OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Friends Of Amani Tanzania

2024-12-31-accounts

Annual Report and Accounts: Friends of Amani Tanzania Registered Charity Number 1114281 Year Ending 31 December 2024

Charity Registered Address

Jaycroft, Elm Lane Lower Earley Reading RG6 5UG

Trustees

Professor Ken Spours (Chair) Leslie Green (Treasurer) Bridget Green (Secretary) Catherine Swanson Rachel Derry John Bullock

Bank Details

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ

Account No: 0036740 Sort Code: 40-52-40

2

Trustees’ Report

The Board of Trustees of Friends of Amani Tanzania (the Charity) present their annual report for the year ending 31 December 2024 under the Charities Act 2011, together with the financial statements for that year which have been subject to independent examination.

Governance

The Charity was formed in 2005, made its Declaration of Trust on 24 March 2006 and obtained registered charity status on 18 May 2006.

The Trustees are obliged to hold at least two ordinary meetings a year. In 2024 the Trustees met three times via Zoom on:

NB: The fourth quarterly meeting was deferred until 7 January 2025.

The Trustees apply the income of the charity in furthering the following objectives:

Banking

The application to open a Charity Account with CAF Bank was approved on 1 December 2023. The Authorised Signatories are - Leslie Green (Trustee and Treasurer), Bridget Green (Trustee and Secretary), Ken Spours (Chair of Trustees) and Rachel Derry (Trustee). Any two of the above may authorise payments.

The process of transferring all donors from the old RBS account to the new CAF Bank Charity Account began in January 2024. There are three regular donors who

3

are still paying into the old RBS account monthly. Despite best efforts of the Trustees, it has not been possible to contact them to advise them of the bank change. Until such time as all regular donors to the Charity have redirected their payments to the new CAF account, Trustees have agreed to keep both accounts open.

Safeguarding

FOAT remains committed to upholding the integrity of its Safeguarding commitments as outlined by the UK Charity Commission. In a strategic attempt to keep Safeguarding as a core focus in our Trustee meetings, there is a designated agenda item where an aspect of International Safeguarding is presented and discussed. We have a designated Safeguarding Lead on the Board, who has been based in East Africa and works full-time as a Safeguarding officer in another charity and is also a registered UK nurse. She ensures that all trustees have up to date DBS checks and follow the FOAT Code of Conduct. She makes spontaneous visits to Amani on an annual basis to identify any serious safeguarding risks and looks for opportunities to provide contextually relevant training. This enables her to align UK Charity Commission standards with culturally sensitive and realistic practices on the ground at Amani and in Shinyanga.

Trustee and Associate Visits

FOAT Associate, Barbara Bristow, visited the Amani Centre for a period of five weeks in May/June 2024.

Trustees, Bridget and Leslie Green visited the Amani Centre for a period of 12 days in August 2024. Catherine Swanson visited for a day in May 2024 whilst on other business in Tanzania.

Trustees held regular discussions with Fr Beatus (Director) and Emmanuel Mlegu (Assistant Director) by WhatsApp.

In addition, Trustees Bridget and Leslie Green visited the Anglican Diocese of Shinyanga in July 2024, to review Care Ministry work there in their capacity as FOAT Trustees and Commissaries of the Bishop of Shinyanga.

4

About Amani

The Amani Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Morogoro, Tanzania is a non-profit making organization that educates and empowers mentally and physically challenged children and youth. Established in 1992 by Josephine Bakhita, Amani has over the last 30+ years grown to become a major social partner in the Morogoro area. It aims, with the support of its friends in the UK, to become a model NGO promoting awareness about disability, services for the disabled and broader partnerships for education and care across Tanzania as a whole. In 2010 the Amani Centre ownership was transferred to the Roman Catholic Church and Father Beatus Sewando was appointed Director. He continues in that role and is assisted by Emmanuel Mlegu, a teacher of special needs, now employed as a Schools Inspector.

Since 2015, Amani has been working in collaboration with the Anglican Diocese of Morogoro on joint outreach projects to families of the disabled in the Morogoro Region. In 2023 the Lutheran Church joined this Ecumenical initiative.

Presently the Amani Centre:

5

About Shinyanga

Projects amongst disadvantaged communities led by the Anglican Church of Tanzania in Shinyanga and supported by Friends of Amani Tanzania (FOAT) are independent from those at the Amani Centre, Morogoro. Funds for these projects are deposited into the FOAT account and ring-fenced for Shinyanga. Payments are made to the Shinyanga Care Ministry Account which is administered by the Diocesan Bishop, Care Ministry Coordinator (Priest) and the Diocesan Accountant. In July 2021 Bridget and Leslie Green were appointed as Commissaries of the

Bishop of Shinyanga and in November 2023 both were invited to be Lay Canons of St Stephen’s Cathedral, Shinyanga in recognition of their work in support of Care Ministry in the Diocese. They were officially inducted at a service held in the Cathedral on 15 July 2024.

What follows is a summary of achievements the charity Friends of Amani Tanzania (FOAT) for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.

Fundraising and Awareness

The Charity has five major strategies for fundraising and raising awareness:

1. Educational partnership and support.

2. Corporate donations and bids to charitable trusts.

3. Regular giving and gift aid.

4. Harnessing the good-will of UK Amani volunteers.

5. Events and initiatives.

Examples of each are given below.

1. Educational partnership and support

The Charity has developed a range of important partnerships with schools, colleges, universities and churches. Perhaps as importantly, the number of young people whose awareness of poverty and educational circumstances in Tanzania has been raised by the work of the Charity is significant. The hope is that those young people

6

in the UK who are involved in either fundraising or visiting the Amani Centre will continue to be committed to its work in the future, having learned a great deal in the process. In addition, the links with schools, colleges and universities in the Morogoro and Mvomero regions of Tanzania will not only lead to better resourcing for these institutions, but also to visits for some to the UK.

All student volunteers have spoken highly of their experience on their return whilst offering valuable constructive feedback on how certain procedures that could be organised with greater efficiency. A volunteer legacy for Amani Centre and FOAT is the regular giving by those who are able.

Over the years FOAT has been in existence, Trustees Bridget and Leslie Green have developed a network of individuals through their local church (Redlands Parish Church in Reading) keen to support Amani’s work. Since 2020, Bridget and Leslie have developed a further network of supporters, including Earley St Peter’s Church, Reading, sponsoring Care Ministry work amongst the disabled in Shinyanga.

Trustees are pleased to work closely with an associate, Barbara Bristow who has her own network of supporters in the UK. Barbara normally visits Amani annually.

2. Corporate donations and bids to charitable trusts

Trustees and volunteers have worked hard to present their work to companies and other charitable organizations who might be interested in donating to the charity. In 2024 the Charity received funds from:

• St James’ Place Charitable Trust £2,787
• John Pitman Charitable Trust £406
• The Rotary Club of Reading £930
• Earley St Peter’s Church £356
• Wolfscastle £500

3. Regular giving and gift aid

This year for Amani we collected £9,669 from regular donations including for child sponsorship and the social fund (a decrease of £1,161 on 2023). In 2024 we had 23

7

regular monthly givers (a decrease of two on 2023) and a further five annual givers. The child sponsorship scheme generated £5,242 (an increase of £142 on 2023).

By the end of 2024, FOAT had eight regular donors for the Care Ministry work in Shinyanga, giving a total of £4,645 for the year. This includes £1,265 for the education of two girls with albinism, one who attends Mwadui Anglican Primary School and the other the local Lutheran Secondary School.

The Trustees have tried to ensure that regular givers and as many donors as possible, sign gift aid declarations to maximize the income to the Charity. In 2024 the Charity received a tax rebate of £4,731. This includes Gift Aid on donations made for Shinyanga projects. In addition, further Gift Aid was received via Just Giving amounting to £969.

4. Harnessing the good-will of UK Amani volunteers

Several of the former Gap Year students and other young people who have undertaken voluntary work at the Amani Centre have gone on to retain links with Amani and to fundraise for the Charity.

We are fortunate to continue to be supported in our work by Catherine Swanson, who until December 2018 was resident in Morogoro and volunteered a day a month on Amani’s Home Visiting Outreach programme. Catherine is a Safeguarding Officer for Africa Inland Mission International (AIM). She is still based in East Africa (Kenya) and her work with AIM brings her to Morogoro from time to time; she visits Amani whenever viable. In her wider safeguarding role she endeavours to connect Amani with other similar organisations and charities. An example of this is a Safeguarding WhatsApp group which grew out of the May 2022 training: here is an accessible medium whereby resources, ideas and training examples can be shared. This remains an active forum for discussion as well as being able to advertise safeguarding workshops.

We are delighted that the young student, Angela Elezi, who visited Amani with Bridget and Leslie Green in 2023 is continuing to be involved with FOAT. She sits as an observer on the FOAT Board to understand better the workings of the charity and hopes to make a visit to Amani in the not-too-distant future.

8

5. Events and initiatives

Trustees are pleased to report fundraising initiatives they have organised and/or participated in during 2024.

A total of £7,640 was raised through the efforts of Barbara Bristow (FOAT Associate). This includes the grant of £2,787 from St James Place for construction of the biogas plant at Amani Mvomero. Among other things funds raised by Barbara contributed towards, a new kitchen at Amani Mvomero, scrubs for the physio team, medicines and food.

Funds received by the Charity through on-line shopping such as ‘Giveasyoulive’ raised £250. This is an increase of over £100 on 2023.

Projects and Funding for Amani

At Amani, local support has picked up since COVID-19 but FOAT has still needed to focus on plugging the gap to provide staple items for survival and support the existing self-sustainable projects. Trustees would once again like to express their thanks to the Rotary Club of Reading for their assistance. FOAT is one of four charities that receive a monthly donation towards Amani’s food costs. The Club has donated a total of £930. This is an increase of £50 on 2023.

9

1. Community-based rehabilitation work and economic sustainability projects at the Amani Centre.

A total of £32,106 was donated to Amani, a decrease of £6,429 on last year. Of the £32,106, £29,319 was directed towards supporting the core mission of the Centre.

FOAT donated £6,200 from the Child Sponsorship Scheme. There was an average of 32 children residing at Amani (Chamwino) who are part of this scheme. A total of 22 of these children have regular sponsors; some sponsors support more than one child. Sponsorship averages £20/month per child. This provides a source of regular income to support the children who reside at Amani’s main centre in Chamwino. All monies from this are collated and used to purchase food, clothing and medicines for all children. All sponsors are encouraged to gift aid their donations. Trustee Rachel Derry, monitors the Child Sponsorship Scheme, communicates with the sponsors and takes the lead on seeking new sponsors. Rachel communicates frequently with Emmanuel Mlegu, Deputy Director of the Amani Centre, in order to obtain regular updates about the children to ensure the information is kept up to date.

Each year FOAT pays towards the costs of a community Christmas Party at the Amani Centre which, not only raises awareness in the community of issues of disability and the work of the Centre but also serves as a way of thanking volunteers and local donors, for their generosity. In 2024, £475 was donated for the party, including small gifts for the children.

Funding is also provided to support a range of economic sustainability projects both agricultural and enterprise that involve members of the Amani staff developing their leadership capacities to provide sources of income that reduce dependency on overseas donors.

2. School/College fees for young people

The Amani Centre provides a home for able-bodied young people from some of the most rural areas in the surrounding district and pays for their education. In return, these young people assist in the care of the children with disabilities at Amani.

FOAT continues to seek supporters through its networks to assist with the education of young people at Amani.

10

Many of the families of children who attend Amani Mvomero Special School cannot afford the school fees. In 2021 a donation of £6,176 by the Park Family Trust was received to support the education of four students for the four years of their secondary education at Amani Mvomero School. The third payment of £2,000 was sent to Amani in June. FOAT is actively seeking sponsors for other pupils.

3. Five-year Surgery Enablement Programme

We are delighted to report that once again the Park Family Trust supported the surgery enablement programme. The grant of £9,124 made in 2023 will enable five children from Amani to receive vital surgery each year for four years, thereby facilitating their rehabilitation to their families and to the community at large and freeing up capacity for Amani to support more children with disabilities. Funds of £2,245 were sent in October 2024 and a further £796 was sent in November* to enable the second cohort of five children to receive surgery at the CCBRT hospital in Dar es Salaam in November/December 2024 and early in 2025.

4. Economic Social Empowerment Projects (ESEPs) around Amani Mvomero

Following the death of Helena Green in 2017, her parents (Trustees Bridget and Leslie Green) set up a memorial fund to establish economic social empowerment projects in eight wards around Amani Chamwino. In 2024 during their visit to Amani, Bridget and Leslie, along with Amani, identified the need for a ninth group to be established and trained. A grant of £406 from the John Pitman Charitable Trust in November has enabled the initiation of this ninth group.

Projects and Funding for Shinyanga in 2024

FOAT continues to support Care Ministry Projects in the Anglican Diocese of Shinyanga in particular those focussing on community development including families of the disabled. By the end of 2024, FOAT had a total of eight regular donors to Care Ministry in Shinyanga.

11

1. Projects

1.1. Education of two girls with albinism at Mwadui

The two girls with albinism who live with the local priest at Mwadui are continuing to have their education sponsored by a UK donor. Shija graduated from Primary School and now attends the local Lutheran Secondary School. Lucia continues at Mwadui Anglican Primary School. Both girls are benefitting from extra support given by the teachers.

1.2 Further education training for a young man with albinism

A young man with albinism was sponsored by a UK donor in 2023 to attend a fourmonth Computer Access Course. He was due to start at Mwanza FE college to study for a Certificate in Information Technology in 2024, but this was deferred until April 2025. In the meantime, he has been staying at Ndala Mission and Evangelism Training Centre where he has been increasing his knowledge of theology and assisting the children who attend the Compassion Centre, with IT skills.

1.3 Training

Since the start of the six-month Evangelism Training programme in 2023, there are now 74 trained evangelists working across the Diocese of Shinyanga. Bishop Johnson has initiated a two-year Mission and Evangelism training programme as a way of training future clergy. There are now 16 students registered on this programme which began in November 2024. Both programmes include modules on the care of people with disabilities in the community and developing self-support groups.

1.4 Care Ministry Support Groups

During their visit to the Diocese of Shinyanga in 2024, Bridget and Leslie witnessed the increasing number of churches being planted and initiation of Care Ministry Support Groups bringing together families of the disabled for mutual support and to initiate projects to support themselves. There are now a total of six groups, at Solwa, Meatu, Mwadui, Maswa, Kitangili and Ndala.

2. Developing support networks in the UK

In their roles as Bishop’s Commissaries and Lay Canons in the Diocese of Shinyanga, Bridget and Leslie have been working to develop links with churches

12

and individuals in the UK to support Care Ministry in Shinyanga. They are delighted to report that Early St Peter’s Church has agreed to support Care Ministry in the Diocese of Shinyanga for a further three years, 2025 – 2027.

Bicycles are critical for the evangelists’ work. FOAT has so far secured funding for 15 bikes, seven, thanks to fundraising by Earley St Peter’s church. Bishop Johnson has introduced a priority/incentive scheme – those who plant a church are in line to receive a bike. There are already three evangelists waiting, so FOAT continues to seek funds for more bicycles.

Future Plans for FOAT’s support for Amani

FOAT will:

13

Future Plans for FOAT’s support for Shinyanga

FOAT will:

14

Financial Review for the Year

The financial position of the Charity at the end of its 19[th] year of operation is

satisfactory when considering the economic situation worldwide. Grants have been received from John Pitman Charitable Trust, St James’ Place Charitable Trust, The Rotary Club of Reading, Wolfscastle and Earley St Peter’s Church (for Shinyanga). Barbara Bristow continues to work closely with FOAT as an Associate.

Once again, the Trustees have been encouraged by the extent of charitable giving received from:

Income for the year was £37,087.

Expenditure for the year was £43,975. This included:

Restricted funds received in 2023 and earlier years, scheduled for payment in 2024, account for the variation of income over expenditure.

Just Giving costs for 2024 are yet to be paid.

There was a deficit of income over expenditure of £6,889 for the year. This compares with a surplus of £5,023 in 2023.

The Balance sheet at 31[st] December 2024 showed cash balances of £10,632 and net assets of £10,416.

15

A tax rebate of £2,209 was received in 2024 for funds donated between October

2023 and March 2024. A further rebate of £2,522 was received in October 2024 for

the period between April 2024 and September 2024.

16

Friends of Amani Tanzania Charity No: 1114281

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

INCOME
Regular Giving (incl. school fees)
Child Sponsorship Scheme
Card Sales
Bristow Initiatives excl. Just Giving (JG)
Charity Donation
Park Family Trust
Social Fund
Ecumenical project
Rotary Club of Reading(Food)
SEN School (Mvomero)
Shinyanga ACT inc Bike Appeal
Shinyanga Education inc Mwadui
Just Giving & Virgin Money
Giveasyoulive & Amazon Smile
Gift Aid receipts
Interest
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Sundry Expenses
Bank Charges
Donations
Note 2
TOTAL EXPENSES
NET INCOME
Funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
2,867
0
2,867
0
5,242
5,242
340
0
340
0
0
0
2,318
4,449
6,767
0
0
0
0
1,560
1,560
652
0
652
0
930
930
0
0
0
0
4,667
4,667
0
3,022
3,022
781
4,853
5,634
326
0
326
1635
3,096
4,731
348
0
348
9,267
27,819
37,086
798
0
798
60
0
60
8,752
34,365
43,117
9,610
34,365
43,975
(343)
(6,546)
(6,889)
640
16,665
17,305
297
10,119
10,416		 2023
£
4,320
5,100
105
1390
3,604
12989
1,410
700
1,627
611
10,161
3,134
7,338
128
7,257
188
60,062
932
107
54,000
55,039
5,023
11,893
16,916

17

Friends of Amani Tanzania Charity No: 1114281 Balance sheet as at 31 December 2024

ASSETS
Cash and Bank Accounts:
Friends of Amani Tanzania
Less:
Creditors
TOTAL NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds: general reserves
Restricted funds
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY		 2024
£
10,632
216
10,416
297
10,119
10,416		 2023
£
17,313
396
16,917
640
16,665
17,305

18

Friends of Amani Tanzania Charity No 1114281

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

1 Accounting Policies

Income and expenditure is accounted for mainly on a receipts and payments basis with an accrual made for fundraising expenses, is expressed in £ sterling, the operating currency of the charity.

Unrestricted funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor, or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

2 Grants Paid in the year to 31 December 2024 Amani

Amani £
General Funds Includes CBR, Food and School
fees		 14,989
Child Sponsorship 6,200
Ecumenical and Sustainable Projects Ecumenical and Sustainable Projects 5,876
Education Projects 2,000
Medical Fees 3,041
Sub Total
 32,106
Shinyanga
Care Ministry 5,170
Education Projects 5,841
Sub Total
 11,011
TOTAL
43,117

Approved by the Board of Trustees:

Ken Spours (Chairperson)

Date 23 April 2025

19

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Friends of Amani Tanzania

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set out on pages 17 to 19.

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“The Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts varied 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 with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Nigel Gowing BSc BFP FCA MBA

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

118 Netherton Road, Abingdon, OX13 5LA

==> picture [100 x 8] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
DATE 15 June 2025
----- End of picture text -----

20