Mercy Mission Welfare Society Trustees Report and Accounts for the year ending 31[st] March 2024
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, (Chair) Andrew Raine (Secretary), Pamela Raine, Adrian Warhurst (appointed 1[st] June 2023), Independent Examiner: Ian English
Structure, Governance and Management
The Mission is governed by the Trust Deed dated 26[th] February 2001 as revised on 19[th] January 2024. Trustees are appointed by a resolution of trustees passed at a special meeting called for this purpose. There shall be at least three trustees, and the trustees shall hold at least two ordinary meetings every year. The trustees have adopted policies in the principal areas of the charity to ensure good practise governance and management.
Trustees are encouraged to be familiar with the range of activities of 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.
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.
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.
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Achievements and Performance from funds donated through the UK charity
The UK Charity provides approximately 40% of the overseas funding to the independent Indian charity of the same name.
On the main campus in Vizianagaram there were 145 children in the hostels. The school had 800+ children of which 160 were receiving free education. The main campus has 67 staff covering all the functions.
The Mendangi campus had 25 children resident, all boys, and the school had still not been granted permission to reopen. The children receive education at the local state school. A small Bible college operates on this campus so the base is operational and providing public benefit.
Overall, the mission in India continued to flourish during the year and is in good standing in the local community. Actions in recent years in providing paddy fields for rice growing and solar panel for a reliable and cheap electricity supply have contributed to the Indian mission being approximately 50% self-sufficient increasing its longer-term security and resilience.
The UK trustees raised funds during the year to refurbish the two hostels on the main campus which were originally part funded from the UK. These are now 25 years old and needed heavy maintenance and updating to ensure a suitable environment for the children in the years ahead.
Risks
Transfer of funds to India has been an issue due to change of banks involved in the transfer and the trustees have assessed the risks involved in any change. All funds sent during the year have been successfully received. Close to the financial year end news was received that Indian government was revoking FCRA licences for a large number of NGOs including Mercy Mission thus restricting the UK’s ability to send funds via the normal route. The trustees will continue to monitor the situation and the impact on activities in the UK and India in the time ahead. A risk approach will be used to balance short term funding to sustain the children in the hostels and their welfare, securing a sustainable funding route for the future, having regard to our formal obligations in India and the UK, and the outcome of elections in both countries
Progress in India funded independently
New Zealand and USA supporters have continued to fund the mission through the year, and n particular have contributed to the hostel refurbishment. Local funds raised in India also contribute significantly to the ongoing operation of the Indian charity.
Governance
The trustees met virtually over the internet or in person eight times during the year, including two special meetings to appoint Adrian Warhurst as a Trustee and to adopt a revision to the Trust Deed. New Trustees are welcomed with an induction pack setting out the aims and operating procedures of the charity and responsibilities of a trustee. The revision of the Trust Deed was recommended by the Charity Commission and a copy subsequently lodged with them. Polices were reviewed against the schedule and updated where necessary. The Indian accounts were received and reviewed as part of due diligence together with receipts for the hostel refurbishment work and photographic evidence of the extent and quality of the work completed. There have been no visits to India this year by UK trustees, but regular contact has been maintained by virtual attendance at some of the Trustees meeting by the India charity president.
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Financial Review
Principal sources of income to Mercy Mission UK are through regular sponsorship of the children in the mission hostels and donations to the general work of Mercy Mission in India, most of which is donated on a regular basis. This year the charity has received general donations and a few ad hoc donations including gift aid totalling £53,000. Very close to last year’s total. Thus, consistent regular funding has been sent to India throughout the year for day to day running costs and hostel refurbishment. Total funds sent during the year were £61,000 of which £3,200 were restricted for refurbishment. The increase of outgoings over income was possible due the level of cash in hand at the start of the year. This however was considerably reduced by year end to little above minimum reserves, presenting a challenge for the next year.
Signed: J P Hibbs Chair of Trustees 14 October 2024
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Mercy Mission Welfare society members of 31 March 2024 Charity no (if 1088750 On accounts for the year ended any) Set out on pages 5 & 6 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
Responsibilities and basis of I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 report of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my statement attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached . // Signed: Ian English Date: 8/10/24 Name: Ian English Relevant professional Finance Manager ( Retired) qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 38 Sambourn Close Solihull B91 2SA
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| Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | No (if any) | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charity Name Mercy Mission Welfare Society |
No (if any) 1088750 |
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| Receipts andpayments accounts | ||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | Period end date | |||
| 01/04/2023 | 31/03/2024 |
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 43,357 2,700 46,057 46,667 Gift Aid 7,289 7,289 7,529 Specific Donations -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 - -00 -00 -00 -00 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 50,646 2,700 -00 53,346 54,196 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - -00 - - - - -00 - Sub total - - - -00 - Total receipts 50,646 2,700 - 53,346 54,196 ~~=—=====~~ ~~———————~~ |
|
| A3 Payments Fundingsent to MMWS India 58,034 -00 58,034 42,404 School Fundingto India 3,270 -00 3,270 4,500 Other expenses -00 -00 -00 Banks Charges -00 -00 -00 Website expenses 168 -00 168 137 Other expenses -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 -00 - -00 -00 -00 -00 - -00 -00 -00 -00 Sub total 58,202 3,270 -00 61,472 47,041 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - -00 - - - - -00 0 Sub total - - - -00 -00 Totalpayments 58,202 3,270 - 61,472 47,041 Net of receipts/(payments) -7,555 -570 -00 -8,125 7,156 A5 Transfers between funds - -00 -00 -00 -00 A6 Cash funds lastyear end 9,176 620 -00 9,796 2,641 Cash funds thisyear end 1,621 50 -00 1,671 9,796 ~~==>==>=~~ ~~a~~ ~~==>==~~ |
4 500 -00 -00 7 -00 -00 -00 47,041 - -00 041 7,156 00 641 796 |
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories | Details | Details | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Bank a/c no. 1 | 1,127 | -00 | -00 | |||||
| Bank a/c no. 2 | 494 | 50 | -00 | ||||||
| Bank a/c no.3 | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 1,621 OK |
50 OK |
-00 OK |
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| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
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| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
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| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | -00 | -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) |
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| B3 Investment assets | -00 | -00 | |||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| -00 | -00 | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
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| 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 |
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| signed | J Hibbs | 14/10/2024 | |||||||
| Chair of Trustees |
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