OpenCharities

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

← The Topsy Foundation UK

2025-03-31-accounts

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 MARCH 2025

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS, ACMA

MINSTEAD HOUSE, UTTOXETER ROAD

KINGSTONE

ST14 8QH

~~1~~

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

CONTENTS Page
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Report of the Trustees 4 to 11
Balance Sheet 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Notes to the Financial Statements 15 to 17

~~2~~

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Constitution

The Topsy Foundation UK is a Registered Charity - Number 1115428

The Charity is a Company Limited by guarantee and incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 - Number 05823488

Trustees

The Trustees who served during or for part of the year, were as follows:

Rodney Waldeck - Chairman Susan Angoy Fiona Ghosh - Interim Chair from July 2024 Natasha Huber Professor Hugh Montgomery OBE Suzy Murphy Jeff Rodrigues Foszia Turner-Stylianou Gwyneth Williams OBE - resigned November 2024

Trustees are also Directors of the Topsy Foundation UK.

Patrons

Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC The Lady Birt CB Alan Donnelly Douglas Downie Company Secretary Brenda Huber Registered Office c/o William Sturges LLP Burford House 14 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QY

Independent Examiner

Mr Christopher Thomas, ACMA Minstead House Uttoxeter Road Kingstone ST14 8QH

Bankers

Virgin Money 35 Regent Street London SW1Y 4ND Website: www.topsyfoundation.org.uk

~~3~~

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees are pleased to present their Report together with the Financial Statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Legal and Administrative information on page 3 is also included as part of the Report. The Financial Statements comply with current statutory requirements and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

Objective

The objectives of the Charity remain, as always to:

~~4~~

Tribute to Rodney Waldeck, by Susan Angoy

We are broken-hearted to share the sad news that our beloved Rodney Waldeck died on Sunday 20[th] October 2024. Rodney was the Chair and founder member of Topsy UK and a Board member of The Topsy Foundation South Africa.

It is hard to find words that adequately describe Rodney’s extraordinary contributions to, and love of Topsy and of humanity. He was an inspirational leader who led with generosity, kindness, and a deep commitment to the causes of equality, social justice, and education. Rodney dedicated his life to further these values and had the gift to inspire all those he touched to do similarly. Nothing ever seemed impossible to him. This made it possible for his positivity to affect us all and bring out the best in each of us.

He was so much more than a colleague. He was our dearest friend, always striving to help others, even during the final stages of his illness when many would have focused inwards upon themselves. He was unstinting in his desire to make a difference to friends, colleagues, and those he loved most. And in return, we loved him.

I know he would not want to see platitudes written about him. He was funny, daring, and full of life – and of course style!

Rodney was the driving force behind Topsy UK. The gap he leaves is enormous. But the memory of his spirit and love will remain with us all forever. His impact reaches far and will continue to do so through the work of Topsy.

Although his physical presence is here no longer, he continues to live within us all and in those who Topsy touches.

~~5~~

Organisation and Management

Over the year, the Trustees held 2 online Board meetings. The Trustees also maintained regular contact with each other by email, telephone and in person. The Chair was in regular contact with Directors of Topsy South Africa, and particularly frequently with the Grootvlei-based Executive Director and the staff member responsible for fundraising.

Detailed statistics and reports of the work are shared on a regular basis, and the Chair was given all the SA financials and forecasts.

Appointment and Removal of Trustees

The Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Articles of Association provide for a minimum of three trustees, with one third of trustees, or the number nearest to one third, due for re-appointment in any one year.

In July 2024 Susan Angoy, Jeff Rodriguez and Gwyneth Williams were reappointed, in terms of the special provision allowing for appointment for more than 2 terms.

They, together with Fiona Ghosh, Natasha Huber, Prof Hugh Montgomery, Suzy Murphy, Jeff Rodrigues and Foszia Turner-Stylianou, comprised the Board of Trustees and are Directors of the company.

In July, Fiona Ghosh was appointed as Interim Chair.

In October, we were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our indefatigable Chairman, Rodney Waldeck. An irreplaceable loss for the charity and for Rodney’s many friends and family.

In November, Gwyneth Williams resigned as Trustee after 12 years of dedication to Topsy. We are deeply grateful for her service and steady commitment, and for her unique ability to identify the opportunities to approach her wide circle of influence and wish her a happy and fulfilling retirement.

Charitable Achievements/The Public Duty

Topsy SA’s area of operations continued to be serviced from its main centre at Grootvlei, as well as in those new areas where work was started at the end of 2020. Programmes took place in 2 subdistricts of Southern Mpumalanga Province, some 40 - 50 miles South of Johannesburg. Both districts are ill-served by public transport – increasing costs for Topsy SA’s work. Poor employment opportunities are another feature of these areas – with youth unemployment more than 40%!

Topsy SA is the only NGO of its kind in the areas closer to the operational centre at Grootvlei. It is also the only one offering a food security project in the area of expanded operations in Govan Mbeki municipality.

The education, care and protection of children often made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS or in families grappling with low incomes, remained the main emphasis of the programmes. Thousands of carers and adult family members were also included in parts of the work, primarily by being involved in the food security programme - the main part of which is the vegetable garden project.

~~6~~

Work was also sustained in the professionally run groups for parents, as well as a small women’s health programme. The latter included cervical cancer screening for a monthly average of 10 women.

In the UK, we continued our volunteer-run and supported efforts aimed at assisting the work of Topsy South Africa. Topsy UK’s grants are a vital part of sustaining this work, particularly as we are able to allocate some of the funds to less ‘glamorous’ costs that other donors often overlook, such as insurance, vehicle repairs, etc. Fundraising and raising the profile of the work in South Africa are the main methods used in the UK.

Fundraising in 2024 :

The year has been busy and especially noteworthy are the following events:

  1. Jeff Rodriguez, participated in another extreme Cycle challenge this year, raising £2000.

  2. Suzy Murphy walked the North Downs raising £1100.

  3. Topsy invited over 70 friends and supporters to an Auction on 13 June in the beautiful Killick Music Rooms in Mayfair, London gifted by Killick & Co. We were treated to a fascinating discussion between Prof Hugh Montgomery, OBE and Dr Richard Marshall, CBE about their experiences in rural South Africa at the height of the HIV Aids crisis.

Stephen Riris soothed the room with a flawless flamenco guitar performance, and a live auction of various donated prizes led by John Battersby of Canon Collins Trust.

We are grateful to Susan Angoy for sponsoring the catering at this event. We enjoyed a wonderful evening, felt the support from so many attendees as well as raising £6720 for Topsy.

  1. Topsy UK was selected to be one of 3 charities to pitch at a TFN Fundraising event in November 2024. We raised £7100 for Topsy and increased awareness amongst a new audience.

  2. Several friends of Topsy made special donations in memory of Rodney, for which we are grateful.

These events allowed us to send a bumper grant totalling £26000 / ZAR 604000 to Topsy South Africa. In this way, we were able to support when a major SA donor was unable to meet their pledge.

We are also grateful for the continued generosity of our Patrons, notably Douglas Downie who supported our TFN bid; a generous donation from Susan Angoy to cover the catering for the Auction; and the sustained professional support of Brenda Huber, our Company Secretary, as well as her daughter, Alice Huber, who facilitates donations by her employer, The Bank of New York. Their generous and unflagging support is a real source of strength to Topsy UK.

~~7~~

Impact of Topsy South Africa’s work

  1. Early learning and stimulation:

The Early Childhood Development Programme continued our partnerships with 22 ECD centres. In addition, through holistic activities, Topsy supported on average 2000 children a month.

2. Healthcare:

~~8~~

  1. Food Security and nutritional support grew dramatically and reached a combined total of over 5,527 beneficiaries per month

  2. Three months of emergency food parcels until beneficiaries can establish a garden

  3. Vegetable gardens in individual households, schools, ECD centres and communal areas

  4. Donations of Rise Against Hunger rice packs fortified with vitamins, minerals and protein

  5. Food Forward donations

  6. 60 Primary and secondary schools received support to grow vegetable gardens providing fresh and nutritious lunches to their learners

  7. Community workers continued their home support and increased their monthly visits on average 400 per month, providing psycho-social support to over 1600 women and children per month.

  8. In the coldest months of the year, June and July, we distributed blankets to 229 households with orphaned and vulnerable children, benefiting 958 adults and children.

~~9~~

  1. The Women’s Health Programme continues to be a significant benefit to the communities from Dipaleseng. A constant average of 45 females receive pap smears monthly, and all women in need of colposcopic biopsy and referral receive additional services. All women on the programme also receive breast cancer screening as well as general health awareness. In addition, more than 700 families receive home visits, including health awareness, every month.

We continue to be impressed by the caring and consistent efforts of the amazing team at Grootvlei and for the work they do to relieve the challenges faced by that community.

~~10~~

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements

Law applicable to Charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare Financial Statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity’s financial activities during the year and of the financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those Financial Statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Fiona Ghosh

Interim Chairman of the Board

~~11~~

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

I report on the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 11 to 15.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purpose of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in England and Wales.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiners report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view”, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiners statement

In connection with my examination no matters have come to my attention:

  1. which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and

  3. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities that have not been met; or

  4. To which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Christopher Thomas, ACMA Minstead House, Uttoxeter Road, Kingstone, ST14 8QH

21[st] October 2025

~~12~~ | ~~Jo~~

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK
BALANCE SHEET
AT 31 MARCH 2025
Total Prior Year
Funds Funds
Note 2025 2024
£ £
Current Assets
Debtors - -
Cash at bank and in hand 8,857 3,513
Total current assets 8,857 3,513
Liabilities
Creditors : Amounts falling due within one year - -
Net Current Assets 8,857 3,513
Total net assets 8,857 3,513
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds 4 8,857 3,513

For the year ended 31 March 2025, the Company was entitled to exemption from audit under s.477 of Companies Act 2006. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the financial year in accordance with s.476 of the Act. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities.

These Accounts have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to Companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the Trustees on the 21[st] of October 2025 and signed on their behalf

......................................................... Fiona Ghosh - Interim Chairman of the Board

~~13~~

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Note
Income
Donations & legacies
2
Deposit Interest
Other activities
2
Total Income
Resources Expended
Direct Charitable Expenditure
3
Other Expenditure
Expenditure on Raising Funds
3
Expenditure on Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) for the year
Transfer between Funds
4
Funds Balance brought forward
Funds Balance carried forward
4		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
2025
2025
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
23,789
-
23,789
13,032
105
-
105
187
11,919
-
11,919
9,459
35,813
-
35,813
22,678
26,000
-
26,000
21,600
4,469
-
4,469
1,110
-
-
-
-
30,469
-
30,469
22,710
5,344
-
5,344
(32)
-
-
-
-
3,513
-
3,513
3,545
8,857
-
8,857
3,513

~~14~~

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

NOTES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – 1

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. Accounting Policies

The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), issued in October 2019.

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 4. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the Charity.

Restricted Funds are applied by the Trustees only on activities that fall within the restriction. Unrestricted Funds are available for the use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

All Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is legally entitled.

All Expenditure is accounted for on an Accruals basis and is recognised when the liability is incurred.

Charitable expenditure comprises amounts contributed to its Charitable Activities. Expenditure on raising funds are costs associated with attracting income.

Expenditure on Charitable activities are incurred on administration and statutory requirements.

(f) Taxation

The Charity is exempt from taxation on its charitable activities.

~~15~~

NOTES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – 2

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2. Donations & legacies

onations & legacies
Individuals & firms
Charitable Foundations
Other activities		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
2025
2025
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
23,789
-
23,789
13,032
-
-
-
-
11,919
-
11,919
9,459
35,708
-
35,708
22,491

3. Total Expenditure

otal Expenditure
Charitable Activities
Expenditure on Raising funds
Expenditure on Raising funds:
Sundry Expenses including Subscriptions
Registered office services
Cost of Topsy Events		 Costs
Costs
2025
2024
£
£
26,000
21,600
4,469
1,110
30,469
21,710
388
315
360
360
3,721
435
4,469
1,110

~~16~~

NOTES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – 3 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

THE TOPSY FOUNDATION UK

  1. Movement in funds
ovement in funds
Restricted Funds:
Topsy Foundation SA
Topsy Foundation UK
Total Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds:
General Fund
Total Unrestricted Funds		 1 April
2024
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources
Transfers
31 March
2025
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
(26,000)
26,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(26,000)
26,000
-
3,513
35,813
(4,470)
(26,000)
8,857
3,513
35,813
(4,470)
(26,000)
8,857

Purpose of Restricted Funds : Topsy Foundation SA - These are grants/donations for projects run by Topsy Foundation, South Africa Topsy Foundation UK - These are contributions towards the costs of running the UK office.

  1. No Trustee received any remuneration or reimbursement of travel expenses during the year ended 31 March 2025.

~~17~~