poverty
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2020-24
## **As we look forward to 2021, we reflect on what 2020 has meant for the charity and all our projects around the world.**
We had a busy time of fundraising with less staff, but we succeeded and managed to secure enough funding to provide food for all the projects worldwide that would feed their communities for five months. Our thanks go to those who generously supported our appeal.
All the while this was happening, we also made the decision to close the office to help reduce overheads for the charity. Everything had to be moved into cloud based systems and by December we had closed down the office and started working from our homes.
Like everyone, we had to work hard to stay the course and ensure that the children and their families whom we serve were fully supported and that the projects were serviced. Their needs were huge as many faced losing their manual work. As the orphanages were closed down, the salaries were not available to keep the staff on. There was no furlough available to help. As people lost their jobs it meant that individuals were unable to provide for their children. This put more pressure on the projects to find a solution to help feed the children whilst the country was dealing with Covid-19. Food prices tripled and was
## **As we moved into 2021 the beginning of the year looked promising for us.**
We have strengthened our core team with a fundraiser, have introduced a new trustee, developed two new websites for People and Business against Poverty and began new projects.
out of reach generally for the families we support.
A message from our CEO
We remain positive that the charity will continue to provide the support and funds to all our projects with the continued donations and memberships that help sustain us.
**As the crisis grew, so did the concern. Mothers were afraid of losing their children through starvation than they were of Covid.**
Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the year - we couldn't have done it without you.
We needed to act quickly and set up an urgent appeal that would support all our projects and the people we support.
Val Huxley, CEO
## About Us
We are a movement, part of a global community of like-minded people and organisations that share a passion to alleviate poverty and suffering around the world.
People against Poverty identify and help develop projects and then provide ongoing support to our project partners, who display total commitment to alleviating poverty and suffering in their communities.
## **HOW DO WE DO THAT?**
By forming communities of individuals, like you, who share the same passion; businesses who care about communities and social impact (Business against Poverty), churches and young people through our Youth Ambassador scheme.
We invest in exciting projects that re designed to empower greater selfsufficiency, new hope and a more sustainable future - handshake, not a handout.
## Our countries of operation
UK
ROMANIA
NEPAL INDIA
HAITI
TANZANIA MALAWI
## **UK**
The Dignity Project & Youth Ambassador Programme
## **India**
Child Sponsorship, Borewells, Haven Home support, crisis support
## **Nepal**
Child Sponsorship, family support with housing, crisis support
## **Tanzania**
Child Sponsorship, further education support, crisis support
## **Haiti**
Child Sponsorship, St Joseph's creche support, crisis support
## **Malawi**
Child Sponsorship, university support, vocational skills programme, crisis support
## **Romania**
Child Sponsorship, family community support, legal, social care, medical, agricultural projects, educational programmes, crisis support
## What we do!
The children we work with come from terrible backgrounds and often very sad situations. Some are abused, some are . orphaned and abandoned, born into poverty and ignored by society. But we wont let them down!
We aim to support them all to give them the best chance in life by providing the tools needed to access an education which we see as the most important factor of all our programmes. Whether they are children or adults, education is key and in our eyes, every person matters.
Supporting basic needs through our child sponsorship programme, we are reaching out to 100's of children around the globe who often don't have access to the very basic needs in life.
As each child is different, their needs are different so we take the time to understand what each project's aims are and then provide the support to enable them to achieve their goals. This could be anything from providing food, healthcare and an education, giving the children the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential.
Education is the key to escape from poverty and therefore it is our intention to ensure that every child has the means to access education. School doesn't come free and so we ensure that the uniform and equipment is provided enabling a child to be included into the local school.
Clothing is essential and we provide clothing seasonally to children so that they receive coats in the winter and t-shirts in the summer.
**The children on our child sponsorship programme are very special and therefore need the love and care that is often difficult to find.**
Its vital that a child has food to grow big and strong. The child sponsorship programme ensures that each month a child will receive food on a regular basis giving them the chance for their body to grow and develop as it should.
**Our projects provide that care giving them the time and attention, learning about their individual needs and providing the support.**
We ensure that no child goes without medical support through our social programme.
## Our Impact for 2020
Provided regular monthly food parcels for 940 families throughout the covid year
Completed the farmhouse interior and exterior
Provided essential PPE equipment
Introduced our new Youth Ambassador Platform, giving young people the opportunity to have their say and make their voices count
Provided the opportunity for five young people to access Higher Education. These young people are now entering their 2nd year.
We began 3 new projects: i Dignity Project in UK ii Borewells in India iii Vocational Skills in Malawi
## Highlights of 2020/21
## **Introduction of our new UK project - The Dignity Project**
In January of 2020 we became aware through our local Foodbank that there was a demand for white goods for poorer families. We launched the project in April 2020 and received a small number of enquiries over the summer period with demand increasing during the autumn/winter months. We saw the number of enquiries increase from Jan 2021 onwards and we now receive regular referrals from Social Services, Foodbanks and other referring agencies.
Dignity has proven to be a much needed resource and the last year has shown us how the project need is there for families here in the UK who live without the basic white goods that we all take for granted. Families who may once have lived in comfort being pushed into severe crisis because of Covid. Families which have broken down and where abusive situations have arisen have also benefitted from our service. There are too many to mention!
The Dignity project provides brand new white goods (including cookers, washing machines and fridge/freezers) to families in crisis who would otherwise be unable to cook for their children, keep their clothing clean and store fresh food.
We didn't anticipate the level of demand for this service and we are grateful for the small grants that we have received from local companies, the Tesco Community help scheme, Neighbourly, Wiltshire Council, local church St James, Trowbridge and other grant makers. These have been the lifeline for the project and we have also gained a small number of donors which we hope to grow.
Life support in 2020 As Covid put everyone into lockdown, this caused major problems for our families and children, who already live a life in poverty.
Not only did the borders close, but this meant that fathers who would travel to do labouring jobs were unable to do so, thereby not receiving the £2 a day that they were used to earning to help feed their families.
This put pressure on our charity's finances, so we set up a Crisis Appeal in April 2020. We reached out locally and through the generosity of people were able to raise approximately £22,000.
This sum meant that we could send money to each of the projects and enable them to purchase the food required to feed people in their communities for 5 months.
**India became our biggest challenge as Prasant, the Project Leader worked around the clock to reach over 500 families within his local community.**
These families struggle with everyday life even in normal circumstances, and being pushed into further. deprivation it became a mammoth task to be able to provide them with the food they desperately needed.
We succeeded and the families were very grateful for this extra support which we continue to provide to this day.
## Romania
Families from the gypsy communities were breaking lockdown rules and illegally leaving their homes to seek help from our project leaders in Romania. It was a struggle as their children became starving during the Covid period.
Mothers were afraid of losing their children to starvation rather than the Covid virus.
As food prices increased threefold and many parents had lost their labouring jobs, they were unable to feed their families. Life that is normally hard for these people became unbearably difficult.
Over both project areas in Reghin and Iasi we supported these families with life-saving food parcels and provided the funds so that they could purchase food when it became available.
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Valentine giving support for families
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The appeal we set up meant that we could send money to each of the projects to enable them to purchase the food required to feed people in their communities for 5 months.
Sadly, many people lost their lives, but for some, life has returned to 'normal' but many remain in poverty and so our work continues.
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Atilla conducting funerals for the poor
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**Our Social and Legal programmes are always in demand but become vital during periods of crisis.**
We call them the silent programmes; working in the background, providing identities and supporting situations like funerals, hospital trips and treatments.
We are always seeking financial support to run these programmes as with many aspects of our Romania project work.
## Micro Farm
The Micro Farm in Romania continued to receive support so that essential projects could be completed.
This included completing the farmhouse with exterior insulation, plastering of the inside and an extension to the side providing a bathroom area. Costel, the project leader and his family are able to live in the farmhouse which has provided extra security for the farm.
Essential farming equipment was also required to enable the tractor to work at full capacity, ensuring that the yield would produce plenty of food for the entire community for the coming winter months.
The project leader has learned many new skills in maintaining a healthy farm and any profits made are retained for future development of the farm.
The Micro Farm is located in an isolated region in Romania. As such, Covid did not have such an impact on this community as we expected, however labouring work stopped as the country went into lockdown forcing families into further poverty.
The Micro farm was able to sustain the local community to a point, however we needed to provide extra support for food parcels and funds to purchase food.
## Haiti
## **Thirty Three children reside at the St Joseph's Creche in Haiti, many of them with severe disabilities.**
Project Leader Gertrude previously managed to look after the children through her own business, running a B&B for guests who visit the area of Port Au Prince. But during the earthquake in 2010, she lost everything and this is when People against Poverty became more involved in supporting the project.
People against Poverty support the children through our child sponsorship programme but like many of our other projects across the world, the effects of Covid caused many problems for St Josephs.
Our support during this period enabled Gertrude to give the children 3 meals per day and to ensure their needs were fully met.
## Nepal
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Nepal was devastated by an earthquake in 2015. The
communities that we work with have recovered slowly but many
families still do not have permanent homes.
Homes are often made of makeshift materials, making them vulnerable to extreme
weather such as monsoons. This places additional pressure on families already
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living in poverty.
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During 2020 we were able to support families, providing rent to enable them to
have access to a suitable brick building along with providing food parcels
containing the staple food basics like rice.
Life remains difficult for many and child sponsorship is our main programme. We
strive to help the children in the community to gain access to an education so that
they can find fulfilling work and bring income back into the community.
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## Tanzania
Child sponsorship continues to run in Tanzania and although relatively small it enables us to support the older children with their further educational needs.
Young people care about their education and want to progress in life and are given the opportunity to grow and develop with the support from People against Poverty.
We occasionally receive requests from the project leaders to help fund a child's further education. It is important to provide funding on an ongoing basis to avoid the child having to take a break from their course.
**Along with the education and child sponsorship in Tanzania, we are also supporting the local deaf school with digital hearing aids.**
This project is lead by UK local audiologist Julie Horner who visits bi-annually to make new digital hearing aids and to check on aids already given previously.
Young children hearing for the first time in their lives is truly a sight to be seen.
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## Malawi
## **Our partnership with The Ekwendeni Aids Hospital has been a long one of over 16 years.**
Whilst we were able to provide food for the families and children that we work with in the communities, the hospital itself had no PPE equipment. No aprons, masks, ventilators - nothing. Covid was just a word to them. They had no idea at the time what was happening around the world until it hit.
We were able to help support the hospital with basic PPE equipment and Project Leader Webster was able to provide buckets, bowls and plenty of soap to every families in the villages he/we supports. He was able to teach the recipients how to properly wash their hands to ensure safety from the virus.
We also funded seeds for the families to plant on their land so that they could have food during the latter months of the year. This provided a plentiful yield for many of the families.
## ect - In dia j Re-introducing Borewell Pro
**Children die of the most awful diseases from drinking dirty and contaminated water.**
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This essential project helps local communities to have access to clean water for drinking, cleaning and washing, rather than sharing the water that cattle drink from. With support we are helping villages dig Borewells which can be truly life changing for the community.
We are giving the opportunity to individuals and businesses to change the lives of a whole community by funding a Borewell. This means that they are able to personally name a borewell or brand it with their business name.
We have received a number of legacy gifts from supporters who wish to dig a borewell in memory of a loved one. During 2021 we plan to dig five new Borewells.
## New Pro ect Malawi j
## **In December 2020 we launched a brand new project in Malawi called The Vocational Skills for the Vulnerable.**
The project set out to support young adults who had no hope for a future due to lack of education. Many had lost their parents to the Aids virus and as the eldest in the family, they took the responsibility of looking after their siblings and becoming the income provider. Work is extremely difficult to find if you don't have an education. For Richard and Vera, our first beneficiaries of the programme, it was a life-long dream come true.
Over six months, they learned how to use a sewing machine, making practical items for the community such as PPE equipment to help keep people safe from Covid. Richard and Vera have learned a new skill which will enable them to start their own business and bring income back into their own communities.
In 2021 we are looking for individuals and businesses to invest in supporting a young person to (i) receive training in tailoring and (ii) give the student an opportunity of owning a sewing machine and equipment to begin their own business.
This will be a total life transformation for these young people, giving them the opportunity to support their own families.
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## So how did we do it?
In our 18 years of operation, we have grown steadily. The numbers of children sponsored each year can vary as we gain new sponsors and unfortunately lose some.
The majority of our income comes through one-off appeals, fundraising, child sponsorship and family partnership programmes. Our Business against Poverty members make an important contribution and without their support we would not be able to do our work.
We are grateful to every one of our proud sponsors who help us look after the children through our sponsorship programme.
## **Child Sponsorship is a fantastic way to impact a child’s life.**
It’s so much more than a monthly donation providing for a child’s food, clothes, medical care and education. It means a child feels loved and cared for as the sponsor stands by them. The children are not only able to survive but also thrive. .
Regular sponsorship donations make up 23% of People against Poverty's income. This support allows us to commit to the children giving them their basic daily rights.
_"Sponsoring a child is a unique relationship that brings real hope and a life affirming experience". Tracy Tennant Collins_
_"I sponsor a child with disabilities through People against Poverty as I know that the charity changes lives for some of the most vulnerable children in society"_
_Helen Norris MBE_
## Other means of income
## **Our Online Shop**
Another way of increasing donations is the Alternative Gift Cards that we provide. Each card represents a specific need for that project and can include a chicken, underwear for children, toothpaste and toothbrushes etc.
## **Our Christmas Bag of Smiles appeal**
This annual appeal helps us to provide large food parcels for the families and individuals in our projects to ensure that the Christmas period is not spent hungry.
## **Memoriam Gifts**
Our children are very unlikely to ever be included in anyone’s inheritance, so gifts and legacies mean a lot to us and these allow us to continue to make long lasting life changing improvements to young lives. We are always so grateful to the individuals who remember us in their wills and also those families who donate in memory of their loved one.
## **Trusts & Foundations**
We are extremely grateful to the several charitable trusts who donated to our Dignity project this year. This enabled us to help many UK families who were living without the basic amenities that we all take for granted.
## Operationally
Like many organisations the operational activities of People against Poverty were greatly impacted by the COVD-19 pandemic. The charity continued to operate effectively with 1 full time (CEO) and 1 part time (financial) member of staff with one (admin) on furlough.
Due to COVID restrictions the charity was unable to fundraise or raise awareness through events throughout the year. However we did hold a number of online quizzes during the first lockdown with reasonable success.
This has had a positive financial impact for the charity in saving approximately £600 per month.
## **BUSINESS AGAINST POVERTY**
The team and trustees have been able to maintain meetings using Zoom. This has been extended to holding online meetings and seminars with our Business against Poverty members and other business contacts.
Business against Poverty remains key to the composition of People against Poverty. During the financial year 2020-21 Business against Poverty membership generated **£28000** in unrestricted income.
Online communications became even more important in 2020-2021 with the CEO and Trustee/founder of Business against Poverty making a powerful appeal, increasing the charity’s reach across social media. This had a huge impact on the success of our Emergency Campaign which was established to raise extra funds for our projects as they battled Covid-19.
We were unable to return to the office during the summer and as the situation looked to be continuing into the autumn our CEO along with the Trustees decided to terminate our tenancy agreement and base the team from home permanently. This involved changing some of our systems to enable data to be stored in the cloud. Once established we decommissioned our server computer and telephone system.
Although it was not possible to hold the usual Business against Poverty events, such as the Gala Ball, the charity has continued to work with its members and communicate its successes through Social Media, Newsletters and Zoom seminars.
With the pandemic beginning to subside, the financial year 2021-2022 has presented opportunities for us all to meet again. We are delighted that the annual Business against Poverty Gala Ball will take place in 2nd April 2022.
The charity will be forever grateful for the support of the Business against Poverty members during the pandemic, especially as so many experienced their own commercial challenges.
## **OUR AIMS FOR 2021/22** Looking forward
## **The Charity**
During these uncertain times, we need to ensure the charity is fully able to function to continue to provide the monthly support needed by each project. Our aim it to try and build up our regular monthly donations in order that we are able to achieve this.
## **Child Sponsorship**
Increase the number of children in our child sponsorship programme so that they too can receive an education and have the opportunity to release their full potential.
## **Business against Poverty**
Promote the movement reach to more new business contacts through networking, exhibitions, word of mouth.
## **Projects**
> Continue to build on the new projects started in 2020 i.e. (123) 456 7890 Borewells - to promote the Borewell project to individuals and businesses enabling us to reach the communities in India who are starved of fresh water.
- Agricultural programme in Romania - Once the paperwork has been received in Romania of ownership of the land we will begin the new Agricultural programme that will serve the Ursita community. Grow the Vocational Skills for the Vulnerable programme in Malawi. Aiming to work with 10 students per year and help them start their own businesses.
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## **DONATIONS**
Unrestricted giving allows us to meet the needs of the children and all the communities we work in around the world as and when they arise. We value every donation from the smallest to the largest updating our amazing supporters so they know exactly how their donation is being used to make a difference to those in our projects.
## **S P R E A D I N G T H E W O R D - F O L L O W U S**
We work hard at networking, exhibiting, sending news items to supporters and social media posts but without the support in sharing the news we can't grow. Just a simple "like" on social media posts and a quick press of the share button will make a huge difference to our audience and will make Google very happy! the number of children in our child sponsorship programme so that they too can receive an education and have the opportunity to release their full potential.
## **G E T I N V O L V E D**
There are plenty of ways to get involved, sponsoring, becoming a business member, making small donations, supporting us at events i.e. annual Gala Ball, business networking events. We even hold fantastic fundraising events like: skydiving, abseiling, making cakes - in fact anything that will help bring in some income. We need your support for us to continue in changing lives around the world and being the difference to a child living in poverty.
## Our greatest need
## Message from the Chair
We began our financial year 2020-21 confident that it would be a big year. We had big plans and everything was possible. Then it suddenly wasn’t.
Being a small charity, we were able to respond quickly both to the needs of the people we support in the projects you have read about here, but also in re-shaping our own operation. Events were put on hold, new ideas shelved, and costs minimised. We vacated our offices and hunkered down.
I hope that the worst of Covid is behind us. Such is the world, that for many of the areas we support, it is still a disaster. We are blessed to have an amazing group of supporters and donors, who have stood by us and the people we serve around the world.
As a result, People Against Poverty and Business Against Poverty have weathered the crisis well and are now able to look ahead. We have new plans, and so much is once again possible. As always, my request is ‘please do not hesitate to get more involved with what we do.’ What we report next year depends on it.
Every good wish. Harvey Maylor.
Co-chair, Board of Trustees, People Against Poverty. Bath, November, 2021.
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## **Governing Document**
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 8 April 2003, and registered as a Charity on 6 June 2003 with the Charity Commission. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association that established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the Company and there are currently seven members, each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event of the Charity winding up.
Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
## **Organisation**
The Board of trustees administers the charity. Trustee meetings are held quarterly and trustees are provided with a variety of reports to update them on all key activities of the Charity and to provide up to date financial information.
## **Appointment of trustees**
The Trustees, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, have the power to recommend/appoint new or additional trustees and to remove any trustee provided the number of Trustees does not fall below a minimum of three. Trustees are selected to have a wide range of business and charity experience, and are required to gain an understanding of all aspects of the charity’s work. Ideally Trustees will visit where possible one of our international projects. Trustee vacancies are advertised through our website and all social media where applicable.
## **Trustee induction and training**
New trustees are invited to attend a Trustee Education Day with the Chief Executive Officer and other key members of staff to learn more about the Charity and its overseas projects. They are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Board and decision making processes, the budget and recent financial statements.
The Chief Executive Officer (appointed by the trustees) undertakes the daily running of the Charity together with a team of staff and volunteers who provide a range of skills and experience. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive Officer has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and project related activity. Future strategy is developed in agreement between the Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of Trustees. Strategy is reviewed and agreed by the Board of Trustees to ensure the Charity continues to work towards its stated objectives and there is appropriate mitigation of all major risks identified.
## **Related parties and co-operation with other organisations**
None of our trustees receives remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity. Any connection between a trustee and officer of the charity with a supplier must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. In the current year, no such related party transactions were reported. policy for senior staff
## **Pay Policy**
The board of directors (who are the trustees) appoint the CEO. The management team comprises of the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis led by the CEO. All directors give of their time freely and no director received remuneration in the year.
Details of directors’ expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in notes 17 & 18 to the accounts.
The pay of senior staff is reviewed annually and increased in line with inflation where possible.
## **Risk management**
The work has identified that financial sustainability is a major financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available unrestricted liquid funds.
## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements**
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards (UK GAAP). Company law requires charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business
The trustees have a risk management strategy, which comprises:
An annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;
The establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review and
The implementation of procedures designed to minimize or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity’s website.
## **Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiner**
In so far as, the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:
- There is no relevant information, being information needed by the examiner in connection with preparing their report ,of which the examiner is unaware, and
- The trustees, having made enquiries of fellow directors and the examiner that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she is obliged to take, as directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the examiner are aware of that information.
The staff and trustees of the Charity continue to be motivated by the words of Isaiah 58:7
- “Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –
When you see the naked, to clothe him,
And not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Under these objects, the Charity has three main aims:
1. To help break the cycle of poverty for the deprived world, by empowering them to become self-sufficient.
2. To partner with UK businesses so that they can support poverty reduction and improve their own organisation at the same time.
3. To raise awareness of poverty so that individuals and businesses in the UK understand better the situation of the world’s poor.
## **Objectives and Activities**
People against Poverty’s objectives as per the Charity’s memorandum and articles of association are:
Relief of poverty deprivation and distress of all people throughout the world with particular reference to third world countries, by providing practical expertise, equipment, tools, machinery, transport, appliances, building and other materials, medical supplies, seeds, fertilizers, water supply and drainage equipment, clothing, shelter, money and other necessities.
To advance the Christian religion in any part of the world.
For such other charitable objects as the trustees shall from time to time in their absolute discretion determine.
Through these activities People against Poverty wants to see lives being changed. In the overseas projects, the Charity wants to see individual testimonies of people who through the support from People against Poverty’s project partners, are able to support themselves and their families, who are able to seek employment, have a family, run a home and live life with dignity and hope. Things that are so often taken for granted in the UK.
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’.
**Charity Name** : People against Poverty Charity Number: 1097858 Company Number: 04727350
## **Registered Office and Operational Address:**
c/o The Alanbrookes Group Ltd., 10 Market Square, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1HT
## **Directors and trustees:**
The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year-end were as follows:
Dr Harvey Maylor (Co-Chair) Mr Paul Van Haver (Co-Chair)
Mr William Huxley Mr Stuart Brown
Mrs Deb Lowndes
Mr Andrew Fisher
Mr Benjamin Veal (appointed 29.3.2021)
**Charity Secretary** : Ms Karen Ramirez
**Chief Executive Officer** : Mrs Valerie Huxley
**Bankers:** (1) The Cooperative Bank, P.O.Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT – and
(2) CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ (Fundraising)
**Independent Examiner:** Mr Richard HW Beath BSc FCCA, Ashlar House, 58a Combe Road, Combe Down, Bath BA2 5HZ.
Dr H Maylor
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B Veal
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P Van Haver
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4.4.2020 54.5.2024
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The charity is currently dependent upon the following sources of income:
## **FINANCIAL REPORT**
In this financial year, despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the charity has seen an increase in its incoming resources. This, combined with a fall in expenditure means the charity is in a strong financial position.
The gross income for the year was £208k compared with the previous year £171k, an increase on the previous year of £37k. This was primarily due to the emergency appeal, the sale of Dobrovat House, and success in securing grants. Expenditure fell £17k from £180k to £163k, primarily due to it being impossible to hold events in the pandemic, but there has also been a reduction in office costs to augment this.
As a proportion of total income, our charitable activities (resources expended on our projects) amounted to £153k (74%) compared with £156k (91%) last year, the fall in the percentage reflecting the need to strengthen the charity’s reserves in an uncertain world.
As a result, total funds at the end of the year increased by £44k to £105k.
The principal funding sources of income were as follows:
Voluntary income was £178k compared to £123k the previous year. Fundraising was £30k compared to £48k. Within this Business against Poverty membership revenues remained stable at £27k, but there was only £3k other revenue whereas last year there was £21k additional income, mainly from events.
· Voluntary donations
· Fundraising
· Child sponsorship
- Educational trips
· Business against Poverty donations and events.
These sustain its charitable activities and allow the charity to continue to operate. To protect the charity from the risk of income fluctuations and to avoid closure if funding difficulties were to happen the trustees had
previously agreed to keep a certain level of financial reserves to ensure that operations can continue for a period of at least two months, although higher levels of reserves are now being retained due to the uncertain world situation.
Expenditure is reviewed regularly and the level of financial reserves is monitored to ensure it covers staff salaries, National Insurance, pensions, rent and basic office running costs.
The main concerns of the trustees are to ensure:
That staff can continue working – primarily to secure new funding, and in addition to continue operations at a minimal level.
The reserves should be built from the unrestricted income.
BaP membership contributions are 100% unrestricted and the charity is able to distribute funds to project work and to overhead as the need arises.
The costs associated with generating voluntary income were £8k against £21k last year, again due to the Covidenforced lack of events. Payroll costs were down £11k from £58k to £47k.
Investment powers and policy
The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating the charity, have kept available funds in a Co-op Bank deposit account to obtain some interest.
Reserves policy and going concern
Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover unplanned emergency costs.
The reserves policy will be reviewed annually and whenever there are significant changes in staff hours or numbers or changes in the overhead base.
Within the restricted funds of £53,171 (2020:£29,748) there are certain designated funds amounting to £46,948 (2020: £25,699) which are unrestricted funds which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside for a specific purpose. These are combined with the restricted funds for year-end reporting purposes. An element of central overheads, fundraising costs and salaries are usually charged to these funds in order to maintain a suitable level of unrestricted funds, £19,150 being so transferred last year, but this year the charity had sufficient resources to transfer £2,724 from unrestricted funds to restricted funds.
Unrestricted funds at the end of this year were £52,412 (2020: £31,353) which equates to almost 12 months salary and overhead costs.
Andrew Fisher FCA: Finance Trustee
Date of Report: November 2021 By order of the board of Trustees
Signed: Harvey Maylor, Co-Chair of Trustees, People against Poverty
**People against Poverty Year Ended 31st March 2020 Statement of Financial Activities**
**The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All incoming resources and expenditure derive from continuing activities.**
Directors’ statements required by Section 475 for the period ended 31st March 2021.
In approving these financial statements as Directors of the Company, we hereby confirm:
- (a) that for the period stated above, the Company was entitled to the exemption conferred by Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006;
- (b) that no notice has been deposited at the registered office of the Company pursuant to Section 476 requesting that an audit be conducted for the period ended 31st March 2018; and
- (c) that we acknowledge our responsibilities for:
1. ensuring that the Company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386, and
- 2.preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit and loss for the period then ended in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 1A. They constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.
The notes on pages 32 to 40 form part of these accounts.
These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 25 November 2021 and signed on behalf of the board by
Signed: Harvey Maylor, Co-Chair of trustees, on behalf of the trustees
## **People against Poverty – Year Ended 31st March 2021**
## **Notes forming part of the Financial Statements**
## **Accounting Policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year.
Incoming resources are all reported gross and the Statement of Financial Activities recognises all incoming resources becoming available to the Charity during the year. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in the financial statements.
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Stand 102 section 1A and the Companies Act 2006.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Income recognition**
Incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity becomes entitled to the resources, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity, the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified. They are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. On receipt, donated services and facilities are
recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity that is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Incoming resources from charitable activities are accounted for when earned. Interest on funds held on deposit Is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity.
Legacy income is accounted for on a receivable basis. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, and then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.
Interest earned on restricted income is not applied to the restricted fund unless specifically requested by the donor. Such interest will be treated as unrestricted income.
## **Resources expended**
Grants receivable are normally accounted for when received, except where they relate to a specified future period, in which case they are treated as deferred income. Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the Charity are recognised when the Charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
## **Fund accounting**
Restricted funds are funds subject to specific conditions imposed by the funders and relate to specific projects. Expenditure that meets these criteria is charged to the funds.
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Unrestricted funds comprise accumulated surpluses and deficits on general funds and are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the object of the charitable company.
Expenditure is recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to pay out resources, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Resources expended are shown gross and accruals are included in creditors for all known liabilities relating to the year.
Cost of generating funds costs relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing others to make voluntary contributions to it and the costs for fund raising.
Governance costs of the charitable company comprise of costs of the management of its assets and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and include fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity.
## **Fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets bought in the UK costing more than £100 at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life to its residual value.
The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
Motor Vehicle 10% reducing balance Computer Equipment 33% straight line Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance Office equipment 25% reducing balance
## **Debtors**
Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. Gift Aid due is valued at that amount received after the year-end, which relates to donations received before the year-end
## **Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and monies on deposit.
## **Creditors**
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
Notes forming part of the Financial Statements
Notes fomiln8 part of the Financial Ststements
Note
I Voluntsry Income
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2021 31st March 2020
Donats'ons
Gift Aid
32,090
18.071
119,733
151,823
18,071
8.098
177,992
107,597
15,497
Grants
Total
8,098
127,831
50,161
123,094
2 Activlties for Generatin8 Funds
O Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2021 31st March 2020
Bap
28,039
10
28,039
10
186
26,589
9,337
115
Bap Events
Gift Cards
other fundraising Events
Total
2,598
30,834
2,598
30,834
12,623
48,664
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2021 31st March 2020
3 IrNestment Income
Interest on Deposit A/C
Total
176
176
14
176
176
14
4 Incoming reyjuces from Charitsble activitses - Not present this year
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements (continued)**
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements (continued)**
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements (continued)**
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements (continued)**
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements (continued)**
**Independent Examiner’s Report to People against Poverty for financial year 2020-21**
This report on the financial statements of People against Poverty for the year ended 31st March 2021, which are set out on these pages, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”)
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the examiner
As trustees of the People against Poverty Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. You consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charities Commission (under section 145 (5)(b) of the Act),
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charities Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- to prepare accounts, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act have not been met: or
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
## In my opinion
3. The financial statements are in agreement with the accounting records kept by the charitable company under section 386 of the Companies Act 2006
4. Having regard only to and on the basis of the information contained in those accounting records, the financial statements have been drawn up in a manner consistent with the accounting requirements specified in Section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and the charitable company satisfied the conditions for exemption from an audit of the financial statements for the year specified in the Companies Act 2006 and did not, at any time within that year, fall within any of the categories of companies not entitled to the exemption.
## Richard HW Beath BSc FCCA
Ashlar House
58a Combe Road, Combe Down Bath BA2 5H
Registered Office: People against Poverty c/o The Alanbrookes Group Ltd 10 Market Square, Devizes SN10 1HT Tel: 01225 541269 www.peopleagainstpoverty.com