Africaid UK Annual Report 2020
UK Registered Charity: UK Reg No. 1045461
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Africaid UK Annual Report 2020. 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered for the Corona virus pandemic which has caused countless pain, suffering and loss of life globally. Covid 19 has affected everyone, everywhere and spread not only a potentially deadly contagion, but also fear, confusion, anxiety along with global economic turmoil.
On a positive note, although members of the ‘WKU family’ have tested positive for Covid 19 at various times throughout the year – thankfully, there has been no long-term health complications among Africaid WhizzKids United (WKU) staff or key WKU supporters.
Covid 19 has, however, affected our funding streams, programme capacity and longer-term outlook. I’m sure many NGO CEO’s, myself included, have spent countless hours dwelling on the fact that Covid 19 has demonstrated just how fragile the NGO world is within a fragile world.
However, through the gloom, WKU as ever – put its best foot forward and got to work. WKU RSA played a truly heroic role in tackling Covid 19 locally. South Africa introduced one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world. However, from day one, WKU RSA was one of a small number of NGO’s to be called up to support the Department of Health’s ‘roll out’ of Covid 19 screening and testing throughout Edendale. All WKU RSA staff participated in the 6-week screening programme. All credit to the team for securing protective face masks (it wasn’t easy) and managing the protective washing of work clothes at WKU each day. Throughout all levels of lockdown, the WKU clinic doors remained open - providing vital youth services including the provision of ARV’s or ARV home delivery to HIV positive youth. Numbers of youth accessing clinic services dipped only slightly throughout the various stages of lockdown.
In Ghana there was little National response to Covid 19 and only a two-week lockdown in the South. In the North life carried on regardless and people were left to more or less, fend for themselves. As a result, WKU Ghana led the way in developing and supplying FDA approved face-masks, water tank ‘hand washing’ stations and even our own 70% alcohol hand sanitizer for free distribution to the local population and in particular the youth.
WKU response to Covid 19 has been timely, appropriate and dynamic. In many ways, WKU demonstrated the same ‘emergency response’ qualities it did to HIV and the West African Ebola outbreak.
Both myself and the Africaid UK Chairperson, Dr Tomás Campbell spent a great deal of time developing a Covid 19 Policy for the seventy plus African
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StreetFootballWorld network members, of which we are a member, and also designed an assessment tool and subsequently assessed the Covid 19 response programmes designed by African network members. I’d also like to thank our friends and partners - Tackle Africa for their help and support throughout this work.
In April 2020 WKU South Africa, WKU RSA, Board raised concerns that the WKU RSA Finance Team budget forecast did not reflect the amounts of monies in the RSA bank account. On closer inspection and following lengthy calls with WKU RSA Country Director it was clear that an overspend had occurred. Granted, WKU RSA were reaching an incredible number of young people through excellent programme delivery throughout 2019/20 financial year, (easily in excess of 5,000 youth) – that still does not change the fact that budgets have to be adhered too.
After a great deal of consultation between the Board, input from our investment partners, and the growing disconnect among RSA staff on the ground - because finances needed to be tightly controlled going forward - it was decided that WKU RSA would seek to find a large South African NGO to take over WKU RSA. This decision was based on three key factors: -
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The days of my spending three months in RSA and then three months in Ghana throughout the year, every year are over. I think I’m too old for that now and my personal life has changed somewhat dramatically.
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In order for programmes such as WKU to succeed in RSA, they require a very strong and well qualified management team with lots of experience to manage the day-to-day dynamics of life in RSA. This requires a lot of financial input and attempting to manage remotely has proved untenable.
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WKU RSA, has in many respects, achieved what it set out to do - greatly reduce the HIV infection rate among youth in and around Edendale whilst successfully meeting the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target.
Therefore, now seems like the right time to hand WKU RSA over to Edendale Hospital, Department of Health and a local NGO or NGO’s to manage to ensure long-term sustainability and growth. WKU will continue to play a very supportive role both throughout the transition of WKU RSA and in the future - working with the NGO in terms of programme design and delivery. WKU has over 15 years’ experience when it comes to knowing what does and doesn’t work with youth and SRHR services, especially when using sport for development. WKU is equally committed to working with all partners to analyse over ten years of WKU RSA ‘youth friendly service’ data in order to write-up and disseminate the key findings. As a result, WKU can have a far wider reaching impact within the youth and sexual and reproductive health and rights sector - especially as more Departments in developing Countries are recognising the need for youth friendly SRHR services.
High rates of youth HIV infection, teen pregnancy and a lack of youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services and rights (SRHR) are a very real challenge for young people in Africa. All too frequently, these challenges have impeded youth from reaching their full potential, especially girls and young women.
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For almost 20 years Africaid WhizzKids United has been leading the way in demonstrating the extraordinary power football has in engaging and educating young people - promoting access to WKU Health Academies (youth friendly clinics) providing SRHR services including HIV & Hep B testing, treatment, psychosocial support and care. WKU unique ‘wrap around’ services which include over 30 educational and empowerment youth programmes, help to ensure young people are motivated and truly develop and display sexual and reproductive health seeking behaviour.
Going forwards, WKU vision is to create a ‘centre of excellence’ in Ghana which can clearly demonstrate the positive impact football can have in increasing SRHR services up-take among youth. At the same time, WKU is continuing to develop its various social enterprises to ensure WKU is less funder reliant and therefore, more robust to deal with the effects of Covid 19 for example. At the time of writing, WKU is currently in talks with UK based NGO Tackle Africa – exploring ways we can partner to achieve this vision.
Africaid began work in Africa in Ghana in 2003. After creating a long-term legacy in South Africa with the support and help of so many wonderful people, Africaid WKU football is now coming home!
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the beneficiaries of WKU who’s lives we help to shape; the amazing staff at WKU who work tirelessly to help young people achieve their full potential, and all our partners who give so much time, ideas and financial support. Last but not least, a huge thank you to our Board of Trustees for their hard work and dedication throughout the year and mostly behind the scenes. I’m also delighted to announce that Kevin Miles – a long-time friend and work colleague and sexual health guru has joined Tomás, Caroline and Gary on our Board of Trustees.
Warm regards,
Marcus McGilvray
CEO & Founder Africaid WhizzKids United
WhizzKids United Ghana REPORT FOR 2020
| WhizzKids United Ghana REPORT FOR 2020 |
WhizzKids United Ghana REPORT FOR 2020 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of participants until 31st of December: | 400 | ||
| Percentage of girls: | 60% | ||
| Percentage of boys: | 40% | ||
| Age range: | 11-24 | years |
Investment Partners include: Meal a Day, Common Goal, Moxie Foundation, FIFA Foundation, Africaid UK, WKU USA and Keen Ltd.
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Introduction
It has been a very challenging year for WKU Ghana, but we were able to reprioritise and work around Covid 19. WKU decided in 2019 to completely overhaul and extend its youth clinic which it built in 2003. 2020 was the perfect time to put most of our energies into the extension and revamp of the WKU clinic and community library. It has now grown from being a library, one counselling room and a training room to - five counselling rooms, a large reception area, ablutions, training room with en-suite kitchen facilities, storeroom, a selfcontained volunteer ‘bachelor’ flat with kitchen and en-suite, library and a shower block divided for both boys and girls use. Staff who are more used to counselling and football coaching found themselves learning new skills in the form of brick-laying, plastering and painting etc.
WKU really appreciates the flexibility shown by its key funders, who kindly allowed funds to be diverted from programme costs (Covid - no young people no programmes) to completing this epic structural transformation. Tamale now has a first-class clinic and educational centre which wouldn’t look out of place in some of the most expensive cities of the world.
In February 2020, WKU welcomed Cathy and Grant from Scotland through our partners AfID UK. Accounting for International Development specialise in supporting small NGO’s through the provision of trained accountants for varying periods of time. Having worked with AfID UK in South Africa, they kindly found a great match in Cathy and Grant for three weeks support in Ghana. Cathy was able to help develop our financial systems and tutor Alhassan in day-to-day financial management and Grant brought with him 50 years-experience working in construction. Just the person we needed to help train our staff to assist in the building of our new clinic/centre. I would like to also add that we did use professional tradesmen in support of our staff’s fine efforts. However, in order to keep within our budget, we did assist as much as we could. Once Covid19 is hopefully a thing of the past, we hope to welcome Cathy and Grant back to Ghana.
By the end of March 2020 our world turned upside. Not just in Northern Ghana, but globally due to a new and potentially deadly coronavirus. Schools were closed, young people were kept in-doors by their parents or encouraged to go and find apprenticeships with local tradesmen to earn money for their families; football stopped and it all started to get a little quiet. Our football and girl’s empowerment programmes proudly sponsored by Common Goal came to an abrupt end. Fortunately, our year-long Game Changers programme was completed in February and six of the seven participants successfully graduated and three went on to find full-time employment and three enrolled on to University courses. WKU Game Changers provides personal and professional development skills including work experience for long term unemployed youth, proudly sponsored by Moxie Foundation.
WKU quickly came to realise that life was continuing as normal in Northern Ghana. The region is arguably too poor for Government to enforce a lockdown – if people don’t work, they don’t eat, it’s as simple as that. WKU therefore looked at
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how it could best protect the local population from Covid 19 whilst allowing people to move around freely. WKU decided to build ‘veronica buckets’ for hand washing, hand sanitizer and face masks. Over 30 ‘veronica buckets’ were made and distributed throughout the local community in key areas. Five of the WKU girl’s empowerment group came together and stitched over 3,000 face masks. One third were sold, including overseas orders which enabled us to give 2,000 masks free to young people. By September Schools began to re-open for older kids and the ban on sports was lifted.
By mid-September our clinic and educational centre was complete thanks to funding from Meal a Day, Common Goal and Moxie Foundation. Meal a Day has kindly supported the construction and fittings of WKU centres for over 10 years! WKU hosted the official opening of our new look WKU clinic and community library. It was a wonderful event with over 100 local dignitaries, Partners, Chiefs and Elders in attendance.
By the end of 2020 WKU clinic had provided SRHR services including covid19 adjustment counselling to over 350 youth. Over 100 girls had registered and begun our newly improved Girl on the Ball programme proudly sponsored by FIFA Foundation and Common Goal. By November, WKU revisited its restaurant ambitions and has begun working on completing the venue in order to start income generation in support of our youth programmes. We hope to fully launch by April 2021.
WKU FC
WKU FC participation continued to grow – especially among the younger youth (which is what we want). WKU FC Division Two team even qualified for the MTN sponsored FA Cup Ghana. Unfortunately, we were knocked out in the first-round match, 1-0 away to Kintampo FC – though they are a First Division team. Even so, it was great for the team and also for all the young aspiring players which WKU continues to develop and grow.
We were delighted to bring onboard a new kit sponsor – UK based company Keen Ltd. They generously donated £500 which sponsored the home and away team stripes of our Division Two side. Keen Ltd have also agreed to sponsor football stripes and boots for WKU each year which is a huge help.
The biggest challenge that WKU faces in developing WKU FC is that football fans in Ghana don’t expect to have to pay to see their team play. That makes raising revenue for a small football club very difficult because many teams globally rely on such revenue to develop and grow. Equally, WKU pitch is a mere sand bowl and there is no stadium. WKU has been in talks with FIFA Foundation to see if they will consider supporting WKU with an astro-turf football pitch and small stadium. FIFA have made no promises but have shown interest and understand the challenges we face trying to develop talented players with only a sandy football pitch.
In the mean-time WKU FC continues to offer a safe place for over 70 youth per day to be coached in football. Going forwards, our focus is to grow girl’s football.
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We continue to educate the community of the many benefits girls gain from playing football and indeed other sports – though changing cultural norms is a slow process.
WhizzKids United South Africa
REPORT FOR 2020
| REPORT FOR 2020 | REPORT FOR 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of participants until 31st of December: | 45,000 | |
| plus (this includes Covid19 | ||
| interventions) | ||
| Percentage of girls: | 55% | |
| Percentage of boys: | 45% | |
| Age range: | 11-24 years |
Investment Partners include: Meal a Day, FIFA Foundation, FIFA Legacy, Charlie Theron African Outreach Programme, Terre de Hommes, ELMA Foundation, Department of Health including Edendale Hospital.
WKU South Africa also faced a challenging year. Covid19 arrived at the same time as the Board and CEO realised that there had been an overspend and the budget forecast did not accurately reflect the monies in the bank. Sadly, Africaid was forced to make sweeping changes to ensure proper financial accountability. One of these changes included ‘downsizing’ the number of staff and releasing many of the management team. This caused a lot of friction between staff and management. The overspend coupled with the impact of covid19 also led us to lose some key funders. In the end, the difficult but right decision was taken to find a larger local NGO to step in and take over Africaid WKU. Africaid WKU RSA will cease to exist as of 31[st] March 2021. WKU is committed to supporting the new NGO which will take over – and we sincerely believe that Edendale Football for Hope Centre and clinic will, over time, grow and strengthen as a result of local ownership. WKU, as early as 2017 had begun the process of recruiting local staff and local representatives to join the Board of Trustees. We no longer took on overseas volunteers, but rather invested a huge amount of time and resources into developing our local staff. In summing up - perhaps this was a ‘bridge to far’ at the time for a relatively small NGO. Whilst systems were in place to ensure the ‘smooth’ running of WKU – such systems only work if they are being followed.
On a positive note, WKU RSA can feel very proud of all the good works it has done over the past 15 years. WKU has impacted the lives of thousands of young people for the better – whether it be ARV treatment success, staff career advancement, GBV support, increased youth employment prospects etc, etc. For example, WKU has, over the past 15 years played a central role in reducing HIV infection rates among adolescents throughout the Edendale area. Our stats show that in 2019 infection rates among the youth we tested for HIV were at 3%. That compares with 16% plus seven to eight years ago. WKU also starts its clients on ARV’s the day a young person tests positive and goes on providing adherence counselling, SRHR services and ARV management throughout their adolescence.
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Community youth outreach
A total of 168 HIV counselling and testing, HCT’s and TB screenings were conducted during Outreach Programmes in 2020. WhizzKids United alongside the Department of Health and NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases)
WKU was also called up by the Department of Health to support them in conducting door-to-door COVID-19 screening where a total of 31 011 individuals were screened across households in and around Edendale. WKU volunteers also gave support to surrounding shopping centres (Super Spar Edendale & Greater Edendale Mall) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. An average of 45 504 individuals were sanitized over a two-month period.
On the Ball life skills
WKU successfully renewed its MOU with the Department of Education to continue teaching OTB within schools in Edendale. WKU cancelled all EEP programs (Including On The Ball) due to the nationwide lockdown and the deviation of funds to the WKU special COVID-19 response programmes.
Game Changers – youth employability programme
A total of 10 game changers completed the programme in 2020. 5 girls and 5 boys successfully completed the programme. 1 girl is currently working for a local NGO, 3 boys have already secured jobs at various retail establishments and 1 has secured a place for further education. We are still actively supporting the remaining 5 to secure work.
WKU Health Academy HCT
A total of 305 HCT tests were conducted in the Health Academy with 28 youth testing positive. This clearly shows the negative impact Covid 19 lockdown is having on the youth. A total of 68 patients were initiated for ARVs in 2020. These were outside referrals and children transitioning from the children’s clinic.
A total of 6180 ongoing counselling sessions were provided in 2020. The number of youth who attended adherence sessions brings their total to 712 over 54 sessions.
6987 youth were provided with TB screening. 21 youth were provided with IPT treatment.
Family Planning Services
A total of 951 females received family planning services in 2020. A total of 500 pregnancy tests were provided whereby 13 pregnancies were reported.
STI Screening and Treatment
A total of 147 youth was screened and treated for STIs in 2020.
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WKU OVC feeding scheme
A total of 1299 breakfasts, 2169 lunches and 307 food parcels were provided to orphans and vulnerable children.
Going forwards
WKU primary focus will be to continue using football to promote SRHR services among young people in Ghana. We are currently in talks with a similar NGO in the UK about a potential partnership to establish WKU Ghana as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the pursuit of the above.
WKU is also very aware that SDG 13 is being largely ignored by the ‘football fraternity’ and is therefore developing a new programme to address this. New research highlights the link between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and rights. This link is very visible in Northern Ghana and the clock is ticking to address these issues before it is too late! In support of our work in Ghana WKU will continue to develop and invest in our social entrepreneurship approach to ensure long term sustainability.
WKU will, I’m sure, continue to play a key role in the development of the Health Academy and Football for Hope Centre, Edendale, South Africa, without having to manage the day-to-day running of it.
Many thanks to you the Reader and if this report inspires you to become part of the team please check out our website www.whizzkidsunited.org or email info@africaid.org.uk
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CC16a
Charity Name No (if any) Africaid 1045461
Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1/1/2020 12/31/2020
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
General Donations 7,958 - 7,958 4,691
Meal a Day/Administration 30,000 - 30,000 41,000
Football for Hope/Ghana Project 20,111 - 20,111 14,476
Bank Interest 0 - - 0 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
7,958 50,111 - 58,069 60,167
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 7,958 50,111 - 58,069 60,167
A3 Payments
Meal a Day/Administration 38,010 - 38,010 48,591
Donations 1,771 - 1,771 2,323
Football for Hope/Ghana Project 12,900 - 12,900 16,837
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 1,771 ] 50,910 - 52,681 67,751
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 1,771 50,910 - 52,681 67,751
Net of receipts/(payments) [ 6,187 ] - 798 - 5,388 - 7,584
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 9,038 14,368 - 23,405 30,989
Cash funds this year end [ 15,225 ] 13,570 - 28,794 23,405
----- End of picture text -----
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Endowment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | funds | |||
| B1 | Cash funds | Account 23037827 Account 53067025 Paypal |
Total cash funds |
to nearest £ 15,191 14 15,204 |
to nearest £ 13,589 - - 13,589 |
to |
nearest £ - - - - |
| (agree balances | with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Agreement Error | Agreement Error | OK | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | |||||
| funds | funds | funds |
| B2 Other monetary assets | Details | to nearest £ - - - - - - |
to nearest £ |
- - - - - - |
to nearest £ - - - - - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 Investment assets | Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) - - - - - |
- - - - - Current value (optional) |
|
| B4 Assets retained for the | Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) - |
- Current value (optional) |
|
| charity’s own use | - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - |
|||
| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | |||
| B5 Liabilities | Details | liability relates | (optional) |
- - - - - |
(optional) |
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Name | Date of approval |
Africaid
Registered Charity No:- 1045461 Accounts for the Year ended 31 December 2020
Independent Examination Report
1) Proper Book-keeping
The book-keeping records are kept on a computer spreadsheet
2) Cashbook and payment controls
The following sample of payments in the cash book were supported by invoices and reconciled to the bank statements
| Date | Payee | Description | £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21/05/2020 | Just Giving | donation | 18.00 |
| 15/07/2020 | Directory of social charge | templates | 29.00 |
| 10/09/2020 | Marie Larby Accountancy Ltd | Accounts report | 360.00 |
| 12/10/2020 | Celtic BPS Ltd | Payroll | 20.50 |
Payments are made via electronic payment using the BACS system.
3) Income Controls
The following receipts were checked to ensure that the income had been received, recorded correctly in the spreadsheet and traced to the bank statements.
| Date | From | Description | £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Nov-20 | paypal | Donation | 40.00 |
| 08-Dec-20 | Christadelphian Meal a Day | WKU Gjhana Clinic | 25000.00 |
4) Payroll Controls
The Salaries to employees were paid correctly, the preparation of payroll being outsourced to Celtic Payroll services. The payments have been made after tax and NIC has been deducted and HMRC PAYE requirements have been properly applied.
5) Bank Reconciliations - Closing funds
An ongoing bank balance is maintained in the spreadsheets for the current Account. The year end reconciliation was reviewed against cashbook and the bank statements and no unexplained entries were noted.
| Closing Bank Balances at 31 December 2020 | £ |
|---|---|
| Barclays Current Account No: 23037827 | 28780.11 |
| Barclays Business Saver Account No: 53067025 | 13.61 |
| Paypal account: | Nil |
6) Year End Procedures
The year end accounts are prepared on the receipts and payments basis and agree with the cashbook. There is an audit trail from the underlying financial records to the accounts.
Marie Larby Accountancy Unit 6A station Road Brompton Ind Park Brompton on Swale Richmond North Yorkshire DL10 7SN
Dated - 3 October 2021
Marie Larby Accountancy Ltd Registered in England and wales No. 8034989