Mercy Mission Welfare Society Trustees Report and Accounts for the year ending 31[st] March 2021
Reference and Administrative Information
Name of Charity: Mercy Mission Welfare Society Charity Registration Number: 1088750
Principal Address: 4, The Croft, Henley Road, Claverdon, CV35 8PS Charity Trustees: Stephen Collett, (Treasurer), Jonathan Hibbs, Andrew Raine (Secretary), Pamela Raine, Andrew Simpkins (Chair), Independent Examiner: Ian English
Structure, Governance and Management
The Mission is governed by the Trust Deed dated 26[th] February 2001. Trustees are appointed by a resolution of trustees passed at a special meeting called for this purpose. There shall be at least 3 trustees, and the trustees shall hold at least 2 ordinary meetings every year. The trustees have adopted basic policies to ensure good practise governance and management in the principal areas of the charity.
Trustees are encouraged to be familiar with the range of activities with the associated Mercy Mission Welfare Society (MMWS) in India. All the current trustees have visited the MMWS campus in, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh and have first-hand experience of the work in India. There is an awareness of additional support networks for Mercy Mission Welfare Society based in USA and in New Zealand.
A compliance meeting was held with the Charity Commission to review the charity’s overseas expenditure and operating methods. The trustees have taken cognisance of the advice given and are implementing actions requested by the Commission to strengthen the Charity’s governance.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of the Mercy Mission Welfare Society are as follows:
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To propagate the Christian faith, knowledge, practise and understanding in the designated area of Andhra Pradesh, India.
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To relieve poverty, sickness, distress by the provision of food, shelter, clothing and medical care.
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To advance education of the public, particularly children.
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To support the organisational base in India in its aim to become self-sufficient.
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on a range of issues particularly: public benefit, safeguarding duties and Due Diligence, Monitoring and Verification of End Use of Charitable Funds. Public benefit is clearly demonstrated in the range of services funded in Mercy Mission Welfare Society India, especially in the provision of a home for orphaned or neglected children and the provision of education to these and other children. Regular visits to the Indian campus by Trustees and examination of the Indian charity’s annual accounts provide a level of monitoring and due diligence for the use of charitable funds.
Achievements and Performance from funds donated through the UK charity
The year has been dominated by the impact the Covid 19 Coronavirus which resulted in the Schools and Hostels in India being closed by Government imposed lockdown. Lockdown in the UK has meant that all Trustee Meetings have been held virtually on-line. These have been with increased frequency during the year and have been joined by the Indian President. This has enabled trustees to be kept aware the situation in India and take decisions on policy and funding accordingly.
The main focus has been to support the Mission as a whole to ensure its survival post Covid. Closure of the school resulted in a significant drop in income for the Indian Charity which was much greater than any cost savings due to the hostel children not being in residence. Increased funds have been sent during the year, agreed month by month, to enable the campus to be maintained and salaries of staff paid, including school teachers.
Work of the school has continued during lockdown with lessons on-line and contact maintained with the majority of pupils where connectivity was available. Similarly, contact with the Hostel children was maintained with supplies of materials and provisions sent out.
The Indian Mission has also provided some support to its community, neighbours and associates, where the impact of the lockdown caused poverty and hardship.
As the financial year ends Covid cases in Andhra Pradesh are low allowing lockdown to be lifted. The campus has reopened and the hostel children have returned and the majority of pupils (approx 670) are attending school. The newer rural School at Mendangi has also reopened.
Although Indian government Covid regulations prohibit schools demanding payment, a sufficient number of fees are being received to allowing sustainability without additional external funding.
During the year farming in the Paddy Fields was allowed to continue and good harvests have resulted providing rice and pulses, some of which have supported remaining staff and the wider community. The provision of Paddy fields in recent years has demonstrated their benefit in the drive towards greater sustainability, especially during the lockdown.
The Trustees are pleased to have been able to help support and sustain the mission throughout this pandemic year and know that the beneficiaries; hostel and school children as well as local community, have continued to receive such education, welfare and provisions as conditions allowed. This is in line with the charity’s objectives and demonstrates a definite public benefit.
Risks
Although Covid cases in Andhra Pradesh are low at year end, they are rising elsewhere in India and this remains an ongoing risk to the work of the Indian Charity. Changes to the Indian Foreign Contribution Regulations now require all charity overseas funding to be banked in Delhi and there is potential delay in setting this up which may risk delays in UK funding being received resulting in short term hardship in the immediate future.
Covid Travel restrictions have meant planned trustee visits to India have been cancelled and present a risk to future visits to review and report on the work India if they persist. However regular on-line meetings and social media reports are keeping trustees well informed on the situation and status at the mission.
Progress in India funded independently
New Zealand and USA supporters have continued to fund the mission through the year. Funding has also been provided to build additional office and conference facilities for the school.
UK trustees were able to join a Mercy Mission Welfare Society Zoom International Conference on Mission in January 2021 and to “meet” representatives and donors and hear something of the activities of the other organisations involved.
Financial Review
Principal sources of income to Mercy Mission UK are through regular sponsorship of the children in the Mission home and donations to the general work of Mercy Mission in India, most of which is donated on a regular basis together with specific appeals where appropriate. This year the charity has received general donations of £65,000 including gift aid and a considerable number of Ad Hoc donations in response to the Covid crisis. This has enabled approximately £15,000 of additional funding to be sent, over and above regular budgeted funds for support during the Covid lockdown. A smaller amount of restricted funding received has be sent for specific purposes including campus maintenance and local support.
The charity continues to use a more cost-effective route using a Money Services Business, protected by Finance Conduct Authority regulation, for transferring funds to India and uses on-line banking with appropriate security.
Safeguarding
MMWS UK does not work directly with vulnerable children and young adults. When visits by trustees or groups sponsored by the charity are made to the Indian campus, contact with vulnerable children and young adults is overseen by local staff. Our visits policy covers the safeguarding aspects of these visits. The Charity funds MMWS India which clearly does work with vulnerable children and young adults. The trustees are aware of MMWS India’s safeguarding measures which are in line with national requirements.
Signed: A Simpkins Chair of Trustees 18 November 2021
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Rgport to the trusteesl membern of Mercy Mission Weare Society On accounts for the year endgd 31$t March 2021 Charity no (if any) 1088750 l POrt to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'Yh8 Twst'} for the year ended 3110312021. R&sponsibilities and basi$ of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance th the requirements of the Chaiities Act 2011 {°the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(bl of the A. Independent I have wmpleled my examination. I confirni that no material matters have examiner's statement come lo my attention in Connection wth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kepl in accordance with seth.on 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements cOnrnIng the fom and Content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounls and Reports} Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair, view which is not a matter considered a8 part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date.. 2010512021 Name: lan English Relevant professional qualiflcation{sl or body {if any).. Finan Manager (Retired) Addrw: 38 Sambourn Close Solihull B912SA IER Oct 2018
| Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | No (if any) | No (if any) | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercy Mission Welfare Society |
1088750 |
||||||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||||
| 01/04/2020 | 31/03/2021 | ||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||
| Sponsorship& Donations | 55,039 | 55,039 | 37,281 | ||||||
| Gift Aid | 10,044 | 10,044 | 8,243 | ||||||
| Paddyfield Appeal | - | -00 | 14,456 | ||||||
| Village school Appeal | - | -00 | 2,294 | ||||||
| Legacy | - | -00 | 45,000 | ||||||
| Specific Donations | 2,400 | 2,400 | -00 | ||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| - | -00 | -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| Sub total (Gross income for AR) 65,084 |
2,400 | -00 | 67,484 | 107,274 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | -00 | ||||||
| - | - | - | -00 | - | |||||
| Sub total | - |
- | - | -00 | - | ||||
| Total receipts | 65,084 | 2,400 | - | 67,484 | 107,274 | ||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
| Fundingsent to MMWS India | 65,158 | -00 | 65,158 | 54,909 | |||||
| PaddyField Fundingto India | - | -00 | -00 | 27,500 | |||||
| Village school Fundingto India | 4,921 | -00 | 4,921 | 16,500 | |||||
| Banks Charges | - | -00 | -00 | 542 | |||||
| Website expenses | - | -00 | -00 | 127 | |||||
| Other expenses | - | -00 | -00 | 4,500 | |||||
| Specific Funding | 2,400 | -00 | 2,400 | -00 | |||||
| - | -00 | -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| - | -00 | -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| Sub total | 70,079 | 2,400 | -00 | 72,479 | 104,078 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | -00 | ||||||
| - | - | - | -00 | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | -00 | - | ||||
| Totalpayments | 70,079 | 2,400 | - | 72,479 | 104,078 | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | -4,995 | -00 | -00 | -4,995 | -42,580 | ||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | -00 | -00 | -00 | -00 | ||||
| A6 Cash funds lastyear end | 8,924 | -00 | -00 | 8,924 | 52,585 | ||||
| Cash funds thisyear end | 3,929 | -00 | -00 | 3,929 | 10,005 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories | Details | Details | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Bank a/c no. 1 | 1,747 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| Bank a/c no. 2 | 680 | -00 | -00 | ||||||
| Bank a/c no.3 | 1,502 | -00 | -00 | ||||||
| Total cash funds | 3,929 OK |
-00 OK |
-00 OK |
||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
|||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | Funds held at Smart Currency | 250 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||||
| B3 Investment assets | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
-00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
||||||
| B5 Liabilities | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | |||||||||
| -00 | |||||||||
| -00 | |||||||||
| -00 | |||||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Print Name | Date of approval |
||||||
| signed | A Simpkins | 14/06/2021 | |||||||
| Chair of Trustees |