LIFE ASSOCIATION LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims
The principal purpose of Life Association Limited is to reach and serve the poorest of the poor in India, with the hope and love of Jesus Christ. We do this in both word and deed. Our work has a particular focus on supporting children and young people.
Our aims and objectives are delivered through developing partnerships with local churches and Christian leaders in India. Together we provide safe and loving Christian children's homes for orphaned and part orphaned children and young people who would otherwise be vulnerable to neglect, malnourishment, trafficking, child labour and other dangers. We also seek to provide those children and young people with a quality Christian education through founding and/ or supporting Christian schools. We also provide emergency/disaster aid, medical care and food aid, support church plants and facilitate pastor's training. In the UK we engage in advocacy work to speak on behalf of the poorest in India.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Significant activities
We support the following projects with financial and/ or other practical assistance:
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Our project partners in Maharashtra take care of ten former street children. Funds were sent in April 2024 to complete some renovation work on the home. A grant was awarded to the charity to purchase a new minibus to transport the children around safely. Relief funds this year were sent for tarpaulins to protect the houses in the slum community during the heavy rains. Also, funds for food relief were sent to help the people who were affected by the devastating landslides in Wayanad, Kerela.
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The school and church that we support in Andhra Pradesh, provides education for 200 children. 80 children attend the afterschool provision. Earlier this year an engineers report declared the school building was at risk of collapse after years of harsh weather had damaged the structure. Temporary premises were found so the children could continue with their education, which is not suitable long term. The demolition of the old building began in March and should be completed sometime in April. Plans will be obtained from an architect and a suitable engineer to manage the project of a new purpose-built school building.
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We support a project in the south of Tamil Nadu which began with us supporting disabled children and young people in a home that cared for their needs. As they have got older and become teenagers, we are now sponsoring and supporting those former residents in education and vocational training as they seek to move into appropriate employment. The two afterschool tuition centre that we support continue to run well. Each centre sees children supported in their education, school supplies, and sponsoring school fees for ten of the most vulnerable children. We support five children who live in a hospice for adults and children living with HIV/Aids. They are supported in their education, medical needs, and well-being. Extra funds were sent for some repair works to be completed at the hospice, electric and plumbing works. Plans are in progress to start a new afterschool tuition centre in Manipur for the children living in the refugee camp.
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We support a women's sewing ministry project in the north of Tamil Nadu. The women are professionally trained in sewing skills, which will enable them to earn a sustainable income. A fifth
cohort of women graduated at the end of October; each student received a certificate of achievement and a brand-new sewing machine. A sixth cohort of women have now started a six-month tailoring course. The afterschool tuition centre continues to run well, where children from an impoverished village receive extra tuition, school supplies, and nutritious meals.
At the beginning of December, the village was affected by a cyclone again which caused heavy rain and floods, leaving some of the local people stranded and in need of basic necessities. We sent money from our disaster relief fund and food, including bread, rice and milk were distributed as well as blankets and mats to those most affected.
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In April we began to support two new afterschool tuition centres in Bihar. Children from impoverished villages receive extra tuition, school supplies, and nutritious snacks/meals.
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We continue to expand our audience on Facebook and establishing platforms on YouTube and Instagram, posting content on at least a weekly basis. Newsletters are sent out to all our supporters each month. This allows us to significantly increase how we can showcase and promote our work, and the projects we partner with and support.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Reserves policy
The charity continues to increase reserves in line with the commitments made to employ staff. At year end we held £TBC in reserve. In line with Charity Commission guidance, we seek to increase reserves to approximately three months running costs. We will continue to build reserves over the next financial year.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act, 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Use of volunteers
As well as the trustees, we have a small number of volunteers who help us with fund raising events, coffee mornings etc.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Organisational structure
The charity is overseen by the Trustees and Directors. Mrs Lisa Haskett is employed as Operations Manager. She is responsible for the day-to-day operational management and delivery of the charity's work. The trustees provide strategic direction and support delivery when appropriate. Mr Simon Hawthorne and Mrs Julia Hawthorne, the founders of Life Association, retired in July 2023, and are now acting as ambassadors for Life Association.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. To this end, the trustees have a comprehensive risk register, and actions are recorded at each meeting to a) identify new risk
b) implement, manage and review control measures for existing risks.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number 05763547 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number 1115262
Registered office
St Thomas' Parish Centre 135 Caunce Street Blackpool FY1 3NJ
Trustees
W Dent Assistant Pastor Dr M J Finnegan Retired Mrs S Graham Accountant Reverend S I Haskett Minister of Religion Ms A L Wooldridge Teacher
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Company Secretary
L M Haskett