2021-03-31-accounts

CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST (CHIT)

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR

YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2021

Registered Charity No 1112048

Trustees

Mr Howard Mathers CBE Mrs Pauline Stanton-Saringer, Dr Kalwant Rai, Rev’d Mary Rai, Mrs Vivien Gillman Mrs Daphne Browne

CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Page Contents 2 Legal and administrative information 3 A personal statement from the Chairman 4 Trustees’ Annual Report 10 Receipts and Payments Account 12 Statement of Assets and Liabilities 13 Independent Examiner’s Report

Legal and administrative information

Children’s Homes in India Trust Also known as CHIT Registration number 1112048 Principal address The Lodge, Farringdon, North Petherton, Bridgewater TA6 6PF Email [e-mail] Website www.chitonline.org.uk Trustees Mr Howard Mathers Chair Mrs Vivien Gillman Treasurer Mrs Pauline Stanton-Saringer Secretary Rev Christopher Turner (resigned 20th September 2021) Dr Kalwant Rai Rev Mary Rai Mrs Daphne Browne Bank Lloyds Bank 47 Milsom Street Bath BA1 1DN

Changes in year

No changes to the charity’s governing document were made during the year 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

A personal statement from the Chairman

As the last financial year closed, the Government of India imposed the first lock-down to arrest the spread of Covid-19. We had little idea that children’s homes and school would be shut until October.

Immediately all our plans regarding future sustainability were put on hold as we supported our Indian partners Christiana Children’s Homes (CCH) in their response to the unfolding and unpredictable situation that was to be the chief characteristic of the year.

Key decisions made during the year were to continue paying permanent staff during lockdowns, to use underspent funds to help up to 60 children from the homes facing particularly difficult situations in their villages, and to invite supporters to consider additional giving to support marginalised communities around the homes.

A significant new issue arose in December, which was the development of the road that runs north-south through Bapatla into a major trunk route. This entailed constructing a by-pass around Bapatla, and new feeder roads to it from the town. It turned out that one of these was required to pass the Elizabeth Barrie High School that we support and which all the children in the Bapatla home attend. In fact it ran so close to the school that it damaged the building, wiping out the whole of the stairway to the first floor classrooms. Also, so adjacent was the road that an effective boundary wall was essential for the protection of the children from traffic. These have entailed considerable expense that is reflected in the high level of grants made to India. We pressed for compensation from the road construction, but all in vain. However, we might come to regard the boundary wall as some sort of investment in the future. Meanwhile our next concern is how to manage the safety of the children crossing the road when it comes into use and the traffic builds up.

Although in November the school and children’s homes re-opened, it was short-lived, and further periods of closure followed as the local conditions ebbed and flowed. Even at the year end it was impossible to forecast when they would re-open with any degree of permanence. Despite the uncertainty, we have been able to build up a little surplus, good relations have been maintained with the families of the children and local communities, and our friends in CCH can feel confident to re-start properly when the time comes.

We have been thrilled by the constancy of our support base through this tricky and unpredictable time, and send our deepest thanks to all who support this work financially.

Howard Mathers

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Trustees’ Annual Report

The CHIT Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2021. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.

The origins of CHIT

CHIT was formed on 4 September 2005 with the initial purpose of raising funds for two Children’s Homes in Andhra Pradesh, South India. The Homes, formerly associated with Goodwill Children’s Village Society, had lost their primary source of income and the Indian Committee had begun to liquidate the assets of the Society by selling a third Home in order to provide for their work as long as possible. Upon their discovery of this situation, two former supporters of the Homes determined to re-establish a fund-raising base in the UK, which with growing success could in due course benefit other projects within its scope. CHIT obtained charitable status on 14 November 2005.

Structure, governance and management

The trust is a registered charity, number 1112048, and is constituted under a trust deed dated 29 October 2005. The objects of the trust are:

The relief of poverty, sickness and distress; the advancement of education; in particular, amongst children in India, by the provision and maintenance of Children’s Homes and associated projects, educational services and materials, in accordance with Christian principles.

The primary activity of CHIT is publicising the needs of and raising financial support for Children’s’ Homes operated by a partner charity in South India, Christiana Children’s Homes, in the town of Bapatla and the village of Nidamarru, both in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The children cared for are provided with all their physical, pastoral and social needs and an appropriate education. Fund-raising is achieved through personal contacts of the trustees known to be sympathetic with its objectives, through emerging speaking engagements, and through diverse fund-raising events. A newsletter is published to existing supporters two or three times a year to illustrate the effectiveness of their donations and to draw attention to new needs.

The Indian charity (Christiana Children’s Homes) is a wholly indigenous organisation that is governed by India’s charity regulations, including its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The planning and financial cycle starts in January when the Indian charity presents to a visiting party of CHIT trustees their assumptions, objectives, and budgetary requirement for the year starting in April. The review meetings consider trends, long term implications of plans, and the capacity of CHIT to make the financial commitment requested. Subject to any amendments CHIT may request, the plan and budget is approved at a meeting of the whole body of CHIT trustees, usually in March. Emergent changes in the budget (e g resulting from a crop failure or monsoon damage) are agreed by the CHIT trustees on a caseby-case basis. In agreeing the financial commitment, the CHIT trustees also satisfy themselves that the plans are consistent with the objects of CHIT and the long term expectations given to supporters. The annual cycle is usually closed during the following January when the visiting CHIT trustees review the way that resources have been used against those plans. During the Covid 19 pandemic, it has not been possible to visit, but the meetings usually convened have been held by electronic link.

CHIT aims to keep reserves of between three and six months’ Indian operating costs to insure against economic shocks. It is CHIT’s policy not to hoard money which has been given to help destitute children, and if reserves should approach 12 months’ running costs, consideration would be given to extending the work within the scope of CHIT’s objects.

Grants are transferred to India approximately monthly using foreign exchange agent, TORFX, which was selected in 2012 on the basis of superior speed, reliability and cost over bank-to-bank transfers.

New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees. The deed specifies no period of office, but requires a minimum of three trustees at all times. In view of the infrequency of such appointments and the small size of CHIT, a dedicated process for the appointment and induction of new trustees is not maintained, although the deed requires that as a minimum they are to be provided with the deed and any changes to it, and the latest annual report and statement of accounts. In practice, when considering a new appointment, the trustees will consult the Charity Commission guidelines (RS1) and readily available best practice.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The trust has no employees and does not conduct any trading activity.

Benefits

The primary beneficiaries of the trust’s activities are up to 250 children and young people under the care of Christiana Children’s Homes. Normally (in non-Covid times) each June destitute families and guardians apply to Christiana Children’s Homes to take their children, and selection is made primarily on the basis of parental capability. Typically a total orphan has top priority, a lost mother second priority and a lost father third. Children enter from age 6, and can expect to receive full board, including a safe home, clothing, a balanced diet and medical treatment, and education until they complete their secondary education. Beyond this, depending on their level of attainment, they will also receive assistance with the cost of vocational, further or higher education. The end result is confident young people with an educational foundation that equips them for employment and to contribute to their community in ways that would have been made impossible by their poverty and lack of opportunity.

A second group of beneficiaries is perhaps about 120 local children who attend the Bapatla School that is largely funded by a block grant made by Christiana Children’s Homes, and occasionally enhanced by some donations from UK supporters, shown as restricted income in the Financial Statements. This has been expanded as a result of the successful introduction of a kindergarten. The school is now able to teach all subjects in English to all year groups, which is prized by, but otherwise unlikely to be accessible to, many children in the area. So an incidental benefit is the enhanced education they are able to enjoy.

In year performance 2020-2021

The general Mission statement included is reproduced in full at Annex A.

The prayer vigil started in 2010 continued every Saturday at 1800 in India, 1230 (1330 in summer) in UK.

The Indian Management presented a budget of Rs 8,418,194 matching that of the previous year although some expenditure categories differed according to need. This was agreed at a CHIT Trustees meeting of 16[th] February 2020. At the exchange rate then applying (88 Rs:£) this budget was roughly equivalent to £95,661. The trustees were not confident of being able to contribute further sums for capital projects in the year. The actual outcome was beneficially affected by an improved average exchange rate averaging Rs 94.4/£ over the year.

For our supporters . We remain constantly grateful to all the regular supporters and sponsors, to those who host special events to raise funds, (and make a special mention of the Take-Away Curry Evening held in Kenilworth), and to those who give their time, not least in praying for the staff and the children in India, without which nothing we have said in this report would have been possible.

Objectives for the year and performance

As far as the specifics of the Mission statement are concerned, the Indian activity supported by CHIT has maintained its outputs and continues to set the following objectives:

• Provision of accommodation, food and clothing for around 250 children (varying through the year). Dietary supplements and medical attention are also given, and large stocks of medicines and vitamins provided.

• Support for up to 20 HIV+ children and young people, in their own homes.

• The provision of Education for all the children, from primary to further education (the latter covering college courses, vocational training (e g nursing) and polytechnic and university degrees. At Bapatla the primary and secondary school, funded wholly through the Children’s Home (including increased support from donors in the USA), continues to take in additional children from the local area. A steady stream of school leavers are sent to the Industrial Training Centre next door which is administered by the same indigenous charity as the school. Gaining something of an apprenticeship they have an excellent prospect of employment. The children at Nidamarru go to the local State-run school which also teaches in English Medium.

• The members of staff in the Homes and School express their Christian faith through a patient and loving approach to the children and each other.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Statistics on the application of finance raised by CHIT to deliver the accommodation, food and educational objectives are provided at Annex B. Other aspects of the Mission statement are reflected as follows:

• CHIT Trustees recognize their personal limitations in meeting the fund-raising targets and express (in newsletters, presentations and as here) their dependence on God and his Son, Jesus Christ. This has become the unifying theme in our joint meetings with the Indian Management Committee, which are centred on a time of prayer, the outcome of which we consider again to have been instrumental in our success this year, and the relative safety of our children and staff in India throughout the months of the pandemic.

• CHIT welcomes gifts from organisations or individuals who do not profess a Christian faith but wish to participate in the life-changing work.

We continue to focus on providing care for the most needy local children and giving them the opportunity to escape from poverty via the best education that can be provided. This focus has not changed and we continue to encourage our Indian partners to recognise that this is where they will attract the strongest support. Our activities during this year have been marginally expanded to include the support of families of the children, and some local tribes people, whilst they were unable to work, and subject to Government imposed Covid-19 restrictions. We also authorised Christiana Children’s Homes to pay a retainer to permanent employees so as to maintain the House and School teams, despite the close down of activities between April and October. A Hardship Fund was created which received donations specifically given to assist the vulnerable children, families or small groups identified as being in dire need of support.

Objectives for 2021-2022. Our main concerns will be

• to address the changing priorities for the education of the children, especially re-establishing routines and work ethic having been unable to attend school for many months

• finding ways to work with the requirements being demanded by the Inspections of the Homes,

• to focus on strategies to address the changes being forced upon us by emerging climate change, political and financial conditions in the UK and in India.

• to carefully monitor the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the provision of the above objectives in the UK and in India, and to put in place strategies to address any further perceived difficulties.

• The Trustees are aware of the difficulties some NGOs are experiencing in India because their registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has been refused. It has been confirmed to us that our registration is approved and there should be no need to apply for renewal for the next five years. A watching brief will be observed concerning any possible difficulties.

Critical success factors

In the area of financial regularity , the auditor for the Indian management provides information by means of an audited set of Financial Statements after the year end.

Certificates of Foreign Contribution (Indian FCRA form FC-3) are made available when CHIT trustees visit the Homes, but confirmation of the transfers is provided through TORFX contract details.

In the area of child protection , the CHIT Trustees audit the Director’s records of the welfare of each child and find them very satisfactory. An independent advisor continues to visit with no adverse reports. The Trustees believe that the children are in good heart and have no concerns about their general welfare while in the Homes. The staff contact the children weekly by telephone when they are in their villages due to Covid-19 restrictions. About 60 children were found to be in situations with extreme hardship and CCH provided assistance by way of food or small grants (of £10-20).

The health of the children is normally closely examined and monitored by the Trustees, and tabulated statistics, kept by the staff, demonstrate an improvement in the children’s growth and physical well-being. Changing behaviour patterns and the social integration of the children into a narrowly traditional society, together with the effects of the pandemic, continue to be a challenge that invites some sustained input from the UK trustees.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

In our marketing we continue to sustain our support base by providing updates to our list of supporters. Regular giving has increased from £50,252 in 2019-20 to £57,715 this year. Ad hoc gifts significantly improved, with donations this year being £29,688 (including donations to the Hardship Fund) against £21,552 in 2019-20. Personal contacts have continued to be the main source of any new support , and developing this network remains a major target for Trustees. Weekly telephone texts to some who pray for us, regular monthly updates emailed, and occasional emailed and printed ChitChat newsletters enhance our communications with supporters, and occasional talks, in person or by electronic media, can be given to interested groups. Considerable effort has been put into improving our Internet visibility and the new website appears to be successful.

A thorough review of data held and accessed has been conducted to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (GDPR) and data is held securely by the current Trustees.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP;

• make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees declare that they have approved the report above. Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

Signed on paper copy …… Mr HL Mathers

Signed on paper copy … Mrs VJ Gillman

22[nd] January 2022 22[nd] January 2022

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Annex A to the Annual Report

CHIT Mission originally prepared for the opening Business Plan

To raise funds to enable Christian Partners in India in:

• The relief of poverty among children by providing accommodation and wholesome food

• Providing educational services including schooling up to and including secondary education and grants to support tertiary education

• Facilitating the spread of Christianity through Christ-like service, sharing Christian truth, and praying for the effect of the Holy Spirit

To develop a characteristic ethos that expects fundraising to be the successful combination of obedience in action and faith in the power of Christ.

To encourage donors in their faith in demonstrating the faithfulness of God in answer to prayer.

The Trustees have reviewed the scope of CHIT’s mission in the light of the discussions at the tenth Anniversary celebrations and continue to re-assess those but have found no reason to change.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Annex B to the Annual Report

APPLICATION OF FUNDS - 2020-2021

Covid-19 Impact

There are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, despite the impact of Covid-19 control measures. Whilst the Trustees expect these pandemic control measures to continue to have a significant impact on the Charity’s operations in India, the income for UK supporters remains stable, and expenditure will be tailored to fit the circumstances and needs of the Homes. The Charity has sufficient reserves to meet these challenges for the next year.

Income

The number of regular donors remains relatively stable and together with Trustee donations and income tax recoveries, this has provided well over half of our unrestricted income. For the remainder we continue to be dependent on single gifts, which vary considerably in size and number.

Recovery of a large proportion of the income tax is received in arrears via Gift Aid claims. At the end of 2020-2021, £20,347 was due from HMRC and received on 3[rd] November 2021, but in accordance with CHIT accounting policy has not been recorded.

Trustee policy for investment

We have continued to hold funds in an interest earning savings account, although the interest continues to be minimal. (£7 in the year). The lowest total cash assets at bank being £34.918 at the end of April 2021 (£29,500 in December of 2019-20).

Expenditure

Expenditure in 2020-2021 was £108,083 comprising £333 for UK expenditure and £107,750 transferred to India.

UK expenditure comprised Bank charges and office costs such as postage and stationery. We continue to administer the UK Charity without any paid staff. Total expenses comprised just one quarter of a percent of the total income. Trustees’ personal donations continue greatly to exceed any administration expenditure.

A certificated Annual Report for Christiana Children’s Homes is due to be received from the Indian firm of Chartered Accountants, and is usually presented in a simpler format than previously.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS Charity name Children’s Homes in India Trust (CHIT) Charity number 1112048 For the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 Receipts and Payments

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment	Total	Last year
	funds, to	funds2, to	funds, to	funds, to	funds, to
	nearest £	nearest £	nearest £	nearest £	nearest £
Receipts1
Trustee donations	27,398	-	-	27,398	12,037
Regular commitments	57,715	-	-	57,715	50,252
Single gifts	25,573	4,115	-	29,688	20,302
Tax recovered	12,211	-	-	12,211	10,525
Receipts from operating activity		-	-		-
Bank interest	7	-	-	7	12
Subtotal	122,904	4,115	-	127,019	93,128
Total receipts	122,904	4,115	-	127,019	93,128
Payments
Grants made to India	103,635	4,115	-	107,750	100,000
Bank/agency charges	134	-	-	134	188
Advertising3	-	-	-	-	-
Travel & subsistence costs4	-	-	-	-	1,792
Office & fundraising5	199	-	-	199	214
Subtotal	103,968	4,115	-	108,083	102,194
Total payments	103,968	4,115	-	108,083	102,194
Surplus/(deficit)	18,936	-	-	18,936	(9,067)
**Cash funds last year end1 **	34,967	-	-	34,967	44,034
Cash funds this year end	53,903	-	-	53,903	34,967

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Notes to the statement of Receipts and Payments

1. The following accounting policies are adopted by CHIT:

2. a) Recognition of receipts and payments as follows:

   • i. Receipts include all cheques presented to the CHIT general account and all payments net of income tax reported to CHIT by Stewardship, both up to and including 31.3.21. Income tax reclaimed by Stewardship is recognized where receipt is shown in the statements to 31.3.21.

   • ii. Payments include all cash withdrawals and authorised transfers from the CHIT general account up to and including 31.3.21.

3. b) Payments made by donors in respect of specific requests for major expenditure are recognised as Restricted Funds and reported accordingly.

4. c) As the financial statements are prepared on a cash basis, the recovery of Gift Aid is shown in the month it is received during the next Financial Year.

5. A restricted Fund was created in the light of Covid-19 impact and donations received to specifically support those most badly affected by control measures. Those supported were identified by the Management of the Children’s Homes, and reported to CHIT Trustees. All the donated funds were spent on Covid relief measures before the end of the Financial Year.

6. No payments were made for advertising during the year as the trial in a previous year was judged to be ineffective.

7. There were no Travel and Subsistence Expenses paid in year.

8. Office and fundraising expenses include printing and postage costs.

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

		STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES	STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Cash Assets	Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
	funds, to	funds, to	funds, to
	nearest £	nearest £	nearest £
Cash funds1	53,903	-	-
Other monetary assets2	24	-	-
Other Assets	Fund to which	Cost	Current value
	asset belongs
Gift Aid Debtor3	Unrestricted	-	20,347
Liabilities	Fund to which	Amount due	When due
	liability relates
Outstanding bills at 31.3.21	-	-	-
Notes to the statement of Assets and Liabilities
1. Includes cash held in	the charity’s current and instant access investment		accounts.
2. When Rupees are held as petty cash.
3. Gift Aid Debtor for year to 31stMarch 2021 received 3rdNovember 2021
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
…signed on paper copy ….	Mr HL Mathers
…signed on paper copy....	Mrs VJ Gillman		22nd January 2022

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CHILDRENS HOMES IN INDIA TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Children’s Homes in India Trust (Charity no 1112048)

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 10 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the of report accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did 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 have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Nicola Stuffins 20 Winchester Road Bath BA2 3LF

18 January 2022

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