Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01.01.2024 Period start date To 31.12.2024 Period end date Charity name: Rainbows4children (UK) Trust
Charity registration number: 1116387
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | (1) to relieve poverty and suffering in sub- Saharan Africa and particularly (but not exclusively) Ethiopia (the “Region”) through the support and provision of aid for construction and development projects with particular emphasis on projects relating to healthcare (including the equipping of health facilities such as hospitals, clinics and health centres), and self-help projects supporting local communities (such as securing water supplies and the development of small agricultural projects), but excluding support for any commercial activities or projects which are of a purely political, religious or pacifist nature; (2) to promote and support the advancement of education in the Region in particular through projects supporting the establishment and support of schools, and the provision of teaching and education for children and young people; (3) to relieve poverty and financial hardship among beneficiaries in the Region, by providing or procuring, amongst other things, financial assistance and support for the welfare and health of beneficiaries, who by reason of their social and economic conditions are in need of such assistance. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Fund-raising takes place in the UK to raise money for the projects, which are currently in Ethiopia only. Most of the donations received from UK citizens are from individuals who sponsor a child to attend the Nicolas Robinson School in Mekele, Tigray, Ethiopia. The biggest donor in 2024 supported supplementary food due to the continuing food crisis after the Civil war. The project funds in 2024 have been used for 2 main purposes: to pay the school staff and to provide training materials, food and |
| medical assistance for the staff and the school children. The Nicolas Robinson School continues to educate 1400 students from kindergarten (aged 3.5 years) to graduation at Grade 12, aged 18 years) On a temporary basis, it has extended this commitment, and 1,900 children are being educated. This is seen a s a temporary situation until other schools are able to reopen. The building work of the essential buildings to run the school is now complete. Due to instability in Ethiopia, we will not make major capital investments in the short term. The cessation of hostilities was signed in November 2022 and school resumed in early March 2023. Since then, education has been running intensively with very short breaks between semesters. This has enabled 3 years of education to be completed in less than 2 years. As a result, 4 year-groups of grade 8 have passed their regional exams, with 100% pass rate. Three batches of grade 12 students took their exams in this period and we achieved a 98% university pass rate. (National average is about 5%.) The staff were trained in coping with their trauma and, also, to help the children recover from the stress and trauma of war and family bereavements. The school continues to grow vegetables and other crops to provide better nutrition. All monies raised go directly to further the aims of the Trust. No trustees receive any remuneration. There are no employees of the Trust. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have read and understood the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit are in compliance. The activity in the continuing education and care of children’s health and well-being demonstrates this. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | All monies raised go directly to further the aims of the Trust. No trustees receive any remuneration. There are no employees of the Trust. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Volunteers travel to Ethiopia to help in the school either at their own expense or supported directly by the founders, Max and Kathryn Robinson. Exceptionally, in 2021-2023 there were no volunteers at the school due to the ongoing civil war in the region and consequent security issues for the volunteers. One volunteer from |
Sweden visited in November 2024. Kathryn and Max Robinson visited twice in 2023 and twice in 2024 for 4 weeks each time. Normally, volunteers visit the school on a regular basis to help train the teachers and management staff. All volunteers are DBS checked (or equivalent from their country of residence) and must sign that they are in compliance with the school’s child safety policy as well as sign a contract for their work.
Achievements and Performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The Nicolas Robinson School continues to educate 1400 students from kindergarten (aged 3.5 years) to graduation at Grade 12, aged 18 years) On a temporary basis, it has extended this commitment, and 1,900 children are being educated. This is seen as a temporary situation until other schools are able to reopen. Since March 2023, education has been running intensively with very short breaks between semesters. This has enabled 3 years of education to be completed in less than 2 years. As a result, 4 year-groups of grade 8 have passed their regional exams, with 100% pass rate. Three batches of grade 12 students took their exams in this period and we achieved a 98% university pass rate. (National average is about 5%.) Rainbows4children, through sponsors, now helps the education of about 650 students at the school and a further 80 who have gone on to study at University. School graduates are continuing to achieve success overseas. Successes in 2024 included full scholarships to African Leadership Academy, African Science Academy, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, US International University in Africa (Nairobi). Others have gone to Ethiopian Universities, including 8 to Addis Ababa. Plans were made to reopen the training college in January 2025. |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | As a small charity, the policy agreed by the trustees is to keep the equivalent of a minimum of one years’ running cost of the school available (in the bank accounts) at |
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| all times, so that if funds cannot be raised in a particular year due to unforeseen circumstances, the school can still function and the staff of the school can be paid their salaries. |
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| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Any cash reserves are invested in the deposit account at the bank, generating bank interest. No risk investments are made with the funds. As a small charity, the policy agreed by the trustees is to keep the equivalent of one years’ running cost of the school available (in the bank accounts) at all times, so that if funds cannot be raised in a particular year due to unforeseen circumstances, the school can still function, and the staff of the school can be paid their salaries. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £536,259 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | n/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | n/a |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Fundraising is mainly from private donations and regular giving. This is mainly to support the sponsorship of Ethiopian children's education and provide funds for building the school and providing the running costs of the School. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The Trust document does not allow any investment of funds in high-risk investments, so funds are invested in a bank deposit account. No risk investments are made with the funds. As a small charity, the policy agreed by the trustees is to keep the equivalent of one years’ running cost of the school available (in the bank accounts), at all times, so that if funds cannot be raised in a particular year due to unforeseen circumstances, the school can still function, and the staff of the school can be paid their salaries. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | If peace is not sustained in the region, there is a danger that donors lose confidence in the use of their funds, and it becomes difficult to fundraise and/or maintain the running of the school. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Trust deed |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are nominated by one of the other, existing trustees, their credentials presented, and they are invited to the board if all trustees are in agreement. Trustees are preferred who have already visited to the school in Mekele or have a strong interest/connection with the region. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Rainbows4children (UK) Trust works closely with Rainbows4children Stiftung, registered in Switzerland. Funds are raised for the same purpose and The Swiss Foundation makes transfers of funds to Ethiopia to the Nicolas Robinson School bank accounts for the running costs of the school and other related activities linked to the health and well-being of students, staff and their immediate families. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Rainbows4Children(UK)Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Rainbows4children, R4C |
| Registered charity number | 1116387 |
| Charity’s principal address | 16 Taunton Close Sutton Surrey SM3 9NG |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Max Robinson |
President | |||
| Kathryn Robinson | Secretary | |||
| George Potts | ||||
| PhilipStockbridge | ||||
| Alison Burgh | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) | Signature(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name(s) | Full name(s)Richard Max Robinson | Kathryn Warburton Robinson |
| Position (eg Secretary, | President & co-founder | Secretary & co-founder |
| Chair, etc) | ||
| Date13 April 2025 | 13 April 2025 |
| Rainbows4children (UK) Trust | Rainbows4children (UK) Trust | Rainbows4children (UK) Trust | 1116387 | 1116387 | ||||||
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| Receipts and payments accounts | CC16a | |||||||||
| 01.01.2024 31.12.2024 To For the period from ~~ee~~ |
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| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||
| Private donations | - | 130,915 | - | 130,915 | 156,103 | |||||
| Bank interest | 9,582 | - | - | 9,582 | 6,255 | |||||
| Gift aid refund | 9,528 | - | - | 9,528 | 9,730 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for | (Gross income for | |||||||||
| AR) | AR)19,110 | 130,915 | - | 150,025 | 172,088 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 19,110 130,915 - 150,025 172,088 ~~—————~~ |
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| A3 Payments | ||||||||||
| Bank charges | 61 | - | - | 61 | 62 | |||||
| Transfers to Rainbows4Children | ||||||||||
| Foundation for Mekele School building | - | 120,000 | - | 120,000 | 20,000 | |||||
| Membershipfees | 60 | - | - | 60 | 135 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 121 | 120,000 | - | 120,121 | 20,197 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total payments 121 120,000 - 120,121 20,197 ~~—————~~ |
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| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
18,989 10,915 - 29,904 151,891 - - - - - 56,060 450,295 - 506,355 354,464 75,049 461,210 - 536,259 506,355 ~~===~~ |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
31/03/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
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| Categories | funds funds funds Details |
| to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ |
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| B1 Cash funds | 73,607 461,210 - 922 - - 520 - - 75,049 461,210 - HSBC A/C 41459759 HSBC A/C 01459740 Paypal Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments ~~=~~ |
| OK OK OK account(s)) |
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| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
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| funds funds funds |
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| to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Details |
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| B2 Other monetary assets | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~===>~~ |
| B3 Investment assets | Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - - Details ~~=—===~~ |
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Details ~~===>~~ |
| Fund to which Amount due When due |
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| B5 Liabilities | liability relates (optional) (optional) - - - - - Details ~~—===~~ |
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Date of approval 13/01/2025 13/01/2025 Print Name Richard MaxRobinson Kathryn Robinson Signature ~~——~~ |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
31/03/2025
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Rainbows 4 Children UK Trust On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity no (if any) 1116387 Set out on pages CC16a 1 to 2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charily {'Ihe Trust.) for the year ended > Responsibilities and basis of report 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 Trust's accounts carried 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinar's statsment come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. Ihe accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signe Date: 31 March 2025 Name: Jake Jones Relevant professional qualification(s> or body (if any): MAAT, ACA Address: 11 Elleray Road Middleton, Manchester IER March 2025