Jrf*<tyrtei d iJ.T p¥drt bpr•lP i¥ Annual Report & Accounts P.artnerships for Change September 2023
Thank you to all our supporters
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It is your donations of money, time and expertise that make possible the work of our partners in Africa.
In Senegal the Diapalante Community Education Centre improves work prospects by providing free learning for children and adults.
In Mauritania a small project helps widowed or divorced women move towards self sufficiency by rearing goats.
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Contents
| Thank you to our supporters | 2 |
|---|---|
| Opportunities to help | 4 |
| Message from the trustees | 5 |
| Diapalante Community Education Centre | 6 |
| Mamadou Kane’s Visit to England | 9 |
| Volunteers in Senegal | 10 |
| Volunteering in the UK | 11 |
| Moving Towards Self-Sufficiency in Mauritania | 12 |
| Hillcrest Advisory Bureau and Bursary Fund, South Africa | 12 |
| Financial Report | 13 |
| Governance | 14 |
| Administrative Details and Objectives | 16 |
| Accounts | 17 |
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to fill and we are always keen to hear from people who would like to work with
skills, whether they are included in the graphic or not, please get in touch.
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Message from the Trustees
Partnerships for Change
As trustees we are supported by a range of partners in the UK. The important - role of those who donate money to Diapalante is easy to realise we could do
help us support our partners in Africa.
But we also have other equally valued partners in the UK: those who donate
volunteering, within the UK and within our projects were tracked in a similar way
the huge role of volunteers within Diapalante, both in the UK and in Africa and to acknowledge great value that our volunteers, in their many different roles, bring to Diapalante.
both by the trustees here and by our partners in Africa.
goods and volunteering .
All the equipmentin the adjacent photos (sewing machines, tables, computers) was donated in the UK.
The sewing machines and computers were also refurbished by volunteers in the UK.
The shipping of donated items, premises British volunteers teach at the Centre. rent, utility bills, staff costs etc are paid from
funds donated in the UK.
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Diapalante Community Educa�on Centre
Open to Everyone
The doors of the Diapalante Community Educa�on Centre are open for all who want to learn, regardless of age or background. The Centre is situated in Kaolack a large city in Senegal, West Africa. Kaolack is the centre of Senegal’s “peanut basin”. Low incomes mean people work long hours when they have the opportunity, which make catching up on missed educa�on difficult.
The Centre opens mornings and evenings, 7 days a week. A�endance is free and people drop in as and when they can. Its staff and volunteers help people build the skills and knowledge which help them succeed in life. French is a good example. Many people are held back, in school and in the world of work, by a - poor command of French, the na�onal language and no one’s mother tongue. Exams, lessons and books are all in French so without good French success in school or access to “professional” jobs is evasive. The Centre uses books, - - computers and games rare resources in schools and homes to complement our French lessons and provide stress free opportuni�es to learn.
Helping School Pupils
Teenagers and young adults come to the Centre wan�ng to improve their school performance. The ‘Bac’ (equivalent to ‘A’ levels) is the prized end of school exam. Poorly resourced schools and lower standards of teaching make learning hard. In addi�on family problems o�en mean children take on work or caring du�es which cause them to fall behind in their learning. The desire to succeed in school is high among the teenagers who come to the Centre. Even so, it is commonplace for youngsters to pass their Bac only a�er mul�ple a�empts.
The Centre aims to complement what the children learn in school. Diapalante’s approach to learning is more informal and interac�ve. For example, our English classes are much more “hands on” than school involving using English in prac�cal situa�ons, discussions, groupwork etc anything that requires ac�ve self expression in English. The computers and the library also provide good opportuni�es for independent learning.
Learning Opportunities for Everyone SafeyJ3rdin eood (weriN of
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Children and Adults Who Have Missed Out On School
school because there was no school in the village where she grew up. Marie
measurements as she couldn’t read or write down the numbers on the tape
for her work.
no religious studies, the Centre hold special classes for them to learn literacy education. On Thursday and Friday mornings, the days when the talibes have \ and numeracy so they can more easily earn a living as adults.
but it doesn’t have the same Adults Pris ehildrenhool restrictions as a school. Through Diapalante the local community has access to learning resources not Ds Secondary school common in Senegal - computers, Students in children with internet access, and a small education Children not in library, games and simple learning school resources. Our teaching reflects both what people want to learn and the knowledge of the staff and volunteers. Adults and teenagers who come to learn are encouraged to share their
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Mamadou Kane’s Visit to England
Sg TE who worked in Senegal for a year before going
Caroline (trustee) and Mamadou (aka Master P, - co ordinator of the Diapalante Community became firm friends Education Centre) - during her gap year volunteering in Mauritania in 2004.
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At the wedding
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When granted a UK visit visa for Caroline’s wedding Mamadou took the took the opportunity to also meet with Diapalante friends, supporters and trustees.
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Volunteers in Senegal
Throughout the year local volunteers have worked alongside the Centre’s three staff to broaden the range of subjects taught. They also helped create a small income by hiring out chairs. This summer, during the school holiday, three of the Centre’s volunteers organised and ran a training course for teachers and others keen to use computers in their daily work. The 2 month course was - very popular eighty people signed up!
Three groups were taught at the Centre and two groups were taught in a village school. The volunteers were busy teaching three days a week in the village and
professional computer ‘wizards’, for providing this opportunity and are now
About 25 of the Centre’s teenagers have trained as “Young Leaders”. In our after school
leader runs an activity for a small group of - children reading, drawing or playing games. The Young Leaders build the children’s confidence in speaking and understanding - - French no one’s mother tongue but is the
Young Leaders programme results in a marked improvement in the children’s achievement in the school’s end of year assessments.
Two British volunteers live and work at the Centre each year for 10 months before going on to university. Billie and Evie have taught English, computer skills and other
understanding. We thank Project Trust, who place the volunteers with Diapalante, for their long partnership - with us may this continue far into the future.
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Volunteering in the UK
Diapalante in the UK is totally dependent on volunteers. Our trustees, themselves volunteers, are supported by a wider group of volunteers. We have no staff. The trustees have control over, and legal responsibility for, the charity's management and administra�on. Our trustees also organise fundraising events, and work with the Diapalante Community Educa�on Centre to deliver the best learning opportuni�es that we can. One of our long term volunteers Pat, who has helped the trustees with many admin tasks over the years, became a trustee in July and is a welcome addi�on to the board.
Our band of catering volunteers have been fundraising throughout the year at events around Ashwell, where they are based. They have been kept busy with varied events providing anything from coffee and cake to Christmas dinners. The Diapalante garden party in August was a successful fundraising day thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. Their highlight of the year is “The WI Christmas dinner because they provide us with a table and expect us to enjoy the meal with them!”.
- Some volunteers undertake fundraising ac�vi�es “Pam‘s jams” make and sell jam, another volunteer organised and ran a tombola, volunteers at a local church ran several coffee mornings. Another collects crayons as part of a recycling project.
Several UK volunteers have helped solve prac�cal problems rela�ng to the Centre. For example sewing and IT support. Thank you to each and every volunteer.
- Sad News! In the pre covid days trustees and other volunteers were able to take advantage of a range of free or very low priced training offered by two organisa�ons in par�cular: the Small Chari�es Coali�on and The Founda�on for Social Improvement. During the height of the pandemic this online training con�nued and we made good use of it. It was relevant high quality training and helped even the smallest of chari�es to give due considera�on to important topics like safeguarding within our projects. The Founda�on for Social Improvement ran series of courses specialising in overseas development projects. As a charity that is run by volunteers we found these courses very useful. Sadly both organisa�ons have been unable to find con�nuing funding and been forced to close. We will miss their informa�ve and helpful support.
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- Moving Towards Self
- In Mauritania, the western most part of the Sahara desert, we are running a three year project which is helping women, who are heads of households, to establish and learn to maintain a small herd of goats. These rural
basics of rearing goats but lack the funds to start up a small business.
The project is run by Diallo, a veterinary technician, who has carefully designed the project with reducing levels of advice and financial support as the herds become established over the three years. Now, at the end of year two, the project is going well and the women are increasingly confident in managing their businesses.
Hillcrest Advisory Bureau and Bursary Fund, South Africa
The town of Hillcrest is 20 miles from Durban, South Africa, on the fringe of the Valley of 1000 Hills and area of economic hardship and poverty.
themselves out of poverty. The Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund supports these young South Africans through their school life, both with advice
enabling HAB&BF to build a fundraising base within the UK.
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Financial Report
meet all our planned expenditure. The finances do not show either the many valuable hours donated by volunteers nor the value of goods (eg computers, sewing machines) donated to us.
As the charts clearly show the Diapalante Community
by far our major project. As trustees we feel that in future we wish to concentrate on this partnership rather than working in both Senegal and Mauritania. We will therefore not be beginning any new projects in Mauritania. We currently support our partner in South
ongoing project. There are now alternative ways that they could gather funds efficiently so we are asking them to explore
work in West Africa.
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Governance
Structure
Diapalante is a charitable trust governed by a Declara�on of Trust dated 02/08/2005 as amended by Deed dated 04/01/2006 and by Deed dated 15/08/2012.
Diapalante is run by trustees who give of their �me freely and no remunera�on is paid. Trustees are appointed by the exis�ng trustees and serve for three years a�er which they may be reappointed. There must always be at least three trustees. At least two ordinary mee�ngs must be held each year to discuss future strategies, projects and fundraising.
The trustees elected to hold their four trustee mee�ngs online this year.
The trustees have had due regard to the commission's guidance on public benefit. We have taken the guidance into considera�on when exercising the relevant powers or du�es. Our charitable purpose for public benefit is demonstrated by the ac�vi�es and achievements summarised in this report.
Safeguarding
Diapalante takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of everyone involved in our programmes, par�cularly children and vulnerable adults. We work in close partnership with Diapalante Senegal who, funded by Diapalante (UK) run The Diapalante Community Educa�on Centre. The Centre is our main area of interest for safeguarding as large numbers of adults, teenagers and children a�end and this year the Centre is implemen�ng the policies we designed together. The results are encouraging and we will be looking to make further improvements to the implementa�on next year.
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Governance
Next year we hope to appoint a trustee whose main responsibility is safeguarding policy and code of conduct and procedures so both sets of documents are aligned.
Risk Management
The trustees have con�nued to review the risks the charity faces and acted to mi�gate the most likely these. The risk of inadequate income due to any future need to cancel planned fundraising events was averted by diversifying our funding streams. The risk of coronavirus impac�ng on project delivery in Senegal remained (1 Project Trust volunteer and 2 visi�ng trustees caught the virus in Senegal). However, as here, the infec�on seems to no longer to pose the threat it did. Nonetheless the threat was reduced by working outdoors where possible and employing extra cleaning and hygiene measures.
Reserves
In establishing a reserves policy and a reserves amount Diapalante is guided by the reserves guidance from the Charity Commission. Our major project, the Diapalante Community Educa�on Centre in Senegal is dependant on Diapalante for all its funding. The project’s major expenses are its three staff, the rental cost of the premises and u�lity bills.
Diapalante aims to hold a reserve of unrestricted funds which is appropriate to - allow us to meet 6 12 months budgeted expenditure. For a low risk commitment - in 2023 24 the six month reserve of unrestricted funds is calculated at £14,000. In line with this policy our unrestricted fund stood at £19,350 at our year end on 31/08/2023, the annual rent being due shortly.
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Administra�ve Details and Objec�ves
Charity name:
Diapalante
Charity Number 1112875
Address: Kirby Manor 73 High Street Ashwell
Herts SG7 5NP
Charity Trustees as at 31st August 2023:
Pamela Brannigan Caroline Chandler Elizabeth Chandler Ian Chandler Emily Charlton Orlando Gibbons Alan Muhr Carol Muhr
Patricia Thorpe (from July 2023)
Bank HSBC 1 Market Place Hitchin SG5 1DR
Diapalante’s Objec�ves
To further charitable purposes which relieve or combat malnutri�on, hunger, disease, sickness or distress.
the provision of educa�on, training, healthcare projects and any necessary support, - enabling individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self sufficient.
17 Accounts Dlawlat)t8 1112675 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• porlod from To 0110912022 3110W2023 Section A Receipts and payments Unr••trlct•d funds Ré•¢rf¢tod fund Endowm•nt fund• Tot41 lund• La•t year tothD nwr••i£ toth• n••Mt£ nur£ toth• A1 Recel Gènttal Fun¢ UK Admini&traiJn comm1 educati C4ntr•. MediGa10r8nl?, Sen Mou(112Th18, Womtrn H•rdeis Pro StyJih Afvl¢•, Hill¢wil PAvrc• BurnAry Fwd GlftJ 298 17.250 103 loo 3,OJO tota ross Incom8 or AR) t$.$23 21,190 )7.413 41,t33 A2 A•s•t and Inve•lm•nt ••lM, 15,523 21,890 7,41? 41, A3Pa •nts G•nwJl FJndB UKAdminislr3iion tMMunIt EdtIOn Cenlro, S•n cal Grants. Son MA1¥ni, Women Hèrd¢rn Pro Alnca, HIIIcresi Avicty 8uTrJry 139 21,317 7,670 28,097 510 oio 1,4 Fund ¢Jft$ Sub tot•1 (180 27382 35.442 39,164 A4 A8S•t •nd Invè8tmont urcha•o• o tsbl• Sub total 8,t80 27,262 35.442 39,184 Net ofrncelpts/{paym•nts) A6 Trnn8f8r8 b8tw•¢n funds A6 C••h fund8 last year end C4h funds thls y8•r ènd 5,37 1,971 2,007 10,360.62 10,533 5.160.12 22,540 24,511 20.571 22. CL¥X Rl )nts Issi 02lIV2023
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families.
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Þ 500 supporters giving £5 per month would provide this income or Þ 250 supporters giving £10 per month or
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Þ 125 supporters giving £20 per month
– people help Diapalante. If you can support us financially please do. If this isn’t for you then keep in touch, all support and encouragement is valued by us.
To donate
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Þ Go to right).
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Þ Use our bank details:
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- Name: Diapalante, sort code: 40 28 14, account no: 51576712
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Þ Or post a cheque to our address below:
Kirby Manor 73 High Street Ashwell Herts SG7 5NP
Charity No: 1112875