Trustees Report & Financial Statements 2023-24
SAVANNAH EDUCATION TRUST REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year endal 5 April 2024
Charity name: Savannah Education Trust Address: 58 Applcdorc Gard¢ns Lindfield West Susscx RH16 2EU Trustecs". Paul Ramsbottom (Chair) Richard Cper Howard Hickn]an Stcph¢n Ramsbottom Matthew Roe (from 31 January 2024) Helen Skelton (from 31 January 2024) Charity number: 1104896 Website: www.savannahtrust.o
TRUSTEES, REPORT Ob eCtiV and activities Governance Th¢ Savannah Education Trust is a charitable trust governed by a trust deed dated 23 June 2004. Apart from the founder Trustw any Trustees are app)inted or reappointed for a tenn of three years by a resolution of Trustees. During the year, two new trustees were appointed to support the expanding work: Helen Skelton (a teacher and Head of Science at a succcssful UK secondary school) and Matthew Roe {currently undertaking postgraduate research at the University of Oxford). The work of th¢ Trust in Ghana is Manag by Alfred Sogsuo (who leads a small team bd in Lawra), and th¢ TTUSt works in partncrship with the local tribal leadership and district goY¢rnrncnt. Th¢ rnanagem¢nt of our schools is through a Committee drawn from the church and thc local village eA)mmunity and the ongoing cost of the majority of our teaching staff is funded by thc Ghanaian government through the Ghana Edu¢Ation Scrvicc. Ob ectives The charity's objectives are the advancement of ¢ducation and the lief of poverty of people living in Ghana. In particular, th¢ charity provides an education for some of the most disadvantaged children in Upper West Region (Ghana's most imFM)verished region) by: building and running Christian primary schools in rural villages which currently have little or no acce&s to education. providing essential resources for schools which are not provided by government. This includes physical r¢sourccs (e.g. borehole, books) and a Lirgct&l programme for teachers (a teach¢r tra]ing programrne to ensure a steady supply of qualRfied teach- crs). educating every child in each village in which the Trust worW no matter how poor, whether girl or boy, whatever their disadvantage, disability or r¢ligion. tailoring, where possibl¢, the ucation to suit the particular needs of children in this region.
The projects are managed at the local level by local people. Savannah Education Trust works in close collaboration with Ghallaian partners: the Baptist Churc the local Municipal Education Directordte, tribal IlershIp and parents. The schools are embedded within the Ghana EdUtion Service (GES), who have the ongoing responsibility for teachers, wages, basic school resources and inspecting th¢ quality of t&aching. Savannah Education Trust is fully ¢ommitted to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people with whom it corn¢s into contact. The sch(K)Is which we create and run are government sch(x)Is and the immediate responsibility for safeguarding thffefore sits with GES. Our own staff are committed to these principles and work closely with government officials and teaching staff who have overall responsibility for child protection issues. Our safeguarding policy is publicly available. We continue to organise safeguarding conferences for our staff (and other educational staff in the area). Activities At the end of the calendar year (2023). P>or Charles KarEK) retireiL He had led the work in Ghana from the start of Savannah's activitie and the trustecs pay tribute to him for his leadership acro&s many years. He remains a valuable source of wisdom and advicc for the team. Following a compctitive recruitinent woe£ Alfred Sogsuo was appointed as County tkfanager. He had previously held the position of accountant and &ssistant County Managcr for Savannah Education TrusL Th¢ villag¢s in which the charity works are in the savannah countyside clustered around the market town of Lawra in Ghana's Upper West Region. Our frst Chrt&ian primary school was opened in the village of Bagri during Autumn 201%5 and w¢ currently have ten school& namely (in order of construction): Bagri. Gber4 Pavuw Mettoh, Korh. Tungan-zagkpee, Boo, Baapari, Danko-Buree and Lyssah. Alongside the day-t(Hlay business of sch(K)I life across busy school% the y¢aT was also one of continucd building work In our existing schools at Tungan-zagkpce and DkBre¢ th¢re was a need to provide Junior High Schools (i.e. loosely similar to what in the UK would be ¢allcd 5cnior school, running from age l I to 14). During the year, the building worK for the new JHS at Tungan- Zagkpee was completed, and work was started at Danko-Buree.
Across all of the Savannah school& there is an ongoing maintellanee programme of paint- ing and of rewiring. This continued during the year. We are pleased that our new teacher training and conference centre in Lawra continues to be well utilised - both as an olrice for Savannah staff and as a training and resource centre. Life as a teacher in a village school can often be lonely. The centre has become a gathcring place for sharing experiences and for more forn]al learning. It also houscs resources - both digital and traditional - to support staff. The centre fornis a central element of our ambition to maintain a high standard of education in our schools and provide supJy)rt to our teaching and ancillary staff. The multi-purpose facility has been used as a Savannah office for our stsff from 2021. Alongside the centre a small number of gu¢st rooms have been constructed. These are already proving useful for the centre, and may also be a source of income in the future (given the general lack of accommodation available in this remote area). W¢ continue to work with a UK NGO, PEAS, working together to improve the quality of education at the schools (see htt s:Ilwww. as.or .uklcountrics/uhanal for rnore about this partnffship). A feeding programm@ providing a mcal for schoolchild each day, h&s been an im- portant part of our activities since we started. In this rcgion, children are used around the home and in the fields to help with domestic chores and farn]ing. A meal helps to ease acute pressure on familie& and encourages them to rele children from this type of work. Increas- ingly. the Ghanaian government is taking over the responsibility of this element of our work Lunch for children attending Junior High SCh]s has until now not been part of the govern- ment's programme and so remains the responsibility of thc charity. The Tllt is supporting the schools (and indeed the whole district) through a teacber traiD- ing programme. Many school4 particularly in rural location& Struggle to attract qualified teachers. This is compounded by the faGt many qualified teachers choose to work in more affluent areas of Ghana. The scholarships have been given on thc understanding tha¢ once training is completed, the teacher will retum to work in 12wra Munlcipality. Upper West Re- gion. It is the intention that the new teacher training c¢ntre will LY)mpl¢mcnt this programme. not Icast with continuing professional dev¢lopmenL
As funds allow, we aim to provide accomm(atIOll for teachers and their families along- side our schools. The first such provision w&$ under construction at Boo during the year (cho- sen because it is one of the furthest schools away from the market town of Lawra). Nearly 20 years after we started the worK the impact on the village that we work in is evident. An education in th¢se villages is not primarily about job opportunities but improvement to the quality of life: from famling improvements to leaming simple hygiene lessons. The Trust can poinL for exampl¢, to the evidence that education produces an improvement in farming and a reduction in child mortality. Nonetheless. many of the children in our rural schools have gone on to further education and training (often with the help of Savannah). For a long time, the team in Ghana have felt that there is a real need for vocational training - to help children who leave school at 14 who wish to develop a skill or craft, and perhaps eventually set up a small business. We are therefore hopin& if the Lord will, to build what is known as a 'Technical High School. and have identified a plot of land on the edge of the market town of Lawra. The intention is to start relatively small with practical skills such as construction. carpentry or electrical skills. The local government are supportive of the venture. Fundin The Savannah Education Trust is extremely grateful to supp)rters who have generously funded its work during the last year. Without this suppor¢ our ongoing activities would not have been possible. It has been a source of much encouragement to trustees and the ¢xe¢utiv¢ team during the year. We ontinue also to acknowledge, with atItud the kind voluntary help that we have received. Income in the year totalled £334,684 th¢ majority of which was voluntary income. We continue to fmd regular. pledg income through direct debiis particularly helpful in planning future activities. We are also very grateful to have reL¥ived a numb¢r of grants from grant- making charities during the year. The level of surplus or deficit varies year t() year. largely depending on the capital infrastructure investment in any given year. This year we report a surplus of £13,579.
Reserves re larL¥ Trustees have reviewed the charity's need for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. Th¢ reserves are held for three puryx)ses. FirsL Trnstees deem it prudent to hold contingency funds to cover the costs of the future maintenance of schools and aslated buildings. There is th¢refore a growing need as our school network has expandcd to ten schools. Secondly. we have the ambition of expanding into further villages Th¢ speed of expansion into new villages will be dictated to a considerable extent by availability of fund4 particularly as funding is also necded to continue the work in extsting villages. In addition. and as mentioned above. the Trust h&8 plans to create a Te£hnical High School. Thirdly, as well as these planned and potential Capital project4 the charity continues to have considerable ongoing costs, particularly for the feeding and teacher training programme& We are very conscious that the annual recurrent costs are increasing year by year, not least as the schools reach pupil capa¢ity. It is helpful to hold at least one year's worth of the charity's core costs (i.e. staff and core programmcs) in Serve. The Trustees have nominally designated £125,000 from the reserves towards thesc future capital costs and £75,000 towards maintenance costs. On 5 April 2024 the charity held reservcs (net of these funds nominally d¢signat¢d for capital projects and maintenance) of £326,182. Approved by Trustees and signed on their behalf ¢LuL Date". 31 December 2024
Independent examiner's report to the trnsttts I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 5 April 2024 which are set out on pages 10 to 16. Respective SPonSibl11es oftrusiees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparntion of the accounts. The charity's trust¢cs consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 201 l Act) and that an independent eLamination is needed. It is my responsibility to". examine th¢ accounts under section 145 of the 201 l ACL to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 ACL and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Bovis of independent examiner s port My examination was carried out in accordance with the general dirtionS given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those rOrdS. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounty and seeking explanations from you &8 trustees conL*rning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and conwuently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 1¢ and fair view, and the rekx)rt is limited to those matters set out in the stat¢mcnt bclow. Independent examfiner's statement In connection with my examinatiory no rnatter has come to my attention: (l ) which gives me reasonable rAuse to believe that in any material respect the following requirements have not been met: to keep accounting records in aOrdanCe with se10n 130 of the 2011 Act: and to prepare acwunts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 ACL or
(2) to Whic in my Opinio attention should bc drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be re8ched. Name.. t4o•*A$4f cA (fcHÉK¢ Relevant PTofe&sional qualification or body: Address: kiLL Date: "Lalilir rr L•RieL LI4WE
SAVANNAH EDUCATIOPI TRUST Statement of Finaneial Activities for the year end2 5 April 2024 (including Income and Expenditure Account) Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023 Total Totsl Funds (£) Funds (£) Note Fun& Voluniary income Donations Direct debit contributions Gift aid Legacies Funds 210.971 84,155 15.405 9.191 319.722 210,971 84,155 15,405 239,417 86.412 15,991 Other income Interest received 319,722 341,820 Total incoming resources 334 684 334 684 348 323 Resources Eypended Cost of Gen¢rdting Funds Newsletters and circulars 2,611 Direct Charitsble E¥pendithre Building projects Pupil feeding pro8rnmme Teacher training scholarships Transport Buftlding maintenance & resour5 96,759 39,403 20,701 10,993 96,759 39,403 20,701 10,993 167,542 25,375 22,583 13,238 30,862 198,718 St4ppori Costs Trip to Ghana Admin - Ghana (incl. all staffing) Admin - UK Depreciation Exchange dIff¢nCe 198.718 280781 5.108 5,108 3,961 97J31 3,920 8,807 97,331 3,920 8,807 74,004 4,514 8,808 119,526 119526 88,887 Total resouffes expended 321 105 321 105 372 279 Net Income / (¢xnd1tU) for the year 13.579 13,579 (23,956) Total fimds brought forward Total funds caryied forward 512,603 526 182 512,603 526 182 536,559 512603 10
SAVANNAH EDUCATION TRUST Balance Sheet as at 5 April 2024 Note 2024 2023 Flxed assets Tangible &ssets 16,807 25,614 Current assets Cash and bank balances Loans to staff 497.604 11.771 486,989 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year Net current as$¢ts 509.375 486,989 Total wets less eurrent liabAllties 526 182 512603 The funds of the cbarlty Restricted funds Unrestricted funds 526,182 512,603 Total ebarity funds 526,182 512,603 11
11 NOIES FORMING PART OF THE FtNANCtAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRtL 2024 Accounting policies (a) Basis of preparation The fanCIal statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (SORP 2005), the Charities Act 201 l and applicable UK accounting standard& using the following accounting policies: (b) Incoming resources Voluntary income including donation& legacies and grants are recognised on receipt. Income is only deferred when the donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting peri(Kls or the donor has imw)sed conditions which must be met before th¢ charity has uncJ)nditional entitlement. (c) Volunteers and donated services and facilities The value of services provided by voluntcers is noi incorpK)rated into these financial statements. We acknowledge, with grafrful thank& the significant contribution made by volunteers (both in the UK and Ghana). (d) Resources expended Liabilities are recognised as resources expended if there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. The irrecoverable amount of VAT is included in the expense to whith it relates. (e) Depr¢ciation DurAng 2011-12 it W&8 decided that depreciation should be provided to write off the cost, less estimated residual value8 of &ssets, over their expected useful lives. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line b&sis at 25 % per annum. The charity does not capitalise items with a cost below £500. (g) School bui Idings And related assets School buildings and related equipmcnt arc not I111Sed in the financial statements as they are not considered to have any realisable value by the charity. In the event that the charity was not able to continue operatiOD4 the intention would be for them to 12
continue &$ government sch(x)Is and with the same governance structure (albeit not supported by th¢ programmes provided by the charity). (h) Funds struGture The charity has historically had a small numbcr of restricted inrne fimds to account for situations where a donation h&q been S]fied for a particular purpose. All other funds are unrestricted income funds. Interest received (£s) 2024 2023 14.962 6.503 UK accounts Ghanaian a¢count 14,962 6,503 Building projects (£s) 2024 2023 Confcrcnceltraining centre Baapari JHS T-Z JHS Danko-Buree JHS Lyssah Boo teachers, &com Electricity Improvements 27,274 67,216 21,445 11,390 38,377 3,045 50,306 25,320 666 96.759 167,542 Ghana Athnin expenses (£s) 2024 2023 14,416 12,306 82,914 61,698 97,330 74,004 Admin Staff costs 13
UK Admin expenses l£sl UK Admin 2024 2023 174 834 780 1,077 1,649 4.514 Bank charges Website Admin Consultsncy CAF fees 171 642 852 336 1,919 3,920 Tangible fixed &8sets The new pick up and Kia truck have been given a residual value of £1.500 The tipper truck, pur¢has¢d in 2021. is being depreciated at a rate of 250/0 per year, less a re- sidual valuc of £5,000. 14
New pick up Kia truck NewTipper TOTAL Cost 6.42023 16.125 11283 40231 67.639 Additlons Disposal& Cost 5.4.2024 16,125 11283 40231 67.639 tkprectation 6.4.2023 14&25 9.784 17.616 41025 Depreciolion Charge for yr 8.807 8,807 D¢prtciotion 5.4.2024 14.625 9.784 26.423 50.832 Written down value iJoo 1.499 22.615 25.614 6.4.2023 Written dowm 1,5fy) 1.499 13,808 16.807 value 5.42024 15
Cash and bank balances 2024 2023 COIF deposit a¢count UK CUTrent account Lloyds savings accounts Cambridge & Counties Redwood Cash at bank and in haDd in Ghana Cash in trdnsit to Ghana 102,784 122,441 58,288 23,456 83,792 65,480 127.781 122.611 99.611 121.319 25,348 31,682 497.604 486,989 16