REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06634408 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1133507

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

FOR

WEB SCIENCE TRUST

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

3

Independent Examiner's Report

4

Statement of Financial Activities

5

Balance Sheet

6

Notes to the Financial Statements

7

to

10

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity was established to advance education of the public in the subject of web science and in particular; a) to promote the development of the discipline of web science by leading the development of a research agenda and roadmap in the emerging web science community worldwide; b) to promote and support the development of web science curricula at all relevant educational levels around the world; c) to provide organisational and financial support for activities such as conferences, workshops and symposia around the world on topics in web science; d) to support the creation of academic publication venues needed to enable scholarly communication in the global web science community; e) to engage government and private sector sources of science funding internationally to collaborate in providing financial support for web science research in education in premier research and teaching institutions; and f) to promote the development of a global network of premier web science research laboratories under the Web Science Trust aegis, by establishing legal and financial collaborations with research institutions including leading universities who wish to co-operate on the development of web science.

During the year, the administration of the charity was carried out on a voluntary basis by the trustees, with assistance from staff from the University of Southampton; the charity had no employees during the year. From 1st March 2010 the University of Southampton agreed to host the Web Science Trust.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

The Trustees met in February to review progress to date and to chart the way forward for the coming years. The Board met again in October, and the Company's seventeenth Annual General Meeting was held in December. The year was the first full year of operation under the Trust's Executive Director, Professor Noshir Contractor, whose appointment was announced in 2024.

The Web Science Trust continued to play a leading role in developing a worldwide research agenda. It continued to promote and develop Web Science in the following ways.

The annual ACM Web Science Conference took place from 20-23 May in New Jersey, USA. This was the fifteenth in a series of Web Science Conferences to be underwritten by the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM). The conference focussed on Maintaining a Human-Centric Web in the Era of Generative AI. It included four keynote speakers, a PhD Symposium, six Workshops, two Tutorials, ten topical paper sessions, a panel session, and a Poster Reception. The Web Science Trust annual Test of Time Award was awarded for the fourth year at the conference to the authors of a paper presented at a previous Web Science Conference that has stood the test of time through continued relevance and impact.

During the year, the Web Science Trust continued to disseminate Web Science research. In October, the Web Science Trust supported an event to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Turing Test, which was sponsored by and held at The Royal Society in London, and co-sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the University of Southampton, UK. One representative from the Web Science Trust was a keynote speaker and one took part in a panel discussion. The keynote talks and panel discussions looked back at Alan Turing's vision for Artificial Intelligence (AI), analysed the impact this has had over the last 75 years, and discussed the challenge of a new Turing Test that is fit for the future.

The Web Science Trust continued to support the "Brave Conversations" events. The events draw together people from academia, government, business, the media and the third sector to address some of the profound issues that are arising as human life becomes progressively entwined with the internet and the Web. In July an event took place in Stuttgart, Germany, hosted by the University of Stuttgart, and in November an event took place in Sri Lanka hosted by the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC). This was the 30th Brave Conversations event and the first in Sri Lanka.

The Web Science Trust has continued to develop relationships with the Digital Enlightenment Forum (DEF), the Digital Humanism Initiative (DigHum), the People-Centered Internet (PCI), the International Communication Association, and the ACM.

The Web Science Trust has produced a range of significant scientific papers and publications in Web Science. Foundations and Trends in Web Science (published by Now Publishers), a peer-reviewed academic journal, ran from 2006-2022 and published 17 papers. Its archived volumes remain accessible through the ACM. The Journal of Web Science, an open access interdisciplinary journal with the aim of integrating computer and information sciences, communication, linguistics, sociology, psychology, economics, law, political science, and other disciplines, ran from 2015-2022 and published 31 papers. All papers accepted and presented at the annual international ACM Web Science Conference appear in the Proceedings of the ACM and are held in the ACM's Digital Library.

The Web Science Trust has continued to provide thought leadership to the scientific community, the public, governments, public and private enterprises. This has been achieved through public engagement, and through direct influence on key figures and organisations in government and industry.

In 2010 the Web Science Trust established a Network of Laboratories (WSTNet) to bring together some of the world's leading academic researchers in Web Science to address key research challenges and develop new academic programmes that will enhance the growing influence of Web Science. The current number of WSTNet members is 17. During the year the Trust welcomed one new laboratory to the network and two laboratories ceased their membership. The annual meeting of WSTNet Lab Directors was held alongside the ACM Web Science Conference.

The Web Science Trust has continued to increase its presence through its mailing list, social media and its website. It publishes social media posts featuring WSTNet Lab profiles, together with publications and papers across the scope of Web Science research, and during the year began a redevelopment of the Trust's website.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

As indicated on the Statement of Financial Activities on Page 5, during the year the company received income of £36,664 (2024: £45,854).

Income of £36,403 (2024: £45,528) was received by way of grants, donations, sponsorships and events income during the year. Total expenditure in the year was £53,388 (2024: £53,294) for various expenses as detailed in the accounts. The company is seeking to develop sponsorship with a range of commercial companies and other organisations.

The directors/trustees will seek to build up the reserves of the charity to provide it with sufficient resources to carry out its activities; at this stage no decision has been made on the level of reserves which will be required for that purpose. The current level of reserves is £158,150 (2024: £174,874).

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The size of the charity means that it does not have a formal arrangement for the appointment of new Trustees. If the existing Trustees consider that additional Trustees are required to improve or add skills, an informal approach is made to suitable candidates. The induction and training of new Trustees is overseen by existing Trustees. No person external to the Charity is entitled to appoint Trustees to the Charity.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

06634408 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1133507

Registered office

Lester Aldridge LLP

Russell House

Oxford Road

Bournemouth

Dorset

BH8 8EX

Trustees

Professor N S Contractor

Professor W Hall

Professor J A Hendler

Professor G Metakides

Mr J Rangaswami

Professor N R Shadbolt

Ms A E Rowland-Campbell

Mr W Thompson

Professor S Staab

Ms J Z Scott (resigned 30.4.26)

Independent Examiner

Lisa Wilson FCA

Rothmans LLP

Chartered Accountants

Chilworth Point

1 Chilworth Road

Southampton

Hampshire

SO16 7JQ

Solicitors

Lester Aldridge LLP

Southampton

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In managing the company the directors/trustees have due regard to the guidance on public benefit

published by the Charity Commission.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 16 September 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Professor W Hall - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Web Science Trust ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Lisa Wilson FCA

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Rothmans LLP

Chartered Accountants

Chilworth Point

1 Chilworth Road

Southampton

Hampshire

SO16 7JQ

18 September 2026

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

36,403

45,528

Investment income

4

261

326

Total

36,664

45,854

EXPENDITURE ON

Fundraising and marketing expenses

10,836

12,848

Charitable activities

5

Education

42,552

40,446

Total

53,388

53,294

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(16,724

)

(7,440

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

174,874

182,314

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

158,150

174,874

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

9

4,769

14,628

Cash at bank

170,475

172,385

175,244

187,013

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

10

(17,094

)

(12,139

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

158,150

174,874

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

158,150

174,874

NET ASSETS

158,150

174,874

FUNDS

Unrestricted funds

158,150

174,874

TOTAL FUNDS

158,150

174,874

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 16 September 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

Professor W Hall - Trustee

1.	STATUTORY INFORMATION

Web Science Trust is charitable company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Report of the Trustees.

2.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PREPARING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

These financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, as there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue. The trustees' have reached this conclusion based on the nature of the grant funding, contracts for which have been agreed for the foreseeable future.

In accordance with Section 14 of the Charities SORP (FRS102), the Charity has taken exemption from the Requirement to prepare a statement of cash flows.

INCOMING RESOURCES

Voluntary income by way of donations that provide core funding or are of a general nature are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. The company has not been in receipt of any income arising from legacies in this year or the prior year.

Investment income is recognised when received and comprises interest receivable on cash deposits.

All incoming resources are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

RESOURCES EXPENDED

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Support costs include finance, back office and governance costs and are considered to be of an indirect nature but necessary in order for the charity to perform its day to day duties. As recorded in note 4, support costs are wholly considered attributable to Education Activities.

TAXATION

The charity meets the definition of Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2010 and is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains within categories covered by Chapter 3 of the Corporation Taxes Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. No tax charge arose in the current or previous reporting period.

FUND ACCOUNTING

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction.

Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

SHORT TERM DEBTORS AND CREDITORS

Debtors and creditors receivable and payable within one year or upon demand are recorded at transaction price whether or not a rate of interest is charged on the balance.

LEGAL STATUS OF THE CHARITY

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.

VOLUNTEERS

As stated in the Trustees report, during the year the administration of the charity was carried out on a voluntary basis by the Trustees, with assistance from staff from the University of Southampton. In accordance with the SORP, no monetary value is placed upon the services provided.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and short-term deposits included in the Balance Sheet comprise cash in hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

3.	CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results.

No judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have been made in the process of applying the above accounting policies.

4.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Deposit account interest

261

326

5.	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

Direct

Support

Costs (see

costs (see

note 6)

note 7)

Totals

£

£

£

Education

18,985

23,567

42,552

6.	DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Insurance

1,213

1,079

Website costs

2,073

2,570

Project costs

2,412

7,182

Workshops and conferences

13,287

11,333

Subscriptions

-

1,176

18,985

23,340

7.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

Finance

costs

Totals

£

£

£

Education

671

22,896

23,567

Included within governance costs is an amount of £1,789 which relates to work completed by the independent examiner in respect of accountancy services and an amount of £455 was payable in respect of the independent examination.

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

FINANCE

2025

2024

Total

Education

activities

£

£

Bank charges

671

825

GOVERNANCE COSTS

2025

2024

Total

Education

activities

£

£

Professional assistance

5,200

3,000

Insurance

1,302

1,272

Trust board meeting expenses

7,964

8,784

Bookkeeping

129

130

Accountancy

2,311

2,244

Legal fees

5,705

-

Other expenses

285

851

22,896

16,281

8.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.

TRUSTEES' EXPENSES

During the year the Trust did not reimburse any directors expenses (2024: NIL).

9.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

2,500

10,000

Prepayments

2,269

4,628

4,769

14,628

10.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Other creditors

-

1,770

Accrued expenses

2,311

2,244

Deferred income

14,783

8,125

17,094

12,139

11.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2025. (2024: NIL)