AFRICAN SCHOLARS FUND (UK)
UK Address: 10 Lurkins Rise, Goudhurst, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 1ED Tel: 07952 106408 email: africanscholarsfunduk@gmail.com Charity Number 1070406
Please find herewith the Chairman's Report for the past year 2025 and a Statement of Accounts for the Year commencing in January and ending 31 December 2025.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR 2025
It has been a year of change for the ASF in the UK as the organisation continues to negotiate the new relationship with the ASF in South Africa. An African proverb states that “for a tree to flourish, it must honour its roots.” We certainly celebrate our roots and origin in the tough years of the apartheid South Africa, and we look forward to continuing to work with the office and staff there.
We have now adopted the new Objective for the ASF in the UK, which is in the process of being approved by the Charity Commission:
To advance the Secondary Education of Children and young people in South Africa through bursaries, scholarships, mentoring programmes or other such forms of financial assistance as determined by the Trustees.
This Objective allows the Trustees of the UK fund to direct the funding towards the most effective support mechanisms and programmes independent of the ASF in South Africa. We have taken this step due to differences which we have with the sustainability and management of the ASF charity in South Africa
It should be noted that we continue to work with, and encourage the ASF in South Africa to meet their own strategic objectives, but ultimately it must be their responsibility. However, it is our responsibility as Trustees of this Charity to ensure that the monies donated towards education support in South Africa are used prudently and efficiently, and in our view, this is not currently the case.
We continue to have fruitful discussions with the South African Trustees on this matter and we hope that it can be resolved. However, while it is very disappointing to have to report this, we consider that it is an opportunity to look at the work being carried out by other educational charities in the region as alternative approaches to supporting education.
Through this Annual Report and the accompanying letter, we would invite you to confirm if you wish your donation to be “earmarked” for the South African ASF work, or whether you are content for the Trustees of the ASF UK to make the decision on the allocation of your funds.
You can contact us with your decision either via email to africanscholarsfunduk@gmail.com, or letter to the above address, by telephone call or message to the number above.
Should we not hear from you, we will assume that you support the changes to the Objectives of this Charity and the decisions made by the Trustees.
I am pleased to report that our UK Charity, yet again, carries no administration expenses this year. In total, £35,668.84 has been transferred from to the African Scholars’ Fund in South Africa, a significant increase on previous years.
Sandy Elsworth Chairman, Board of Trustees, African Scholars Fund (UK)
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS TO 31 DECEMBER 2025
| INCOME: | Donations Received | £31,586.44 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift Aid Reclaimed | £2,071.75 | ||
| Interest | £ 59.64 | ||
| Sub total Income | £33,717.83 | ||
| EXPENSES: | Bank charges | £23.50 | |
| Administration | £0.00 | ||
| Sub total Expenses | £23.50 | ||
| AVAILABLE FOR DISBURSEMENT: | £33,694.33 |
Total transferred to African Scholars’ Fund (SA) £35,668.84, which includes some funds from previous years income.
The Charity has no assets or liabilities.
Members of the Board of Trustees, ASF UK as at 31 December 2025
Mr Sandy Elsworth. Chair Mr Peter Roberts, Vice Chair Ms Ruth Roberts Dr Miquela Walsh