2024-12-31-accounts

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2024

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

Ending poverty through education

UK Registered Charity Number: 1058973

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2 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT
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MARIA

On our cover is Maria Irene.

She has had a very difficult start in life and thanks to the support of our generous donors we have been able to provide funding for a school place for Maria at the Sisters’ Villa de las Niñas girls’ school In Mexico. She joined us in the summer of 2024. This is her story:

“My situation before school was quite bad because there was not enough money for my brothers or for my mother. My house was an old bus, and that’s where my brothers, my mother, and I lived. We hardly ever ate because there wasn’t enough food for everyone, and we didn’t have enough space. My mother wouldn’t eat and would say she wasn’t hungry so we could be happy. She worked everyday in the fields planting crops or she would make napkins and sell them to earn some money for food”

Without the basics for survival like proper shelter, regular nutrition, sanitation, medical care and education, Maria had lost hope and she lived in fear as her father would hurt her mother and sometimes her brother. It was a relief for the family when we were able to offer Maria a place in school.

She says “Here at Villa de las Niñas, I feel safe. I enjoy running with my mother-sister, playing, and attending classes. I love helping my classmates and always try to be kind. I have two younger brothers. I want to study to help care for my mother, my brothers, and my family and build a better future for them. One day, I hope to become a nurse, a nun, or an architect— someone who helps others, just like you”

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Maria Irene at
school in 2024 |
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WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

CONTENTS
Company Information Introduction from the Chair & UK Manager	4 5
About World Villages for Children & the Sisters of Mary (SoM)	7-8
Trustees’ Report	9-23
Thank you	24
The Impact of our work	25-26
Our plans for 2025 and beyond Financial Review	27-29 30-36
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities	37
Independent Auditor’s Report	38-40
Statement of Financial Activities	41
Balance Sheet	42
Cash-flow statement	43
Notes to the Accounts	44-53

Company Number: 3267479 UK Registered Charity Number: 1058973

Directors & Trustees

Sister Elena Grengia Belarmino (Appointed Chair 6 July 2023) Sister D L Cho (Sister Maria), (Resigned as Chair 6 July 2023) Nicola Lawson (Appointed 8 July 2016)

John Graham, Treasurer (Appointed 18 April 2019) Jo Ogilvie (Appointed 12 April 2022)

Clare Bamberger (Appointed 4 July 2019)

Sr Margarita Campos Abeja (Appointed 6th July 2023) Fr Fretch Ballesteros (Appointed 7th August 2023)

Key Management Personnel UK Manager

Website

Registered Office & Charity address

www.worldvillages.org.uk

Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HQ

Auditor

Kreston Reeves, LLP, 9 Donnington Park, 85 Birdham Road, Chichester, PO20 7AJ

Solicitor

Broadfield Law UK LLP One Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL

Bank

National Westminster Bank, 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT | |

Sr Elena with the Kindergarten children, Tanzania

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

Another year has passed and we are so grateful to all of you our dear supporters for your continued generosity which allows us to maintain and grow our charity programmes. I thank also all our dedicated staff and trustees who run the charity without whom our mission would be impossible.

Every time we start the year my Sisters and I are uncertain of the challenges that lie ahead for us in our care and education of the world’s poorest children. In 2024 we faced many challenges including rising prices, aging school infrastructure requiring urgent repairs, changes in education curricula and increasing malnutrition, poverty and violence faced by our children in their home regions.

In Tanzania we have a saying “Kidogo Kidogo hujaza kibaba” little by little will fill the cup and in 2024, little by little we were indeed able to continue, expand and enhance our programs of providing holistic care and education for all our students.

Thanks to your support we were able to make ends meet at our schools and accepted 6,243 new children during the year. 21,089 were safe in our care mid-year and 3,947 passed their final exams and graduated ready for work. Many of these children are already employed and able to help their families practically and financially.

We made good progress with sustainable practices at our schools growing much more of our own food, and working with employers to develop updated vocational training courses for our children and preparing them for employment locally.

We celebrated the completion of the Five Story Building and Gymnasium in Dodoma Boystown, Tanzania which will be inaugurated on March 25, 2025 and will increase our capacity to help the poorest boys in that country and we marked the 60th foundation Anniversary of the Sisters of Mary which greatly encourages us to continue with our work and remain faithful to our mission established by Father Al.

This coming year the construction of the 4 storey Digital Transformation Center at Biga Girlstown will be completed to help with skills training of our 9,500 children here; we renew our focus on sustainable and climate friendly operations at our schools whilst providing a quality vocational education for the children who need it most and we hope the Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church, will bring more blessings to us all.

Thank you for your compassion towards our children their lives and the lives of their poor families are being transformed because of your generosity towards their care.

Nicola Lawson with Sr Margarita (left), our graduate Sthefanny (right) and Sr Elena (extreme right)

INTRODUCTION FROM THE UK MANAGER

Reflecting on 2024, I am so very grateful for the loyalty of our committed friends, supporters and funding partners.

Despite a difficult fundraising environment, their energetic interest in and support of our work helped us to maintain regular grants to the Sisters of Mary and stand firm in our support of the transformative education work they are delivering for the poorest children worldwide.

We were thrilled during the year to meet up around the country with many of these generous supporters. We remain humbled by the spirit of collaboration we have witnessed through individual and organisational gifts received, church collections, schools’ activities and marathon runners in supporting our work. It was also a delight for us to see more of our supporters visit the Sisters’ programmes overseas and witness for themselves the depth of the poverty relief work being done there and the impact of their support.

You will read in this report how all these generous gifts were utilised across the full spectrum of needs of the children in the Sisters’ care and education. The Sisters, of course, give their time for free. This means 100% of our grant goes directly to the care and education of the children. Every £1 was stretched and in 2024 we helped 21,089 children in school with immediate essentials like food, accommodation, and medical and learning supplies, as well as measures to develop and sustain the schools for the long term.

The children who come into the care of the Sisters have been marked by poverty but a place at school with the Sisters transforms their lives. In 2024, we were privileged to get to know more of these children as they graduate from the schools and to learn about the difference they are making in the world. You will read more about this in the report but we were so touched by the support of these alumni with sharing their stories and holding fundraising activities for us in 2024.

Our work is governed by our trustee board. My wholehearted thanks to them for their guidance and expertise which they provided so generously in 2024 and to the whole staff team at WVC. Their hard work and commitment always exemplifies our values of compassion, dedication and integrity but particularly in 2024. Their skills, energy and desire to achieve drove fundraising progress during the year and were much appreciated.

Supporting the Sisters of Mary programmes to end poverty through education is the heart of our mission. We are so grateful for your trust in us to deliver this vision of a world where the poorest children can equally access an education, develop skills and build themselves a dignified and brighter future.

Thank you

Sr Elena Belarmino Chair of Trustees

Nicola Lawson UK Manager and Trustee

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT : |

Empowering futures, erasing poverty

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT | |

ABOUT THE SISTERS OF MARY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

The Sisters of Mary Education programmes started in 1964 and have grown at the invitation of governments to the poorest regions in new countries and communities. They now operate 13 live-in secondary schools for children aged 11-17, (Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil & Tanzania), 5 day-care centres for toddlers aged 3-5 (Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil (2), Tanzania), 1 elementary school for youngsters aged 6-11 (Brazil), 3 medical centres (Philippines (2) & Guatemala) and 1 training centre for out of work young women (Tanzania).

ABOUT WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN

World Villages for Children supports the worldwide education programmes of the Sisters of Mary (SoM) to provide a free, quality education to the poorest children in the world.

Today 1 in 10 people[1] worldwide live in extreme poverty – deprived of not just income but the means of earning it, the essentials for survival as well as opportunity, dignity and hope for the future.

Progress towards poverty relief has slowed in recent years on the back of crises including the Covid 19 pandemic, slow economic growth, conflict, and severe weather related shocks. Low income regions have been hit the hardest and it is the children of these regions that are the most vulnerable.

Children go without nutrition, water, shelter, medical care & education. They are often neglected and increasingly victims of abuse inside and outside the home often exposed to gang crime and for girls, the devastating consequences of early marriage. Access to education for these children transforms their lives.

Together we provide places for nearly 20,000 of these countries’ poorest children each year. The programmes are run on a modest, sustainable basis. The Sisters and children grow much of their own food and they utilise huge operating efficiencies to welcome the maximum number of children. In 2024, despite cost rises around the world, it still cost £1,200 per year to educate and care for one child.

The Sisters’ holistic care for each child underpins the values of the UNSDGs[2] , and helps the children to recover from their difficult early lives. By nurturing them to full health, they allow them to build their talents, grow in confidence, independent and skilled enough for work and able to help their families and contribute positively to society.

Education is central to the Sisters’ mission and is provided by professional teachers, with curricula accredited by the national education authorities and also includes vocational training courses tailored to the skill needs of local employers. “Our charity programs seek to give the youth dignity and a better future by giving them the necessary skills to find good job opportunities”.[3] So far over 170,000 children have graduated from these schools into employment but many more family and community members have been helped by the impact of the programme.

Our work funds school places for these children in the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras and Tanzania. In a safe and loving environment, the boys and girls receive full time care and an accredited education which gives them skills, dignity and access to good job opportunities to provide a better future for themselves and their families.

1 Worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview

2 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – a call to action for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment. 3 Sr Elena Belarmino

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WHERE WE WORK

SISTERS OF MARY PROGRAMMES AROUND THE WORLD 2023

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MEXICO HONDURAS
CHALCO TEGUCIGALPA
2,573 girls 690 girls TANZANIA
CHALCO DAY CARE AMARATECA
101 boys and girls 756 boys KISARAWE
786 girls
GUADALAJARA
KILUVYA DAY CARE
1,861 boys
148 boys and girls
KILUVYA TRAINING CENTRE THE
100 young women
GUATEMALA DODOMA PHILIPPINES
ZONA 6 115 boys BIGA
1,016 boys 2,443 girls
ZONA 13 ADLAS
767 girls 1,864 boys
ZONA 21 DAY-CARE BRAZIL TALISAY
85 boys and girls BRASILIA 2,379 girls
850 girls MINGLANILLA
BRASILIA DAY CARE 1,787 boys
79 boys and girls
SAO PAULO ELEMENTARY AND DAY CARE
470 boys and girls
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WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT |

Trustees’ Report

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

TRUSTEES REPORT

The Trustees of WVC are pleased to present their annual report for the year ended 31 December 2024 under the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 , together with the audited accounts for the year. They confirm that the latter complies with the requirements of the Act s , the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Charities SORP 2019.

Our Charity Objects for WVC are to:

Provide financial support for the Sisters of Mary (SoM) humanitarian programmes

To raise the profile of the SoM’s education work for the relief of poverty

To educate the public and promote understanding of childhood poverty and the work of the Sisters’ programmes to alleviate poverty amongst children, the most vulnerable group.

STRATEGY

“Kidogo Kidogo hujaza kibaba” as Sr Elena Belarmino mentioned, the Tanzanian saying “little by little we will fill the cup”. In 2024 our strategy echoed this saying as we pursued our objectives to support the Sisters of Mary steadily, step by step, as they reached out to the world’s poorest children – in some of the most remote and hard to reach areas – to offer a life changing education to the most vulnerable.

By the side of the Sisters and in the face of a volatile fundraising environment, we stewarded every investment made by our supporters to transform each gift into another school place for a child, another life changed, and another family lifted from poverty - permanently.

In 2024, our grants delivered education and care for children in 6 countries - in 13 secondary schools, 1 elementary school, 5 day-care centres, 3 medical centres and 1 training centre and the following special achievements were marked during the year:

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

MORE CHILDREN WELCOMED 6,243

new children were accepted during the year including a total of 171 into the newest boys school in Dodoma, Tanzania.

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YEARS OF
60 SERVICE
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THE SISTERS CELEBRATED 60 YEARS OF CARING FOR THE WORLD’S POOREST CHILDREN

They were deeply moved to receive recognition from the Pope for their dedication to the mission of fighting poverty.

HIGHEST EVER ENROLMENT

AT THE MID-POINT OF THE YEAR PRIOR TO GRADUATIONS THERE ).ae 7 WERE A STAGGERING D 21,089 children aged 3-17 being cared for in places % at the programmes, the highest ever.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

3,392

FINAL YEAR STUDENTS FINISHED SCHOOL WITH US

qualified and ready for employment this includes the first graduation of 162 of the senior girls in Tanzania.

WE HELPED TO PROVIDE

63,267

meals a day so all the children at the schools had the balanced nutrition needed to thrive.

NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING

FUNDED & EXPANDED across all country programmes

EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS

ACROSS ALL COUNTRIES EMPLOYMENT RATES OF THE GRADUATES FAR EXCEEDED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

In the Philippines 100% of graduates continued to find work.

SUPPORTER FUNDRAISING

TWO BIG GIVE MATCHED APPEALS DURING THE YEAR funded national exams for the girls in Tanzania and new technical drawing tables for the grade 11 & 12 girls in Biga, Philippines.

OUR SUPPORTERS AND GRADUATES GOT ACTIVE FUNDRAISING FOR US TO HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN,

including Malou our Philippine graduate who completed the Berlin Marathon in October 2024 and then the London Marathon in April 2025.

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OUR 2024 OBJECTIVES

2024 was a busy and productive year as we pursued our objectives to ensure the regular flow of funding to support the children in our schools. Our specific aims in 2024 were 1) Flexible funding for the essential everyday costs of care 2) funding to prepare the children for employment 3) Funding to support sustainability and preparing the schools for the future.

preparing the schools for the future. 100% of our grant was spent on activities that directly support the care and education of the children. Goal 1 - Against a backdrop of rising prices in all countries, we spent 75% of our grant helping with the essential everyday needs of the children. The
a majority of this was spent on food to provide 63,267 meals a day at the schools, helping the Sisters to buy, grow or make the food needed for three healthy, balanced meals a day for every child.
Goal 2 - We raised funding for the extensive range of academic and vocational training needs of the children to help them learn the new skills and technologies required by local employers. 14% of our grant funded these needs like books, learning supplies and included specific equipment like the technical drafting tables for the girls in Biga and helping the children towards success by funding exam fees for the girls in Tanzania.
Goal 3 - We provided funding to cover the operating costs at the schools, particularly helping with utilities for a number of the schools, safety
bal
Goal 3 - We provided funding to cover the operating costs at the schools, particularly helping with utilities for a number of the schools, safety equipment, school repairs and equipment for the new farming initiatives. In total 11% of our grant was used to develop the schools’ sustainability projects which improve efficiency, reduce running costs and protect the planet.

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MISSION DRIVEN
STRATEGY
FUNDRAISING GOVERNANCE
FUEL FOR FOUNDATION
MISSION OF TRUST
7
ENDING
POVERTY
THROUGH
EDUCATION
IMPACT OPERATIONAL
MEASUREMENT EFFECTIVENESS
PROOF OF ENGINE OF
PROGRESS EXCELLENCE
7
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OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH IS DIRECTED BY THE FOUR PILLARS OF GOVERNANCE, OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, IMPACT MEASUREMENT, AND FUNDRAISING WHICH TOGETHER FOSTER CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND REINFORCE OUR CORE MISSION OF ENDING POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT 13

GOVERNANCE

2024 was a year of consolidation and contribution for our diverse board. All members continued to provide unstinting and invaluable support and guidance in every area. The WVC board provides a stable framework of direction and support for the charity. In 2024 they brought their experience, expertise and best practice knowledge to their governance role to ensure the effective running of the charity. Our small team of staff gained immeasurably from their individual skills particularly around digital, financial, fundraising practice and data insight.

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

The engine of our charity operation continued to operate efficiently in 2024. Stewarding our donors investment and using our resources well was a continual focus, in particular to keep overhead costs controlled. In 2024 we automated a number of our processes, introducing new technology to help with some of the basic donation handling processes and integrations. This has been a great success, reducing costs, reducing errors, and improving donor gift stewardship.

As in 2023 we have grown our collaborations with other charities on our fundraising, and this helps us to benefit from new input and perspectives and optimise our activities – especially around direct mail and legacy income raising.

IMPACT MEASUREMENT

Collection and consolidation of data from the schools continued to improve in 2024 and our fortnightly updates with the individual country programmes supplied good insight and rich data with which we can analyse the outcome of our work.

The alumni survey which has supplied such good data in the past was not conducted in 2024 but the Sisters of Mary have developed a new website and data platform which connects all the global alumni groups and will provide a robust source of data on the education programmes, and the graduates going forward.

In 2024 we gathered significant amounts of qualitative data particularly stories of the children before, during and after their time at school with the Sisters. Whilst we continued to refine our overall approach to impact measurement, we utilised these stories to communicate with our stakeholders. Many of these stories feature in our 2024 dedicated Impact Report. They tell the story of the lives changed by an education funded by our work and demonstrate our impact.

FUNDRAISING

In 2024 the fundraising environment was similar to 2023 and we faced a number of challenges during the year. On a macro level, the cost of living constraints and the turbulence of the political change during the year all affected our supporters propensity to give. On a micro level, we were able to mitigate the rising costs affecting our supply contracts but were impacted by delays affecting the accurate calculation and realisation in the year of some large legacy gifts.

Our fundraising goals focused on diversification of our income for future financial resilience, nurturing existing relationships, stewarding and reporting well and building new relationships with new funders. In 2024 we defined a prudent income forecast for the charity to ensure regular grant funding to the Sisters and thanks to the generosity of our kind supporters we were pleased to finish 4.5% ahead of this target at £2,231,776 although behind 2023 figures.

Fundraising for individual gifts via direct mail performed consistently well during the year measured by our established KPIs on response rate, average gift and RoI. We generate good efficiencies with direct mail by collaborating with other charities in the design and production. Appeals to reflect the Diamond Jubilee of the Sisters, as well as Christmas and Easter performed strongly. Notifications of legacy gifts were 30% higher than 2023 with the inclusion of one large residuary legacy gift which is not wholly reflected in the year’s income figures.

Digital income continued to improve with two successful matched giving (Big Give) appeals in the year. Trust and Foundation income has however not reached the level forecast and we continue to work to improve this whilst making new relationships with new corporate funding partners whose values align with our poverty relief mission.

We were thrilled to meet so many more of our supporters during the year and into 2025 and to receive their generous feedback on their experience when visiting the schools:

“It is uplifting to see the contrast from the hell of the streets of Chalco to the piece of paradise that the Sisters and the staff at World Villages for Children are building here on earth.”

Our supporter Enrique, on his visit to the school in Chalco, Mexico.

“the breadth of the education is huge, the potential for improving lives of this generation and the next generation through this work is enormous. This is an outstanding human endeavour and if I can help in the future, I’ll do so”. Our supporter Geoffrey on his visit to the schools in Tanzania.

As in prior years, we focused on raising unrestricted income that can be used for the range of needs of the children. We were pleased that 95% of the 2024 income remained unrestricted. It allowed the Sisters to provide vital food and medical care as well as education to 6,243 new children during the year. This meant that mid-year they had a whopping 21,089 boys and girls in school or day care with them, being cared for and educated ready for final employment and a poverty free life for themselves and their families. I hope you enjoy reading the reports on the detailed use of our funding and the enormous progress made possible at the schools by the generosity of our supporters.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

GRANT DISTRIBUTION

HOW YOUR FUNDS WERE USED IN 2024

Grant of £1,375,000 was distributed in 2024 as follows

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BRAZIL
TANZANIA
5%
5%
HONDURAS
11%
GUATEMALA PHILIPPINES
10% 48%
MEXICO
21%
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HOW YOUR FUNDS WERE USED IN 2024

FOOD

EDUCATION, TEACHERS SALARIES & LEARNING EQUIPMENT

UTILITIES, SECURITY, INSURANCE & TRANSPORTATION CLOTHING & SHOES

MEDICINE, HEALTH & HYGIENE

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59%
14%
6%
6%
10%
5%
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FIXTURES, FITTINGS, MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

PROGRESS AT THE COUNTRY PROGRAMMES

Thanks to the support of our friends and donors, in 2024 we continued to ensure the Sisters had the regular funds needed to welcome the most deprived boys and girls in the world.

Thanks to you, the most neglected children were safe, well-fed, healthy and educated, ready for a better future.

At the midpoint of the year there were 21,089 children at our schools. Following graduations, the average for the year was 19,655 children in the schools and education programmes within 6 countries. Cared for by 268 Sisters with 631 ancillary staff, doctors & nurses, and 699 teachers employed to educate the children.

COUNTRY PHILIPPINES	NUMBER OF CHILDREN4	TEACHERS	ANCILLARY STAFF	DOCTORS & NURSES	SISTERS	NEW CHILDREN ACCEPTED IN 2024


Biga Girlstown Adlas Boystown Talisay Girlstown Minglanilla Boystown Medical Centre Biga Medical Centre Minglanilla
	2577 1942 2603 1859 1355 746	71 72 93 68	79 51 76 60 12 7	4 5	30 20 25 15 2 2	646 461 783 446
MEXICO
Chalco Girlstown	2649	90	70	6	45	905
Guadalajara Boystown Day Care centre, Chalco	1833 106	62 7	41 10	3	19 2	577 54

GUATEMALA Zona 13 Girlstown
	784	28	56		16	233
Zona 6 Boystown Day Care centre Zona 13 Medical Clinic Zona 13 (4) BRAZIL	973 97 697	30 7	41 7 2	5 7	11 2 1	252 101

Brasilia (Girlstown)
	819	30	14	2	14	225
Day care centre Brasilia Sao Paulo Elementary Sao Paulo day care	77 299 157	4 14 8	5 3		4 2 4	80 98 163
HONDURAS

Tegucigalpa (Girlstown) Amarateca (Boystown)	679 782	31 34	27 30	2 2	16 11	185 250
TANZANIA Kisarawe (Girlstown)
	911	36	20	3	21	159
Kisarawe (Day Care) Kisarawe Training centre (Kwa Komba)	166 105	1 8	3 7		1 2	98 106
Dodoma Boystown	168	5	8		8	171
Average number of boys
& girls in school in the year	19655

4 Total student numbers vary due to new starters and graduations during the year so these are the average for the year 5 Average out-patients per day 6 Average out-patients per day 7 Average out-patients per day

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COUNTRY FOCUS PHILIPPINES

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

Through our supporters’ generosity, we were able to send grants of £662,677 to these schools, 48% of our total grant, to fund food, clothing, school supplies and equipment, medicines, maintenance, repairs and utilities.

The children were happy at school. Properly fed, safe and well cared for. They made new friends, studied and played hard and grew in confidence.

Sisters Community visits to reach new children in need – February 2024

sf

In the poorest regions of the country, children are malnourished, lack access to education and many young children now work long hours in rural occupations or on landfill sites to support their families.
The Sisters travelled even more extensively during the year to reach these poorest families [8] and offer a school place to thousands of the vulnerable children in need.
In 2024 they had 9,416 children in their four schools in Biga, Adlas (near Cavite), Talisay and Minglanilla (Cebu) including 2,336 new boys and girls accepted during the year.

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Mary Joy at school in Biga. tin
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Mary Joy

“The gratitude I feel for the Sisters of Mary and the generous donors who support us is immense. Their kindness has given me the chance to dream big and strive for a life filled with hope and opportunities. Every night at school, as I wrap Joriz in class at Adlas myself in my warm blanket, I am reminded of their love and support, and it fuels my determination to succeed.”

New starters June Adlas 2024

The children received TESDA[9] accredited vocational training in addition to their academic studies which included new courses in digital, visual design, AI, cyber security, robotics and caregiving and the senior children had on the job training to prepare them for jobs available locally. 2,084 children graduated from school in May 2024 and all of them secured employment.

8 Particularly to Bicol region of the Luzon where poverty is very extreme 9 Technical Education & Skills Development Authority of the Philippines

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COUNTRY FOCUS MEXICO

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

We were able to send £289,510 (21% of our grant) to the schools in Mexico to help them with food, clothing, repairs and maintenance for the school, utilities and security services. Our grant was also spent on teaching salaries and ensuring that the Sisters could deliver an excellent level of accredited education.

The girls and boys were happy, healthy and successful at school. Some of the newest girls who have faced much trauma early in life needed considerable support and counselling but they finished the year thriving and able to learn well in the care of the Sisters. They studied and played hard during the year and were ambitious for success, competing in academic and sports competitions throughout Mexico.

Nearly 46% of children in Mexico remain in poverty with 9% of these in extreme poverty lacking access to education, healthcare, adequate housing, and the basics for survival. Children, especially from indigenous communities are the most affected [10] . Child marriage is common, drug trafficking is a risk for
the boys and girls, and family situations are dangerous and complex.

“In December, one of the girls arrived late because her family had promised her in marriage but she escaped and came back to school. Early marriage happens because the families receive land or cows in exchange for the girls. They also get money. 80,000 pesos for a girl, to sell one child into marriage.” (Sr Martha, SoM May 2024).

A harvest of 14 medals for some of the girls in Chalco!

In 2024 the Sisters confronted the dangers in these regions and travelled extensively to reach these vulnerable, neglected children.
They welcomed 1,536 new children to the schools during the year from throughout the country making a total of 4,875 children at the schools in 2024. 2,903 in Chalco (girls) (Villa de las Niñas), 1972 in Guadalajara (boys), (Villa de los Niños) and 123 in Chalco day care.

The boys and girls learnt the full national academic and vocational curriculum and enjoyed new courses in electronics, nursing, greenhouse vegetable and organic farming. Skills which will help them to find good jobs or develop their own businesses. 569 senior children graduated ready for work in July and many of these are already running their own enterprises or employed by local and national companies including BMW and Chevrolet.

First day at school – Chalco August 2024

10 The states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca & Veracruz (CONEVAL)

Boys learning organic farming in Guadalajara, October 2024

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COUNTRY FOCUS BRAZIL

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

The children were so thankful to be at school during the year. As in Mexico, many of the secondary age girls have suffered greatly in their early lives and the new girls needed counselling and support from the Sisters to recover. The Sisters’ also reported that the girls have missed out on significant amounts of learning during the pandemic when schools were closed so arrived in urgent need of additional academic support. “They are struggling with reading and writing. It’s precarious. So we are providing additional tutoring to help them”.[13]

In the care of the Sisters, all the children were able to grow and flourish during the year, taking advantage of the full academic and vocational courses provided to prepare themselves for good jobs including training in ICT, nursing, and dental hygiene.

Nearly 56% of children in Brazil live in poverty, marked by a variety of deprivations[11] - including lack of food, water, shelter, healthcare and education. The Sisters’ work reveals a country where the poorest secondary age girls in regions like Pará are permanently out of school, working long hours to support the family or marrying young. They live hungry and exposed to often complex and violent situations in their homes and communities.
The Sisters community visits show families in a pitiful state, living in makeshift homes, at increased risk of floods, with the young daughters in these families the most vulnerable.[12] These children are the focus of our charitable work.
In 2024, the Sisters’ programmes in Brazil cared for 860 of these poorest girls at the secondary school in Brasilia, 314 boys and girls in the elementary school (ages 6-11) in São Paulo and 243 in the two day care programmes in Brasilia and São Paulo. This total of 1417 includes 566 children welcomed into these programmes during the year.
In 2024 funding from our generous supporters allowed us to distribute vital grants to the programmes in Brazil of £72,917, 5% of our total grant. 42% of this grant was spent on food for the children at all these programmes as well as clothing, health and hygiene supplies, equipment, and utility bills for the school and urgent repairs.

Nursing training in Brasilia 2024

The girls were ambitious and successful in and out of the classroom. For the first time they competed in the National Science Olympiad, they had fun helping the Sisters with gardening (to help with the food budget) and the nursing students enjoyed internships in the Municipal Hospital and health centres. In December, 128 girls graduated skilled, ready for employment and to help all their families.

New girls joining the school in Brasilia

13 Sr Melinda, SoM Brasilia, August 2024

Helping the Sisters with growing crops 2024

11 Unicef, Multiple Dimensions of Child Poverty 2023 12 Sr Melinda – SoM Brazil 2024

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THE STORY OF ELISA VICTORIA BRAZIL

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Felipe (in glasses) in technical class and at leisure.
Na, + wag is 3
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“My name is Elisa Victoria, from the State of Maranhao in Brazil. My parents both have health problems, and my father works hard tending animals on a small farm. On weekends, I help him as much as I can, but even with our combined efforts, there are times when we struggle to have enough food. Some mornings, our breakfast is only a cup of coffee with cassava flour — and sometimes just coffee alone.“

“To help my family, I also worked as a babysitter whenever possible. Every small effort counts when you’re trying to make ends meet.

Coming to the Sisters of Mary has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Here, I am learning so many things I never had the opportunity to learn before — not just academics, but also how to be an honest and good person, and how to dream of a brighter future.

My goal is to finish my studies and become a veterinarian, so I can help care for animals and support my family. One day, I also hope to give back to the Sisters of Mary, who have given me so much love, education, and hope.

THE STORY OF NORBETO

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GUATEMALA
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Felipe (in glasses) in technical class and at leisure.
_ .
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“My name is Norberto. Before arriving at Villa de los Niños, (Zona 6) I worked in the fields with my dad for other people in order to bring food home. The problems at home were mainly the lack of clothes and food, as we were a family with very limited resources.”

“My dad worked as a farmer and my mum was a housewife. I also have 8 siblings. I was lucky to come to Villa de los Niños because my parents didn’t have enough money to pay for my education.

Since arriving at Villa de los Niños, I now have the clothes, food, and education I need, and I’ve noticed many changes in my life. Now, I bathe and comb my hair well, I brush my teeth, and I organize my things. There are many things I like about Villa de los Niños, but the most important ones are: studying, working, participating in singing practice and working in the workshops. In the future, when I grow up, I want to be a teacher.”

Thank you for making this opportunity possible. Your kindness is helping to change my life and the lives of so many others like me.”

Norberto now that he is happy and settled at school

Elisa now safe at school and thriving with the Sisters

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COUNTRY FOCUS GUATEMALA

Despite their early difficulties, all the children settled into school and were happy and fulfilled during the year. They made lasting friendships, played hard, kept fit, loved their lessons and sports and enjoyed a proper, stress free childhood.

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Community outreach, Guatemala 2024

64% of children in Guatemala live in poverty with those in rural, indigenous areas like Alta Verapaz, most affected.[14] There, 90% of children face the effects of extreme poverty including chronic malnutrition resulting in stunting. They live in flimsy, inadequate shelters, lack access to healthcare, sanitation, and are exposed to violence and exploitation.
Education is difficult to access and poor quality. In the poorest communities, only four out of every 10 children are able to attend a secondary school and only two of those will be able to finish school[14] . Consequently demand for places at our schools grew again in 2024 and the Sisters travelled extensively in these remote rural areas to reach the children most in need of their help.

Boys having fun, Guatemala Zona 6

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

In 2024 the boys and girls were able to study a full syllabus of nationally accredited academic and vocational studies including accounting, electricity and pneumatics, ICT, fashion design and Industrial electronics. They grew confident and hopeful in the care of the Sisters.

The Sisters were able to accommodate 1982 boys and girls in their schools in 2024. 842 at their Villa de Las Ninas (Girlstown, Zona 13), 1028 at Villa de Los Ninos (Boystown, Zona 6) and 112 at their day care centre. This includes 586 new children who were welcomed during the year.

Carlos is loving his place at school “because he can play football on the real football field, and he can eat three times a day delicious food!”

Carlos Enrique (on the right with his new friend) joined Zona 6 in January 2024.

Thanks to the kindness of our supporters we were able to send £139,274, 10% of our total grant to the Guatemalan schools. 42% of the grant was spent on food for the children, with the remainder spent on educational supplies, clothing, security services and utilities. 9% of our total grant was spent on helping the Sisters with medicines for the children, particularly on dental care. Poor nutrition severely affects the dental health of the poorest children and many children in 2024 needed remedial dental and orthodontic treatment to repair and replace teeth and help them onto better health.

The top 16 senior girls in Zona 13 were awarded their final certificates by the regional Mayor, the senior boys in Zona 6 enjoyed financial education training from Banrural and a careers talk and on-the-job training from Toyota. 307 senior boys and girls graduated in October ready for employment and the majority of these have already secured permanent employment with employers including Axalta, Toyota, LG, and Banrural.

14 Unicef Guatemala 2024

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COUNTRY FOCUS HONDURAS

Thanks to the kindness of our supporters we were able to fund their care and send the Sisters £145,337, 11% of our total grant for use at the Honduran schools. 34% of the grant was spent on food for the children, with the remainder spent on educational supplies, clothing and repairs including - vital safety equipment, like the new fire hose and cabinet. Good nutrition was an urgent requirement to help the children gain weight and strength after the deprivations of their early lives.
As with Guatemala, a large proportion (over 11%) of our grant went towards medicines and healthcare support, particularly dental supplies and eye care. Many of the children required extensive courses of dental repair and replacement of missing teeth[16] so that they can eat properly. Over 50% of the children also arrived with eye problems and needed urgent care and glasses for cataracts, infections, and deteriorating eyesight.

Cynthia, one of our students, at her home in Honduras

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and 63% of the population live in poverty with 1 in 5 rural inhabitants facing extreme poverty[15] . Paid work is difficult to secure and the poorest families require their youngest to contribute by working long hours for little pay often in rural occupations like harvesting coffee. 40% of school age children are out of school.
Children in these communities are hungry and exposed to organised crime and extreme violence. The poorest regions are additionally vulnerable to the impact of climate change with droughts and floods, which exacerbate food insecurity and damage livelihoods and lives.
The Sisters were able to accommodate 1520 of these most vulnerable boys and girls in their schools in 2024. 703 at their school for girls in Tegucigalpa and 817 at their boys’ school in Amarateca. This includes 435 new children who were welcomed during the year.

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

In 2024, the boys and girls in Honduras had a full range of accredited academic lessons together with vocational training which was tailored to local employment vacancies, this included dress making, digital marketing, finance and administration, electricity, welding, and ICT. The children flourished and with a good balanced and nutritious diet, the care of the Sisters, new friends and opportunities for play and learning, they made the most of their precious opportunities inside and outside the classroom. They studied hard towards their exams and were passionate about extra-curricular activities like drawing, music, dancing and sports as well as helping the sisters to grow and rear their own food[17] . The boys’ handball team won first place in the Regional Central Oriental Handball tournament and got the first place during the National Student Games-CODICADER, qualifying to represent Honduras in El Salvador – an amazing achievement.

The Tegucigalpa girls with their science competition entry.

New boys making their dreams come true at school in Amarateca

At the end of the academic year, the senior students enjoyed on-the-job training with a variety of employers, passed their exams and 272 children graduated ready for work with employers including Toyota, Sherwin Williams, and Axalta.

15 World Food Programme

16 One child arrived in 2024 with only four teeth

17 The schools have been gifted some chickens which are productive egg layers and a good learning opportunity for the boys!

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COUNTRY FOCUS TANZANIA

Thanks to our generous friends we were able to send funds totalling £65,907 to the schools in Tanzania, 5% of our total grant. 49% of this grant was spent on food needs for the children with the remainder split across the range of needs including clothing, education supplies, health and hygiene, furniture, equipment, repairs, medicines and utilities. The children were so grateful for the support, and studied hard during the year. The newest children struggled to learn the English needed for their courses and the Sisters provided additional tuition, dictionaries and support to get the children up to the level needed for success in their exams.
Working on the ground in Tanzania the Sisters paint a stark picture of the poverty, facing its children. Their extreme deprivations – hunger, lack of shelter, lack of water and sanitation, absence of health care and their lack of access to education. Published data underlines this - nearly 85% of these children are out of secondary education unable to afford uniforms or school materials, and needed at home to contribute to household labour or for girls to face early marriage[18] .
These extreme hardships perpetuate a cycle of poverty across generations. Addressing this is a critical priority for our Sisters in this country so that all children, especially girls, can realize their right to an education. In 2024 the Sisters travelled extensively throughout the remotest regions of Tanzania to reach these most vulnerable children including Kagera, Tanga, Morogoro, Iringa, Zanzibar, Songea, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Manyara and Kilimanjaro.
They were able to care for 1,378 children in their schools and day care facility from these most deprived regions. 924 girls in Kisarawe Girlstown, 171 boys in Dodoma Boystown, 108 in the Mary Training Centre and 175 in the Day Care Centre.
All the children were so thankful for their school place. Many of the newest children, especially our boys at the new school in Dodoma, arrived extremely weak from hunger and the traumas of their early life but with a regular balanced diet and the loving care of the Sisters they soon began to grow and thrive.

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

The training centre ladies studied sewing and design technology, bread and pastry production and electrical installation and were rewarded with job offers on qualifying or help to set up their own small businesses. At the boys’ school, in addition to academic studies, the boys learnt electrical and solar technology, carpentry, ICT and welding. The girls’ school programme of vocational training expanded to include advanced sewing and design technology, cookery, ICT and electrical installation and solar. The oldest girls sat their final exams in the year and all passed ready for the first graduation and progress into employment in early 2025.

“Now that I am here the worry and burden of having an education had finally come at ease. I can enjoy privileges like adequate food and fresh water”[19]

Oloikishaan now at our school in Dodoma, Feb 2025

The very first girls graduate from school in Kisarawe, Tanzania, May 2025

18 State of the World’s Children 2024 - Unicef 19 https://www.worldvillages.org.uk/casestudy/oloikishaan-story/

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THE STORY OF MARIA HONDURAS

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Felipe (in glasses) in technical class and at leisure.
Maria and her mother
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Maria is from a remote community in Honduras. It is a large family and her older siblings are married and the younger ones work in the fields to help provide for the family’s basic needs. They live alone with their mother as sadly Maria’s father passed away.

Life hasn’t been easy for Maria and she has suffered many difficult problems. When she was younger the family often didn’t have enough food because her father chose to spend what little they had on alcohol. That hurt her family deeply.

Her house was a flimsy wooden shack and during heavy rains, it would sometimes collapse. The whole family would have to seek shelter in other people’s homes. But everything changed for Maria when she was offered the chance of a place with the Sisters at Villa de las Niñas, Tegucigalpa at the end of 2023. She joined the Sisters in January 2024.

THE STORY OF BEISHA TANZANIA

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Felipe (in glasses) in technical class and at leisure.
Beisha at home
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“A difficult time is at home when we face scarcity of water and food; there are days when we have to sleep with empty stomachs. One more painful memory was being sick and not being able to afford medicine, as my parents had no money to buy it.“

Beisha lives in Tanzania. Her parents are farmers and she is the fourth of seven children. Her house is built with blocks and has a dirt floor. Since water is scarce the family have to buy buckets of water daily for one hundred shillings per bucket.

Beisha’s early life has been very traumatic. Supported physically and financially by her grandmother, it was a difficult time for her and the whole family when she passed away, and everyday the family struggled with the necessities for survival. Her siblings were required to help the family by working on the farm so they have not been able to continue with their education. Like them, Beisha’s prospect of a secondary education looked doubtful until she met the Sisters of Mary in 2024.

Thanks to our kind supporters we were able to fund a place for Beisha at school with the Sisters and at this news her family rejoiced knowing that her life, and theirs would be changed forever.

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Maria with her new classmates
(second row from front, fourth from right)
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“Now I have food every day, proper clothes, and the opportunity to study. I finally feel safe and cared for. My dream is to graduate, and I’m deeply thankful to everyone who supports me and makes this possible. Being here has taught me that my dreams can come true. I will continue to work hard and always give my best.”

“It was one of the happiest moments of my life when I was informed that I would be able to attend the Sisters of Mary School. I felt overwhelming joy knowing that I had been given the opportunity to study, something I love deeply and a step toward achieving my dreams.

My ambition is to become a doctor because I want to help and heal many sick people. I am determined to study very hard to reach this goal. I want to sincerely thank the Sisters of Mary for all the help and support they have given me!”

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Maria at
school in
2024
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Thank you

Every child’s education is only made possible through the generous support of individual donors, regular Guardian Angels, organisations, churches, Trusts and Foundations, and our volunteers, whose commitment to investing in children’s lives has enabled us to provide free education to the poorest children worldwide.

Thank you for your gifts and grants to us in 2024 including:

C&K Sommer Trust
Lal Cork of Ashbourne Trust
Forest Hill Charitable Trust
Lal Gordillo Coleridge Charitable Trust
The Grail Society
Lal Hall Hunter Foundation Help the Poor Trust
Lal Highgate School
Marsh Charitable Trust
Rise Technical
ShareGift (Orr McIntosh Foundation)
Singer Giving
The Chalk Cliff Trust
The Rainford Trust
The Tula Trust
UBS UK Donor Advised Foundation
Van Mesdag Fund
William Jerome Charitable Trust

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The impact of our work

We collect a wide range of data about the outputs and outcomes of our work but the stories of our children before, during and after their time at school are the greatest indicators of the far reaching effect of our work and the life changing impact made with our supporters’ investment.

These compelling stories shed light on the transformation created by educating one child. With the education provided and skills learnt, these children have gone on to find stable employment.

They are motivated to give back and provide generations of their families with financial and practical help to escape poverty. They drive positive progress towards better, poverty-free and fair lives not just for their families but for those in the wider communities and countries where they live. Through their alumni groups in each country they are also a powerful ongoing support for the continuing work of the Sisters and the new children in their care. They multiply the impact of our work many times over.

Our graduates, qualified, successful and at work in the world.

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THE STORY OF CARLOS GUATEMALA

THE STORY OF STHEFANNY + BRAZIL

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Felipe (in glasses) in technical class and at leisure. oO Mae trig | 2
Carlos Baltazar Presidential Commissioner
Against Discrimination and Racism, (Codisra), at
the Sisters’ Jubilee ceremony in August 2024,
with young Carlos, one of our newest students.
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Graduate of Boystown, Zona 6 Guatemala

Carlos was one of the first group of boys to be educated in Zona 6-Boystown, Villa de los Ninos, Guatemala City, joining the school in 1998. From Livingston, Guatemala he grew up in extreme poverty despite his parents’ efforts to provide for him. In the care of the Sisters, Carlos had the opportunity to learn various vocational skills alongside academic secondary school education.

He says “there were many positive experiences that contributed to my personal growth, such as living with indigenous brothers from all over the country and learning to turn towards respect, love, and understanding of others.”

Graduate of the Girlstown in Brasilia, Brazil

“My name is Sthefanny, and my story is one of faith, hope, and transformation”

Sthefanny grew up in a small town in Brazil in a very poor family. She has four brothers and sisters. All were raised by her mother alone. Life was incredibly hard for Sthefanny and she often saw her mother crying because of their struggles. Yet, despite this she held onto her dreams of a better life, even though they seemed so far away.

Everything changed when she met the Sisters of Mary while they were visiting her hometown in 2013 and thanks to our supporters were able to offer her a place at their school in Brasilia. For the first time, Sthefanny felt a spark of hope and excitement.

“The Sisters of Mary and World Villages for Children were able to offer me a place where I could get a good education and feel safe – a place where my dreams could become possible.”

Stefanny flourished at school with the Sisters and was able to find a good job after school and pursue higher education at a reputable university. The opportunity opened doors she never thought possible. Today, Sthefanny is living and working in the UK. She is pursuing a career that she loves and is ambitious for her future.

After school with the Sisters, he earned a scholarship to study Computer Science in Puerto Barrios, Izabal, from 2003 to 2005 and got his first job that year. He then co-founded the Guatemalan Garifuna Youth Organization (JUGAGUA) to promote cultural rights in Livingston, Izabal, shortly after this forming a company to promote Garifuna culture through audiovisuals.

In 2016, Carlos was invited to join the municipal executive committee in Livingston, Izabal, to address the social challenges faced by the Garifuna people eventually becoming appointed as Presidential Commissioner against Discrimination and Racism, a position he held from 2020 to 2023, representing Guatemala at UN human rights forums between 2022 and 2023. Today Carlos is named “Messenger of Peace of Guatemala” and is currently serving a second term, as commissioner whilst studying for a second university degree, from Galileo University of Guatemala.

He says “The Villa de los Niños was a pivotal point in my adolescence. The training I received there was vital to shaping the person I have become. All the success I have today is due to the dedication of the Sisters of Mary to my education during those three years, for which I will be eternally grateful.”

She says “ living and working in Devon, allows me to support my family in Brazil and share my story wherever I go.”

She has helped her mother with financial support and continues to help her brothers and sisters by paying for their education and medical care, to ensure they can lift themselves out of poverty. One of her sisters, Ana Clara, has followed in her footsteps, and has just finished school with the Sisters in Brasilia.

Sthefanny has long term ambitions to use her qualifications to work for the United Nations.

She says “as I work towards my dreams and support my family, I carry with me the values and love that Fr Al and the Sisters of Mary have bestowed upon me. Their influence is the foundation of my strength, guiding me to live a life of faith, love, and purpose.”

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Our plans for 2025 and beyond

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28 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT LP Sinton [par] [_¥>] Ee a
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Our strategic planning is driven by the needs of the Sisters of Mary in delivering their life saving mission. In 2025 we will focus on diversifying and growing our income so that the Sisters can continue to care for the children in their schools.

There is a pressing need to generate funding for additional schools places for new children around

the world. To support the Sisters in this mission we will focus on the provision of unrestricted income so they can fund new places and enhance the education provided against the backdrop of changing technology so that all the children are ready and skilled for employment and able to help their poor families.

PROVIDING FUNDING FOR NEW CHILDREN

Our priorities in 2025 are to support the sisters in caring for the children currently in their schools and to help them welcome new children in need. We will particularly focus on provision for essentials like food, medicines, school supplies, teaching equipment and salaries. 2024 has seen a rise in the cost of food worldwide. Some essential components of the children’s diet have risen by nearly 30% and the impact of this is keenly felt in all the schools where 60,000 meals per day must be provided for the malnourished children who join us. Hungry children can’t learn. We commit to providing every child with three balanced meals daily to help them grow and thrive.

PREPARING THE CHILDREN FOR EMPLOYMENT

In 2024 provision of updated vocational training equipment became a very pressing need at the schools as the Sisters readied the children for jobs in new sectors and with new technologies, like 3D printing and cyber security. Our 2024 Big Give appeal for technical drafting tables for the girls in Biga was an example of this need.

This therefore is a key target for our 2025 fundraising to help the Sisters evolve the vocational training in response to industry needs.

Good, well paid employment of the children after graduation is the number one priority outcome at the education programmes and in 2025 we will help the Sisters to ensure they can maintain the exceptional employment rate they already achieve by providing funding to procure updated tools and equipment to support training in the new courses planned which are relevant to local employers.

SUSTAINABILITY

During the year the Sisters made great progress on developing the sustainability initiatives at the schools. This includes installation of solar panels to power some of the schools, extending the farming initiatives which utilise more of their land, reusing and recycling more in their everyday activities. This includes reuse of waste water on the farm land for crop growing.

In 2025 we will support them in these initiatives, prioritising many of the new projects for items like greenhouses for crop growing, provision of seeds for new crops, helping with agriculture training for the children and also helping with the repair and replacement of some of the school infrastructure. Some of the schools are now more than 40 years old and in urgent need of repair and replacement. We will help them with this so that they can optimise their budgets in the care of the children whilst protecting the planet.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT 29

Key Objectives to deliver this strategy

FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

In 2025 we will accelerate our strategy to diversify our funding model. 2024 saw good progress in widening our audience of supporters and raising the profile of the Sisters work but 2025 will be a chance to create greater depth and financial support in these new partnerships whilst also maintaining momentum in those fundraising channels which we know work well for us, like direct mail.

Nurturing existing supporter relationships will be a priority particularly with the appointment of new volunteer ambassadors. 2025 will see us focus on using their engagement and understanding of our work to raise greater awareness of our mission around the UK - generating new fundraising opportunities including churches, schools, and other organisations. Every year we continue to be blessed by the energy and engagement of our supporters and in 2025 we will encourage them all to spread the word even further in their communities about the work of the Sisters and the need for their involvement to continue it.

IMPACT MEASUREMENT

Demonstrating the enormous scale of these education programmes and the poverty relief impact created by our work together is key to engagement with new audiences.

In 2025, we will survey and analyse further data from the graduates as it provides valuable insight and measurement on the progress of the children after their time at school, their employment successes, earning potential, the number of family members they are able to help and the difference they go on to make in the world.

As in 2024 we will also continue to liaise closely with the Sisters to capture the stories of the children who come into their care and how their lives are transformed at school. This will be via the regular calls with the Sisters in each school and visits made to the countries to hear and to witness first-hand the situations of poverty faced by the children and how the work of the sisters addresses this need.

The Sisters continue to evolve how they collect their data on the activities of the growing network of their alumni. Their new ARDC research office, will have a vital function in 2025 in helping us to measure and report on the outputs from the schools and the outcomes for each of the children. Together this data measures what happens when the children leave school, they

are able to lift many generations of their families and communities out of poverty and onto a better life - the multiplier effect of our donors’ generous support.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

Over the last few years we have achieved a great deal of progress with recruiting and retaining our experienced board of trustees. 2024 was a year of consolidation for the board and a chance to utilise the expertise of each of the members in the various objectives of the charity.

Our board continue to be a source of great guidance and wise counsel and they have a variety of skills including lived experience of poverty and being educated at the Sisters’ programmes, all of which contributes to the strategic direction of our mission and the good governance of our charity activities in its pursuit.

In 2025 we will review the board composition to ensure these talents are optimised in the service of the charity and that we have a mix of skills to help us with our growth ambitions to support our engagement with new audiences, and enhanced grant giving aims for the Sisters programmes.

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Financial Review for 2024

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT 31

Financial Information for the year 2024 is set out in the attached statement of financial activities. Total income for the year was £2,231,776 (2023 £2,365,435). In 2024 the fundraising environment was similar to 2023 and we faced a number of challenges during the year including the cost of living constraints and the turbulence of the political change during the year which all affected our supporters’ propensity to give as well as delays affecting the accurate calculation and realisation in the year of some large legacy gifts which affected that income stream.

We were however so blessed with the support we received. We are so grateful to learn of the interest of so many of our supporters, their understanding of our work helping the Sisters and the many energetic efforts and sacrifices they make to continue to give so generously and we were pleased to finish 4% ahead of our income forecast for the year although behind 2023.

INCOME

Like last year 37% of our income in 2024 was generated by the loyal support of our special Guardian Angels. These donors who give regularly by direct debit or standing order are invaluable to our work providing a regular flow of mainly unrestricted income so that we can fund all the essential recurring costs of the children like food, clothing, and health care. Without these gifts our work would not be possible.

from direct mail and digital. This is slightly higher than 2023. We are very touched to receive gifts from donors like this, many of whom were kind enough to support us repeatedly during the year, particularly to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Sisters of Mary in August and to help us with our Big Give digital appeals during the year. We were also especially pleased to those donors who thoughtfully ticked the box and allowed us to claim gift aid on their donations and we were efficient in this regard recovering £263,206 in gift aid during the year.

Trust and Foundation income still represented just 1% of the year’s total, a small but consistent presence and we are so grateful for every repeat gift and every new relationship made.

Legacy (gifts in wills) and in memory giving declined slightly in 2024 forming 21% of our income although notifications were up on prior year. Not all the income raised in the year is recorded due to the difficulties in estimating some estates. We remain so very touched to receive these final gifts which are the result of a long lasting relationship with the charity. They are a chance to remember and continue the humanitarian work started by these supporters and they help us make a really transformative difference to the lives of the poorest children.

As in previous years we were pleased to record that the majority of income raised was unrestricted as to use, 95%. We are so grateful to our supporters for giving us their gifts in this way.

29% of our income was generated by individual gifts

EXPENDITURE

Expenditure in 2024 was £2,087,720, a 7% decrease on 2023 (2023 £2,238,877). As in prior years, we were able to operate very efficiently and generate cost savings across a number of cost centres in fundraising operations whilst maintaining income raising momentum.

During the year we maintained our reserves at the same level as previously in line with our active assessment of the fundraising environment. This represents six months expenses (not including grant payments to the Sisters of Mary). We consider the figure appropriate to the level of risk faced.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Through 2024, WVC continued to take a proactive approach to analysing and managing the risks faced by the charity. The risk register was reviewed at every board meeting and additionally at the fortnightly subcommittee meeting as needed. We continued to scan the horizon for the risks that relate to our activity, train, and test for those which are pertinent to our fundraising work. Where significant changes occur, these risks are notified to the board.

We classify risk into the following categories: Government & Management, Environment & External, Finance, Operational & Compliance. The current risk register identifies 22 risks across these categories, the major risks are as follows, including our management

strategies for each:

32 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT | |

RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Operational As a board we continue to focus investment on managing this risk which is one of the most significant Risk facing the charity by utilising an array of measures including:

Operational Risk IT Security/ Cyber Security

|Fully managed technology network with ISO accredited support company to monitor security of our IT
Robust Backup protocol.
|
a|Fully managed technology network with ISO accredited support company to monitor security of our IT
network, systems and protections.
Robust Backup protocol.| |---|---| |Cyber insurance and staff training on all risks
||Cyber insurance and staff training on all risks| |The charity continues to maintains a small team of 5 staff who cover the main functions of our business.
Potenal operational risks are managed by:||

Operational Risk Absence/loss of key staff

a Documenting of processes and comprehensive guidelines for performing essential activities.

a Cross training of staff on key functions.

Financial risk Lack of diversity in funding or decline in income

Our fundraising strategy continues to build towards a diverse array of income streams to manage risk. This approach includes:

a Planning & investing in new fundraising methods, skills and capabilities to expand our reach to new individual and organisational sources, corporates, and Trusts & Foundations.
a Prompt stewardship to help reduce attrition, maintain engagement and encourage repeat giving.

Our management of financial risk includes:

Our management of financial risk includes: Financial Risk Fraud Segregation of financial activities relating to handling income and expenditure. Guidelines and policies on money handling, recording and oversight of cash handling together with staff |[|] training on all aspects of finance management and fraud. a Whistleblowing and staff protection policies for the above. Operational Processes to manage this risk include: Risk Supplier a Managing relationships with alternative suppliers. dependence a Sharing services with other charities and collaboration on certain functions. | Macro Economic Instability affects donor contributions. The board has in place processes to manage this risk to Political and income which include: Economic Diversifying income to remain resilient by seeking funding from multiple sources. instability Maintaining adequate reserves to ensure operations continue without immediate funding pressures. of a

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT | |

GOING CONCERN

The trustees completed an assessment of the going concern status of the charity and reviewed the income and expenditure figures for 2024, the budget forecast for 2025 and going forward, one year from signing of the accounts. Through the provision of management accounts, cash flow projections and reports and risk register reviews, the board continue to monitor the level of income, unrestricted reserves and the changing risks facing the charity. These are also monitored regularly by the Finance and Operations Sub-committee.

From this ongoing assessment, they conclude that there are no material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that would cast doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.

FUNDING SOURCES

In 2024 we made good progress with engaging new audiences and raising income and in-kind gifts from new sources this included Trusts & Foundations, Corporates, new organisations including churches and schools and new digitally engaged supporters. We maintained a consistent performance with individual giving via direct mail, regular gifts from our Guardian Angel donors and continued to benefit from legacy and in memory gifts. We also continued to take advantage of the Gift Aid scheme where our donors were kind enough to confirm their eligibility.

Some of our individual giving donors were adversely affected by cost of living challenges which affected responses on some direct mail appeals but the seasonable appeals (Christmas, Easter, Birthday), as well as the special Diamond Jubilee appeal for help with the Sister’s mission were year highlights.

Our efficiencies also continue strongly in this fundraising as we collaborate more with other of our sister charities on design and printing.

Digital fundraising had a year of great momentum. We are excited to be learning more about this method of fundraising whilst closely following the sector’s best practice guidance on approaches. We were grateful to be accepted for two Big Give appeals during the year and both achieved their targets early. KPIs on our digital activity are closely monitored and we use these results to model and shape our strategy going forward.

Supporter meetings with the Sisters in the UK in May and the new lunch and learn series of Zoom link ups for supporters with the schools have really increased donor engagement and fundraising opportunities. We will do more of this in 2025. We were also so grateful to the supporters and alumni who fundraised for us during the year, particularly Malou (alumni of the Philippines school) who ran the Berlin Marathon and will run the London Marathon in April 2025 to raise funds for us.

Gifts in Wills didn’t quite meet 2023 levels although notifications were 30% increased on that year and funds from one of the estates will be realised in 2025. They remain a significant part of our fundraising and such a blessing to receive. During the year we were so very grateful to learn of our inclusion in the wills of a number of our supporters either those who have used our Free Wills Network subscription or who have acted independently. Such a final gift, whatever the size, is an enormous privilege for us to receive and makes a lasting difference for the children in our care.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT ] |

FUNDRAISING PRACTICE

Our supporters place their trust in us to steward their gifts efficiently and effectively and in 2024 it was again a priority for us to ensure we upheld this trust. We were humbled by the kindness and sacrifice of our supporters and cherished every single gift received, ensuring it was quickly and safely banked, distributed to the Sisters for the children promptly, and that we reported clearly on the expenditure with the details provided by the schools.

Our charity values of compassion, dedication, and integrity underpin our fundraising and all our charity operations and we prioritise ensuring the maximum amount of our fundraising income is included in each grant and gets to the point of use quickly. The Sisters’ diligence in reporting on the expenditure helps us hugely in delivering transparent reporting to our funders to show the variety of ways their funds have been used and how they are supporting this poverty relief work.

We focus on:

u Quick thanking and efficient stewardship of our supporters gifts, demonstrating the difference made by the donations.
u We protect our supporters’ data ensuring our data protection policies and processes are up to date with legislative changes and are followed by staff, volunteers and partners. Our privacy policy shows how we use our donor data and provides clear instructions on how supporters can opt out of contact or make a complaint. There were no complaints in 2024 (2023 none).

Enquiries to the charity are actioned within 48 working hours but generally much quicker than this. All feedback received from supporters is promptly acknowledged and appreciated as it helps us to improve our fundraising.

- www.worldvillages.org.uk/privacy policy

: As well as being members of the Fundraising Regulator, we are members of the NCVO, the DMA and the CIoF so that we can stay up to date on training and good guidance on fundraising. This includes codes of practice which relate specifically to digital communications[20] .
Our fundraising continues to be designed inhouse with content provided and authored by our beneficiaries. Our children are the best authors of their lives and experiences so we often use unedited content from the boys and girls at school to tell the story of their lives. External agencies help us

to produce and post the direct mail appeals and to bank some of the responses. We manage these relationships closely and monitor for quality and accuracy.

Our work is supported by a wide range of generous friends and we take great care to protect all their interests including the most vulnerable. We follow guidance issued by the CIoF and feedback direct from our donors in the construction of our fundraising to ensure it is accessible and acceptable for all. Our vulnerable donors’ policy ensures any donor notified to us as vulnerable or who we believe may lack capacity is not contacted for fundraising purposes.

RESERVES

The charity’s reserves policy is key to our risk management approach. When planning our charity activity and grant giving we review the level of reserves that need to be held and strike a balance between utilising our funds promptly to support the children and the need to retain sufficient surplus to meet commitments per our reserves policy.

The reserves policy is based on the level of core costs, risks that we face and the quality of income for its contribution to surplus.

In 2024 the majority of our income continued to be unrestricted (95%) (96.5% in 2023) and thus the risk profile remained largely the same as for 2023.

The level of reserves is calculated on six months’ expenditure (excluding grants to the Sisters of Mary) and this is approximately £350,000. The reserves are retained as follows: £190,000 held in liquid assets which can be accessed within 35 days and the remainder held on the balance sheet as a legacy debtor.

At 31 December 2024 the total reserves figure was £708,005 of which £688,168 is represented by unrestricted reserves and £19,837 is represented by restricted reserves. Free reserves at year end, taking into account assets that are not readily available were £10,154 – for the purposes of this calculation both fixed assets and accrued legacy income are not deemed readily available.

The board note that the free reserve total at 31 December 2024 is significantly below the level stated by the policy, however post year end several significant legacy amounts have been realised, increasing the free reserves.

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20 Code of Digital Fundraising Practice
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New girls, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

World Villages for Children was incorporated on 23rd October 1996. Our governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association which was revised in September 2017.

World Villages for Children is governed by the Board of Trustees. The board meets a minimum of three times a year in addition to meetings of the Operations and Finance Sub-Committee which meets fortnightly. The board is responsible for setting the strategic planning for the charity as well as its overall governance, including signing the Trustees’ Annual Report. The board oversees WVC’s management, with day to day responsibility delegated to Nicola Lawson as UK Manager, who, as authorised by the Charity Commission, also serves as a trustee on the board.

The board define the objectives which are the focus of our activities. They manage the risk to the charity, monitor performance toward our objectives and scrutinise the monthly grant giving to the Sisters of Mary programmes. They ensure reporting and compliance with the regulatory standards for charities and companies and that all legal standards are adhered to, including maintenance of a conflict of interest policy.

GRANT MAKING AND REPORTING ON EXPENDITURE

WVC sends its grants to the Sisters of Mary programmes on a monthly basis based on an agreed budget, with additional surpluses where available, based on their operational budget and the needs of the children in the schools. The grant expenditure process is underpinned by an overarching Deed of Grant-making Policy which also defines how reporting on the expenditure is to be handled. The expenditure reports sent by the Sisters are monitored closely by the UK Manager and board and thoroughly audited to ensure that funds are spent as agreed, in line with our charitable objectives and particularly where restricted funds are sent. The analysis included in this report is based on this expenditure reporting.

CHARITY GOVERNANCE CODE

WVC continues to be indebted to its dedicated board of trustees which has been recruited over the last few years to support the governance of the charity. In 2016 a detailed Governance review was conducted which provided guidance on recruitment of UK domiciled trustees. We have followed this guidance on composition of the board as well as the Charity Code of Governance to ensure that we are building a strong board which meets the needs of the charity and serves it well in the delivery of its mission. We continue to review the board for efficacy and skills needed to ensure the growth of the charity in the years to come.

2024 was a year of consolidation for our board as we utilised the variety of skills and talents within our governance group which is extremely diverse as to age, gender and experience.

We are grateful to our board for the time they give so generously to guide the charity. They act honestly and with the interests of the charity at the centre of everything they do.

Our Finance and Operations sub-committee of the board focuses on all the issues relating to the running of the charity and particularly risk and financial performance. We also remain grateful to the programme alumni who participate on our advisory committee. The group did not meet in 2024 but the alumni continued to provide us with their support, skills and insight on the Sisters’ programmes and contribute greatly to our impact measurement work.

TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT, INDUCTION & TRAINING

Trustees are recruited to the board for their experience, skills and knowledge as well as their understanding of education and its part in poverty relief and their alignment with the values on which our charity is centred.

Following interview by the board, new Trustees are appointed by resolution and have a period of induction to familiarise themselves with the legal requirements of their role. They also learn about our governance framework, our charity objects and the detailed work of the Sisters of Mary at the schools. It is mandatory for all our trustees to be DBS checked and to be fully compliant with our safeguarding policy.

www.worldvillages.org.uk/what-we-do/safeguarding/

All trustees, especially those who are new to the board are encouraged to travel to the schools and meet the children and alumni unless they have good prior experience, such as Fr Fretch, who is a graduate of the Adlas schools programme. Those not wishing to travel maintain close contact with the programmes through Zoom meetings, in person meetings with alumni and the Sisters when they travel to the UK.

SAFEGUARDING

WVC maintains a detailed safeguarding policy which covers its UK charity activities and also monitors the safeguarding provisions and child protection processes at the Sisters of Mary schools worldwide. We do not tolerate abuse, maltreatment or neglect of any person. The charity, its trustees, staff and all involved in its operation are committed to protecting and fulfilling our duty of care to those we work with in the UK and the children in our care overseas.

Our safeguarding policy and processes are designed to keep all our staff, volunteers and trustees safe and we train and update to support awareness and capacity in safeguarding. The Sisters also report to us on the implementation of their safeguarding protocols and we observe them in person at the Sisters of Mary schools, day care and training centres worldwide. Together our activities ensure a safe and happy environment for our staff, volunteers, stakeholders here and all our vulnerable beneficiaries overseas at all times.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE

At WVC, we recognise our responsibility to operate as a force for positive change, both within our organisation and through the Sisters of Mary in the communities we serve. We bring together dedicated UK funders who want their investments to make a difference, with overseas education programmes which seek to provide an education to relieve poverty and create real change in the lives of people and communities, whilst protecting the planet.

Our values of dedication, integrity and commitment guide our decisions, actions and interactions with all our stakeholders and we view climate change and environmental impact as significant and a matter which is our responsibility now and for the future.

In 2024 we started to evaluate our ESG factors alongside financial outcomes in our activities as well as when making decisions about our grant allocations for the Sisters of Mary programmes which specifically support the sustainability, climate friendly initiatives they are developing in their schools programmes.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPACT

of our risk management approach. When planning

our fundraising activity and grant giving we FOR US THIS COVERS TWO PRIMARY AREAS:

a balance between utilising our funds promptly in Internal activities – This includes how we conduct support for the Sisters of Mary programmes and our fundraising work, our travel, material usage, procurement practices, office operations and staff
nearly 20,000 children in our care each year and the travel arrangements.
need for prudent management of our commitments,

as well as providing for contingencies. We take proactive steps to mitigate climate change. This includes reuse and recycling, working towards The reserves policy agreed annually by the trustees a paperless office, partnering with suppliers who is based on level of core costs, specific risk around adhere to ethical and environmentally responsible each element of income and the quality of income practices to help us in our fundraising, minimising for its contribution to surplus.the carbon footprint of our office operations, minimising use of electricity and encouraging staff In 2021 the majority of our income (97.4%) to use public transport and climate friendly means to remained unrestricted and risk profile to this income access their work – like cycling or walking.

remained largely the same as for 2020 and so a External activities – the Sisters of Mary education
level of reserves which is determined as six months’ projects we support and how they mitigate the
expenditure, excluding the grants to the Sisters of impact on climate change and conduct their activities sustainably.

The SoM continue to develop sustainable operating practices which reuse and recycle materials, they generate a good deal of their power (particularly in the Philippines) from sustainable sources – like solar and continue to develop sustainable farming practices which utilise waste water and help them feed the children at the schools and protect the planet.

SOCIAL FOCUS

We value and benefit from the collective power and potential of our workforce. Our dedication to building a workforce that is well cared for and nurtures inclusion will unlock the potential of our employees and drive organisational success. Our benefits package for staff and approach to recruitment and retention underline this belief, with fair pay, a safe and healthy work environment and encouragement to make space for active engagement outside the office as well as volunteering within our local community.

Mary. This total is £305,525.Maria in Germany. All these charities share similar aims as World Villages for Children for the relief of poverty The reserves continued to be retained as follows: through education but they are separate, independent minimum of £225, 218 held in liquid assets which can legal entities and there is no one controlling party.

be accessed within 95 days and the remainder held ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTING PAY AND on the balance sheet as a legacy debtor. REMUNERATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

At 31 December 2021, the total reserves figure WVC aims to reward its employees fairly and to ensure was £711,822 of which £704,927 is represented by sufficient skilled staffing to achieve our objectives, in unrestricted reserves and £6,895 is represented by keeping with our status as a charity.

into account assets that are not readily available, Pay rates are benchmarked against sector averages were £244,241 – for the purposes of this calculation and take into account the specifics of the job role, both fixed assets and accrued legacy income are responsibility, experience and quality of performance. As with all staff remuneration, WVC reviews and not deemed readily available. benchmarks management remuneration with sector standards and in relation to other staff salaries. Trustees 31 December 2021 is slightly below the level stated are not remunerated with the exception of the UK by the policy, however post year end several Manager who receives a salary for her management role significant amounts within the accrued legacies whilst also holding the role of trustee as requested by have now been realised, increasing the free reserves.the board and authorised by the Charity Commission in 2016.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In setting the objectives for the charity and planning its activities, the Board has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on the public benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011.

The humanitarian poverty relief programmes that we fund support those children in greatest need and no charges are made for any care provided, therefore the board considers that the charity meets the following four important principles of the public benefit requirements in its work:

Relief of poverty through the funding of free education for children which enables them to access a vocation and to acquire employment – to break free from the cycle of poverty and assist their families.
Advancement of education, by ensuring all the children attend one of our schools or day-care facilities.

GOVERNANCE

Our objective in 2024 continued to be a diverse and equitable trustee board and we have built a governance structure which is diverse across a range of skills, gender, age and experience. We operate with strong principles of honesty and integrity and our trustees act with the interests of the charity at the centre of everything they do. The charity provides transparency in its financial accounting, works towards robust ethical guidelines in its fundraising and has clear accountability to donors and the public.

We believe strong governance is the bedrock of trust, assuring our stakeholders that the organisation is well-managed and that their contributions are being used effectively and ethically.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH RELATED (CONNECTED) PARTIES

Throughout 2024 WVC continued to work closely with the family of independent affiliated charities based in the EU and US. Income from these charities together sustains the Sisters of Mary programmes and the children in their care.

Advancing health and welfare – ensuring all the children at the schools receive medical support, proactive health care, regular food and nutrition and extra supplements where needed.
Enabling children in the countries where we operate to access a better, poverty free future.

Our fundraising work provides children with a lifesaving education and a route out of poverty. When children from the poorest countries and communities have the chance of a place at one of our schools their lives and the lives of their families are changed forever. The children can find work, become independent, able to help themselves and their families onto a better, poverty free future but we cannot help these children without you. By supporting our appeals, becoming a Guardian Angel, giving online, giving a grant, leaving a gift in your will or simply sharing about our work with your friends and community you can transform the life of a child and their family – permanently www.worldvillages.org.uk

These include Wereld Doorpen voor Kinderen in Belgium and the Netherlands, Villages du Monde pour Enfants in France, Asian Relief (trading as World Villages for Children) in the US and Die Schwestern

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also directors of World Villages for Children for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards).

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions, disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the provisions of the charity’s constitution.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

AUDITORS

Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

Kreston Reeves LLP have indicated their willingness to continue in office and are deemed to be reappointed in accordance with section 487 (2) of the Companies Act 2006.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

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;

----- Start of picture text -----
N Lawson
Trustee
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

38 []

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 AUDITOR’S REPORT !

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of World Villages for Children

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 AUDITOR’S REPORT

OPINION

We have audited the financial statements of World Villages for Children (the ‘Charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows, Analysis of Net Debt and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 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:

[give a true and fair view of the state of the ] Charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of the charity’s incoming resources for the year then ended;
[ have been properly prepared in accordance with ] United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
[ have been prepared in accordance with the ] requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

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 Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council’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.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

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 Charity’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 Auditors’ 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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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, which ] includes the directors’ report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
[ the directors’ report included within the trustees’ ] report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations require us to report you, if in our opinion:

[ the information given in the Trustees’ report is ] inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
[sufficient accounting records have not been ] kept; or
[ the financial statements are not in agreement with ] the accounting records and returns; or
[ we have not received all the information and ] explanations we require for our audit.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 37, the Trustees 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 Charity’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 Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

40 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 |

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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 Auditors’ 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 noncompliance 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

CAPABILITY OF THE AUDIT IN DETECTING IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD

Based on our understanding of the charity and sector, and through discussion with the Trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to health and safety, anti-bribery, GDPR legislation and employment law. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 2019, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and other relevant charity legislation. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries to increase revenue or reduce expenditure and management bias in accounting estimates specifically in recognising the accrued legacies.

Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

[Discussions with management and assessment of known ] or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud; and
[Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of ] controls that management has in place to prevent and detect fraud; and
[Performing analytical procedures to identify any ] unusual or unexpected relationships, including related party transactions, that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; and
[Confirmation of related parties with management, and ] review of transactions throughout the period to identify any previously undisclosed transactions with related parties outside the normal course of business; and
[Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with ] governance; and

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the Charity’s internal control.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Trustees.
Conclude on the appropriateness of the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our Auditors’ Report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our Auditors’ Report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Charity to cease to continue as a going concern.
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

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. 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 Auditors’ 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 its Trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Review of significant and unusual transactions and evaluation of the underlying financial rationale supporting the transactions; and
Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any manual entries made at the year end for financial statement preparation; and
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in its significant accounting estimates.

Kreston Reeves LLP Partner

Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants, Chichester

15 September 2025

Date

Kreston Reeves LLP are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
		Funds	Funds	Funds	Funds
		2024	2024	2024	2023
	Notes	£	£	£	£
INCOME FROM
Donations and legacies
Donations andgrants	3	1,646,061	111,711	1,757,772	1,810,287
Legacies and bequests	3	469,835	-	469,835	551,529
Interest income		4,169	-	4,169	3,619
Total		2,120,065	111,711	2,231,776	2,365,435
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising Funds	4 & 5	358,273	-	358,273	365,139
Charitable Activities	4 & 6	1,636,319	93,128	1,729,447	1,873,738
Total		1,994,592	93,128	2,087,720	2,238,877
Net Income		125,473	18,583	144,056	126,558
Net movement in funds		125,473	18,583	144,056	126,558
Total Funds Brought Forward	12 & 13	562,695	1,254	563,949	437,391
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	12 & 13	688,168	19,837	708,005	563,949

During the current financial year the salary allocation model has been amended to more accurately reflect the time spent on activities, and this has retrospectively been applied to the prior year figures adjusting the split between expenditure on raising funds and charitable activities as shown in note 4. Total expenditure remains unchanged.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing operations.

The notes on the pages 44 to 53 form a part of these financial statements.

42 a

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 ]

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

			2024		2023
	Notes	£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible fixed assets	9		10,840		14,453
Tangible fixed assets	8		33,966		42,197
			44,806		56,650
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock		11,065		12,643
Debtors	10	672,375		487,258
Cash at bank and in hand		200,288		237,821
		883,728		737,722

Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year	11	(220,529)		(230,423)

Net Current Assets			663,199		507,299
Net Assets			708,005		563,949
The funds of the charity
Restricted funds	12 & 13		19,837		1,254
Unrestricted funds	12 & 13		688,168		562,695
Total Funds			708,005		563,949

For the year ending 31 December 2024 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. However an audit is required under the Charities Act 2011.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to the small companies regime.

The Financial Statements were approved and authorised for distribution by the Board of Trustees on …8th September 2025……….. and signed on their behalf by:

…………………………………………………….

Nicola Lawson Trustee

Company Registration No. 3267479

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

	2024	2023
	£	£
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (Expenditure)/ income for the year	144,056	126,558
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation of fxed assets	11,844	12,217
Interest received	(4,169)	3,619
Decrease / (increase) in debtors	(185,117)	(296,882)
(Decrease) / increase in creditor due within one year	(9,894)	(1,242)
Decrease /(increase)in Stock	1,578	1,100
Net cash from by operating activities	(41,702)	(161,868)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Interest received	4,169	3,619
Net cash from investing activities	4,169	3,619
Change in cash and cash equivalents in theyear	(37,533)	(158,249)
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the year	237,821	396,070
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the ear	200,288	237,821

The charity had no borrowings or debt instruments during the reporting period. As such, no net debt reconciliation is required or presented.

The notes on the pages 44 to 53 form a part of these financial statements.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Status of the charity

World Villages for Children is registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (company number 03267479) and its registered office is Kings Building, 16 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HQ. World Villages for Children is a Public Benefit Entity registered with the Charity Commission (Charity number 1058973).

Basis of Preparation of the Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Financial Report Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and the 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) second edition - effective 1 January 2019.

The functional currency of the charity is Pound Sterling. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

Going Concern

The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of one year from the date of approval of these accounts. The Trustees of the Charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees are of the opinion that the Charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

The Trustees have considered a number of factors when forming their conclusion as to whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate. They take into account the budget forecast for up to December 2025, cash flow forecast to December 2025 and the review of risks facing the charity, particularly the ongoing cost of living crisis. Key current risk is the decline in income due to economic factors affecting cost of living and the ongoing conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East.

Our forward planning beyond 2025 takes into consideration the changing fundraising context and the economic climate and its potential impact on the various sources of income and planned expenditure.

The Charity’s monthly financial statements, along with a cash flow forecast and scenario planning, show that the Charity has sufficient funds and liquidity and having regard to all of the above it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Legacies

Legacies are recognised in the statement of financial activities when there is entitlement, adequate probability and reliability of receipt and their value can be accurately measured. For both pecuniary and residuary legacies this is when probate has been granted and a reasonable estimate calculated for this income.

Donations

Donations are accounted for when conditions for their receipt are met, it is probable that the amounts will be received and the amount receivable can be reliably estimated.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

The key sources of uncertainty in our estimations that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are described in the accounting policies and are summarised below:

Residuary legacies

The charity recognises residuary legacies once probate has been granted, which therefore requires an estimation of the amount receivable.

Pensions

Pension contributions are made for all employees and recorded as they fall due. These are defined contributions paid to approved private pension schemes for each employee.

Taxation

World Villages for Children is a registered charity and all of its income falls within the exemptions under part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

Gift Aid Repayments

Our fundraising planning addresses this risk and since year end fundraising has continued consistently, overseen fortnightly by the board sub-committee to monitor performance and liquidity. Expenditure and operating efficiency continue to be closely scrutinised by management and the whole board quarterly with forecasts adjusted for different outcomes to assess liquidity and going concern status.

Income from Gift Aid repayment claims is only included for claims which have been submitted for tax periods ending on or before the year end and when the receipt of this income is certain.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred.

Grant payments are recognised when a constructive obligation arises that results in the payment being required.

Raising funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income.

The costs of appeals are matched where possible with the income generated. The accounting effect of this policy means that, at the balance sheet date, a proportion of the cost of the December mailing is carried forward as a prepayment as part of the response anticipated in January.

Support costs including central functions and costs primarily associated with constitution and statutory requirements have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, e.g. allocating staff cost by work done, office costs by floor area, return mail processing and finance costs by work done. The staff costs which relate specifically to fundraising for the charity have been apportioned within support costs on the basis of time calculated as spent on this activity.

Tangible Fixed Assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Leasehold improvements over the term of the lease

Plant and equipment 20% on cost

All assets are capitalised at a cost.

Intangible Fixed Assets

Amortisation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Website development and software 20% on cost

All assets are capitalised at cost

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or donations subject to conditions imposed by donors.

Designated funds comprise funds set aside out of unrestricted funds for a specific purpose.

Leasing Commitments

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged against income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Foreign currency transactions

Transactions denominated in a foreign currency are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction or at an average rate for the relevant month where that provides a close approximation.

Stock

The stock held is used for the direct marketing mailings, all the stock is held at the printers and valued at cost price.

Other Financial Instruments

i. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash at banks and in hand and short-term deposits with a maturity date of three months or less. As at 31st December 2024, total cash held was £200,288 (2023: £237,821).

ii. Debtors and Creditors

Debtors and creditors receivable or payable within one year of the reporting date are carried at their transaction price. Debtors and creditors that are receivable or payable in more than one year and not subject to a market rate of interest are measured at the present value of the expected future receipts or payment discounted at a market rate of interest. Balances for 2023 and 2024 are set out in notes 10 to 11.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES	2. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		Funds 2023	Funds 2023	Funds 2023
	Notes	£	£	£
INCOME FROM
DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Donations andgrants	3	1,727,944	82,343	1,810,287
Legacies	3	551,529	-	551,529
Interest income		3,619	-	3,619
Total		2,283,092	82,343	2,365,435
EXPENDITURE ON
RaisingFunds	4 & 5	365,139	-	365,139
Charitable activities	4 & 6	1,767,348	106,390	1,873,738
Total		2,132,487	106,390	2,238,877
Net income/(expenditure)		150,605	(24,047)	126,558
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS		150,605	(24,047)	126,558
Total funds brought forward	12 & 13	412,090	25,301	437,391
TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD	12 & 13	562,695	1,254	563,949
3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		2024	2024	2024
		£	£	£
Donations andgrants		1,646,061	111,711	1,757,772
Legacies and bequests		469,835	-	469,835
Total		2,115,896	111,711	2,227,607
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		2023	2023	2023
		£	£	£
Donations andgrants		1,727,944	82,343	1,810,287
Legacies and bequests		551,529	-	551,529
Total		2,279,473	82,343	2,361,816

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

4. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE	4. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE
	Grants to	Direct staff	Other direct	Support	Total
	Sisters of Mary	Costs	Costs	Costs	2024
	£	£	£	£	£
COSTS OF GENERATING	FUNDS:
Fundraising and publicity	-	113,680	179,394	65,199	358,273
Charitable expenditure	1,375,000	64,416	217,485	72,546	1,729,447
Total charitable activity	1,375,000	64,416	217,485	72,546	1,729,447
Total resources expended	1,375,000	178,096	396,879	137,745	2,087,720
	Grants to	Direct staff	Other direct	Support	Total
	Sisters of Mary	Costs	Costs	Costs	2023
	£	£	£	£	£
COSTS OF GENERATING	FUNDS:
Fundraising and publicity	-	111,827	190,337	62,975	365,139
Charitable expenditure	1,500,000	63,399	240,996	69,343	1,873,738
Total charitable activity	1,500,000	63,399	240,996	69,343	1,873,738
Total resources expended	1,500,000	175,226	431,333	132,318	2,238,877

An analysis of expenditure on raising funds split between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 5. An analysis of expenditure on charitable activities split between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 6.

An analysis of staff costs can be found in note 7.

Support costs consist of two main elements: indirect staff costs and office costs. These costs have been apportioned across the work of the charity on the basis in Note 1 and allocated to each of the charity’s activity as set out in the table below.

	Indirect Staff (time)	Ofce costs (Area)	Total 2024
	£	£	£
Fundraising and publicity	23,361	41,838	65,199
Charitable activities	13,007	59,539	72,546
Total costs allocated	36,368	101,377	137,745
	Indirect Staff (time)	Ofce costs (Area)	Total 2023
	£	£	£
Fundraising and publicity	23,405	39,570	62,975
Charitable activities	13,032	56,311	69,343
Total costs allocated	36,437	95,881	132,318

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

4. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE (Continued)

Included within expenditure are the following costs

Included within expenditure are the following costs 4. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE(Continued)
	2024	2023
	£	£
Operatingleasepayments	48,136	48,840
Auditors remuneration:
Audit services	20,340	19,200
Accountancy and other professional services	30,215	38,279

5. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	2024	2024	2024
	£	£	£
Direct staff costs	113,680	-	113,680
Other direct costs	179,394	-	179,394
Support costs	65,199	-	65,199
Total	358,273	-	358,273
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	2023	2023	2023
	£	£	£
Direct staff costs	111,827	-	111,827
Other direct costs	190,337	-	190,337
Support costs	62,975	-	62,975
Total	365,139	-	365,139

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

6. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	2024	2024	2024
	£	£	£
Grants to Sisters of Mary	1,281,872	93,128	1,375,000
Direct staff costs	64,416	-	64,416
Other direct costs	217,485	-	217,485
Support costs	72,546	-	72,546
Total	1,636,319	93,128	1,729,447

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	2023	2023	2023
	£	£	£
Grants to Sisters of Mary	1,393,610	106,390	1,500,000
Direct staff costs	63,399	-	63,399
Other direct costs	240,996	-	240,996
Support costs	69,343	-	69,343
Total	1,767,348	106,390	1,873,738

7. STAFF COSTS

7. STAFF COSTS
	2024	2023
	£	£
Wages and salaries	194,194	191,882
Social security costs	15,426	15,204
Pension costs	4,844	4,578
Total	214,464	211,664

The average headcount during the year was 5 persons (2023 – 5).

Total remuneration paid to such key management personnel including trustees (see note 15) amounted to £54,116 (2023: £55,206).

There are no employees earning £60,000 per annum or more (2023: none).

50 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
	LeaseholdImprovements	Equipment	Total
	£	£	£
COST
At 1st January2024	75,556	20,491	96,047
At 31st December 2024	75,556	20,491	96,047
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
At 1st January 2024	34,557	19,293	53,850
Charge for the year	7,555	676	8,231
At 31st December 2024	42,112	19,969	62,081
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31st December 2024	33,444	522	33,966
At 1st January 2024	40,999	1,198	42,197
The fxed assets are used wholly for the activities of the charitable company.
9. INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
		Website	Total
		development	£
	& software costs
COST
At 1st January 2024		34,448	34,448
At 31 December 2024		34,448	34,448
ACCUMULATED AMORTISATION
At 1st January 2024		19,995	19,995
Charge for the year		3,613	3,613
At 31 December 2024		23,608	23,608
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31st December 2024		10,840	10,840
At 1 January 2024		14,453	14,453
10. DEBTORS		Total	Total
		2024	2023
		£	£
Legacies receivable		633,208	416,327
Gift aid receivable		2,742	28,030
Prepayments		34,155	29,135
Other debtors		2,270	13,766
		672,375	487,258

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

11. CREDITORS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR	Total	Total
	2024	2023
	£	£
Trade creditors	42,738	61,017
Accruals	24,952	24,448
HMRCpayable	4,137	6,937
Pensionpayable	808	957
Grants due to the Sisters of Mary	100,000	125,000
Other	47,894	12,064
	220,529	230,423

12. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE FUNDS

	Balance @				Balance @
	01.01.2024	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	31.12.2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted	562,695	2,120,065	(1,994,592)	-	688,168
Restricted
Guatemala	-	7,764	(7,754)	-	10
Tanzania	-	56,348	(54,829)	-	1,519
Philippines	-	21,291	(7,590)	-	13,701
Honduras	528	17,351	(17,068)	-	811
Brazil	-	8,224	(4,428)	-	3,796
Mexico	-	553	(553)	-	-
Other	726	180	(906)	-	-
Restricted	1,254	111,711	(93,128)	-	19,837
Total	563,949	2,231,776	(2,087,720)	-	708,005
	Balance @				Balance @
	01.01.2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	31.12.2023
	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted	412,090	2,283,092	(2,132,487)	-	562,695
Restricted
Guatemala	2,915	2,061	(4,976)	-	-
Tanzania	21,790	61,825	(83,615)	-	-
Philippines	50	1,061	(1,111)	-	-
Honduras	528	755	(755)	-	528
Brazil	18	15,779	(15,797)	-	-
Mexico	-	136	(136)	-	-
Other	-	726	-	-	726
Restricted	25,301	82,343	(106,390)	-	1,254
Total	437,391	2,365,435	(2,238,877)	-	563,949

Each of the restricted funds is to be spent on charitable activities within the relevant country.

52 WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	Funds 2024	Funds 2024	2024
	£	£	£
Intangible fxed assets	10,840	-	10,840
Tangible fxed assets	33,966	-	33,966
Cash at bank and in hand	180,451	19,837	200,288
Other net current assets	462,911	-	462,911
	688,168	19,837	708,005
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
	Funds 2023	Funds 2023	2023
	£	£	£
Intangible fxed assets	14,453	-	14,453
Tangible fxed assets	42,197	-	42,197
Cash at bank and in hand	236,567	1,254	237,821
Other net current assets	269,478	-	269,478
	562,695	1,254	563,949

14. LEASE COMMITMENTS

14. LEASE COMMITMENTS
	LAND AND	BUILDINGS
	Total	Total
	2024	2023
	£	£
At 31 December, the charity has total future minimum commitments
under operating leases as follow:
Within one year	48,393	15,387
Between two and fve years	190,722	183,968
Greater than fve years	-	15,295
	239,115	214,650

15. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND DONATIONS

A total of £nil (2023: £nil) expenses were paid by the charity in the year. Nicola Lawson, who became a trustee in July 2016, received remuneration of £47,567 (2023: £48,500) and pension of £1,240 (2023: £1,268) during the year, in her capacity as an employee of the charity. This has been discussed and agreed with the Charity Commission. No other trustee receives remuneration (2023: £nil).

Total donations from trustees amounted to £7,818 (2023: £10,812) within the year.

WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

16. CONNECTED PARTIES

World Villages for Children based in the United Kingdom pays on behalf of, and has had paid on its behalf, various expenses related to the charity as a whole by other affiliates based overseas.

The charity made grants totalling £1,375,000 to The Sisters of Mary in the year (2023: £1,500,000), which while not a strict affiliate is closely aligned to the ideals of the charity.

Balances between other affiliates have been settled before the balance sheet date except for those balances due to, and from, such affiliates as disclosed in Notes 10 and 11 of the financial statements.

Two trustees of the charity, Sister D.L Cho and Elena Grengia Belarmino also sit on the boards of four other humanitarian entities that all share similar visions and purposes as World Villages for Children; these entities are in France, Netherlands, Belgium and the U.S.A. In addition, one former trustee, Sister Y Cheong, also sits on the board of the U.S entity. However, World Villages for Children does not consolidate these foreign entities in its financial statements, as they are separate legal entities with no one controlling party.

They were no other financial dealings with these entities during the year, apart from those transactions, and year end balances already disclosed below.

17. MEMBERS’ LIMITED LIABILITY

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of the same being wound up while they are a member. This contribution, not exceeding £10, covers the payment of debts and liabilities of the company contracted before each individual ceased to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves.

18. LEGACY INCOME

World Villages for Children is aware of legacies of which the charity’s share is estimated at £100k (2023: £0). This has not been included in these financial statements as it does not reach the necessary recognition criteria as laid out by the charity’s accounting policy.

FAMILY VISITING DAY FOR OUR NEW BOYS AT SCHOOL IN DODOMA, TANZANIA.

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, THE BOYS HAVE THE PRECIOUS CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR LOVED ONES THE ENORMOUS PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE AT SCHOOL AND THE HOPE THEY CAN BRING FOR THE FUTURE OF GENERATIONS OF THEIR FAMILIES.

Ending poverty through education

Kings Buildings, 16 Smith Square London, SW1P 3HQ www.worldvillages.org.uk

+44 (0)20 7629 3050 enquiries@worldvillages.org.uk

Follow us on social media

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UK Registered Charity Number: 1058973

Ending poverty through education

MARIA

CONTENTS

COMPANY INFORMATION

Directors & Trustees

Key Management Personnel UK Manager

Website

Auditor

Solicitor

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

INTRODUCTION FROM THE UK MANAGER

Thank you

ABOUT THE SISTERS OF MARY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

ABOUT WORLD VILLAGES FOR CHILDREN

WHERE WE WORK

TRUSTEES REPORT

Our Charity Objects for WVC are to:

STRATEGY

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

HIGHEST EVER ENROLMENT

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

3,392

WE HELPED TO PROVIDE

63,267

EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS

SUPPORTER FUNDRAISING

OUR 2024 OBJECTIVES

GOVERNANCE

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

IMPACT MEASUREMENT

FUNDRAISING

“It is uplifting to see the contrast from the hell of the streets of Chalco to the piece of paradise that the Sisters and the staff at World Villages for Children are building here on earth.”

GRANT DISTRIBUTION

HOW YOUR FUNDS WERE USED IN 2024

HOW YOUR FUNDS WERE USED IN 2024

FOOD

PROGRESS AT THE COUNTRY PROGRAMMES

COUNTRY FOCUS PHILIPPINES

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

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Mary Joy

COUNTRY FOCUS MEXICO

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

COUNTRY FOCUS BRAZIL

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

THE STORY OF ELISA VICTORIA BRAZIL

THE STORY OF NORBETO

COUNTRY FOCUS GUATEMALA

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

COUNTRY FOCUS TANZANIA

PROVIDING A LIFE CHANGING EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

THE STORY OF MARIA HONDURAS

THE STORY OF BEISHA TANZANIA

Thank you

The impact of our work

THE STORY OF CARLOS GUATEMALA

THE STORY OF STHEFANNY + BRAZIL

PROVIDING FUNDING FOR NEW CHILDREN

PREPARING THE CHILDREN FOR EMPLOYMENT

SUSTAINABILITY

Key Objectives to deliver this strategy

FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

IMPACT MEASUREMENT

GOOD GOVERNANCE

INCOME

EXPENDITURE

RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Operational As a board we continue to focus investment on managing this risk which is one of the most significant Risk facing the charity by utilising an array of measures including:

Our management of financial risk includes:

GOING CONCERN

FUNDING SOURCES

FUNDRAISING PRACTICE

We focus on:

RESERVES

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

GRANT MAKING AND REPORTING ON EXPENDITURE