Annual Report 2024-25
We change lives together
verty
## **Contents**
|**ontents**||
|---|---|
|Who we are|3|
|Where we work|4|
|Our Life-Changing Programmes|5|
|Life Essentials|6|
|Building Skills|8|
|Sustaining Life|10|
|Crisis Support|12|
|Lives Changed|14|
|Our Project Partners and teams|15|
|Chair’s Report|16|
|Lives Changed|17|
|Our Impact in 2024-25|18|
|Structure, Governance and Management|24|
|Lives Changed|28|
|Annual Accounts|29|
|---|---|
|Financial Report|30|
|Statement of Financial Accounts|31|
|Balance Sheet|32|
|Directors’ Statements|33|
|Notes forming part of the Financial Statements|34|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|42|
|Lives Changed|43|
|Looking Ahead|44|
|With grateful thanks to all our supporters|45|
**2**
## Who we **are**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Self-sufficiency
photo
**----- End of picture text -----**
People Against Poverty is more than a charity. We are a global community of like-minded individuals, organisations and businesses that share a passion to alleviate poverty and suffering around the world.
We help people find a pathway out of poverty, funding a range of projects, delivered through local partners on the ground, designed to enable new opportunities for a more sustainable future, thereby creating lasting impact for individuals, families and communities.
**3**
## Where we **work**
This year we have been funding projects in Haiti, India, Malawi, Romania, Tanzania and the UK.
**4**
Our Life-changing Programmes
Life Essentials
• Building Skills
Sustaining Life
Crisis Support
## Life Essentials
**6**
## Life Essentials **Projects**
**Fresh Veg for Foodbanks, Dignity & Preparing4Work** UK
**Children’s Home** Romania **Community Support** Romania
**7**
## Skills Building
**8**
## Building Skills **Projects**
**First Steps** Haiti, Tanzania, Malawi, India, Romania
**Education and vocational skills training** Malawi, Romania, UK
**School Iasi photo**
**9**
## Sustaining Life
**10**
## Sustaining Life **Projects**
**Micro Farm Water Projects Seeds for Sustainability** Romania India, Haiti Malawi
**11**
## Crisis Support
**12**
## Crisis Support
**Support provided in:** Haiti, Romania
**13**
## Lives **Changed**
## Sustaining Life, **Haiti**
The ongoing terrible civil violence in Haiti has made the lives of the children at the orphanage we support, most of whom are disabled, incredibly challenging. Food and water is extremely scarce, but the monthly donations we send, together with the sustainable measures our project partner, who runs the orphanage, has previously wisely put in place, have enabled them to survive. Through the generosity of one individual donor we were able to help them further increase this sustainability, by funding a water pump and pipes to irrigate the plot of land where fresh produce is grown for them to eat.
_**"Life in Haiti remains a real struggle. We can't wait to have our normal life. Thank you all for your support and generosity. We couldn't survive without you."**_
**14**
## Our **Project Partners and teams**
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ROMANIA
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Costel Tatiana
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**Atilla Adele**
**Vasile**
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Adrian
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Carmelia
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
First Steps Uncesti;
Micro Farm
**----- End of picture text -----**
Children’s Home & Community Support Programme, Reghin
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Community Support
Community Support Programme,
Programmes, Iasi Ursita
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
TANZANIA
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
HAITI
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**Joseph Hannah**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Gertrude Sheri
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First Steps Tanzania
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First Steps Haiti; Water Project
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MALAWI INDIA
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UK
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**Webster**
**Grace**
**Prasant**
**Jill**
First Steps Malawi; Seeds for Sustainability
First Steps India; Water Projects
Dignity; Fresh Veg for Foodbanks; Preparing4Work
**15**
## Chair’s **Report**
I welcome the opportunity to write this report for the last fiscal year. I have been much encouraged by what we have achieved and I am very much looking forward to what I know we can achieve in coming years.
Charities in general are experiencing significant funding challenges. Indeed many small ones, like ours, have had to close. We have not been immune to these challenges but thankfully are still very much in business. As a result of the rigorously professional approach we bring to our mission we are a lean and efficient organisation. This, together with a spend-down strategy from some restricted fund reserves, has enabled us to maintain the same level of regular donations to our projects, even at a time when total income has been falling.
We have also maintained progress against our 5-Year Strategy (2023-2028) growth goals: Grow Reach, Grow Impact, Grow Income.
We have supported more individuals, children and families than last year and helped more people gain a qualification and move into employment. In Romania, we started up a new project, enabling children who were previously marginalised due to poverty, to be able to access education fully alongside their peers.
Thanks to the generosity of a new business donor, we distributed over 1,000 pairs of thermal socks to people experiencing homelessness in Birmingham and Wiltshire (UK).
We delivered three significant water projects, bringing fresh water to two remote village communities in India, and much-needed irrigation to the fields producing crops to keep alive those whom we support in Haiti.
We have retained our emphasis on strong collaboration with our project partners, working closely with them to build a properly structured approach to our projects. We are improving our monitoring and evaluation procedures continually to ensure the transparency and accountability that people expect from us.
We have expanded our supporter base in other parts of the UK. This includes establishing a popular regular Quiz & Curry fund-raising event in Birmingham, and raising awareness of the charity through participation in the international Great Birmingham Run.
Three significant people stepped down from their roles this year. At our Annual Celebration event in October Bill Huxley stepped down as trustee, and Val Huxley from her role as volunteer mission ambassador, which she took on after passing the CEO baton to Belinda Wadsworth. We were delighted to have had the opportunity at this event to honour Bill and Val for their incredible nineteen years’ service to the charity. Rhoderline Kyeme stepped down as trustee and company secretary in December and we are extremely grateful for her professional and effective contribution.
In order to be of continuing relevance in a challenging world, we need to be sustainable and I am pleased at the progress made this year in that direction. We have consolidated ourselves in a way that will enable us to move forward into the new fiscal year. We cannot solve the world's problems, but we can offer new hope and opportunity for financial independence and security to those we help. None of this would be possible if it were not for our dedicated supporters without whom we could achieve nothing.
So thanks to all the businesses and individuals who have so generously supported our projects this last year. We look forward to building our relationship further with you in the coming year and beyond. We hope you will want to get further involved with People against Poverty and the work we do – please get in touch.
**Stuart Brown, Chair of trustees**
**16**
## Lives **Changed**
## First Steps **projects**
Through our First Steps projects in 5 countries we are supporting children and young people to access education by paying schools fees and providing school supplies.
_“My mother and father died a long time ago when I was only 4 years old and I have no one to support me. I have reached this age because of the care and support from People against Poverty. Now I am in secondary school because of your support and I am grateful. Your contribution has enabled me to overcome challenges and reach my goal of education. Thank you for being a vital part of my journey of life!”_
**Martha, Malawi**
**17**
Our Impact
in 2024-25
## In 2024-25 **we helped**
2546 individuals 494 families 669 children (80 sponsored)
**19**
## In 2024-25 **we provided**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
137 children with support to access education
65 children with a hot meal every day (128 every week)
132 children with school supplies (eg uniform & books)
63 children with a place at an activity club
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**20**
## In 2024-25 **we helped**
16 people to gain a qualification 31 people to gain a vocational skill 7 people to prepare for work 31 people get into employment 6 individuals to start their own business 16 people to become self-sufficient
**21**
## In 2024-25 **we supported**
8 people to gain a qualification 67 people to gain a vocational skill 48 individuals with legal aid 36 individuals with medical aid 10 people to prepare for work 96 individuals with counselling 24 people get into employment 36 individuals with crisis support 61 individuals to start their own business 78 people to become self-sufficient
**22**
## In 2024-25 **we delivered**
3 water projects giving 494 individuals (118 families) access to fresh water 1442 packs of fresh veg for people in need 16 white goods for people in crisis 1008 pairs of socks for people in need
**23**
## Structure, Governance and **Management**
## **Organisation**
## **Governing Document**
The Board of Trustees governs 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 including up to date financial information. The Chief Executive Officer (appointed by the Trustees) undertakes the daily running of the charity together with volunteers, and external service providers who provide a range of specialist expertise. 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.
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 in this financial year there were eight members, each of whom agreed to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up.
## **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 and 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, where possible, Trustees will visit one of our international projects. Trustee vacancies are advertised externally.
## **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 of substantial influence and/or control between a trustee or 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 financial year 2024-25, no such connections were reported.
## **Trustee Induction and Training**
New Trustees are invited to attend Trustee induction and training sessions with existing Trustees, the CEO and other key members of staff as appropriate to learn more about the charity and its programmes and 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. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
**24**
## Structure, Governance and **Management**
## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the Financial**
## **Pay Policy**
## **Statements**
The Board of Directors (who are the Trustees) appoint the CEO. The pay of staff is reviewed annually and increased in line with inflation where possible. 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 16 & 17 to the accounts.
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:
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees have a risk management strategy, which comprises:
- a quarterly review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- the establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified;
- 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 implementation of procedures designed to minimize or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
The review has identified that financial sustainability is an ongoing financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available unrestricted funds – and the establishment of a reserves policy.
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 of the charity.
**25**
## Structure, Governance and **Management**
## **Statement as to disclosure to our Independent Examiner**
The staff and Trustees of the charity continue to be motivated by the words of Isaiah 58 verse 7:
Insofar as the Trustees are aware at the time of approving our Trustees’ annual report:
_“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter”_
- there is no relevant information, being information needed by the examiner in connection with preparing their report, of which the examiner is unaware, and;
Under its objects, the charity has three main aims:
- 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 is aware of that information.
1. to help break the cycle of poverty for the deprived of the world, by empowering them to become self-sufficient
2. to partner with UK businesses in the fight against poverty
3. to raise awareness of poverty so that people in the UK are better able to understand the situation of the world’s poor
## **Objects and Activities**
People against Poverty’s objects as per the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are:
In delivering our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’.
- _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_
**26**
## Structure, Governance and **Management**
## Trustees in 2024-25
## **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 serving during the year 2024-25 were as follows:
Andrew Fisher
Dr Harvey Maylor
Mr Paul Van Haver Dr Harvey Maylor (Chair until Oct 2024) Mr Andrew Fisher (Treasurer) Rhoderline Kyeme (resigned Dec 2024) Mr William Huxley (resigned Oct 2024) Mr Stuart Brown (Chair from Oct 2024) Mr Richard Beath (joined Aug 2024, Secretary from Dec 2024)
**Bankers:** (1) The Cooperative Bank, P.O.Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT; (2) CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ (Fundraising) and (3) WISE, 6th Floor of The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1
William Huxley
Paul Van Haver
**Independent Examiner:** Steven Case (MAAT), Finance Box Limited, 128b The Street, Rustington, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN16 3DA
Belinda Wadsworth **Chief Executive Officer**
Richard Beath
Rhoderline Kyeme
Stuart Brown
**27**
## Life Essentials, **UK**
## _**“I was so embarrassed to show up looking homeless and scruffy. At least now someone might actually give me a job.”**_
Warm socks, fresh veg, a haircut, it is often the small things that constitute a significant step on someone’s pathway out of poverty. Our UK projects focus on a range of simple support that makes a big difference in helping those experiencing financial difficulties get back on their feet.
One person who had been in and out of mental health facilities and care all their life finally reached the point of independent living and received a washing machine through our **Dignity** project. They said that being able to do their own laundry was exciting for them. A street homeless gentleman who had recently received a placement in shared accommodation was very happy that he could now cook the fresh food he received from our **Fresh Veg for Foodbanks** project, as he had been living on a poor diet while on the streets. A lady who had recently become street homeless was provided with a shower and new clothes through our **Preparing4Work** project, so she was able to be presentable when going to the jobcentre. Several people have said that having a hair cut, through this same project, makes such a difference as they no longer feel unkempt when attending appointments, giving them more dignity and confidence.
**28**
## Annual **Accounts**
Financial period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
**29**
## Financial **Report 2024-2025**
The twin headwinds of continually rising costs for small organisations coupled with the ongoing cost of living crisis show no sign of abating, and there was a further fall in total income from 140k to 104k.
The charity is currently dependent upon the following sources of income: voluntary donations, fundraising, direct project sponsorship, business 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 have 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 economic climate, and the agreed minimum reserves level at the time of submitting this report is set at £21,495.
Expenditure at 126k was reduced from last year’s 176k, the prior year total including a one-off exceptional item, being redundancy costs of 20k. Expenditure on charitable activities including staff costs fell from 137k (which included the redundancy) to 90k. The costs of external services and overheads tracked lower, and external services costs in 2025-26 will be much lower due to further reductions in organisational capacity in order to prioritise project spend on charitable activities.
Expenditure is reviewed regularly and the level of financial reserves is monitored to ensure it covers regular project spend, staff salaries, employer national insurance, pensions, and basic running costs. The main concerns of the trustees are to ensure:
Project spend under charitable activities is taken from both restricted and unrestricted funds. All monies not directly related to project spend are paid for out of unrestricted funds.
- that staff can continue working – primarily to secure new funding, and in addition to continue operations at a minimal level
Business donations included in total income, which are 100% unrestricted, decreased from 32k to 23k, whereas other unrestricted donations stayed steady at 27k. The charity is able to distribute • unrestricted funds to both project spend on charitable activities and to overheads according to need. As part of our strategy for income generation much effort continued to be expended during the year under review to maintain and develop this income stream.
- that donors and project leaders of regular projects funded monthly are given sufficient notice of any changes
The reserves policy is reviewed annually and whenever there are significant changes in operational or regular project costs. 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.
The charity remained in a strong financial position throughout the year despite bank balances falling from 79k to 60k and was able to impact many lives through a wide range of projects under our four programmes detailed elsewhere in the report. Total funds at the year-end were 61k compared with 83k last year, comprising 36k unrestricted and 25k restricted versus 44k and 39k respectively.
## **Andrew Fisher FCA: Treasurer**
**Stuart Brown: Chair of Trustees**
**30**
**Statement of Financial Activities - Year Ending 31st March 2025**
|
**Notes**|
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Balance at**
**31st March**
**2025**
**Balance at**
**31st March**
**2024**|
|---|---|
|**Incoming resources**|**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|||
|Incoming resources from
generated funds||
|Voluntary income
**1**|50,323
47,803
98,126
135,888
5,060
-
5,060
3,139
498
-
498
1,028
55,881
47,803
103.684
140,055
33,749
-
33,749
36,360
27,825
61,986
89,811
137,277
2,087
-
2,087
1,872
63,661
61,986
125,647
175,509
(7,780)
(14,183)
(21,963)
(35,454)|
|
Activities for generating funds
**2**||
|Investment income
**3**||
|||
|Total incoming resources||
|||
|**Resources expended**||
|||
|Spend on charitable activities
and cost of generating funds||
|
Cost of generating voluntary income
**4**||
|Charitable activities
**5**||
|Governance costs
**6**||
|||
|Total resources expended||
|||
|**Net income surplus/(defcit) for the year before transfers**||
|||
|**Transfers**||
|Gross transfers between funds||
||(7,780)
(14,183)
(21,963)
(35,454)
-
-
-
-|
|Net incoming resources for the year
before other recognised gains and losses||
|||
|Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fxed asset
for the charity's own use||
|**Net movement in funds**|(7,780)
(14,183)
(21,963)
(35,454)|
|||
|**Reconciliation of funds**||
|Total funds brought forward|44,023
39,362
83,384
118,839|
|
Total funds carried forward|36,242
25,180
61,422
83,384|
**31**
**Balance Sheet - Year Ending 31st March 2025**
|
**Notes**|**Balance at 31st**
**March 2025**
**Balance at 31st**
**March 2024**|
|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**|**£**
**£**|
|Tangible assets
**7**|160
325
1,836
7,747
60,430
78,816|
|||
|**Current assets**||
|Debtors
**8**||
|Cash at bank and in hand
**9**||
||62,266
86,563
1,004
3,504|
|**Total current assets**||
|||
|**Liabilities**||
|Creditors due within one
year
**10**||
|
**Net current assets**|61,262
83,059
|
|||
|**Total net assets**|61,422
83,384|
||36,242
44,023
25,180
39,361|
|**Represented by Unrestricted Funds**||
|
General purpose fund||
|||
|**Restricted Fund**
**11**||
|**Total Funds**|61,422
83,384|
**32**
## Directors’ statements required by Section 475 **for the period ended 31st March 2025**
In approving these financial statements as Directors of the Company, we hereby confirm:
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.
- (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 2025; and
The notes on pages 34 to 41 form part of these accounts.
- (c) that we acknowledge our responsibilities for:
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 3 October 2025 and signed on behalf of the Board by:
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.
## **Stuart Brown, Chair of Trustees**
On behalf of the Trustees
**33**
## **Notes forming part of the Financial Statements**
## **Accounting Policies**
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.
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.
## **Basis of Preparation**
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.
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.
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.
**34**
## Notes forming part of the **Financial Statements**
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.
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 objects of the charitable company and to cover operational costs.
## **Resources Expended**
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 relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in encouraging others to make voluntary contributions to it and the costs for fundraising.
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.
**35**
## Notes forming part of the **Financial Statements**
## **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:
- Computer Equipment 33% straight line
## **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 where the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
**36**
**Notes forming part of the Financial Statements**
|**Note**|Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
31st March 2025
31st March 2024|
|---|---|
|**1**
**Voluntary Income**|£
£
£
£|
|Donations|16,040
47,803
63,843
91,770|
|Gift Aid|11,495
-
11,495
12,148|
|Business donations|22,788
-
22,788
31,970|
|Total|50,323
47,803
98,126
135,888|
|||
|||
|**2**
**Activities for**
**generating funds**|Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
31st March 2025
31st March 2024|
||£
£
£
£|
|||
|Events|5,060
-
5,060
3,139|
|Total|5,060
-
5,060
3,139|
|||
||Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
31st March 2025
31st March 2024|
|**3**
**Investment income**|£
£
£
£|
|Interest on bank
deposits|498
-
498
1,028|
|
Total|498
-
498
1,028|
|||
**37**
**Costs of generating voluntary 4 income**
|**4**
**income**
Events
Marketing costs
Services costs
Offce and admin costs
Networking
Total
**5**
**Charitable activities**
Life Essentials
Building Skills
Sustaining Life
Crisis Support
First Steps
Other donations direct costs
Exceptional item -
redundancy
Staff Costs
Total|Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2025 31st March 2024
£
£
£
£
3,410
-
3,410
122
0
-
0
0
28,891
-
28,891
32,751
1,448
-
1,448
3,487
0
-
0
0|
|---|---|
||33,749
-
33,749
36,360|
||Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2025 31st March 2024
£
£
£
£
24,937
24,937
34,443
0
0
7,324
6,781
6,781
2,000
810
810
3,809
40
29,458
29,498
45,162
2,016
2,016
320
0
-
0
20,000
25,769
-
25,769
24,219|
||27,825
61,986
89,811
137,277|
|**6**
**Governance Costs**
Independent Examiner fee
Depreciation
Banking costs
Total|Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2025 31st March 2024
£
£
£
£
600
-
600
600
165
165
177
1,322
-
1,322
1,095|
|---|---|
||2,087
-
2,087
1,872|
**38**
|**7**
**Tangible Fixed Assets**|Computers
Fixtures & Fittings
Total|Computers
Fixtures & Fittings
Total|
|---|---|---|
||£
£
£||
|Cost at 1st April 2024|600
-
600||
|
Additions|-
-
0||
|Disposals|-
-
0||
|At 31st March 2025|600
-
600||
||||
|Depreciation at 1st April 2024|275
-
275||
|
Charge this year|165
-
165||
|
Eliminated on disposal|-
-
0||
|
Other adjustment|-
0||
|At 31st March 2025|440
-
440||
||||
|NBV at 31st March 2025|160
-
160||
||||
|NBV at 31st March 2024|325
-
325||
||||
||||
||||
|**8**
**Debtors**||31st March 2025
31st March 2024|
|||£
£|
|Gift Aid debtor||1,875
6,440|
|Sundry debtors||(39)
30|
|Accrued income||0
1,277|
|Total||1,836
7,747|
||||
||||
|**9**
**Cash at bank and in hand**||31st March 2025
31st March 2024|
|||£
£|
|Co-op Current Account||7,728
78,816|
|
Co-op Savings Account||51,921|
|
CAF bank||565
0|
|WISE||216|
|Total||60,430
78,816|
||||
**39**
**Creditors falling due within one 10 year**
|Trade creditors
Tax and Social Security
Independent Examiner fee accrual
Total|31st March 2025 31st March 2024
£
£
0
2,478
404
426
600
600
1,004
3,504|
|---|---|
|**11 Restricted fund**
Life Essentials
Building Skills
Sustaining Life
Crisis Support
First Steps
Total
**12**
**Analysis of net assets between**
**funds**
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Net assets at 31st March 2025|Balance at
31.03.2024
Incoming
resources
Outgoing
resources
Transfers
between funds
Balance at
31.03.2025
£
£
£
£
£
8,650
16,781
(26,517)
(1,086)
(1,238)
2,100
862
3,750
4,514
(6,781)
1,483
3,929
938
(810)
4,057
24,271
23,470
(27,877)
19,864|
|---|---|
||39,362
47,803
(61,985)
0
25,180|
||Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted Funds 31st March 2025
£
£
£
160
-
160
37,086
25,180
62,266
(1,004)
-
(1,004)
36,242
25,180
61,422|
**40**
**13 Fees for the examination of the accounts**
|**Fees for the examination of the accounts**
**Staff costs**
Salaries
Social Security Costs
Pension Costs
Total
**The average number of employees in the year**
Fundraising
Charitable activities
**Trustee expenses**
Number of trustees who were paid expenses|31st March 2025
31st March 2024
600
100
31st March 2025
31st March 2024
£
£
25,200
23,718
-
-
569
501|
|---|---|
||25,769
24,219|
||31st March 2025
31st March 2024
-
-
1
2
31st March 2025
31st March 2024
0
0|
## **14 Staff costs**
- **15 The average number of employees in the year**
## **16 Trustee expenses**
**17 Trustees remuneration and related party transactions**
No trustees received any remuneration or benefits during the year or the preceding year.
No trustee or any person related to the charity had any personal interest in any transactions entered into by the charity during the year or the preceding year
**18** Taxation - no tax charges have arisen for the charity during the year or the preceding year.
**19** The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.
The liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member.
**41**
## Independent Examiner’s **Report**
## **Independent examiner's statement**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of People Against Poverty**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of People Against Poverty for the year ended 31st March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
For and on behalf of: Finance Box Limited 128b The Street, Rustington, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN16 3DA
Signed: Steven Case (MAAT)
**42**
## Lives **Changed**
Our new school project in Iasi supports children marginalised due to poverty, who would otherwise not be able to fully participate in school and school activities alongside their peers. The project provides school supplies and support to enable them to take part in all school activities with the other children.
Our project partner Adrian explains further:
_“Our goal is that we want these children not to be marginalized because of their poverty. We want them to feel equal to others, to be valued for their intelligence and even to excel. It is wonderful when you see the success of these school children and you can say with joy in your heart that you were part of enabling them to succeed.”_
## Building Skills, **Romania**
**43**
## Looking **Ahead**
Every day, at People against Poverty, we celebrate the achievements of those we are supporting around the world to find their pathway out of poverty. Children working hard at school to achieve their dreams of becoming a nurse, a doctor, an engineer, an artist, a teacher. Young people finding a vocational skill or training to start up their own business. Men and women taking hold of new opportunities for self-sufficiency so they can provide for themselves, their families, and sometimes even their wider communities, working tirelessly to achieve this. Some for whom just surviving every day is the achievement, but are still holding on to their dreams for a brighter future.
We, and all of you who support our work, are privileged to be part of these stories of success. And it's these stories, some included in this report, which drive us forward to keep raising and sending the funds for our life-changing projects around the world - because we know and can directly see the difference being made in the lives of so many.
The challenges for charities in this economic climate, especially small ones like ours, are significant. In early 2025 NCVO’s The Road Ahead report forecast “ _The unpredictable and challenging times the charity and voluntary sector has experienced in recent years look set to continue in 2025. For many organisations, the 'perfect storm' created by funding falling, costs increasing, and demand climbing remains…The coming financial year (2025-2026) will be a squeeze for many, and the risks this poses could be high.”_
In the light of these challenges experienced across the charity sector, we are so grateful that due to the faithful ongoing support of our donors, combined with our work to continually improve the efficiency of our operations and bring overheads down to a bare minimum, we have managed to keep going this year and indeed to continue to build stronger foundations for the charity to keep going in the future.
And as the need around the world for our support rises, going forward, not only do we plan to continue, but also to continue to further expand our reach and impact, ambitious to see ever more stories of change in the countries where we work.
To achieve this we will need to bring new supporters on board who share our vision to help people living in extreme poverty become self-sufficient. Is that you?
We will need to engage new donors, increase awareness of our work across the UK, expand our business supporter community, build joint funding partnerships, and run more fundraising events. How could you be involved?
With your help - donating, raising funds, making connections, liking and sharing about the work we do - together we can play our part in enabling more stories of success around the world, and celebrate with those who are achieving their goal of finding a pathway out of poverty.
We hope you are with us for this next season, not just to keep going, but to expand our work so that together we can see more lives changed.
Are you in? Get in touch and let’s do this together!
Thank you for your support.
## Belinda
**Belinda Wadsworth Chief Executive Officer**
**44**
## With grateful **thanks to all our supporters**
Individual donors (including legacies): **£76,098** Business donations: **£22,788** Trusts and Foundations: **£2,500** Churches: **£1,800**
**45**
We change lives together
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## People Against Poverty
c/o The Alanbrookes Group 10 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1HT
Registered Charity no. 1097858.
A Limited Company, registered in England and Wales, no. 4727350.