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2022-03-31-accounts

LATITUDE CARE NETWORK LIMITED

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Content Pages
2
Legal and General Information
Trustees’ Annual Reports 3-10
Responsibilities of the Trustees’ Board 11
Statement of the Account – Income & Expenditures 12
Statement of the Account – The Balance Sheet 13
Notes to the Account Statements 14-17
Acknowledgment 18

Charity No: 1113929 & Company No: 05555558 in England and Wales Non-Governmental/Community Based Organisation (NGO/CBO) No: LDLG/2007/1165 in Uganda

LCN – Lega & Administration Information

Management Committee Grace Adok (Chair & Director
Harriet Aber (Treasure)
Christine Atim
Santal Akullo
Mrs Jane Amony Atube
Rev. Modicum Okello
Charity Number: 1113929
Company Number: 05555558
NGO/CBO Number: LDLG/2007/1165/Uganda
Patrons Dr. Mervyn Tyrer
Dr. Hellen Montgomery
Banker HSBC Bank
50-52 Kilburn High Road
Kilburn
London
NW6 4HJ

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LCN – Annual Report & Accounts for Year Ending 31[st] March 2022

ABOUT LATITUDE CARE NETWORK LIMITED – LCN

Latitude Care Network Limited also known as LCN is a not-for-profit charitable company, a community service organisation that has operated in the London Area and the region of Northern Uganda since 2005. LCN is a registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales and Non-governmental/Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Uganda.

The objects for which LCN was established are particularly but not exclusively for individuals and families from socially and economically backgrounds, the elderly, and persons with disabilities:

LCN PORGRAM SNAPSHOT

Community Outreach Activities - At its core, this program enables us reach out to offer activities that help, uplift and support people who may be deprive or are unable independently to access services that improve quality of life including community visitations, health & social support, and home learning activities.

Information, Advice, and Advocacy offers informational support, general advice, liaison, representation, and case management.

Education, Training, and Employment Support offers student work experience placement, ICT support, financial capability money mentor and management, small business and employment support activities and volunteering opportunities.

Mutual Aid Scheme offers small lending activities, emergency relief, material and practical assistance, client’s appointee, money mentors and management.

International Development offers humanitarian emergency relief, primary school educational support, community and children development support, livelihood support, mission partners and overseas volunteering opportunity.

DIRECTOR’S BRIEF

Latitude Care Network – LCN has for many years plays an essential role in London and Northern Uganda surrounding areas supporting people who are going through tough times in needs of among others emotional and practical assistances, advocacy and other community social support and services. LCN model of operation is a community-based outreach activities bringing together volunteers and partners to work together towards the common goals. As a small but effective organisation, we are purpose driven uniquely placed to meet the needs of the client’s group within the local areas which would otherwise likely go unmet. This year has been a further year of extra challenges due to ongoing COVID-19 impacts for clients, volunteers, and partners alike.

We have seen a significant increase in the extent of community need for emergency essential needs including food relief, information, advice, and advocacy services particularly. We have also, like many other organisations, had to work through a new degree of pressure on our team of volunteers due to the ongoing COVID-19, other health concerned issues and the cost-of-living hardships. Financially year on year, it has been difficult, but through it all we have always done as much as we could, adapting services to meet community needs, being open, welcoming and looking for other opportunities to keep on services we provide to the local community.

On behalf of all the Board, we can’t thank our volunteers enough for the extraordinary effort they all have always put in year on year. I would also specifically like to thank and acknowledge the support of our funders, patrons, LCN Uganda affiliate, local groups, businesses, and individuals who supports LCN works without whom none of our activities whould be possible and ongoing since 2005 establishment.

……Ms Christine Atim

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

UK OPERATION

In London and surrounding areas, LCN provides ranges of social support services and activities which assist individuals and families from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those facing personal hardship and/or difficult life circumstances. The year under review, with the ongoing Covid pandemic restrictions, many activities had to be adjusted to comply with the regulations and our ability to deliver.

In the last two years, massive adjustment had to be made to enable compliance and appropriate response to the pandemic emergency these included adaptation to remote and virtual service deliveries unless it was unavoidable and where permitted, a face-to-face outreach and meetings were conducted within the Covid protection government guidelines and compliance. However, all other activities that would normally bring people together including workshops, recreational and social interactive event to date they are still on hold.

COVID EMERGENCY RESPONSES

From Covid Emergency Response, as we continue to experience the impacts, we are also transitioning to some kinds of new ‘normal’ after more than two years of the pandemic. Within our remit, LCN continues to provide supportive community services. For a small organisation such as ours, we could only do so within our capacity as has been, we deliver community outreach services that enhance well-being and resilience of the local individual adults and families.

In the last financial year, with the support of London Community Responses and Co-operative Community Funds, besides delivering emergency food supplies, we were also able to upscaled and upgraded our digital communication technologies and devices enabling volunteers assigned from within or nearest local areas to respond swiftly to client’s needing support with the above outlined services and activities remotely and virtually or where it was impossible, by necessity a physical and face-to-face were conducted within the covid protection guidelines.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

LCN services are mainly delivered through the community outreach activities which at its core, has been the foundation efforts to reach people we serve to improve their lives and the general well-being while liaising working with many other agencies with whom we may have shared concerned or one component of it. In whatever ways we can, the community outreach activities have been so effective because we know our service users and their needs while being creative in serving them to be trustworthy in the local community we served.

There are times when people need assistance with accessing human service, the community outreach activities aimed at meeting these needs, among others to provides companionship and befirending so as to reduce stress, lonliness and isolation, enabling access to services, increase interaction and social networks, encaurage good physical and mental healths activities, and above all to alluviate hardships they were experencing.

The community outreach activities for many it is a lifeline delivered through mediation, advocacy, representation, telephone calls, and visitations in homes, hospitals and other places including drop-in centres, support groups/social and workshop events. Year on year the demand for the outreach activities exceeded expectation and the ability to deliver however, to mitigate the situations, we had to laise and works with many other agencies including refereals, thus enabling us to be abled to support a lot more people than we would normally do including taking in new clients.

ICT at Home

The ICT at Home service is delivered through the volunteer community outreach activities to raise awareness, provide basic skill trainings, learnings, and the practical uses of the devices. Due to continued Covid restriction the activities are now restricted to just making contacts, online support with banking, booking appointments, ordering essential needs including groceries, medications/health care supplies and other essential needs.

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

Health and Social Support Activities

These services improved community connection for hundreds of socially excluded and isolated especially the elderly, the sick and disabled as well as single mothers and the unemployed with whom we have been servicing in London and surrounded areas since 2005. Due to the impacts of Covid, the activities for the client’s group have experienced disruption on a scale we have not had before. The ongoing Covid’s lockdowns, this means since the beginning of 2020, the social and recreational activities in group settings had not been possible still on halt. The volunteer team then pivoted to creatively engaging with users as reliance on telephone and computer/internet interactions became the new normal for social supporting client’s group and the community outreach home visits activities.

Despite the easing and lifting of some restrictions, client’s understandably have been cautious about reconnecting in public settings. The ongoing health concerns for both clients and volunteers severely limited the degree to which we could socially connect and gather in person, but we ensured that all the clients had their Covid and Flu vaccinations. On a sad note, we were then sadden that during the year, we lost said goodbye to one of the much-loved elderly clients who passed away after a short illness. Our hearts and thoughts go out to her family and wishes her innocent Soul Rest in Peace.

A huge thank you to our volunteer community outreach workers who remained resolute in their connection with clients throughout the year working tirelessly to ensure clients were safe and are accessing all the necessity services including access to GPs, hospitals, and other health care services, online social and recreational activities to foster meaningful connections to enhance mental well-beings.

Information and Emergency Relief

This is community support programme which provide practical assistance including with limited financial and material assistance to individuals and families experiencing emotional and/or economic hardships. The programme has been a critical frontline services and often clients in needs first point of contact with LCN or for any other kind of support. The services are designed to address acute financial challenges through the provision of emergency relief and material aid and where we were unable to provide support, a referral signpost clients to other organisations as well as advocate on their behalf.

In response to the covid pandemic compounded with the cost-of-living crisis, the year under review we continued to provide a range of emergency assistance to the individuals and families facing personal hardship or difficult life circumstances. These included limited financial assistance in the form of occasional food vouchers, distribution of non-perishable food items, limited assistance with bills payment, referral letters for material aid such as second-hand furniture and clothing, advocated negotiating being on behalf with utilities companies such as gas, water and electricity for an affordability, liaison with and referral to other service providers. We also provided information about employment, welfare benefits, and access to grants and payments available.

Clients Appointee (CA)

LCN is an approved Clients Appointee (CA) which involved advocating, mentoring, and supporting people who are unable to manage their finance affairs to enhance their basic skills of financial capability including understanding the benefit systems, the impacts on their lives and budgeting to ensure they were living within means. Every year we experience increased demand and referral for this service. Currently the service is supporting 56 clients, some have been over several years.

In the last two years, as the economic effects of COVID-19 ‘Shut-Down’ was being felt so severely, the most affected were the working age among the groups who were most likely with a degree of illiteracy and/or are working in a ‘shut-down’ sectors (restaurants, taxi driving, cleaning and factories laborers with zero hours working conditions) as well as having partners not currently in the labour market, these has led to extremely high levels of financial insecurity among the group and many of them were referred to us either by themselves, existing clients or by other services providers and a further 22 were supported. The volunteers involved in carrying out these activities were able to meet the demand remotely and virtually, and only where it was not possible, a face-face meeting was arranged conducted within the Covid restriction protection guidelines.

5

LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

MUTUAL AID FUND (MAF) SCHEME

The Mutual Aid Fund Scheme has been running since 2008 as a community-based income generation through small lending activities. The majority of LCN service users live in conditions of poverty and diminished quality of life that restricts their full enjoyment of human, socio-economic, health, environmental and cultural rights. Therefore, the main objective of the MAF Scheme is to increase access of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and poorer people to finance credits they would not normally be able to access from the mainstream high street banks and other financial institutions to be able to access funds for basic needs and for those who can, a small business activity support to improve livelihoods.

The year under review, we disbursed 25 loans ranging from £50-200 which were either soft loan lending repayable within 30 days without interest charge or thereafter, a 35% interest rate charges were applied. These lending we normally prioritise for bills including for groceries and clothing shopping, and utility bills for clients who could not raise the required funds at the time of an acute needs. All the proceeds from the lending activities is plough back or recycle for further lending.

Small Social Funds

This is a small social fund provision service which stemmed from the recreational and social support group activities of the clients get together where funds were generated from tin, other voluntary collections, entertainment performances at community events and private party’s hires as well as small allocation of funds from our unrestricted reserve. The funds raised goes towards sustaining the group, limited finance assistance or acquisition of material aid to clients and members experiencing financial difficulties with basic needs. The funds raised also towards the support of a few selected local community groups with shared common interest.

In the last two years, the recreational and social support groups activities where funds could be generated towards the social funds could not takes place due to Covid pandemic restriction. However, some clients and members who feel very passionately about the cause did continue to give voluntarily monthly towards the social fund and as a temporary major, we are also allocating from the unrestricted funds to the social fund budget. The year under review, a total of 56 individuals and families were supported including with bereavement supports and the cost of daily living expenses towards foods, utilities, and other household essential needs that improve lives and well-beings. Also 3 local groups were supported including with Food Bank supply of none-perishable foods, toiletries and covid hygiene kits.

Lumego United (LU) Project

Lumego United (LU) is voluntary membership peer-led self-help group started in 2017. The group came about due to the experienced of going through numerous family bereavements of loves ones and those others closer and known to members which were occurring so frequently one after another. The experiences were so traumatising causing lots of sorrows and financial hardships to enable deal with the aftermath following events.

The group then acknowledged the important of preparation a head of the trauma of losing loved ones which often occurs unexpectedly when the bereave families, relatives and friends are unprepared to overcome deal with the aftermath including the emotional trauma and meeting the costs of the practical requirement. The group have been operating raising funds through annual membership subscription and other supplementary giving to support members’ and those around going through the bereavement tumour both in the UK and elsewhere other parts of the world.

Lumego United is unregistered and quite small grassroot initiative, the group sought the support of LCN Umbrella Service in the early 2021 to be able to operate under until such a time when the group would be able to put in place their self-administration structure. LCN within our remits have the ability and capacity to support small groups as one of our objectives, thus it is the reason we have accepted to support LU to operate and administer their activities under the umbrella.

All the Other Activities

All the other activities, due to continues Covid restrictions some of either curtailed, put on hold, or cancelled altogether, these include client’s transportation only limited to the volunteer activities and emergency delivery; student work experience placement; business and employment support workshop; monthly support group meeting and social and recreational activities events.

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OVERSEAS OPERATION

In 2006, LCN extended operation overseas in the region of northern Uganda registered in Uganda as a NonGovernmental/Community Based Organisation (NGO/CBO) under an Affiliate name of Latitude Care Network Uganda (LCNU). LCNU provides an essential links, management, co- ordination, guidance, and frontline services while consulting, liaising, and reporting regularly to LCN UK. With the full backing of LCN UK, LCN Uganda operates in four districts of northern Uganda (Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Pader) also with the supports of local grassroots partners, businesses, and individual well-wishers. Over the years, the programmes in the region have included Humanitarian Emergency Relief, The Educational Support Programme, The Livelihoods Support Programme, The Children and Community Development Centre Project, Overseas Volunteers Programme and Mission Partners Connections and Links.

However, as the global Covid pandemic continues to interrupt, some of the overseas projects and activities have also been curtailed or discontinued. The year under review, we were very sad to loss one of LCN Uganda most prominence significant pioneer, a trustee, co-ordinator, and frontline service driver of activities in the whole of the region of northern Uganda. As she is now known as The Mama Mary Okullo who had also just retired as a local government councillor, passed away on the 3oth March 2021 and was laid to rest on 10[th ] April 2021. The late Mama Mary Okullo has been a very influential the force behind all LCN successful activities right from the very start of LCN operation activities launched in the region in 2006, she is solemnly missed and may her soul forever rest in eternal peace.

Following her death, the client’s groups supported in the region requested asked LCN to dedicate re-name The Elderly, Sick, Disabled, Orphans and Child Headed Family Support Project under the Humanitarian Emergency Relief Programme to ‘Mama Mary Foundation Project’. LCN then without hesitation did just that and during December 2021 Christmas times, under the new name the project provided support to 175 individuals and family households.

HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAMME

The programme has been running since the start of LCN operation in region of Northern Uganda. In the last 2-3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic presented multiple problems of health and economic shock in the region just like in other parts of world particularly affecting mostly the poor and the vulnerable households. The economically and socially vulnerable groups in the region comprises of all ages poorest households including older people 60 years and above, workers in the lower tier of the informal sectors, child and female headed households, and the sick and people with disabilities.

The worse isolated communities notably are those in the rural areas who usually experienced the greater impact of health and livelihoods inequality impacting badly on their well-being, hance the greater needs for the humanitarian emergency relief of basic essential handouts. We, therefore, with increased demand including from non-clients equally affected, with continued support from the local wholesalers and retailers merchants, other local businesses and individuals, we have been able to really finance towards and in-kinds donations of basic essential needs distributed handed out the those most in needs.

Items purchased and donated included:

Also, during the year under review, The Late Mama Mary Okullo Foundation project for supporting the elderly, sicks, disabled and orphans and child headed households came into effects during 2021 Christmas times. To begin with 175 those most in needs individuals and families just in Lira district were distributed with 1 kilogram of salt, 1 kilogram of sugar and 1 bar of soap. The clients’ groups which the number exceed those supported during this year, have requested the project will continues the support for the foreseeable every Christmas time extending to all four districts of northern Uganda where LCN operate. LCN therefore, depending on the resources generated, will commit to continues with the support in the next financial year and when will be possible the year after.

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

THE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME

This programme has been running since the beginning of LCN operation in the region of northern Uganda in the 4 districts local areas where we operate. The program has been delivering:

Operation Noah Educational Support Project

Operation Noah Educational Support Project has been running since 2015 supporting Pre-school and Primary education children from the rural poor households through paying school and examination fees, and support with other school requirements to enable the children attend or are maintained in schools. The project was initiated by children and youth of St. Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood which stem from the Operation Noah Goat’s Project trips to northern Uganda.

The project has since initiation up to the last financial year have been supported by match funding from St’ Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood. In the last financial year, a total of 318 children were supported by the project, however at the very start of the Uganda academic year which usually begins in February of every year, on March 18[th] , 2021, due to Covid pandemic outbreaks, the Uganda government imposed a total lockdown including all schools and other educational institutions in the country which went on to last for more than a year.

At the very beginning of 2022, we did assessed the impacts of the Covid pandemic, lockdowns, and impacts on the well-being and whereabout the children we were supporting into education, as a result we could not trace all the children where about they were and found out many had become wives, mothers, fathers and husbands as young as 12 years old, and many especially the girls had also either died or maimed while being sexually assaulted or giving births.

In the end we were only able to trace 162 children and came to agreement with the main supporter St. Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood that, the Operation Noah Educational Support Project that for the meantime their support should come to a hold until it was much clearer the project can resume to operate as it was before, thus they left the door open if we will be able to continue in future. LCN from the beginning of 2022 academic year, we will continue with the original Educational Support Project continuing supporting the 162 children traced after long period of covid lockdown back to school.

Children and Community Development Centre Project

The centre project came about in 2006 through LCN linking of the Sunday School children of St. Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood and the Sunday School children St. Andrew Church of Uganda, Angwetangwet, Lira District to become Pen-Pal. Once the two Sunday School Children were connected, the Sunday School children of St. Andrew’s Church of Uganda then made an official appealed requested the Sunday School Children of St. Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood to support them with the learning resources/materials and help provide a building roof over their heads so that they may be abled to learn, play, and grow well as children.

The Children and Community Development Centre project was then instigated supported by funding from St. Gabriel’s Church of England, LCN and the local people themselves, thus the construction of the centre building which was completed few years later supplies with learning resources, the centre was officially launched opened in 2010 been in operation ever since. The whole year before to early year under review, because of Covid-19 outbreaks and lockdowns, the centre was shut down for public uses except kept open for Covid Vaccinations, but it was reopened early in the second half of the year and normal children and other activities did resume.

Year on year, the centre attracts hundreds of children from all walks of lives because of its vibrant children activities including the Sunday schools, learning library and community social events. The centre is also being used occasionally as mobile health centre/clinic, hires for private meetings, parties, and all other acceptable

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

appropriate activities, these maintain and sustain the centre. LCN continues to monitor and support the centre whenever we can include supplies of children learning materials of books, pens, and library resources.

THE LIVELIHOODS SUPPORT PROGRAMME

In 2007, LCN launched this programme in 4 districts of northern Uganda with the objective of promoting equality and humanity for all to be able to live in harmony with fundamental rights and the capacity to support self-sustainable development to meet the moral, social, and economic needs of the locals who were emerging from more than two decades of civil wars in the region.

The activities undertaken in collaboration with 4 local partners, 200 orphans and other vulnerable children and youths were each initially provided handouts of the Goat’s livestock for rearing and the 4 local partners each were provided with a pair of Oxen, Ox-Plough and 100 kilograms of food seed grains for cultivations.

Operation Noah Goat’s Project (ONGP)

The pilot Goat’s project was a success which led to Operation Noah Goat’s Project in 201o with the objective of furthering the project extend the support to many any more children and young people from the selected rural poorest family households in the 4 districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Pader where LCN. Operation Noah Goat’s Project was financially supported by St. Gabriel’s Church of England, Cricklewood, London matched by LCN fundraising and other local well-wishers supports and a further 200 children and young people were supplied handed the goat’s livestock.

The project is ongoing, although in the last two years because of Global Covid Pandemic there has been very little monitoring activities, but it has been estimated more than 15,000 Goat’s Livestock have so far been multiplied, exchanged and many commercially traded in some cases exchanged with other livestock including cattle, sheep, or plots of land.

Also, as an agreement made with the recipients of the Goat’s livestock, every year a certain proportion of the multiple reproduction is passed on to siblings or those from households who did not either received handout at the start of project or emerging households. The project will continue its current form where every year we will carry out monitoring and evaluation to determine how many more of the livestock were reproduced, traded, or passed on and what the impacts are on the livelihood of the recipients and the local communities.

OVERSEAS VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME (OVP)

This program was initiated by two friends from London (Jack & Ben) who in 2009 approached LCN that they were looking for an overseas vocational volunteering opportunity to broaden their international experience by giving back to the local communities through various actions including fundraising and carrying out project activities to socially support the local.

The two friends who were by then also planning to thereafter travel to South Africa for the 2010 Football World Cup, with the support of LCN then set up a JustGiving fundraising campaign which raised quite a substantial sum of money and other in-kinds donations before they did travel with to the region of northern Uganda.

The two friends while in northern Uganda, they were placed within the local community households and worked with LCN Uganda and local partners for a period of six months on various local projects in the four districts of LCN operation until they left for the South Africa Football World Cup and then back to the UK. Since then, the OVP have been ongoing massively promoted by the two friend’s pioneers motivating, attracting, and recruiting volunteers with great attitudes, talents, skills, experiences, and willing people with the passions of giving back to support those most in needs.

These volunteers who also sometimes include college and university students on gap year or work placements, whenever it was possible and appropriate do travel to northern Uganda deployed to volunteer in the local community. However, in the last two years because of the Covid outbreaks pandemic, only 4 volunteers were recruited and deployed.

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LCN – Annual Report (Cont.)

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

LCN remained a learning organisation which is constantly learning to expand capacity and create result we all truly desired to meet and deliver on our promises while embracing partnerships, collaboration, networks, commitment, accountability, encouragement, and creativity. We are also membership of several capacity building organisations where regularly access vital resources, trainings, and updates.

FUNDRAISING AND IN-KIND COLLECTIONS

Fundraising like for many other organisations remained the biggest challenge, however, we all must be creative and maintain relationships with established supporters while building new ones. Our volunteers’ years on years have pulled together go the extra miles giving their times as well as coming up with ideas of fundraising and in-kinds collections that are making a different however little maybe. Every contribution we received whether monetary, in-kind donation or volunteer’s times massively support our promise to make a difference in the lives of people we served. We are forever indebted, and our outmost sincere gratitude goes out to all the support we receive although words alone cannot express how much we feel and appreciates the acts of kindness and generosities.

ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES

To ensure equality, people access our services from several sources: self-referral, peers, family referral and referrals from other service providers including GP, local authorities, as well as supporters and many other agencies. We also promote our activities through networks, distribution of leaflets, website, words of mouth and public recreational and cultural activities.

MANAGING VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers represent huge human resource which can sometimes be overlooked and undervalued. Along with increased recognitions, the importance of effective volunteer management should be at the forefront and acknowledged as benefiting the organisations, encouraging community participation, initiates and extend outreach while providing cost-effective services. Also, effective volunteer management is key to ensuring their times, skills, experience, and commitments are put to the best possible use and valued so that goals are achieved for all to relish the experience. Meeting the challenges of managing volunteers required the joint efforts of the organisation, co-ordination, and the volunteers themselves.

At LCN, we ensure volunteers received mandatory induction orientation including safeguarding awareness, personal development aspiration and motivation. With these in mind, we offer people looking for real opportunity to become involved in their community through volunteering. Our volunteers are local people, peers, students, and service user themselves. Although volunteers should not expect monetary rewards for their services, we do support them with safety working environments, insurance covers, rights to access training and personal development activities, and rights to claim out of pocket expenses unless they opted not to. In additions, we regularly give feedback, recognitions, and referencing including for employment and other services.

QUALITY ASSURANCE MARKS

LCN have in place several Quality Marks including Practical Quality Assurance Standard for Small Organisation (PQASSO) of 12 Quality Areas, Chartered Management Institute and Positive About Disabled People which guides our operational standards. Besides, we have received many other accreditations and nomination awards testament to our commitments and determinations. We remained a learning organisation continuously seeking to learn, develop and improve in all areas of operations.

FUTURE PLANS

The year 2021-2022 marked the 17 years of LCN in operation. Reflecting on the past years it has not been so easy or a clear cut, but we have shown resilience and commitments to continued operation. The years ahead presents even much more challenges; however, we anticipate will continue operating as existing and remained open minded to any new developments and opportunity that may emerge along the way to enable adapt to the challenges.

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LCN – Statements of Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2022.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE’S BOARD

Under the charity and company laws, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts which gives a true and fair view of the state of affair of the charity at end of the year and application of resources in the period, including net incoming and expenditure for the year ended.

In preparing the account statments, the board of trustee is required to:

The board of trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with resoanable accuracy at any time the financial position to enable ensure that the financial statement comply with the Comapnies Act 2006. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hench for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

Reserves

LCN currently have a designated reserve funds of £5,726.00. The board of Trustees acknowledged the designated reserve as a restricted funds belonging to the Lumego United Project, a small self-help membership group currently operating under the umbrella services of LCN.

Investment Policy

Whether we will realise and retain reserve fund, most of the organisation’s funds are to be spent in the short term so there are few funds for long term investment. Having considered options available, in the financial year we reinvested a small amount in the Mutual Aid Fund (MAF), a small loan lending activity where the repayments are recycle lend to clients. LCN is registered for tax relief and donations received from individuals who are UK taxpayer’s permission are sort to claim tax relief as part of the investment funds.

Internal Financial Control

LCN have in place systems of internal control designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material mismanagement or loss. Fund transfer for overseas activities is done through a registered and trusted Remittance or Credit Union Entities. The funds are transfer directly into LCN Uganda affiliate bank account where the overall fund’s management, direction for use and distribution’s responsibility lies with LCN (UK). The Affiliate Chair, Treasurer and Secretary are responsible for financial management of local projects and all other activities meanwhile accountable to LCN UK.

Risk Management

LCN continues to place a high priority on minimising and managing risks to meet objectives and mission outlined in the governing document and activities plans. LCN reviewed risk management registered and revised during the year. The risks management register identified thirteen main risk areas in order of importance, and these included the viability of LCN, and its affiliate body’s processes and robust policy documentation and financial management. Each risk is accorded with appropriate treatments (current or planned response) and responsibility is assigned from within the LCN management team. A further review of the register is undertaken annually.

The Trustee’s report was approved by the board of Directors on 16[h] Dec. 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Board Chair, Grace Adok

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LCN – Statements of Accounts (Conts)

INCOMES & EXPENDITURE

INCOMES

Notes
Income Resources
from Generated Incomes
Grant Income
2
Voluntary Giving Income
2
Investment Income
3
Total Incoming Resources
EXPENDITURES
Resource Expended
UK Activities
4
Overseas Activities
4
Total Resources Expended
Net income/
Net movement in funds
Balance as of 1st April 2021
Balance as of 31st March 2022		 Restricted Unrestricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2022
2021
£
£
£
-
7,000
7,000
15,586
1,600
8,227
9,827
14,977
-
10,297
10,297
1,351
1,600
25,524
27,124
31,914
500
14,360
14,860
17,466
-
11,494
11,494
8,902
500
25,854
26,354
26,368
1,100
-330
770
5,546
5043
1069
6,112
566
6,143
739
6,882
6,112

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LCN – Statements of Accounts (Conts)

BALANCE SHEET – As of 31[st] March 2022

£
FIXED ASSET
Computer Equipment
5
1,370
CURRENT ASSESTS
Cash in Hand and Bank
6,882
NET ASSETS
ASSETS
Restricted
6,143
Unrestricted
2,109
TOTAL ASSESTS
 2022
2021
Total
£
Total
4,150
6,112
8,252
10,262
5,043
5,219
8,252
10,262

For the year ended 31[st] March 2022, the company was entitled to exemption from the audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for it accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Acts.

The directors acknowledged their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provision applicable to companies subject to small companies’ regime and with the Financial Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The notes below form part of the financial statements.

Signed for and on behalf of the Management Committee on 16[th] Dec. 2022

Grace Adok Chair, Board of Trustees

13

LCN – Statements of Accounts (Cont.) – Notes to the Accounts

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the charity’s financial statements.

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by charities – Statement of Recommendation Practice (SORP revised 2005), The financial standard of smaller entities (effective April 2008) and the provisions of applicable to companies subject to the small companies under the companies Act 2006.

Incoming Resources

Financial incoming resources for year under review have been included on a receivable basis as Restricted and Unrestricted Funds included if the date receivable falls within the period covered by the accounts. Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in the accounts as monetary values.

Resource Expended

Resources expended have been accounted for on an accrual basis in two parts UK and Overseas as shown in the statement of the financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost of or valuation, less estimated residual value of all tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives on reducing balance. The rates applicable are:

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LCN – Notes to the Accounts (Cont.)

INCOMING RESOURCE

Grant
2
London C Response
Co-op Local Community
Voluntary Giving
2
The Patron’s Funds
Donation & Fundraising
Membership Fee
The Big Give
Lumego United
Receipt Others
Investments
3
Gift Aid - Inland Revenue
Mutual Aid Fund - Repayment
Bank Interest
Total Incoming Resources		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
Fund
Fund
2022
2021
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
5,586
-
-
-
15,586
7,000
7,000
-
-
6,907
6,907
5,187
-
1,300
1,300
1,125
-
-
-
4,131
1,600
-
1,600
4,475
-
20
20
59
1,600
15,227
16,827
14,977
-
8,271
8,271
-
-
2,025
2,025
1,350
-
1
1
1
-
10,297
10,297
1,351
1,600 25,524 27,124 31,914

Restricted Fund received during the year under review were £1,600.

Unrestricted Fund received during the year under review were £25,524.

Volunteer Times and other In-kinds received during the year are not reflected in the accounts as a monetary value.

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LCN – Notes to the Accounts (Cont.)

4 EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS

UK - Expenditure
Lumego United Project
Business Start-up Support
Volunteer Expenses
Mutual Aid Fund Lending
Equipment and Kit
Operating Expenses + R & M
Travel & Transport
Stationery, print & copy
Publication Ref. Materials
Postage & Stamp
Communication
Web Subscription
Legal, Licence & Insurance
Social & Community Support
Events - Venue & Hospitalities
Management Meetings
Sundry/Pay Others
Overseas Expenditure
Direct Project Transfers
Travel & Transportation
G Administration & Meeting
Total UK + Overseas Expended
Net Income/Expenditure
Fund B/F 1st April 2021
Fund C/F 31st March 2022		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2022
2021
£
£
£
£
500
-
500
-
-
-
259
2,821
2,821
1,934
-
1,500
1,500
1,000
-
-
-
4,586
-
310
310
-
678
678
476
-
408
408
239
-
20
20
-
-
44
44
-
-
1,500
1,500
1,295
-
165
165
245
-
271
271
232
-
6,386
6,386
6,775
-
-
-
425
-
200
200
-
-
57
57
-
500
14,360
14,860
17,466
7,600
7,600
8,708
-
3,780
3,780
-

-
114
114
194
-
11,494
11,494
8,902
500
25,854
26,354
26,368
1,100
-330
770
5,546
5,043
1069
6,112
566
6,143
739
6,882
6,112

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LCN – Note to the Accounts (Cont.)

5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSET

Cost: -
At 1stApril 2021
5
Additions
At 31st March 2022
DEPRECIATION
As At 1stApril 2021
Disposals
Charge this year
At 31stMarch 2022
NET BOOK VALUE
As At 1stApril 2021
As At 31st March 2022		 Computer
F&F
Total
£
£
£
4,150
-
4,150
-
-
-
4,150
-
4,150
80
-
80
2,780
-
2,780
2,860
-
2,860
4,150
-
4,150
1,370
-
1,370

6. ANALYSES OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS


Assets Bal. As @ 31st March 2021
Tangible Fixed Assets
5

Cash in Hand/Bank
Total Net Current Assets		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2022
2021
£
£
£
£
-
1,370
1,370
4,150
6,143
739
6,882
6,112
6,143
2,109
8,252
10,262

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THANK YOU NOTES

LCN is enormously grateful for the support we receive years on years from all our supporters, the year under review though was challenging, it was exceptional. We foster strong community cohesion, partnerships, and work collaboratively to deliver ranges of a person-centred suite of services to positively impact individual, and collective health and wellbeing outcomes.

OUR FUNDING SOURCES:

LCN Petron Fund The Gift Aid Mutual Aid Funds Lumego United – Peer-Led Membership Members Fees and Voluntary Giving Individual Well-Wishers Donations and Fundraisings LCN Trustees and Volunteer’s Support

OUR TEAM UK & UGANDA:

The Patrons The Board of Director The Frontline Volunteers Work Placement Students Overseas Volunteers

PARTNERS & OTHER SUPPOERS

UK:

African Women’s Care Brent CVS Ealing CVS Evelyn Oldfield Unit Bond UK Refugee Council Skills for Care The Financial Conduct Authority Charity Commission Companies House Other Local Community Contributors

OVERSEAS:

LCN Uganda Affiliate Kong Odonge (Help Elders) Initiative – Dokolo District Lagora Children Support Group – Latanya, Pader District Unityhood Community Event – Management & Mobilisation, Kitgum District St Andrew’s Church of Uganda, Angwetangwet, Lira District The Mother’s Union – Church of Uganda, Lira City Voice of Gospel 97.7 Community Outreach Radio Lira City Lira, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader Districts Local Government Many Other Local Community Contributors

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