SUMU CHILDREN TRUST THE CHERRY BR￿RLEy CHILDREN'S HOME, REGISTERED CHA￿Ty NUMBER 1091477 Report for the ear endin st i December 202 2024 REPORT PA￿ 2 IQSUMU CHILDREN TRUST Reference andAd7ninistratiue Information Address for Correspondence Dr Peter Brierley, Ib, Thorpe Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TNIO 4PW Registered Charity Number 1091477 Governing Document Trust Deed dated 25 February 2002, as amended by resolution dated 12 March 2011, and as amended by resolution dated 19, May 2018 Trustees Dr Peter Brierley (Acting Chair and PTevious treasurer ) GTaham Collison (resigned 20 June 2024) Michael Dare {retired ￿ October 2024) Eric Deeben (resigned 2 November 2024) Samara Ead {resigned 26 February 2024) Ivo de Freitas (resignedi4 Septetnber 2024) Kathryn de Freitas (resigned 14 September 2024) Jonathan Goodes (from 19 January 2025" present treasurer) Alan Hewerdine (from 20 May 20¥) Steve Roderick (Vice-chair) Graeme Shaw (from 13 January 2025) Tim SiEnpson {resigned 20 November 2024) Principal Banker CAF Bank Ltd., 25, Kings Hill Avenu4 Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent MEI9 4JQ Patrons Rt Rev Michael Hill. former Bishop of Bristol Mgr Michael Nazir-Ali, forn]er Bishop of Rochester Ram Gidoomal, CBE, Entrepreneur and Businessman Independent Examiner Andrew Sim]nonds FCA Contents Page 2 Reference and Administrative Information Pages 3-￿ Trustee Report for 2024 2024 REPORT PAGE 3 K￿UMU CHJtJ)REN TRUST Trustee Reportfor the Year ending 31" December 2024 The Trustees of the Kisumu Children Trust [KCT] are pleased to present their report for the year ending 31" December 2024. Objeets The chief objects ofthe charity, as giveuinourcharitycommission authorisation of28 March 2002, are: To help relieve and alleviate povetyby developingsuitable facilitiesfor children living in Kisumu, Kenya, To advance the Christian religion and To promote and advance education and training. It has undertaken these primarily by providing through voluntary giving all the necessary costs for looking after 90 sponsored children fornierly part of a residential orphanage in Tieng're, Kenya (a small village some 7 miles west of Kisumu), supporting local care-givers, and supporting some of the impoverished children in the local Tieng're and Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive Schools. UK Governance The Board of Trustees had nine members at the start of 2024 and five members in January 2025 (one having reached the limit of his tenure, six resigning and three joining). The five included the Acting Chair, Vice-chair, Treasurer and two other Trustees. Together they were responsible for organisational maintenance, largely through three part-time self-ernployed Staff members. The following responsibilities are undertaken: Regular meetings of the Trustees in the UK nine in 2024, eight of which by Zoom. starting.of regular"Team" meetings, three held in 2024, of up to five members of the Kisumu Leadership Tearn, all Staff members and Chair, all by ZooTn. Recording of income and expenditure using the Donor Perfect programmes. Correspondence with supporters and sponsors either individually or collectively through our quarterly llewsletter Kisumu News, through Lynn Allen, Bookkeeper and Administrator. Liaison with the work in Kisumu through the Home's Manager, Philemon Oguna, mostly through Trustee Michael Dare. Liaising with the local Tieng're Community, including the Tieng're School, mostly through reports from our CBCH Social Worker, Pamela Akoth. who started work on i January 2023 which was continued throughout 2024. Overseeing the co-ordination of all the schooling of sponsored and supported children, primarily undertakenby Kenyan Assistant Manager Manase Oukoh. Co-ordinating the work of the UK Staff Team in bookkeeping, financial mallagement and sponsorship support (Lynn Allen, as above), social tnedia and newsletter compiler (Aneta Dabek, Media Officer) and contacting Grant Making Trusts (GMTS) seeking financial support for projects (Alan Hewerdine, Support Officer). Peter Brierleywas appointedTreasurerbytheTrustees in 2017, and renewed in 2020, but has passed this responsibility now to Jonathan Goodes, a new Trustee. The Trustees did not attend exhibitions or events where the work of the Trust could be displayed (like the c1￿1Stian Resources, Exhibition) in 2024 but did take various speaking engagements, and promotion of individual sponsorships in person for the children in OUT G4re, and fund-raising, including through GMTS and social media. A public Allnual Meeting was held on 12 th October 2024 in St Luke's Church, Warford. 2024 REFfMir PAGE4 Kenyon gouernanee The local management of the Cherry Brierley Cbildren's Home [CBCH] in Kisumu, Kenya, is undertaken by: Manager, Rev Philemon Oguna, an Ang]ican minister, and his tearn, consisting of: Assistant Manager (Manase Ouma Oukoh, appointed in 2015), Matron (Winnie Olango, appointed as Assistant Matron in January 2018, and promoted to Matron in Deeember 2022), PeterNyidha (appointed in 2015 as Facilities, Co-ordinator, overseeing self-sufficiency developments such as the poly-tunnel and other vegetable growing, both for Home and local consumption, now Operations Officer). Social Worker Pamela Akoth (appointed as Matron to CBCH in January 2015, but appointed as Social Worker in December 2022, see bdow) This partially resident management team of five people meet each week under Philemon's leadership, and now meetings with UK staff members each month by Zoom. One Guard was made redundant in 2024 and the other died suddenly in 2025, but now replaced. Those remaining in 2024were: DorisAchiengSewe (Cook), Domniek Ong'onga (Assistant Cook), Calvin Otieno Osako (Woodcutter). George Ndon'ga (the now deceased Guard) and Silas Ochieng Ago (Groundsllwi). CBCH has been the major component of Kisumu Children Ministries (KCM) which is a recognised non-profit organisation in Kenya (Registration Certificate Number 1340616) and has a Board of 8 Kenyan Trustees. These are the Chair. Jo-an Olachi (Children's Officer in Kisii, a neighbouring county), Simon Osege (the Chief of the Area), Ajice Aoko Omollo (Headmistress of Tieng're Comprehensive School, iyho retired as Headmistress in October 2024 but remains a Trustee), Pauline Ochingo (wife of a local business man), and Rev Bethwell Rogo (local Anglican minister). They ty to lneet four times a year. Kenyan governance is wider than the KCM Board. The West Kisumu Children's Department has responsibilityforthe care ofchildren inits catchment areawhich includes the CBCH Home. Their Social Department exercises similar responsibility and the local Chief undertakes admillistrative authority induding registrar, judge and other civic responsibilities. In December 2022 both these authorities plus the Headmistress (for the local Education Officer) agreed to the appointment of a CBCH Social Worker for the District for an initial five-year period. The sa]ary and support expenses would be paid by KCT (who had a Restricted Fund specifically for such a purpose given to us by a Grant Making Trust). Pamela Akoth) previously Matron of CBCH, was appointed. The Kenyan Government Covid restrictions finally eeased in April 2023, SO 2024 was free of the requirements initiated under this programme. Aetivities started by the Home during the Covid period, such as feeding loo impoverished local children a lunch six days a week has continued and in April 2024 was increased to 150 lunches per day. Kenyan Education System The Kenyan education system started originally for children at age 6 who attended Primary School until 14 when they took the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. This was marked out of 500, andthose obtaining a mark of 260 or over were then allotted a Secondary School, most of them single-sex boarding schools. These were attended until they were 18, when they took their Kellyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination which was rnarked on a seale from A to E. Those getting B+ or an Awere e]igible for University with a government grallt for their tuition (but not their accommodation}. The Kellyan Government in 2023 ehanged the middle years of this sequence from an 8 to 4 years system into a 6-3-3 system, making it similar to the system we have in England. From i" January 2023 children aged 6 to 12 would go to Primary School, then from 13 to ￿ to a Junior 2024REK>RT PAGE5 Secondary School and from 15 to 18 to a Senior Secondary School. The possibility of starting school before 6, Pre-school, and going to College or other tertiary educAtion post-18 was unaltered. The KCPE exam was ￿anCelled, and last taken in November 2023. Primary School tuition is largely free in Kenya (pupils needing to pay a small school levy each year and have a school uniform) whereas Secondary Education, especially if boarding, has to be paid for, and is almost prohibitively expensive for poorer parents. Most Primary Schools (used to having some children of 13 and 14) were now expected to cater for all 13, 14 and 15 year olds (no extra funds being made available for having an extra classroom or two), and those in Junior Secondary Sthool would be expected to pay for their tuition. Many existing Primary Schools became Comprehensive Schools overnight (= previous Primary + new Junior Secondary) ! Existing Secondary Schools, now with only three years of fees instead of four, would still be expected to function as before, though inevitably their fees would increase. The Government saved by not having to pay now for schooling for children aged 13 and 14. This all took place in 2023 when children were recovering from the stresses of a 4-terni year in 20212nd 2022 (catching up on the Covid restrictions of 2020). How did the change affect the 84 children CBCH now supported and sponsored? The 104 we had at the start of Covid had dwindled as some hadleft education to start looking for a job. (The KCTTrust has nowagreed to add io more community children to increase this number). Children of 15, who in future would be at Junior Secondary School, stayed on at their Senior Secondary, which therefore had 4 age years of children for one more year. All our KCM supported children remained supported. The relative costs of these types of school (as used in our budget process) is complicated, and provided by Manase at CBCH. Numbers being supported in 2024 by type of school were as follows, taking £1 - 165 KES, the average exchange Tate we had in 2024: i) Early learning Grades 1-5 [formerlyPprimary School], 9 pupils @ £77 each, 2) Early Learning Grade 6 [fornierly Primary School], 5 pupils @ £84 each 3) Junior Secondary School (Grades 7 to 9), 23 pupils @ £337 each 4) We had no children in the old Secondary School system this year 5) Day Secondary School, ages 15 to 18, 3 pupils @ £545 each 6) Boarding Senior Secondary School [formerly Secondary School], 18 pupils @ £849 each 7) Vocational training [2 year certificate course], io pupils @ £758 each, 8) College/Tertiary training [3 year diploma course], 7 pupi]s @ £879 each 9) University [4 year degree course], 5 pupils @ £2,545 each. io) In addition there were io pupils in a waiting period, as subsequent post-secondary training is advised by the government. This is abreakdown of our 90 sponsored children towhom we are committed. Total cost ofthe above is £52,239. Alternative Family Care (AFC) During 2021 and 2022 the Kenyan GovernEnent took oll board the UN-inspired Alternative Family Care programme, which required all children to live in the homes of their parents, relatives or other care-givers. This required all chfldrenlivingin Children's Homes tobe sentbacktowhatsoever kin they had. To all involved orphans, single mothers and other impoverished relatives this could (and did) cause very real hardship; these chitdren often had to return to an aged grandparellt as their guardian, or find living space with uncles, cousins, etc. who could not easily accommodate, feed and support them along with their own family. It caused many problems forourchildren in the Cherry Brierley Children's Homewhich atthe time had 55 primary-aged children all attending thelocalTieng're Primaryschool. Their opportunity to develop socially and spiritually thus severely impaired, as M'ell as the quality of care sueh as food audfacilities (including electriclight at night to do homework). Additionally, for 17 their change of location required 2 change of school. A]1 those who were in CBCH have continued in our care, in their changed environment, especially with respect to education fees and associated expells￿, and did so throughout 2024. 2024 REK)RT PAGE 6 Some of our supporters felt the authorities should be approached because of the hardship suffered by many of the children affected by AFC, and at one stage it was hoped that a protest might be made to the Kenyan Government, from withill Kenya itself, but in a meeting of Kenya's senior church leaders in April 2024 they supported "the phasing out of residential homes.", This means that it will be extremely unlikely that CBCH ivill be able to return to a fully residential home as it used to be, and new child-centred uses for the existing buildings have been and are being considered. Social Worker The appointment of a CBCH Social Workerwas explained in lastyear's Report, and she has continued her exemplary work in 2024. In particular this has meant: i) Facilitating the partnership between home, school, and the wider local community by support, liaison, activities and negotiation, and seeking successful resolutions when differences arise. 2) Encouraging the development of life skills acro&s all areas of lrfe with children and their relatives and families, and maintaining records of visits made and actions undertaken largely through regular meetillgs of care-givers when 20 to 30 care-givers decide to meet together for mutual support. Three such gatherings have been set up and (in 2025) one obtainedlocal governmentcertified approval, allowillgthem to open abank account for their group savings. 3) Working with children supported by KCM and those who attend the Tieng're Comprehensive Sehool (where Pamela teaches Scripture on a given syllabus every Fridaymorning) andthe Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School which has a Catholic background. While Pamela sends regular reports to the UKTrustees, who arewelcome to make suggestions or ask questions about her work, her ￿SpOnsIbl]ity is to the local Kenyan authorities. She reports to the Kisumu West Children's Officer, a lady called Bilha, every fortnight to discuss cases, as well as to Rev Philemon Oguna, CBCH Manager. In particular in 2024: She bas accessed lirnited emergency f￿all¢la1 relief where such is essential for the maintenance of family ]ife. She has helped, with the Manager, to organise and participated in two residential Bible Camps (as they are called), attended byan average of 130 to 150 children, mostly local, who are also taught some lrfe skills as well as Christian teaching. Chlldren are aged 6 to 18. She also helped, with the Manager, to organise some rr training, a three-week course for 8 teenagers, expe]]ses covered by KCT, and undertaken by a qualified Kenyan official from Kisum She has a particular concern for disabled children, and supports and encourages their care-givers as much as she can, arranging forone suchchild (paralysedbymeningitis) to spend time in CBCH to help his social awareness (which he loved). While the CBCH staff miss verymuch workingcloselywith 70 vulnerable residential children, they are now able to help a much wider needy group in the local con]munity, feeding and counselling children, supporting and advising care-givers in a multitude of ways, and linkingboth child and care- giver readily with the appropriate local Kisumu West authority where available. Many testify to the value of the help they have received. ') Church rimes. 3 May 2024, Page ii. BishopJohnes Ole Meliyio, Kenya Evallgelical Lutheran Church said Wiat homas providing support should be debated further." 2024 RE￿RT PAGE7 Sponsorships At the end of 2024 KCT was responsible for financing and supporting 90 children ]iving in or near Kisumu, Kenya. Some have now moved from education into employment or the search for it, and are now no longer under our cAre, though we have kept in touch with as many as we can. This includes the further io very poor local community children which we added in 2024. What were the advantages for them? The main protnise was financial - to promise to undertake paying for all their education as far as they were able to progress, including university and accommodation (and pocket money) if they read]ed that far. They were also given money for clothing and shoes, medica] help rf needed, opportunities for gathering together (for example, the Christmas Bible Camp also open to others and very popular), spiritual counsel, and advi￿ and help in deciding upon a career with some &￿IstanCe when searching for employment. Many of these children also come for a free nutritious lunch every day. All io were affirmed as being in extreme poverty by the relevant authorities. The care-givers for many of these are those attending Pamela's Care-givers Groups. KCT is very fortunate in having a number of people who kindly give money evey month to cover the cost of sponsoring one (or more) of these children. We are happy to re￿]ve any amount according to what the donor can give, suggesting £20 or £25 monthly as a norni. In 2024 sorne were able to give but less than £20, while others could give more than £25, a few giving £100 or llLore In additioTL others who are not sponsoring a child give regularly for general purposes to the work we undertake. Mostly this is also monthly, but a few give annually. The average amount given in 2024 by those giving monthly, sponsorship or general, was £32 per month. Use ofthe CBCH buildzngs in Kisumu The Children's Home still looks after a few children full-time who are recognised as requiring emergency accommodation by the Kisumu Children's Department, who are deemed to be "lost" or who have perhaps run-awayfrom llearby Uganda. As mentioned above, CBCH facilities {which were repainted and gÉven new paving in 2024) are also used for regular meetings ]ike those for Family Relationships, Care-givers meetings and other groups. The large dining room, which call accotnmodate 80-ioo people with ease. is also used by the communityfrom time to time. We aim to increase such actiwties to indude having more residential events, so in 2025 we will have three residential Bible Camps which enables some of our older supported ehildren living too far away for daily travel to come back for a week, further rr training events, and so on. The hall is also used for training people wanting to start miero-businesses and in other ways. DROCS Classroon The Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School (DROCS) is about one mile to the east of CBCH. Before the present buildings of CBCH were erected in 2007, CBCH was located in a condemned building at thebottom o'f a field in the Korando District of Kisumu. In the field adja￿ntt0 OUTS Stood the DROPS (as it then was, P - Primary) School which all our primary aged cbildren (then 6 to 14) attended. When we moved in 2007, most moved school as well. So we have a history ofworla8 books/ laptDPS £2,461 £0 Health Children'5 Secondary Education Nutanix JOG. B(Azl Disabled children DROPS Emergeney Food TICS Total IA)ans and Gifts Generator Kitchen Fund At 3111212023 Income £927 £540 £950 £517 £50.834 £20,000 £23,942 £46,892 £2,923 £0 £3,715 .904 £14508 (£4889) £2,729 £4,484 £3,259 £3,954 (£14.270) £75,205 £43,806 £17,129 £4,743 £0 £54)062 £155J609 £139)408 £70,263 £50,476 £50,105 £371 Expenditure At 31/￿/2024 £242 £2,219 £853 £2,070 £4,743 £0 Three new Restricted Funds were started this year - one for building classrooms for the Dr Robert Ouko Comprehensive School (DROCS); oneforthe EmergencyFood programmewhose residual funds were transferred to our General Fund as money for this purpose was being spent from this Fund, and one for proving a generator and building a new kitchen and dining room for the Tiell￿re Comprehensive School (TICS). Funds into and out of th&se funds are as shown. Movement in Funds.. Designated Reserues Designated Reserves Social Worker Ernergency Reserves Totsl As at3111212023 Income £28,153 £0 £45,000 £73yX53 £0 Expenditure As at 3111212024 £221589 £5,564 £0 £22>589 £s)s64 £45,000 2024 REPORT PAGE 7 £20,000 was returned to the General Fund from which it had been mistakenly taken on 2021. 4) UKSupport Costs Item 2024 £ 2023 £ 11,648 996 145 Employment costs UK governance aud travel expenses Child risklsafeguarding Other costs and bank charg£s Total 13,104 630 163 2,425 1,718 16,322 149507 Cost of Generating Funds ItellL 2024 £ 6,807 4,705 2023 £ 5,287 Employment costs Promotion and publicity Total 5,137 11,SV2 10,424 Employment costs relate to our Media Officer who began her work (6 hours a week) ill early 2024 and our Support Officer who wrote to Grant Making Trusts in 2024, working for 4 hours a week Our promotion and publicity costs of generating funds inc.ude small payments for the photos tsken by a part-time photographer working for us in Kisumu. 6) Staffand Trustees The charity had no part-time employees in January 2024 (none in 2023). Salary costs irl the year thus were zero (2023 zero). Contract staff in 2024, included the Administrator and Bookkeeper, Support Officer O)oth for 12 months) and the Media Officers (for li months) who were collectively paid £27,487 (£24,931 in 2023 when we were temporarily without a Support Officer). The Chair was re-itnbursed £6 travel in the UK in 2024(£152 in 2023). Trustee Michael Dare was paid £192 for travel in 2023 (£117 in 2023). No other travel expenses were paid to any of the Trustees in 2024. Travel costs were paid to self-employed staff of £183 in 2024 ( £99 in 2023). Volunteers Ivere paid £100 helping in administration (£80 in 2023). If meetings had not been held by Zoom, travel costs in 2024 would have been higher. 7) FixedAssets No tangible fixed assets were purchased in 2024, nor in the previous 4 years. As at 31° December Cost/Brought forward £0 Depreciation during year n/a n/a Net value end year £0 £0 2023 2024 £0 8) Debtors and Prepayments December income paid in January £254. Decernber expenses paid in January (£601}. 9) Gouernonce costs The Independent Examiner is a volunteer. 2024 REK)RT PAGE 8 io) Analysis ofNetAssets between Fwids Item Unrestricted Restricted Funds £ Funds £ Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £ Fixed Assets i Cash at bank and on deposit Other net current assets 85,941 70,263 156,204 198,669 Total 85y941 70,263 6,204 198,669 ii) At the balance sheet date, the Charity had no commitments under operating leases or any Other contractual (other than employment) or constructive obligations. 12) Charitable ACti￿tieS Itelll Unrestricted Restricted Funds £ Funds £ Total 2024£ 76,084 12,583 16,448 4,600 Total 2023 £ 61,357 10,038 12,458 4,136 School fees 53,162 12,583 16,448 4,600 23.922 Running costs of the Home CBCH Salaries Other direct costs Monitoring visits Property Maintenance Community Feeding ProgramD]e Total 2AOI 2,401 3,290 3,290 18,969 927 18,069 13,356 102?272 1109553 23?922 134>475 School fees were more this year because we had more children in Secondary School as the Kenyan Government instituted its education reform of ll￿1ng Primary education finish at 12 and Junior Secondary for those children aged 12 to 15 and Senior Secondary for those aged 16 to 18. It alltornatically meantthose whowould havebeen 13 or 14 in 2024were now atJunior Secondaryinstead of Primary, and whereas Primary Education was free Secondary education incurred fees. The running costs of the Home are more than last year because our Comrnunity Feeding Programme is runfromthe Home and included therefore in the Home costs. We increasedthe number served each day from loo to 150 in 2024. Salaries are more than last year as we gave an increase in 41 salary for the first time in five years.. Monitoring visits were re-started in 2024.