The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The purpose of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as 'Active Sussex'), as set out in its governing document, is to promote increased community participation in sport and active recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Sussex.
Active Sussex is part of the national Active Partnership Network, and works with stakeholders across the County to build strong relationships. Together, our goal is to address inequality and empower everyone to be active in a way that works for them.
Our Vision
Movement and physical activity is enhancing the health and wellbeing of everyone across Sussex.
Our Aim
We aim to address inequality and empower everyone to be active in a way that works for them.
Our Mission
• We will listen to communities and lived experiences to get people moving.
• We will unite and empower partners to focus resources that enable people to get moving.
• We will do this through responsive and representative leadership
We look to encourage everyone to be active and stay active in a way that suits them, but we understand certain groups of people face barriers to exercise. Therefore to make the most impact we focus on the following groups of people to tackle inactivity across Sussex:
children and young people
older people
disabled people and people living with long-term health conditions
people from different cultural backgrounds and communities
We do this through the lens of equality, diversity and inclusion, which is front and centre of our Active Sussex Strategy 2023-28, and this continues to inform all our work.
The Active Sussex Strategy 2023-28 has three main objectives, through which it seeks to achieve its aims:
Building Relationships. We will work with partners to collectively address barriers to physical activity.
Projects and Resources. We will invest resources into projects which target inactive audiences.
Responsive and Representative Leadership We will be committed to being a representative organisation which listens to diverse lived experiences to inform decision-making.
Within the context above, we are pleased to report on some of the achievements in the following section.
Physical Activity Participation in Sussex – Active Lives Survey Insights
The Active Lives Survey, conducted by Sport England, serves as the national benchmark for sport and physical activity participation, aligning with priorities set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy. Headline findings for Sussex from the survey results shared in 2024 include:
Sussex reached its lowest recorded rate of physical inactivity, with just 20% of adults doing less than 30 minutes of exercise per week—below the national average of 26%.
This places Sussex among the lowest inactive populations in England, ranking joint second after Surrey and the West of England (including Bristol).
Historically, Sussex has shown lower inactivity than the national average, and its post-Covid trends mirror national improvements.
Brighton & Hove recorded a new record lowest level (11.1%) for all places since the survey began.
Children and Young People
Facilitating innovative ways that enable children and young people to be active.
Sussex School Games
The Sussex School Games delivered bespoke, targeted interventions that tackle inequalities and encourage less active children to become more physically active. By working in collaboration with a network of local School Games Organisers and a wider range of partner organisations, bespoke projects are delivered in the form of roadshows or festivals.
The Sussex School Games programme has supported a range of key underrepresented and less active groups, such as girls, children eligible for free school meals, young carers, young people from ethnically diverse communities and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Funding was allocated to 16 targeted projects, ensuring resources were channelled into areas and groups with the greatest need.
In addition, the Parallel Youth Games were delivered as part of the Sussex School Games programme. This inclusive event provided a high-quality sporting experience for children predominantly attending special schools.
Children and Young People Investment Fund
The Children and Young People Investment (CYP) Fund aimed to tackle inactivity by prioritising support for less active young people from identified target groups. In 2024/25, the CYP Fund invested a total of £44,000, across 26 projects: 10 in West Sussex, 7 in East Sussex, and 9 in Brighton & Hove. In summary:
37% of projects focused on children living in deprived areas and/or those receiving free school meals.
28% of the projects targeted children with learning disabilities.
Girls only initiatives accounted for 26% of funded activities.
9% specifically supported young people with physical disabilities.
To ensure the sustainability of this work, four ‘How To Guides’ were developed, capturing insights and learning from partner organisations.
Opening School Facilities Fund – Impact in Sussex
The Opening School Facilities (OSF) Fund is a Department for Education initiative, delivered nationally by the Active Partnership National Team and locally coordinated by Active Sussex. The programme enabled schools to open up their facilities and create a vibrant hub for both students and the local community. This year, the fund brought over £270,000 into schools across Sussex, benefitting 35 schools and reaching over 4,000 children and community members. The positive outcomes of the fund have been captured through five in-depth case studies, illustrating its impact on schools and communities.
Supporting Schools through PE, Sport and Physical Activity
Active Sussex continues to support primary, secondary, and special schools across the county by placing physical education (PE), school sport, and physical activity at the core of school life. This is achieved through direct engagement with School Leaders and PE Subject Leaders, as well as through collaborative work with a wide network of partners.
In 2024/25, this included 14 schools in priority areas receiving tailored support through the Creating Active Schools Programme, 60 delegates attending the Active Sussex School CPD Day, and three workshops being delivered for school governors highlighting the importance of daily physical activity for all pupils.
Play Their Way Pilot
The Sussex Play Their Way Pilot supported 25 coaches to evolve their ‘child first approach’ that enables children and young people a choice, a voice and to take ownership of their development journey. There were six opportunities for the coaches to connect, in addition to training opportunities, sharing sessions, virtual and in person meetings.
Coach Core Sussex: Empowering Young People Through Apprenticeships in Sport
Active Sussex continued its partnership with Coach Core to deliver an inclusive, sports coaching apprenticeship programme across Sussex. The programme targets young people aged 16–24 who may face barriers to employment or limited access to opportunities. The initiative develops not only coaching expertise, but also employability skills. In 2024, six apprentices completed the programme with 50% achieving a distinction, four apprentices were offered employment following completion and one apprentice progressed to university as a result of their apprenticeship experience. A new cohort of 7 apprentices from diverse backgrounds began the programme at the end of 2024.
Strengthening Collaboration Through CYP Forums
In 2024/25, Active Sussex continued to facilitate regular forums with Children and Young People (CYP) partner organisations. These forums have fostered stronger relationships between partners, supported more coordinated working, and contributed to a shared understanding of priorities and approaches for CYP across Sussex.
Disabled People and those living with Long Term Health Conditions
Increasing the opportunity for people living with long term health conditions and/or disabilities to take part in physical activity to meet their needs.
Stroke Reconditioning Project
The Stroke Reconditioning Project was a successful pilot between Active Sussex, NHS Sussex, Public Health, and Rother District Council. The initiative aimed to tackle physical deconditioning among patients recovering in intermediate care settings in East Sussex, specifically those recovering from stroke at the Bexhill Irvine Unit.
Health instructors led 26 weeks of structured activity within the hospital, helping patients build strength, confidence, and mobility. Upon discharge, patients were referred into local exercise groups, ensuring continuity of care and promoting long term healthy habits. Key achievements from the project are highlighted below:
75 patients were supported over a 26-week period
On average, nine additional hours of activity provided per patient
25% reduction in reported rehab complexity (NHS data)
50% improvement in patient balance
60% increase in patient health confidence
Strong partnerships have been developed with providers across Wealden, Rother, Hastings, Eastbourne, and Lewes, thus enabling a smooth transition from clinical rehabilitation to sustained community support.
Strengthening Strategic Relationships in Brighton & Hove
Active Sussex continued to play a leading role in enhancing health and wellbeing across Brighton & Hove, through strengthened partnerships and support for system-wide efforts to promote physical activity and reduce health inequalities. This included involvement in developing the Brighton & Hove ‘Let’s Get Moving’ Physical Activity and Sport Strategy 2024–2034.
As recognition of its strategic influence and expertise, Active Sussex has been invited to co-chair the Brighton & Hove ‘Let’s Get Moving’ Physical Activity and Sport Strategy Group and the Active Ageing Alliance, a sub-group focused on improving activity levels among older adults. In terms of partnership development, Active Sussex has introduced new local partners into the Active Ageing Alliance, increasing collaboration and cross-sector engagement in delivering against the strategy's goals.
Helping People Become More Active Workshop
The ‘Helping People Become More Active’ workshop is an interactive, accessible training programme designed to upskill professionals across health care and community settings. The workshop supports both clinical and non-clinical staff to build confidence in having meaningful conversations about physical activity with the individuals they support. In 2024/25, over 60 NHS Sussex carers attended the training from care homes across the county. The training was supported by local authority partners, ensuring relevance to regional needs and alignment with wider health and care priorities.
Sussex Health Instructor Network
Active Sussex continued to facilitate the Sussex Health Instructor Network, providing valuable opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and targeted upskilling of the health and physical activity workforce. In 2024/25, this included a Women & Girls Wellness Community of Learning session in partnership with the This Girl Can Sussex Network and a ‘Connect and Share’ event held in Crawley.
Diversity and Inclusion
Address barriers to physical activity for marginalised people to make sure everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of background, and can find ways to make physical activity more affordable and accessible.
This Mum Moves Ambassador Training
In May 2024, Active Sussex coordinated the delivery of the ‘This Mum Moves’ ambassador training in East Sussex, funded by a Public Health Workforce Development bid. The training targeted professionals supporting pregnant and postnatal women, with content tailored to local needs. By equipping professionals with practical tools and knowledge, the programme embeds physical activity promotion into routine care pathways. The programme reached the target audience (19 attendees) and participants reported increased knowledge of physical activity guidelines for pregnancy and postpartum.
Sussex Disability Sports Network Conference 2024
The Sussex Disability Sports Network supported by Active Sussex hosted an in-person event at the University of Sussex on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The conference aimed to provide a space to openly and honestly discuss supporting more disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity. In total, 60 people attended the event, ranging from organisations such as county councils and educational establishments to local sport organisations and leisure providers.
Strengthening Safeguarding and Welfare in Sport and Physical Activity
Active Sussex is committed to supporting clubs and organisations delivering sport and physical activity by improving welfare and safeguarding practices. This work is driven by two Sport Welfare Officers at Active Sussex, who work in partnership with National Governing Bodies and key national agencies to ensure alignment with sector-wide safeguarding priorities.
In 2024/25, the officers collaborated with over 35 National Governing Bodies, engaging at national, regional, and county levels in addition to connecting with over 80 clubs and activity groups, providing 100 individual engagements. A range of training and engagement activities, including in person workshops and online webinars were also delivered.
Older People
Increasing the potential for older people to live a healthier and active life.
Strengthening Health and Wellbeing Across East Sussex
Active Sussex continued to play a pivotal role in improving health and wellbeing across East Sussex through strategic partnerships and a coordinated system-wide approach to promoting physical activity. A highlight this year has been Active Sussex’s contribution to the first Adult Social Care & Health (ASCH) Prevention Strategy, which emphasises physical wellbeing as a central component of preventative care. Active Sussex now sits on the Healthy Ageing Partnership Group and contributed to the People Scrutiny Review of Healthy Ageing.
Stronger for Life Project
The Stronger for Life Project, supported by funding from East Sussex Public Health, focuses on improving strength and balance among older adults, reducing the risk of falls and promoting independence. In 2024/25, the project was expanded into targeted areas of East Sussex where gaps in provision had been identified. In total, over £50K was invested into 23 local projects, with coverage spanning all five districts and boroughs in East Sussex.
Events
Raising the profile of sport, physical activity and movement through events and networks.
Active Sussex Conference 2024
The Active Sussex Conference 2024 took place on 24 September 2024, bringing together a wide range of organisations involved in the strategic planning and delivery of sport and physical activity across the county. The event welcomed 103 attendees, including representatives from local authorities, leisure trusts, national governing bodies of sport, health agencies, educational institutions, community groups, and coaching organisations.
Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2024
The Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards, hosted by Active Sussex on 23 November 2024, provided a valuable opportunity to showcase, recognise, and celebrate the outstanding work taking place across the sport and physical activity sectors.
The awards spanned nine categories, celebrating a wide range of achievements; from sporting excellence and community impact to environmental sustainability. The event was sponsored by Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP, with BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey serving as the media partner, helping to elevate the profile and prestige of the occasion.
Active Sussex Coffee Morning
The Active Sussex Coffee Morning, held on 25 March 2025, provided an informal yet valuable opportunity for 50 partners and staff to come together, reconnect with familiar faces, and forge new relationships. Designed as simple, relaxed networking, the event provided attendees the space to engage in conversation without a formal agenda.
Governance
To be recognised and respected as a thought-leading, and well-run organisation in which investors have confidence.
Equality
Champion an inclusive culture and advocate equal access to physical activity opportunities.
Active Sussex is recognised for championing an inclusive culture and advocating equal access to physical activity opportunities. The Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Board via an ‘Ambitions and Commitments’ dashboard. The dashboard provides an overview of progress against commitments and examples of progress.
Key highlights:
8 ‘Time to Talk’ sessions delivered internally to staff. All sessions saw an increase in awareness level of the topics discussed.
12 ‘Community of Learning’ sessions were delivered to partner organisations. Examples including This Girl Can Sussex Be Inspired Event, sessions on male allyship which focused on inclusive environments and sessions on specific female topics, such as menstrual cycles.
Record nominations (31) for the Diversity & Inclusion award at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2024 highlighted engagement with a broader range of partners showcasing physical activity stories with diverse audiences.
Now in its tenth year, the Sussex Disability Sport Network continues to play a key role in facilitating strong partner collaboration. Projects such as Mencap’s Our Active Community Worthing and UK Deaf Sport’s systems approach have helped deepen understanding of key inactive groups.
Safeguarding & Welfare
Advocate the right for everyone to enjoy sport and physical activity in a safe and welcoming environment.
Active Sussex continued to review and deliver its Safeguarding Implementation Plan and Adult Safeguarding Action Plan to ensure it fulfilled its safeguarding responsibilities and obligations. The Safeguarding Children Policy and Adult Safeguarding Policy were updated in January 2025. This included a Board training session and annual staff training.
Active Sussex completed the annual CPSU Safeguarding review and continues to meet the expected framework requirements for children. The review included recognition of the breadth and quality of case studies highlighting youth voice. As a result, Active Sussex was invited to share its approach in wider training settings, contributing to sector-wide learning.
The 18-month Ann Craft Trust Adult Framework Review confirmed that Active Sussex continues to demonstrate high level commitment in its approach to safeguarding adults at risk and meets the frameworks essential criteria.
Environmental Social Governance (ESG)
Ensure the impact on stakeholders, wider society and the environment is factored into the decision making process.
Following the release of Sport England’s ‘Every Move’ strategy, Active Sussex has created an environmental sustainability action plan dedicated to this area of work. The action plan, known as Healthy Environments, highlights four priorities:
Tackling greenhouse gas emissions
Promoting a circular economy
Increasing biodiversity
Ensuring a just transition
As an emerging area of work, the internal environmental sustainability working group has supported staff to undertake ‘Carbon Literacy in Sport’ and ‘Calculating Carbon Emissions’ training. Regular environmental sustainability guidance, signposting and best practice has been shared with partners through forums, meetings and events.
The Statement of Financial Activities shows funds brought forward of £633,368 (2024: £626,582) and income received for the 2024/25 financial year of £870,145 (2024: £856,384).The amount of total funds the charity holds at the end of the reporting period to 31 March 2025 was £574,182 (2024: £633,368). The total expenditure was £929,331 (2024: £849,598), and following the subsumption of a pension fund to the University of Brighton there was no movement on pension funds of £Nil (2024: Nil) (see note 16 in the accounts). The net outgoing funds movement for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £59,186 (2024: incoming funds movement of £6,786). Designated funds as at the 31 March 2025 are £59,657 (2024: £72,240), refer to note 18 in the accounts for further detail.
Reserves Policy
Active Sussex’s reserves protocols ensure that sufficient unrestricted funds are held to cover a minimum of 4 months of expenditure on employment and running costs and 100% end of contract costs (in the event of any significant delays or cessation of external core funding). The fund required to cover these costs is £239,200 (2024: £200,000), at 31 March 2025 the fund stood at £252,908 (2024: £266,224). This is consistent with the reserves policy.
Principal Funding Sources
Active Sussex’s principal funding stream continues to come from Sport England. Of the £870,145 income received, 88.1% of this (£766,327) came from Sport England (2024: 87.5%, £856,384). The remaining income has been generated from:
East Sussex Public Health
UK Coaching (Play their Way Pilot)
Coach Core
Event ticket sales
Sponsorship
Primary PE courses fees
Bank interest
98.1% (2024: 97.6%) of income is restricted and is therefore spent on the specific sport and physical activity outcomes detailed as per conditions of the funding award. More importantly, the expenditure has directly supported the key objectives of the charity.
Staff Remuneration
All staff pay is reviewed annually by the Human Resources & Nominations Committee, and pay increments are subject to completion of an annual staff appraisal. Cost of living rises are awarded after consideration of RPI and affordability. For 2025/26, a 2.5% pay increase was awarded and during the year staff remuneration totalled £600,300 (2024: £519,260) (see note 11 to the accounts).
Related Parties
No trustee received any remuneration during the year. No trustee had an interest in companies that Active Sussex works with or is funded by.
Risk Management
Active Sussex maintains a comprehensive risk register which identifies the principal risks, together with the steps taken to manage them. The risk register is overseen by the Governance & Audit Committee and reviewed by the Board every quarter. The Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team are responsible for reviewing the significant operational and organisational risks on a regular basis, and ensuring the appropriate internal controls and action are in place and aimed at mitigating risk. The trustees consider the principal risks and uncertainties of Active Sussex in the following areas.
Business Continuity
During past year, the Chief Executive retired after 19 years at Active Sussex. In accordance with good practice, the business continuity plan was implemented to keep critical operations functioning and continue to conduct regular activities during the transitional period, with the Head of Operations appointed as the new Chief Executive in February 2025 following an internal recruitment process. The business continuity plan is reviewed on a regular basis to mitigate operational risks.
Economic Risks
Active Sussex’s principal funding stream continues to come from Sport England, with the current award ending in March 2027. Whilst the onward award for this principal funding stream indicates the continuation of funds post 2026/27, the Board deem it sensible to maintain a sufficient level of reserves to mitigate the risk of a reduction of investment from its main funding body.
Reputational Risks
To ensure that Active Sussex is recognised as a well-run organisation in which partners have confidence, policies and agreements are in place such as whistleblowing, social media and external contracts of service. This helps to mitigate against damage to reputation with policies and agreements reviewed on a regular basis.
Safeguarding
Active Sussex has a responsibility to ensure safeguarding compliance processes are reviewed regularly. In the past year, policies have been updated to ensure suitable safeguarding controls are in place and undertaken reviews with external oversight bodies. Safeguarding compliance is monitored by the Chief Executive and reported to the Board on a quarterly basis.
Plans for future periods
2025/26 will see the work of the Trust continue to focus on tackling the most inactive groups in the county, and working with delivery partners to reduce the barriers (and inequalities) to participation.
Strategic Priorities 2025/26
1. Place - Creating the conditions for change in Sussex that enables people to be physically active and move more.
The Active Sussex place offer is activated through the Sport England ‘Place Expansion’ and ‘Place Universal Offer.’
2. System - Ensuring sport, physical activity and movement is playing a role in achieving greater health outcomes.
Increased collaboration and stakeholder engagement, leading to enhanced policy influence, strategic alignment, and greater understanding of the role that sport, physical activity and movement can play in addressing health inequalities.
3. Delivery - Putting sport, physical activity and movement at the heart of a child's whole day.
Children and young people are given opportunities to be active in safe accessible places; including active travel, active school days, extra curricular activities and community clubs, supported by a diverse and representative workforce.
4. Insight and Communication - Raising the profile of movement and physical activity through training, events, networks and campaigns.
Raising awareness of the barriers and opportunities that will enable people to be physically active and move more.
These priorities are supported by the implementation of the following plans and frameworks:
Active Sussex is a charitable company limited by guarantee (limited company number 06166961 and Charity registration number 1122082). The Memorandum of Association outlines the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under these articles.
The charitable objects are to promote increased community participation in sport and active recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Sussex and in particular to provide, or to assist in providing, and to promote:
strategic planning and coordination within and between local organisations or community sport networks, including the knowledge and skills in the management and project planning of sport and active recreation;
the marketing and communication of sport and active recreation information and opportunities;
the benefits and outcomes of investment in sports and active recreation through robust performance measurement systems;
the support of organisations and local communities in helping people start, stay and succeed in sport and active recreation to whatever level they choose;
the awareness of community sports organisations of financial and other resources which are open to them;
the education and development of all people, both voluntary or professional, involved in the community sport infrastructure;
the improvement and preservation of good health and well-being through participation in sport and active recreation; and
the advancement of such other charitable purposes beneficial to the community consistent and with the objects set out in articles 5(1) to (7) to above as the directors of the charity shall in their absolute discretion determine.
The local authorities are members of the company limited by guarantee and their liability is limited to £1.
Active Sussex supports the Charity Governance Code recognising its importance in promoting good governance. The trustees commenced a comprehensive governance review in 2024/25 and the Board has approved a number of updates to its document and processes. This review will be completed by December 2025.
The Board is accountable for the work of the charity. The matters reserved for the Board include the approval of the strategy, the budget and annual report and accounts. The Board holds the Senior Leadership Team to account for the delivery of the strategy. The Board also retains oversight of the management controls and corporate governance along with the recruitment of trustees and the appointment of the Chief Executive. Active Sussex Board has delegated authority to the Chief Executive who leads the Senior Leadership Team for delivery of the strategy and the operation of the charity. The senior leadership team consists of Mr A Statham (Chief Executive), Mrs G Finlay-Gray, Mr R Joannides and Mr A Wright.
Trustee Recruitment, Appointment and Training
Trustees are appointed in accordance with Sport England's Code of Sport Governance and the Charity Commission's Governance Code. The HR & Nominations committee leads the annual skill mix review and the Board agrees the skills required for future appointments. The committee leads the recruitment process and the new trustees are appointed by the members by an ordinary resolution. The minimum number of trustees is 6 and the maximum is 12. The new trustees have an extensive induction programme including:
The organisation structure, activities and stakeholders
The responsibilities of being a trustee
Online safeguarding training
Provided with a copy of the Charity Commission: CC3 "The essential trustee" document, and Sport England Code for Sports Governance
Code of conduct for trustees
Conflict of interests policy
The Board undertakes the following each year:
Skill mix review
Board evaluation exercise
Trustee appraisals with the Chair
Review of register of interests
In 2024/25 the trustees undertook refresher training in safeguarding, EDI and role of the trustee.
The Trustees, who are also the Directors for the purpose of company law, who served during the year, were:
Attendees at Board meetings: The Chief Executive until 31 August 2024 was Mrs S F Mason MBE (retired). The Chief Executive from 1 September 2024 was Mr A Statham. Mr D Gale attended as East Sussex Director of Public Health.
Succession planning by the Charity enabled the Chair and Chief Executive positions to be filled by internal appointments.
Three sub-committees are convened by deploying appropriately skilled members from the Board to discuss Human Resources, Governance (Finance and Legal) and Business Development (Marketing and Strategy Progress).
Governance & Audit Committee: Mrs D Whitney (chair), Mr I Da Cunha, Mr J Graddon and Mr A White
Human Resources & Nominations Committee: Mr T Howell (chair), Mrs S Briggs (resigned November 2024), Mrs B Banton and Mrs C Gibbons
Strategy Progress & Growth Committee: Ms A Pendlington (chair), Miss S Curgenven, Mrs S Rosso and Mr P Traynor (resigned June 2025)
The EDI Steering Group supports the Board with its approach to implementing the Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). In 2024/25, representation included trustees and staff: Mr A White (Chair and Lead Board Member for EDI), Mrs D Whitney, Mr N Chellel, Mrs G Finlay-Gray and Ms A Nilmadhub-Watson.
The Board appoints a Lead Board Member for Welfare and Safety to ensure these matters receive appropriate consideration in decision making and policy. For the 2024/25, the role of Lead Board Member for Welfare and Safety was held by Mrs C Gibbons.
Financial Management
Budgets are devolved to the Senior Leadership Team and other individual staff as appropriate, with monthly management accounts provided to all budget holders to enable ongoing financial monitoring and control. The Board of Directors and Governance & Audit Committee receive financial monitoring figures on a quarterly basis. All payments are authorised in accordance with Active Sussex’s published financial regulations, procedures, and bank mandate.
Representation
At county level, Active Sussex had membership of, and/or provided support to, the following strategic groups and meetings:
Active Hastings Partnership Group
Active Rother Partnership Group
Brighton & Hove Active Aging Alliance
Brighton & Hove Active Children & Young People Alliance
Brighton & Hove Sport & Physical Activity Strategic Group
Active Sussex Children & Young People Forum
East Sussex Climate and Health Stakeholder Group
East Sussex Healthy Weight Partnership
East Sussex Holiday Activity & Food Fund Steering Group
Hastings Youth Partnership
Lewes & Eastbourne Partnership Group
Mid Sussex Better Young Lives Partner Forum
Newhaven Youth Services Infrastructure Forum
NHS Sussex Prevention Steering Group
Sussex Disability Sports Network
Sussex School Games Steering Group
West Sussex Holiday Activity & Food Fund Steering Group
Reference and administrative details
Professional Services
The following organisations provided services to the Trust during the reporting period:
Accountancy
Carpenter Box, Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1RL
Audit
Sumer Audit, Amelia House, Crescent Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1RL
Banking
Barclays Bank PLC, Floor 27, Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP
Human Resources & Legal Services
Rix & Kay Gatekeeper Services, The Courtyard, River Way, Uckfield, E. Sussex, TN22 1SL
Payroll
Plummer Parsons Accountants, 18 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4PT
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Sumer Audit be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then 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, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the trust will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the trust and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust (Active Sussex) (the ‘trust’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the trust in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the trust’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the trust and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the trust’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the trust operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the financial statements and operations;
Obtaining an understanding of the trust’s policies and procedures on fraud risks, including knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
Discussing among the engagement team how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud through our knowledge and understanding of the company and our sector-specific experience.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the
trust for fraud. We are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. As a result of performing the above, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have an impact on the financial statements: health & safety, employment law and compliance with the UK Companies Act and the Charities Act.
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
Making enquiries of management and those charged with governance about any known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
Reviewing minutes of meetings of the board and senior management;
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates; and
Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness.
Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). For instance, the further removed non-compliance is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or to recognise the non-compliance.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Designated
Activities for generating funds
Investments
The development of sport in Sussex
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust (Active Sussex) is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 33, Sussex Innovation Centre, Science Park Square, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9SB.
The company is limited by guarantee, not having a share capital and consequently the liability of members is limited, subject to an undertaking by each member to contribute to the net assets or liabilities of the company on winding up such amounts as may be required not exceeding £1.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the trust's governance handbook, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees have considered relevant information, including the annual budget, forecast future cash flows and the impact of subsequent events in making their assessment.
Based on these assessments and having regard to the resources available to the entity, the trustees have concluded that there is no material uncertainty in relation to the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements. A pension reserve is shown separately within unrestricted funds.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Income is recognised when the trust is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Donations and legacies are recognised as incoming resources when there is evidence of entitlement, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants is recognised when the trust has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Investment income relates to interest receivable on bank deposits and is recognised in the financial statements when receivable.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the statutory requirements of the trust and include its audit fees and costs linked to strategic management of the trust.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the trust reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks. The Trustees seek to use short and medium term deposits where possible to maximise the return on monies held at the bank and to manage cash flow.
The trust has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the trust's balance sheet when the trust becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
The trust enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivable and payable.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), administered by East Sussex County Council, had one active member and ten deferred members, being former employees, at the prior year end.
During the year the LGPS was subsumed by the University of Brighton as of the retirement of the final active member. The following policy applied to the prior year end but is no longer applicable.
Under the definition of the LGPS is a defined benefit pension scheme and is able to identify the charity's share of assets and liabilities and the requirements of FRS 102, section 28 Employee Benefits, have been followed.
The trust's share of the LGPS assets are measured at fair value at each balance sheet date. Liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method. The net of these two figures is recognised as an asset or liability on the balance sheet. The recognition of a surplus as an asset is recognised only to the extent that it is recoverable by the charity. Any movements in the asset or liability between balance sheet dates is reflected in the statement of financial activities.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.
In the application of the trust’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The present value of the Local Government Pension Scheme defined benefit liability depends upon a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions, including the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in note 16, will impact the carrying amount of the pension liability. Furthermore a roll forward approach which projects results from the latest full actuarial valuation performed at 31 March 2022 was used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability to the point at which it was subsumed by the University of Brighton. Any differences between the figures derived from the roll forward approach and a full actuarial valuation would impact on the carrying amount of the pension liability.
Designated
Grants receivable for core activities
Grants receivable of £668,221 (2024: £691,105) were restricted and £2,000 (2024: £nil) were designated. There was no unrestricted donations and gifts in the current or comparative period. Grants received from Sport England that were unspent at the reporting date have not been deferred as Sport England have not requested repayment of these funds.
Designated
Activities for generating funds
Event tickets
Workshop Fees
Other fundraising activities
Income from events tickets of £2,190 (2024: £1,384) was unrestricted and £575 (2024: £765) was designated. There was no restricted income from the sale of event tickets in the current or comparative period.
Income from workshop fees of £3,490 (2024: £10,040) was designated. There was no restricted or unrestricted income from workshop fees in the current or comparative period.
Income from other fundraising activities of £232 (2024: £433) was unrestricted and £nil (2024: £350) was designated. There was no restricted income from other fundraising activities in the current or comparative period.
Investments
Designated
Interest receivable of £6,496 (2024: £5,311) was unrestricted. There was no designated or restricted interest receivable in the current or comparative period.
Other costs
The institutions that grants have been provided to consist of registered charities, community and amateur sports clubs, leisure centres and other sporting institutions. There were no grants made to individuals in the current or comparative period.
Included within accountancy services is £8,525 (2024: £7,750) of fees payable to the charity's auditor for the audit of the financial statements.
The expenditure for support and governance costs basis of allocation are all direct, except staff costs which are based on time spent.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the trust during the year.
During the year, expenses of £108 (2024: £nil) were reimbursed to a trustee relating to travel costs.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Government grants are made up of £45,000 (2024: £45,000) deferred income from East Sussex County Council and £22,629 (2024: £nil) from Sport England.
The trust operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the trust in an independently administered fund.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £46,870 (2024 - £42,672). These costs have been allocated to restricted funds.
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a funded defined benefit pension scheme, with the assets held in separate trustee-administered funds. One employee is an active member of the LGPS and nine former employees are deferred members of the LGPS administered by East Sussex County Council.
The agreed contribution rates for future years are 17.2% for employers and between 5.5% and 12.5% for employees.
The most recent actuarial valuations of plan assets and the present value of the defined benefit obligation were carried out at 31 March 2022. This has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability at 31 August 2024, the date it was subsumed by the University of Brighton. The present value of the defined benefit obligation, the related current service cost and past service cost were measured using the projected unit credit method.
As disclosed in the trustees report, the University of Brighton provided a guarantee for the liabilities that existed prior to the transfer of business to the trust as at 1 January 2008. The Subsumption Agreement was executed in January 2021. Following the subsumption of the scheme in August 2024 no assets or liabilities remain with the trust.
The assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are:
Amounts recognised in the profit and loss account:
Amounts taken to other comprehensive income:
The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from the trust's obligations in respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:
Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations:
The defined benefit obligations arise from plans which are wholly or partly funded.
Movements in the fair value of plan assets:
The fair value of plan assets at the reporting period end was as follows:
In the comparative period, the criteria for the recognition of the surplus as an asset as described in note 1.11 was not met. The actuarial gains on the plan liabilities were therefore restricted by £535,000 so as not to recognise the surplus.
As detailed above, following the subsumption of the scheme in August 2024, no assets or liabilities remain with the trust as at 31 March 2025.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Sport England funds are split in the table above is for Sport England reporting purposes. All restricted funds are for the development of sports, to promote sport and active recreation across Sussex. Transfers represent internal transfers where a grant-funded programme has ceased, and the funds are transferred to a budget code to use for a similar purpose for which funds were originally granted. All transfers are within the terms and conditions of each grant.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The designated funds held above are all held in furtherance of the trust's objects to promote sport and active recreation, as well as statutory provisions for liabilities in the event of future staff redundancies.
End of Contract Provision is funding set aside from the Trust’s reserves as a provision for payment of statutory redundancy payments that may arise because of fixed term contracts ending.
Parallel Youth Games is funding generated by the Trust to conduct the annual Youth Games for children with disabilities.
Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards is income which is generated to support the delivery of the annual Sussex Sports Awards event. This will now be known as Sussex Sports and Physical Activity Awards.
Active Schools is a designated fund formed from the Trusts' Primary PE Business Income budgets. The fund will be used to promote and improve the delivery of physical activity in Primary schools, as well as training and education in the same setting.
ESWY Fund (East Sussex Woman of the Year Fund): This funding from the East Sussex Women’s Lunch Committee was distributed to organisations in East Sussex, including Brighton & Hove to benefit women by supporting their mental and physical wellbeing through physical activity.
ESHT Stroke Deconditioning Pilot: The Stroke Reconditioning Pilot is a project funded by the Trust with a financial contribution from Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council Public Health. Its aim is to test a novel delivery model to reduce hospital deconditioning among patients recovering from a stroke at the Bexhill Irvine Unit in Rother.
At the reporting end date the trust had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
During the year, the Trust made payments under operating leases totalling £19,008 (2024: £17,642).
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the current or comparative period, other than those included within trustees note 10.
Sussex Country Sports Partnership Trust is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. No one member has overall control of the charity.
The trust had no debt during the current or comparative period.