## **Report to the Chari,es Commission for the financial year 1/9/2019 - 31/8/2020** ## **SCHOOL FOR LIFE ROMANIA Registered Charity number 1062953** Trustees: Ruth Brown, Dave Emptage, Ka8e Goodier, William Gould, Sylvia Gurr, Lizzy Hartley, Roger Mason ## **1) Brief summary of the purpose of the charity for the public benefit** School for Life Romania raises funds in the United Kingdom through monthly standing orders and fundraising events and sends funds directly to support our sister organisa8on in Siret, Romania “Scoala Pentru Viata” (SPV). There are no overheads or costs in the UK (apart from bank transfer charges), because the Trustees meet the costs of promo8onal material and regular trips to the project in Romania through their own personal funds. Trips are undertaken by Trustees at least once a year to the project in Romania, in order to offer support to Scoala Pentru Viata, and to gain first hand insight into the progress of the project. This informs our fundraising and promo8onal material in the UK. On some occasions, interested supporters of School for Life Romania from the UK accompany Trustees to the project in Siret to inform their own understanding of the challenges faced by the young people with disabili8es in Romania. These trips also offer opportuni8es to forge links with local chari8es in Romania who are achieving similar purposes, in order to share informa8on and provide Scoala Pentru Viata with more local sources of support. The Director of Scoala Pentru Viata reports directly back to School for Life, informing of the educa8onal direc8on of the project and of the alloca8on of funds. Scoala Pentru Viata employs Romanian special needs teachers and sessional outreach workers. A salary is also provided to the administrator who oversees the upkeep of the buildings in Siret. Although Scoala Pentru Viata is responsible for the alloca8on of the budget, they are supported and guided by the School for Life Trustees. Scoala Pentru Viata deliver educa8on and therapeu8c support to young adults with disabili8es who have grown up in an ins8tu8on in the north of Romania. There are three ways that this is achieved; a) Our supported housing project has enabled four young people from the ins8tu8on to now live independently with outreach support in the community of Siret. b) Our community learning hub, situated in the heart of the community, provides an environment that can be accessed by young people with disabili8es, where they receive educa8onal and therapeu8c support delivered by Romanian educators. c) Our outreach workers go into the ins8tu8ons to deliver therapeu8c interac8on to the young people who are the most disadvantaged and who are not able to access the community facility. - **2) Update in respect of the main ac,vi,es undertaken by the charity during the period of 1/9/19-31/8/20, with reference to the Charity Commissions Public Benefit Guidance** Project Areas: ## Learning Community Hub Located centrally in the town of Siret, the hub was aWended on a regular basis, prior to the start of the pandemic and when Corona Virus restric8ons have allowed it, by 26 young people with disabili8es living in both the ins8tu8ons and in supported living within the community of Siret. Educa8onal ac8vi8es con8nue to be undertaken each weekday including reading, wri8ng, maths, arts and craZs, gross motor ac8vi8es in the gymnasium and outside in the courtyard, self-care ac8vi8es and gardening and independent living skills. The students have con8nued to benefit from the experience of a nurturing, safe, secure, relaxed and happy environment to learn in. During the course of the Coronavirus pandemic Scoala Pentru Viata staff have adhered to the Romanian government guidelines and the students have been carefully supported to try and understand the impact of the virus on themselves, the country and the world. Although there have been periods of 8me when Romania has been in a strict lock down and the movements of staff and students restricted and the project was unable to operate for two months, when guidance has enabled students to aWend the Learning Community Hub this has been done successfully in smaller groups and using protec8ve equipment and social distancing. No staff or students caught the Corona Virus during this period. At 8mes during the pandemic when movement of the students was restricted and they were prevented from coming out of the hospital where they resided, the teaching staff provided outreach work within the hospital. ## Outreach within the Ins8tu8ons (two Romanian Neuropsychiatric Hospitals in Siret) Two members of staff (VioleWa and Rodica) have con8nued to support adults living within the 2 neuropsychiatric hospitals, Cronicii 2 and Cronicii 3, working with those with more profound disabili8es who are unable to leave the ins8tu8on to access the community. Our outreach workers provide therapeu8c input in the hospitals through intensive interac8on, games and musical and craZ ac8vi8es. Again this work has been interrupted over the course of the year as a result of the Corona Virus pandemic and government restric8ons imposed on visitors to the hospitals. A lot of the work has been carried out outside in the grounds of the buildings. ## Independent Living Ongoing enquiries con8nue to be made into the seang up of comprehensive trust funds to ensure the future financial stability and security of the three ladies living in SPV’s supported accommoda8on. The fourth lady con8nues to live happily and independently with her partner and child in the Siret community. The ladies con8nue to thrive in their environment, providing support to the teaching staff with the school ac8vi8es and successfully carrying out cleaning jobs within the community. ## Buildings The SPV team have con8nued to work hard to maintain the good standard of the buildings in the learning hub and independent living space. The insides of both buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and repainted with a hygienic whitewash. Fire equipment has been checked and refreshed. A new flooring has been put down in the independent living building. Sinks and toilets have also been both mended and replaced. The boiler has been repaired and some parts have had to be replaced. ## Stafng ## _Overview:_ Director, Elena Harasemiuc (Doina) Admin / estates: Radu Harasemiuc SPV Educators – Loredana and Carmen Outreach sessional workers – Rodika Social Worker – Raluca Accountant Two SPV educators, Loredana and Carmen, have con8nued to work in the educa8on hub when they have been able to. Romania underwent a strict lock down at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic and as men8oned above there were two months when the hub was unable to be used due to the restric8ons in place. These educators have accompanied our SPV outreach workers when able to, into the hospital buildings to facilitate their work there. One of our outreach workers, VioleWa, has recently leZ her employment at SPV for another role, leaving Rodica to con8nue the work in the hospitals with the more severely challenged people who are unable to leave the hospital building due to their levels of need. A social worker con8nues to be employed by SPV, and works alongside SPV outreach workers in the 2 hospital buildings, suppor8ng with group work and therapeu8c services, and providing a link between the SPV Founda8on, Social Services, and the Hospital services ( which are under the control of the Ministry of Health). ## Administra8on The SPV founda8on has been re accredited with the authori8es in Bucharest, and the collabora8on contract has been renews with the Neuropsychiatric hospitals in Siret. Updated Safeguarding policies that comply with the new EU GDPR laws have been wriWen and are in place for SFL (UK) and SPV (Romania). Data protec8on - The charity con8nues to abide by the GDPR Data Protec8on Policy. ## Public Beneft The learning hub provides teaching sessions in the heart of the community to students every morning from 9am - 12 noon. The students are divided into two classes depending on level of ability. The students live in either the community in group homes, or in one of the neuropsychiatric hospitals, and are not able to access employment due to their levels of learning and physical disability. The young people benefit greatly from this opportunity to interact with one another in a happy and relaxed learning environment, with opportuni8es to learn safely both indoors and outdoors. They are provided with opportuni8es to learn new skills as well as consolidate exis8ng skills, and to build on their social and emo8onal well being and development. Equally the students in the neuropsychiatric hospitals benefit greatly from the therapeu8c input that they receive from the outreach workers, as detailed above. Whilst opportuni8es for trustees to visit the project in Siret have been prevented over this last year due to the global pandemic, the trustees have kept in regular contact with the director of SPV, who has provided administra8ve reports and updates. Trustees mee8ngs and the AGM have been conducted via zoom with the advantage that the director from SPV has been able to aWend some of those mee8ngs too which has been beneficial for the sharing of informa8on and progress. The team in SPV have reported that progress and posi8ve interac8ons and learning experiences have con8nued to be made, both in the learning hub and the hospitals, in spite of the interrupted and reduced service provision caused by the pandemic. The Trustees of School for Life Romania are aware of and have taken into account the Charity Commission’s Public Benefit Guidance and have had regard to this in order to guide and support the ongoing work of the charity opera8ng in Siret, Northern Romania. ## Future of the project The uncertainty and impact of Brexit, and the Corona virus pandemic, con8nues to shadow future financial forecasts for the charity. We are realis8c in our understanding that the sponsorship base is unlikely to grow and as the project costs con8nue to increase, it is our inten8on to work with the SPV staff to ensure that over the next five years our expenses do not increase and that we secure a future for the young ladies in the SPV accommoda8on. We an8cipate a 3 year plan to wind down the educa8on project and then a further 2 years to ensure a secure future for the young ladies living in the SPV accommoda8on. ## **3. Finances** Financial Year 1/9/2019 - 31/8/2020 total income = £47,849 Standing orders, dona8ons, fundraising = £50,334 GiZ Aid rebate = £2483 Income has decreased annually by £0 Standing order base = £ 1300 approximately per calendar month. ## Fundraising Fundraising events have diminished as a result of the Corona virus pandemic and the social distancing restric8ons in place. Over the last financial year significant events have included a 25[th] Anniversary Music Night, a St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh, the sale of hand made Christmas cards, and fundraising through online Reiki therapy. ## **4. Reserves Policy** The charity does not have a reserves policy. Due to the small turnover, it is unable to keep a large sum in reserve. However, we do keep a sum of around £1000 in a separate account to cover any unexpected costs that may arise. This sum is always included in the Annual Accounts under Current Assets. ## **5. Serious incidents** The Charity had no serious incidents or other maWers that trustees should have reported to the Commission. Report and Accounts School for Life- Romania Charity Number: 1062953 31 August 2020 School for Life - Romania Charity Number: 1062953 31 August 2020 Contents Page Independent examiner's report Income and expenditure account Balance sheet Independent Examiner's Report to The Trustees of SGhool for Life - Romania I report on the accounts of the trust for the year ended 31 August 2020 which are set out on pages 3 and 4. Respectlve responsibiliti•s of trustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are resF)onsible for the preparation of accounts and you consider that the audit requirement of section 43{2) of the Charitles Act 1993 ('the Act,) does not apply. It is my responsibllity to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charities Commissioners under section 43(7Xb) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examiner's report My examinatlon was carried out in accordance with the General Dlrections glven by the Charity Commissioners. An examlnation includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual Items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence Ihat would be required In an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examIn•￿S statsment In connection wlth my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records In aC￿rdance with section 41 of the Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting ￿e0rdS and to comply with the aco)unting requirements of the Act have not been met. or 2. to which, In my opinion, attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Keith Lownsborough C.G.M.A., A.C.MA. .￿{ 3 2021 School for Life - Romania Charity Number: 1062953 Income and Expenditure Account For tha year ended 31 August 2020 2020 2019 Income Donations and sponsorships Tax relief Bank interest 47.849 2,483 24,977 2,925 Total Income 50.334 27,904 Expendlture Romanian expenditure: Salaries and taxes Building and other Bank charges and interest 22,927 5,735 244 23,765 5,973 252 Total exponditura 28,906 29,990 Surplusl(Doflclt) of Income over expenditure 21428 School for Life - Romania Charity Number.. 1062953 Balance Sheet 31 August 2020 2020 2019 FIXED ASSETS School building 83,236 83,236 CURRENT ASSETS English bank balances Romanlan bank balances Cash in Transit CovenantlGift Aid tax relief owed 20,444 11,261 1,277 8,558 2483 2,925 CURRENT LIABILITIES NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS 34,188 117,424 12,760 95,998 RESERVES Fund account 88lance al 1 September 2019 Surplusl(deficit) of Income over expendtture for year Balan￿ at 31 August 2020 28,604 21,428 50,032 30,690 2,088 28,804 Building revaluation reserve 67.391 67,391 TOTAL RESERVES 117,423