Encouraging local communities in Africa
Report and Receipts and Payment Account For the Year ended 31 December 2020
Registered charity number: 1055539
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ukuthasa
Encouraging local communities in Africa
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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Status
Ukuthasa is constituted under a trust deed dated 3 May 1996 and deed of amendment dated 12 September 2006. It is a registered charity, number 1055539.
Trustees
Karen Barnes Trevor Blackmur (Treasurer) Christopher Wilks (Chairman) Tracey Kerly Nikki Glass Gary Welsh
Registered office
2 Hafton Road London SE6 1LP
Independent Examiner
Graham Walton ACIS 53 Welbeck Avenue Bromley Kent BR1 5DN
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ukuthasa
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the receipts and payments accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020.
The legal and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report.
Letter from the Chairman
It is my privilege to reflect on Ukuthasa activity during 2020.
As a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, South Africa was plunged into level 5 Lock-down on 26 March 2020. The President asked the nation to observe 21 days at level 5, until 16 April. But level 5 was extended and various levels of Lock-down remained in place for the rest of the year. Between 27 March and July 2020, all of the projects that we support remained closed.
The nation experienced huge increases in unemployment levels, particularly in disadvantaged communities, where occupations could not be continued in the home so jobs were lost.
As a result of generous Ukuthasa donors, our projects were able to continue to pay their staff and to issue regular foodrelief vouchers to families who had lost their incomes.
Our funding also provided rent-relief to prevent evictions and was able to support a small number of people who had lost their incomes and homes by allowing them to occupy rooms at Choices House whose overseas volunteers had all returned to their home countries.
The Helderberg Academy , as a non-essential service, was not able to function normally. The toughest challenge for the team was maintaining contact with their young people, partly because they change mobile phone numbers so often. Towards the end of 2020 the team went back into communities to connect with service receivers. Highlights were connecting with and supporting young people and their families with activity packs and food parcels, gift bags and vouchers.
The team also spent time de-cluttering and completely sorting their equipment cupboards and replacing items that were broken or worn out.
Rozanne reports that the children and young people that the Academy serves are extremely resilient and continue to cope with the Pandemic, even the resulting loss of family members, with courage and optimism for the future.
Emyezweni began 2020 with 104 children registered. A Grade R teacher who had moved away from Cape Town was replaced by a fully trained assistant. Sadly, in January there was another burglary which caused damage to the alarm system and the loss of two laptops.
During February the Academy began PE classes at the school. Hopefully, that service can resume once lockdown has ended.
During lockdown, the school team provided work packs for the Grade R’s, and almost 70% of these were collected by parents so that children could continue their early learning programmes. On-line teaching was not feasible because of lack of data availability.
After a two week return in July the school had to close again until 17 August when 60% of the children returned. This was consistent with other schools in the area. For the remainder of 2020 a platoon system operated with 50% of the children at school each alternate week to enable social distancing. Cooked breakfasts and lunches were provided every day.
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In October, a huge tree branch fell through one of the classroom roofs. A temporary repair has been completed until the municipality schedule the replacement the roof. Ukuthasa provided funding to enable the emergency repair to the roof damage as well as the provision of essential PPE equipment.
In early December, a Christmas meal was provided together with cute casual outfits for the Grade R’s to make up for the loss of outings during the year. The younger children received party goodies and a small gift. It was a happy way to end a challenging year.
Choices highlights during 2020 were:
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Supporting the set up a mobile call number so that clients could be counselled by phone during Lock-down.
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Sponsoring room rentals for Choices House so that it could remain open.
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Continuing our support of the sponsored counsellors at Choices rather than making them redundant or reducing their stipends.
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The regular activation of the Choices Baby Saver during the year leading to the rescue and adoption of babies who would otherwise have died.
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Investment in Covid-19 Personal protection measures so that the Counselling room could re-open in July 2020.
Perhaps it is not surprising that our reach and impact has grown during the Covid Pandemic. For the first time, we have been involved in regular emergency poverty relief through rent relief, the support of food distribution centers and actual distribution of food vouchers which was enabled by the cell phone network and local grocery stores.
We remain excited by our involvement in African communities in small but significant ways.
I extend our grateful thanks to all of our supporters on behalf of the Trustees.
Chris Wilks, Chairperson, Ukuthasa , September 2021.
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Objectives
The trustees shall hold the trust fund and its income upon trust to apply them for the following objects (“the objects”) in Africa (the “area of benefit”)
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the relief of poverty, particularly by the provision of assistance in the building of housing for persons living in squatter communities,
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the protection and preservation of public health to establish a health centre and nutrition centre,
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the advancement of education by the provision of vocational skills training and a pre-school education project.
There have been no changes in objectives since the last annual report.
Activities, achievements, performance and future developments
The Trustees' aims for the year were:
To provide ad hoc HIV training and development to project partners working with us in Africa.
To continue the support of Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre .
To continue the support of Emyezweni School in Lwandle.
To continue to support projects which provide mentorship and life-skills training to children and young people in disadvantaged communities, principally through the Helderberg Academy .
Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects
We continue to work with those providing care in local communities by enabling community members to design appropriate interventions in terms of advocacy, education, empowerment and training programmes.
We are working with educators and other service providers, who in turn seek to influence and serve their local communities so they can make informed choices and have better opportunities for the future. This extends to substantial support of Emyezweni Preschool , which provides good quality foundation stage education, as well as projects working with teenagers in secondary schools and interventions for women and couples in crisis ( Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre ).
We also continue to support projects which provide mentorship and life-skills training to children and young people in disadvantaged areas ( Helderberg Academy ) .
Summary of the main achievements
We currently sponsor 20 children at Emyezweni Preschool .
We continue to support women and couples in crisis as a result of pregnancy through Choices .
Life-skills training and mentorship through sport continues through support of the Helderberg Academy holiday club sponsorship.
Emyezweni School continues to provide quality education for children between 2 and 6 years old.
Ukuthasa continues to partner with the Helderberg Academy , Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre and Emyezweni Day Care and Primary School .
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Financial review
The financial performance of the charity is shown on the accompanying receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities.
Reserves policy
The Trustees have agreed to have reserves sufficient to fund existing projects (including employees' wages) for a minimum of six months. Where a project has less than six months to run, the reserve for that project will reduce on a monthly basis. The reserve figure is calculated by the treasurer, and at each trustees meeting the trustees are informed of the state of the finances and reserves.
Risk management
The trustees consider that there are no major strategic, business or operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that they will review these on a regular basis. However, the trustees acknowledge the possibility of a drop off in giving due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they will monitor the situation carefully to ensure that the reserves policy is maintained.
Public Benefit Statement
The activities currently carried out for the public benefit by the charity can be broadly categorised into the following groups of programmes where we support local communities:
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Support for education: Emyezweni Pre-school
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Empowerment of local communities: through of peer education projects and the Helderberg Academy.
The common feature of all these programmes is that we are working with the most vulnerable groups in Africa.
In setting our programme each year we have regard to both the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and prevention, and relief of poverty for the public benefit. The Trustees always ensure that the programmes we undertake are in line with our charitable objects and aims.
Our ambitious aim is to support communities in the areas where we work so that they are able to live healthily, and support their immediate and extended families.
Chris Wilks
Chairperson Date : 12[th] October 2021
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UKUTHASA
I report on the accounts of Ukuthasa for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 7 to 9.
Respective responsibilities of trustee and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiners' report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Graham Walton
53 Welbeck Avenue Bromley Kent BR1 5DN Date :
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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Year ended 31 December 2020
| RECEIPTS Personal donations Corporate donations Grants Fundraising Interest received Gift aid recovered Other income PAYMENTS Salaries Admin and Project Management Services Motor & travel Telephone & internet Promotional costs Jewellery & cards Gifts Bank interest & charges Postage printing & stationery Software & IT costs Event costs Office equipment Entertaining Depreciation Projects Legal & professional Accountancy Other expenses Exchange differences Transfers Net receipts/(payments) for the year Reserves at 31 December 2019 Transfers Reserves at 31 December 2020 |
2020 2020 2020 2019 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds 5,505 33,657 39,162 21,183 28 601 629 1,669 - 802 802 2150 49 - 49 249 106 - 106 189 1,245 1,143 2,388 2,411 500 - 500 - |
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| 7,433 36,203 43,636 27,851 |
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| 3,000 - 3,000 3,000 3,321 249 3,570 3,315 - - - - 208 - 208 155 - - - - - - - - - - - 38 204 - 204 222 425 15 440 534 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (40) 18,213 18,173 27,732 - - - - - - - - 5 - 5 - (344) - - - (344) - (398) - |
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| 6,779 18,477 25,256 34,598 |
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| 654 17,726 18,380 (6,747) 4,768 226 4,994 11,741 - - - - |
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| 5,422 17,952 23,374 4,994 |
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Year ended 31 December 2020
| Note Tangible fixed assets 2 Cash funds Sterling bank accounts Rand bank accounts Cash in hand Liabilities Other creditors Reserves Unrestricted Restricted 3 |
2020 £ 16,884 6,498 51 |
- 23,433 (59) 23,374 5,422 17,952 23,374 |
2019 £ 4,302 644 51 |
- 4,997 (3) |
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| 4,994 | ||||
| 4,768 226 |
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| 4,994 |
Approved by the Trustees on: 19[th] October 2021
Trevor Blackmur Trustee and Treasurer
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NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 December 2020
1 Basis of preparation
These receipts and payments accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis apart from the inclusion of depreciation and one liability that was settled shortly after the year end.
2 Tangible fixed assets
| Tangible fixed assets | |
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| Cost At 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 Depreciation At 1 January 2020 Provision for the year At 31 December 2020 Net book value At 31 December 2020 At 31 December 2019 |
Motor vehicles 5,671 |
| 5,671 - |
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| 5,671 | |
| - | |
| - |
3 Restricted reserves (and designated funds)
| Choices Pregnancy Crisis Covid-19 Support Emyezweni Child Sponsorship Emyezweni Pre-School Emyezweni Gifts Helderberg Academy Urban Voice Kids Camp |
Balance at Balance at 1 Jan 2020 Receipts Payments Transfers 31 Dec 2020 (731) 1,770 2,540 - (1,501) - 8,345 4,369 - 3,976 (113) 7,536 6,416 - 1,007 - 1,500 - - 1,500 13 - - - 13 1,054 17,052 5,152 - 12,954 3 - - - 3 226 36,203 18,477 - 17,952 |
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