supporting their professional development.
5. Development of Online Soft Skills and Career Coursewar
- We launched a career pathways program focused on showcasing diverse career paths of professionals in Education, Design, Engineering, Agriculture, and Technology, to drive interest in young audiences.
Achievements and Performance
Borderless Classroom: Connectivity
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Successful pilot program to connect schools in Rwanda to the internet leveraging Starlink satellites. Enabled us to deliver more online learning experiences with strong internet connectivity in the schools (Shasha Bridge Soft skills program, Sora Online library and mentorship series virtually).
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Installed internet for 15 schools with 12,000 students. An additional 10 schools were recommended by the Ministry of Education in Rwanda, a total of 25 schools by the end of the financial year.
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Shasha Network has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information, Technology and Innovation in Rwanda. Granted access to 2,000 secondary schools to help build digital skills capacity.
Talent Upskilling and Placement Support
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Supported Ellison Institute of Technology with Talent scouting in the Africa region for their fully sponsored undergraduate degree scholarships at the University of Oxford.
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Entered into an agreement with the Africa Career Network to provide 100 of their scholars based out of Africa and studying at the University of Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge with career support to land job opportunities. This is a five year collaboration to be renewed annually.
Global Fundraising Efforts
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Focused on US Fundraising, with trips made to San Francisco, Washington DC (World Bank), to cultivate partnerships.
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Continuing to collaborate with Myriad USA (formerly King Baudouin Foundation) to facilitate donations from US based supporters
Team Growth
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The team has grown to 8 core members based in Zimbabwe (1), Tanzania (1), Kenya (1), France (1) United Kingdom (2) and South Africa (2). Functions include communications and design, strategy and business development and school outreach.
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Hosted Associates and Apprenticeships in collaboration with other institutions as part of their leadership programming, these Mastercard Foundation Associates (7), African Leadership Academy Alumni (4) and University of Edinburgh Students as Entrepreneurs in Residence (3), total (14 Paid internships).
Financial Review
The Board ensures that all funds and assets of the charity are applied towards achieving its Charitable Purposes. Our accounting records, maintained as per relevant regulations, allow transparency and oversight of financial management. The Board reviews financial performance annually, particularly during the AGM, to ensure sustainability. Any surplus funds, or reserves, are held to ensure the charity can continue operations in the event of unforeseen circumstances and to meet the long-term goals in line with the Charitable Purposes. These reserves are reviewed regularly by the Trustees and are accessible for inspection by stakeholders, either in physical reports or via the charity’s website.
Receipts on the unrestricted fund were £76,579.60 (2024 : £42,395.23) largely from donations.
Total payments for the year amounted to £63,185.85 (2024: £37,417.78), reflecting a significant increase primarily due to a higher consultancy fees to sustain operations and programme delivery in Africa. In addition charitable donations were made to support educational initiatives aligned with the charity’s mission. Furthermore, salary payments were made to employees (Including the CEO) engaged in the management and administration of the organisation. At the end of the year, £13,393.75 remained in the unrestricted fund to meet the cost of the following year.
Approved by the trustees on 18 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Secretary and CEO
Statement of Receipts and Payments — For the Year Ended 30 June 2025
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | ||
| Notes | |||
| Total | Total | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Donations | 5 | 48,481 | - |
| Grants received | 6 | 18,153 | 41,136 |
| Scouting | 7 | 9,946 | 1,260 |
| 76,580 | 42,396 | ||
| Cost of Charitable Activities | 8 | 56,780 | 31,623 |
| Travel and Entertainment | 9 | 6,406 | 5,795 |
| 63,186 | 37,418 | ||
| Netreceipts/(payments) | 13,394 | 4,977 |
The Notes form an integral part of these accounts
Statement of Balances – As at 30 June 2025
| Funds Reconciliation | Notes | Unrestricted | Unrestricted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | ||
| Total | Total | ||
| Trustee Funds Introduced - 30/06/2023 | 2025 | 2024 2,991 |
|
| Previous year Retained earnings & Funds | 7,968 | ||
| - | |||
| Surplus/(Deficit) for year | 13,394 | 4,977 | |
| Cash at Bank and In Hand -As at 30 June 2025 Bank and Cash Balances |
21,362 | 7,968 | |
| Bank Of Scottland | 15,933 | 5,442 | |
| Wise | 5,427 | 2,325 | |
| Cash in Hand | 2 | 202 | |
| 21,362 | 7,968 |
The Notes form an integral part of these accounts.
Approved by the trustees on 18 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Secretary and CEO
Notes to the Accounts – For the Year Ended 30 June 2025
1. Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
2. Nature and purpose of funds
Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. The trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for the day-to-day running of the charity.
3. Related Party Transactions
No remuneration was paid to the trustees or to any connected persons during the year. Prior to the charity setting up their bank account on the 1st July 2023, the founder and trustee funded all the activities for the running of the charity. They are not expected to reimburse the
trustee.
4. Taxation
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK Corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extend that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
5. Donations received
| 5.Donations received | ||
|---|---|---|
| Myraid USA Shortlist Souter Foundation Payment: Digital Harbour Foundation M&G in the community Charitable giving benevity Donor Last Boardelta Ltd Total Donations received |
Total 2025 Unrestricted funds £ |
|
| 21,675 13,314 6,500 3,644 2,700 84 64 500 48,481 |
6. Grants received
| 6. Grants received | |
|---|---|
| African Leadership Academy ALA USA Inc Total Grants received |
Total 2025 Unrestricted funds £ 16,973 1,180 |
18,153 |
7. Scouting received
| 7. Scouting received | |
|---|---|
| Shasha network Ellison Institute of Technology Total Scouting received |
Total 2025 Unrestricted funds £ 4,996 4,950 |
9,946 |
8. Cost of Charitable Activities
| Direct Wages Pensions Costs IT Software and Consumables Bank Fees General Expenses Insurance Computer Equipment (Expense) Postage, Freight & Courier Printing & Stationery Subscriptions Office Equipment (Expense) Telephone & Internet Staff Training Technology stipend Audit & Accountancy fees Legal Expenses Consultancy fees Advertising & Marketing Programme delivery costs Total Cost of Charitable Activities |
Total 2025 Total 2024 Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds £ £ 8,506 - 88 - 160 1,376 338 506 173 668 1,200 856 141 - 241 51 177 78 2,989 2,513 461 0 370 46 - 37 - 1,173 2,898 1,600 - 3,735 33,139 16,193 699 2,792 5,200 - |
|---|---|
| 56,780 31,624 |
9. Travel and entertainment
| 9. Travel and entertainment | |
|---|---|
| Notes | Total 2025 Total 2024 Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds £ £ |
| Entertainment Travel, accommodation and subsistence Networking & other events Total Travel and Entertainment |
1,280 684 5,044 4,989 82 121 |
| 6,406 5,795 |
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Shasha Network, $C052049
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities
Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to cxamine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examincr’s statement
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
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In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than disclosed below*|
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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© to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
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® to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
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have not been met, or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of[the][accounts][to][be] reached.
Relevant Professional qualification/professional body: 1550317 ACCA
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Date: 16/09/2025
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