htp://www.cherishfund.org.uk
Report of the Activities of the Charity, 2021-22
Introduction to the work of the charity
The Cherish Fund was founded in 1991 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, by Irene Moses. Irene felt that God was leading her to set up a charity, run on Christian principles, with the aim of reaching out to children and families and offering them relief from hardship and crisis. Irene spent some time working with victims of domestic violence in the Mansfield area. Irene was born in Malawi, and the early years saw work both there, and in the Mansfield area, where some people still remember the charity’s shop from years gone by. We were influential in the founding of Malawi YMCA and supported a school there; we supported a school on the edge of Kampala, Uganda; we ran an annual trip for deprived children from Mansfield; we ran a coffee morning for single parents in an area of high deprivation in Nottingham. Malawi YMCA and the school in Kampala are going from strength to strength; however, we have moved on from these and our other earlier projects.
In 2011 we moved into a time in the charity’s history where we sought to reinvent ourselves as we adapted to a time of challenge. This involved renewing the aims and objectives of the charity, appointing new trustees, becoming more creative and proactive in supporting our existing projects, and appointing a new set of officers for the charity. We adopted a new logo reflecting our desire for a bright new future for ourselves and the projects and people we support. Since that time, we have sought to be more active and effective in what we do, being flexible to new opportunities and delivering positive gains and successful outcomes for the projects we have embraced.
Africa has been the sole focus since 2011; we were involved in building a school in Sierra Leone and helping it to have a sustainable future, alongside YWAM Sierra Leone (2011-17) and we supported the creation of a well project in Livingstone, Zambia. this was successfully completed and handed over to Water Aid. we are now seeking to put young people through secondary education in Malawi, as well as a new opportunity to support healthcare in Uganda. Africa can be a frustrating place in which to build and support projects, but also a very needy and worthwhile place to work; the overwhelming majority of the world’s poorest countries are to be found on this continent. It is inconceivable that we shall not be working in Africa in one way or another in the future, and while supporting work in the UK has not been ruled out, we do not have the capacity to be considering any work with the poor in this country at the present time.
A further time of review and reinvention has recently taken place owing to the involvement of the Starfish Foundation in the charity. This has led to a similar process to 2011, with the appointment of new trustees, becoming more creative and proactive in supporting our two current project areas, enhancing our online presence and adopting a new logo reflecting our collaborative work with locally led action in Uganda and Malawi.
Malawi
We have kept a link with this nation throughout the history of the trust. At present our only objectives are to support the education of a small number of young people at secondary level, and to provide a small level
of funding for relief work if needed. We do this through Pastor Sam Phiri, with whom we have worked for at least five years. Our commitment there is modest and is administered by our trustee, Tom Barron.
Uganda
Uganda is another country with which we have a historic link. Since 2015 we have sought to work with Mary Mills in her commitment to Starfish Uganda. This is now the most significant role that the Cherish Fund has at present. Starfish work at a clinic in Numusala, providing care support and training for children and young people with disabilities. Starfish has become an NGO with its own board and is attracting growing financial support from the UK, which Cherish has helped to focus and transfer to Uganda. The promotional team for Starfish in the UK, the Starfish Foundation, collaborates with Cherish and has a presence among the Cherish trustees. Following the relaxation of Covid regulations Mary Mills was able to revisit Uganda to view the progress of the work there.
Funding
Raising funds has been a struggle but the link with Starfish has meant that we have improved skills and expertise in this area. This is reflected in the increased turnover of the charity to its highest level for many years. We have a very small capital fund which raises some interest, student sponsorships and regular givers, but contributions from a few churches or church-based groups from the Redditch area has dried up during Covid, and in person fundraising events and collections have not been possible. While the charity sees its role as providing more than a funding stream and has offered advice, support and training to people or projects in Africa as well as money as well as being a conduit for funds to reach the places where they are supposed to go without the administrative charges that larger charities would levy to pay staff, the Starfish link dominates its work at present.
Trustees Our trustees throughout the year were: the Revd Richard Clark (Chair) Tom Barron (Treasurer and Malawi Link) Jane Hall (Secretary) Gail Teague (Former health service professional) Mary Mills (Uganda link) and Murray Baxter (Starfish Foundation UK link). Sheila Royle, a strong supporter who had initially attended meetings as guest, was voted in as a trustee on 27[th] April 2021.
Meetings During Covid our meetings have been by zoom. The trustees met three time in the financial year, with a further meeting of a subgroup to discuss publicity. There has been an increased level of communication by email. In person meetings will resume in 2022-23.
Sheet1
The Cherish Fund Receipts & Payments Account 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2022
SECTION A - RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
Receipts
| Receipts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | |
| funds (£) | funds (£) | (£) | |
| Gifts received | 614.67 | 37,521.94 | 38,136.61 |
| Gift Aid reclaimed | 1,604.25 | 1,646.25 | 3,250.50 |
| Income from investments | 119.39 | 119.39 | |
| Increase in investment value | |||
| Total receipts | 2,338.31 | 39,168.19 | 41,506.50 |
| Payments | |||
| Charitable payments | 2,720.00 | 39,335.46 | 42,055.46 |
| Trustee expenses | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Decline in investment value | 281.10 | 281.10 | |
| Total payments | 3,001.10 | 39,335.46 | 42,055.46 |
| Summary | |||
| Net receipts less payments | -662.79 | -167.27 | -548.96 |
| Funds held last year end | 7,926.54 | 6,929.18 | 14,855.72 |
| Funds held this year end | 7,263.75 | 6,761.91 | 14,306.76 |
| SECTION B – STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT 28 FEBRUARY 2022 | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||
| funds (£) | funds (£) | Total (£) | |
| B1 – Cash funds | |||
| Barclays Bank current account | 2,762.62 | 6,761.91 | 9,524.53 |
| B2 – Other monetary assets | |||
| COIF account 98626001C | 338.76 | 338.76 | |
| B3 – Investment assets | |||
| COIF account 98626001B | 4,162.37 | 4,162.37 | |
| (current value) | |||
| Less liabilities | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 7,263.75 | 6,761.91 | 14,025.66 |
Page 1
Sheet1
Total funds last year (£) 25,936.65 3,833.63 104.54 142.59 30,017.41 12,848.69 0.00 137.42 12,848.69 17,168.72 5,265.21 22,433.93
Page 2
Independent oxamineffs report to the trustees of The Cherfsh Fund I report to the trustees on my examinats.on of the ac(x)unts of The Cherish Fund (the Trust) for the year ended 281n Fel)ruary 2022. R•8ponslbllltles and baslg of r•port As the charity trust8es of the Trust. you are resF#)nsible for preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chaiities Act 2011 (Ihe Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accourts carried out under 8ection 145 of ts 2011 Act and in carrylng out my examination I have followed all the applicable DIrect9 given by the Charity Commi88ion urKler sethon 145(5){b) of the AGL Indepndent •xamlneV• •t•t•m•nt I have completed my examination. l )nfiM that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlth the examination giving me cause to believe that in any materlal respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in r8spect of the Tt as required by section 130 of the Act: or 2. the accounts do not acc<)rd with those record8,' or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concemlng th8 form and content of accounts set oul in the Charrtbe8 (Accounts and Report8) RegulationB 2008 othor than any requirement that the accounts gNe a Irue arKI fair VI Ythich ig not a matter consKlered a8 part of an indeperNJent examinats'on. I have no concerns and have come acYos8 no other matters in connecti<)n with the examination to which attention should be drawn in th18 report in order to enable a proper undorstanding of the accounts to be reached. Sned.. Name: Peter Cook Addre98'. 12 imllow Brook. Keyw, Nottingham NG12 5BB Date: 24° January 2023