THE NEEM TREE TRUST The Old Stables Avoncliff Bradford-on-Avon Wiltshire BA15 2HA
Registered UK Charity No 1099077
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The financial statements comply with the charity’s trust deed and applicable law.
CONSTITUTION
The Neem Tree Trust is constituted under a trust deed dated 19[th] May 2003 and is a UK Registered Charity No 1099077.
OBJECTS
The objects of the charity are:
To advance the education and vocational training of the residents of the Society for the Care of the Handicapped, a boys’ home located 30 kms from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, South India.
To support the work of St Luke’s Leprosarium, Peikulam in the District of Thoothukudi in caring for leprosy patients and their children.
Relieve poverty and sickness in the Tirunelveli district and its surrounding area of Tamil Nadu
The trustees who have served during the year are:
JOHN HOSKINS PATRICIA MARGARET KINZETT KATHLEEN MILLER
Trustees are appointed by the board of trustees and serve from 1-3 years after which period they may put themselves forward for re-appointment. Trustees are appointed for their ability to make a contribution to the pursuit of the objects of the charity.
No Trustee has received any expenses or remuneration for their services.
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HOW AND WHY THE NEEM TREE TRUST WAS FORMED
The creation of The Neem Tree Trust was the result of Kathy Miller’s first visit to India in September 1999 when she travelled with an organisation called Projects Abroad, which sent volunteers to various countries to teach conversational English in schools.
After a month teaching at a village school near Madurai she was given the opportunity to spend time at the Society for the Care of the Handicapped Tirunelveli (SCHT), a Disabled Boys’ Home in Tamil Nadu, South India.
Dr Karuna Chelliah, a Medical Practioner with a thriving practice in Tirunelveli, had a serious motorcycle accident in 1976, which injured his spinal cord and confined him to a wheelchair. Slowly his stamina returned and ten years later, encouraged by Mr Vedasiromani, his former Principal at St John’s College, and his brother-in-law Mr Edward Jonathan, he set himself new goals for the future and established the SCHT Disabled Boys’ Home, which is a Society Registered by the Indian Government. Dr Karuna Chelliah sadly died in March 2012 but his work is continued by his wife, Princess, and his Board of Directors.
The aim of the home is to provide disabled boys with a safe, caring environment in which they can learn to become independent and self-sufficient. Around 50 boys live at the home, some of whom have suffered from polio and all come from very poor family backgrounds. As it will be difficult for the boys when they leave the home and return to their villages, provision is made for them to continue their education in college or they are taught life skills in order that they can earn a living.
Kathy also visited St Luke’s Leprosy Hospital, which is situated at Peikulam, in the Thoothukudi District of Tamil Nadu. St Luke’s is a referral centre for leprosy patients suffering from complications, which cannot be managed by general practitioners, private clinics and Government hospitals. Dr.Haebus Solomon Vethabothagam, grandson of the founder of the hospital, is the Medical Superintendent.
Leprosy is still shrouded in mystery and superstition; with many people not realising that leprosy can be cured. By visiting villages and schools with films and audio-visual aids, the St Luke’s Health Education Team is able to spread the good news that leprosy is curable and that help can be given to those in need.
Kathy Miller and her husband, Ken, founded The Neem Tree Trust in 2003 principally to help support children at the boys’ home and patients and children at St Luke’s Leprosy Hospital with both friendship and grants.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The Trustees believe that the charity has achieved its objectives during the year and propose to continue to follow the same strategies in the future. We will continue to have a presence with stalls at local events but Kathy has decided, now that we have laid the foundations of our charity, to give fewer talks to groups unless they are particularly local.
Each year our Trustees review our objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect our aims. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Kathy Miller’s annual trip to India to visit the children we support is an essential part of our strategy as it enables her to report to the Trustees and supporters on progress at the centres and to evaluate, through consultation with Mrs Princess Karuna Chelliah and Dr Haebus Solomon Vethabothagam, their future needs. An important aspect of her visit is to offer the hand of friendship from all Neem Tree Trust supporters to the children
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we support and to ensure that the objects of our charity continue to be carried out for the public benefit in the area of operation in Tamil Nadu, South India.
SCHT BOYS HOME
During the financial year 2022/2023 the Trust provided a grant of £20,000 to the SCHT Boys’ Home to pay for:
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Assistance with welfare and rehabilitation when the boys return to their villages after leaving the home.
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Assistance for boys who are studying further education at college.
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Improvements to the buildings and facilities on the campus, including the bathroom and toilet facilities
ST LUKE’S LEPROSY HOSPITAL
Through the Trust, a number of supporters of St Luke’s have made donations towards the feeding programme set up at the hospital for the benefit of the in-patients and children as well as sponsoring individual children and renovating the kitchens and staff quarters. During the financial year 2022/2023 the Trust provided a grant of £30,000 to St Luke’s Leprosy Hospital.
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
Christina and Richard Cornish once again opened their garden in Corsham in aid of the Neem Tree Trust.
Kathy had a pop-up Christmas shop at Avoncliff
John Kendall held his usual Christmas stall at his home in Seend selling small antiques and collectables.
The above events generated £6327.00 and £344.00 came from other miscellaneous sales.
We received a generous donation to The Neem Tree Trust from Ashton Mill Services, Melksham of £220.00.
Donation of £1,000 for the benefit of St Luke’s from St Lazarus Trust.
Donation of £1,000 from The Medlock Trust.
Kathy gave talks on The Neem Tree Trust to:
Longwell Green Ladies Group
Winsley WI
Donations from the groups plus sales from our table amounted to £380.00
We claimed Gift Aid of £4268.00 from the Inland Revenue on donations from UK taxpayers.
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In November 2023 we sent out our annual newsletter via email to supporters giving them an update on the children’s progress and inviting them to make a donation to The Neem Tree Trust for the benefit of the children at the boys’ home and the patients and children at the Leprosy Hospital. Donations from individuals and organisations for both the Boys’ Home and St Luke’s, including regular standing orders, amounted to £26,853. We were very privileged to receive a legacy of £56,000, bringing the total for donations to £82,853.
The trustees of the Neem Tree Trust agreed that we should open a higher interest account for the legacy of £56,000 and we deposited £55,000 into The Charity Bank in March 2023.
The Neem Tree Trust deposits funds as they are raised into a CAF Gold account. In the financial year 2022/2023 bank interest amounted to £338.00.
PAYMENTS
The following payments were made during the year:
Purchase of items for resale .................................................£200.00 Maintenance of equipment and computer systems...............£354.00 Printing, stationery and postage..............................................£38.00 Annual Public Liability Insurance........................................£220.00 Bank Charges........................................................................£123.00
GRANTS
The charity made grant payments to SCHT Boys’ Home and St Luke’s totaling £50,000.
The trustees considered the above grants to conform to the Objects of the charity.
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature…………………………………………………………………
FULL NAME : KATHLEEN MILLER POSITION : TRUSTEE AND FOUNDER
Date: 1[st] December 2023
Some of the children who are cared for at St Luke’s Hospital.
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THE NEEM TREE TRUST 1099077 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a 01/04/2022 31/03/2023 For the period from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Endowment Restricted funds Total funds Last year funds funds to the nearest to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ £ A1 Receipts DONATIONS - - - 82,853 25,651 SALE OF GOODS - - - 344 39 TALKS TO GROUPS - - - 380 EVENTS - - - 6,327 4,416 GIFT AID REFUNDS - - - 4,268 4,100 BANK INTEREST - - - 3 MISCELLANEOUS - - - 338 56 - - - - =—==>-= Sub total (Gross income for AR) 94,510 34,265 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - ———— Total receipts - ~~——~~ 94,510 34,265 A3 Payments PURCHASES OF MATERIAL FOR 200 RESALE - - - 446 MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT 354 AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS - - - 337 PRINTING, STATIONERY AND 38 POSTAGE - - - 93 INSURANCE - - - 220 209 VEHICLE EXPENSES AND TRAVEL - - - SCHT GRANTS AND SUPPORT 20,000 - - - 20,000 ST LUKE'S GRANTS AND SUPPORT - - - 30,000 22,000 BANK CHARGES - - - 123 198 MISCELLANEOUS - - - 148 Sub total 50,935 43,431 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - ~~=~~ Total payments 50,935 43,431 Net of receipts/(payments) - 43,575 - 9,166 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end - - - 33,131 Cash funds this year end = - ~~==~~ - 67,540 23,965 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted funds Endowment Categories Details funds funds to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds BANK BALANCE CAF CASH 753 4,510 BANK BALANCE CAF GOLD 11,787 19,455 BANK BALANCE CHARITY BANK 55,000 - Total cash funds 67,540 23,965 —S EE
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets |
Signature Details Details Details Details (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name KATHLEEN MILLER |
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Independent In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my oxaminer's statement attention (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordan with section 41 of the 1993 Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 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. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: Nam•: ROBERT BRANCH Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body (if any): FCA Addrnss: 30 GAY STREET BATH BA12PA Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. IER ri12009