¥- HANDSOFMERCY
Inlernational
Hands of Mercy: Trustees, Annual Report and Accounts:
I" April 2023 - 31" March 2024
CHARITY INFOR￿TIoN
CHARITY NAME:
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER..
CHARrrY's PRINCIPAL ADDRESS:
Hands of Mercy International
1097434
clo St. Thomas. Church Office. Luton, LU2 7UL
CHARITY TRusfEES WHO MANAGED ThE CHARITY DURING THE REPORTING YEAR
Samantha Graham
Chair
Keith Barter
David Alexander
Michael Dodds
Sarah Savill
Treasurer
Denise Archer- charity administrator but Denise did not serve as a trustee during this reportin8
period.
STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
TYPE OF GOVERNING DOCUMENT:
Trust Deed
With 4-7 trustees- meeting 415 times a year
By resolution of the trustees passed at a convened trustees,
Meetin8. No new trustees were appointed during the year.
HOW THE CHARITY IS CONSTITUTED:
TRUSTEE SELECTION METHOD..
SUMMARY OF THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY SET OUT IN ITS GOVERNING DOCUME
To apply the Trust income in the Philippines ft>r'.
The advancement of education
The relief of poverty
SUMMARY OF THE MAIN AcfiviTIES UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PUBUC BENEFIT IN RELATION TO
THESE OBJECTS
Seven programmes of compassion are provided through Hands of Mercy International which
supports families and children living in poverty in Metro Manila, Mandaluyong and Baguio in the
Philippines. These are:
l. Supplementary Feedlng Proyamme- providing food to undernourished children
2. Famlly Supptyt Programme- providing the poorest of families with supplementary food
assistance
3. Home Improvement ProATamme- providing famllies with the necessary help and resources
to help repair their dilapidated horne5
4. Chlld Spon50rshlp Pro8ramme- enabling children to attend school or college and receive
help with their health needs
5. Surglcal Trealment Proyamme- providing funding towards surgical treatment
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6. Dlsabled Therapy Programme- providing vital physiotherapy and support to disabled
children
7. Prescrlptlon Medldne Pro8ramme- providing funding for essential medicine
SUMMARY OF THE YEAR AND MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CHARIT
Hands of Mercy belatedly celebrated its 25 year anniversary just before the stsrt of the financial year
in Marth. The celebration had been put back previously because of the Covid pandemic but was able
to go ahead and included Sally Escoto IDire¢tor) and her husband Joey who attended from the
Philippines. The celebration gathered a myriad of supporters together to give thanks for the work of
the charity and was a major milestone. Hands of Mercy is now in its 2Y year.
Hands of Mercy saw two major challenges in the year. The first vrds a fire in Block 40, which
displaced 142 families, including tsyo sponsored children and one Hands of Mercy team member.
Families were housed in emergency zip-up tents in crowded. difficult living conditions and Hands of
Mercy provided support as it could to those who hdd been affected by the fire. Specific fundraislng
activity t¢)ok place to raise funds to build a house for the Hands of Mercy team member and we were
incredibly grateful to all those who gave satrificially towards this.
The second challenge involved the sudden loss of another Hands of Mercy team member, who died
unexpectedly after an infection. The loss deeply impacted the charity and the team.
The Philippines as a whole continued to battle with rising food prices. Hands of Mercy focused funds
on pioviding families and children with food support. and children with education support.
Consequently. of the seven compassion programmes, the following ones were prioritised durin8 the
vear:
Child Sponsorship Programme-over 100 children continued to be sponsored for their
education and health needs.
Family Support Programme- around 50 of the poorest families continued to receive
supplementsry food every month through the Family Support Programme.
Supplementary Feeding Programme- this continued to serve meals to underweight and
malnourished children in eight locations in the squatter communities.
Icthus, Hands of Merrfs livelihood programme. continued to operate. The livelihood programme
sells filtered water to business and Individua15 and reached its ninth year of operation Ihaving
started in 20151. It has provided a way for the Filipino community to become more self-reliant. It
faced some competition but continued to maintain its customer base and deliver high quality water.
Churches and individuals in the United Kingdom continued to support the compassion work through
prayer, child an(1 family sponsorship and donations.
BRIEF STATEMENT OFTHE CHARITY'S POLICY ON RESERVES
Hands of Mercy receives its funds through donations. The charity had £41,244 on account at the
start of the financial year1£14,(XX) of which was restricted) and received £100.967 of income during
the year12022-2023'. £93,228). Its expendrture vms £104.67712022-2023.' £101,863).
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A percentage of the money given for the humanrtarian compassion programmes is held in
contingency fund at the HSBC. This is typically equivalent to three months, running costs.
The trustees approved the Trustees, Annual Report on-
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CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to thè trusteesl
members of
Hands of Mercy International
On accounts for the year
ended
31" March 2024
Charity no
{if any)
1097434
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity Iyhe Trust.) for the year ended 31103 12024
Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation
basls of report of the accounts in accordanrk with the requirements of the Charities 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,
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145{S)Ibl of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe thal in. any malerial respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Indepandant
oxaminer's Statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Slgned:
Date:
IIIzoL*
Name:
John D Kingham
Relevant prof•ssional
qualificationls) or body
lif any):
Fellow of the Instrtute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Address:
338 Old Bedford Road, Luton, Beds. LU2 7EJ
IER
October 2018

Hands of Merc
Recei
tsandPa
International
ments Account for Ihe ear ended 31st March 2024
2023
Balances as at 1st A r512023
Bank Accounts
Currenl Account
Oeposit Account
21,007.85
20 236.52
29.713 98
41,244.37 20 165 20
49,879.18
Recel ts
Giving under Gift Aid Scheme
Income Tax Repayments Received
Other Giving
Bank Interest
59,831.24
14,756.81
26,031.82
346.
55.665 00
13.719.30
23.772 22
71.32
100 966.77
142,211.14
93 227 84
143,107.02
Pa mènts
H of M Phillipines
Office Wages
Web-site costs
Bank Charges
Post, Stationery & Sundries
103.806.00
0.00
87.00
131.20
52.7
100.486 00
52124
73.00
137.68
447
1 101,86265
104,676.96
Balance8 as at 318t March 2024
Bank Accounts
Current Account
Deposit Account
16.930.76
21.007 85
03.42 £37 534.18 20 236 52 £41244.37
Note 1
£14,000 is designated lo be used for the New Housing Project
Noto 2 As a result of the Giving under the Gift Aid Scheme £2,140 is re¢laimable from the
Inland Revenue as at the 31$1 Mar¢h 2024
TRUSTEES
Mrs S Graham
r K Barter
Savill
Rev D G Alexander
Mr M Dodds
Mrs D Archer