The Belarus Fund The Belarus Fund 89 Overdale Road Registered Charity No. Romiley 1116762 Stockport Supporting victims of Cheshire Chernobyl in Belarus SK6 3JB 0161 494 6736 email : alan.bridgewater1@ntlworld.com www.thebelarusfund.org
In Partnership with
The White Flower Charity
Trustees Annual Report 2021-2022
Introduction.
Following on from the difficulties of 2020-2021 caused by the worldwide Covid pandemic, Covid continues to present issues in most aspects of running the charity. Throughout that year, we evolved strategies which enable the charity to achieve its objectives.
The situation arising from the invasion of Ukraine, a neighbour of Belarus, has served to compound the issues. However, the charity has been able to use the strategies formulated last year to overcome any obstacles and so continue with its work, albeit without being able to visit projects and people on the support scheme.
Support for the work the charity has undertaken, has remained resilient with a few new regular donors and one-off donations. Sadly, active fundraising events of a face-to-face nature have only just become possible in the last few weeks because of Covid restrictions and general concern for the welfare of supporters.
Communication.
Communication remains key to the functioning of our work, with increasing use of Zoom, Skype and emails. These have enabled planning, resourcing, reporting and evaluation of the charity’s work on the ground. As well, they have enabled the trustees to fulfil their roles.
Carrying out the work of the charity.
What remains the most frustrating is not being able to visit Belarus during the year. We continue receiving feedback through Nicolai and Oleg (in Belarus) that the folks there have missed our visits and regularly ask when they will see their English friends.
Throughout the year the work has continued:
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Reviewing Projects
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Considering new projects
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Discussing fundraising
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Receiving feedback on what is happening
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Talking about when visits to Belarus can recommence
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Monitoring the finances of the charity
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Regulatory requirements
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How to achieve best practice
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Planning for the future
These are core tasks of the charity in order to meet its objectives. However, it is important to recognise the impact of this work on the lives of those who benefit in Belarus and those who devote their time in that country to those people and what a privilege it is to share that work with them, albeit at a distance at this time.
Objectives of the charity.
To employ a variety of fundraising methods to achieve a target of £20,000 The actual amount raised was £34,474.88. We are adhering to the target which will enable us to continue with the core of our work. Although the funds raised are well in excess of the target, it does not seem sensible, in light of the current economic climate, to raise that target.
The people in Belarus thank God for the generosity of all the donors in the UK.
To recruit volunteer helpers for the work of the charity in the UK
The number of volunteers has remained stable.
To identify appropriate projects in Belarus
Again, no major additional projects have been undertaken as our colleagues in Belarus are still operating under the Covid-19 restrictions and advice in Belarus. There has been another small increase in the size of the support scheme which remains our largest undertaking.
To liaise with the White Flower charity in Belarus through visits and electronic communication.
The situation remains the same. Travel restrictions have prevented team visits to Belarus. The FCO advice is not to travel to Belarus. Contact has been maintained through the use of Skype, WhatsApp, email and, Zoom. Through the Zoom meetings, we have been able to involve more people and receive more feedback.
We have considered meeting outside of Belarus but the Covid situation and now the situation in Ukraine have meant that this has not been possible. However, it is an option which may become available this next year.
To transfer funds to Belarus to finance identified projects agreed by the
trustees.
The necessary funds have been securely transferred to Belarus but bank fees have been incurred.
To supervise projects working with children, adults, people with disabilities and older people in Belarus.
This work has continued, carried out by our colleagues and volunteers in Belarus, who have kept us fully informed. We continue to advise the folks there to minimise physical contact and to follow the government advice within Belarus. We receive regular reports, photographs and videos from Belarus.
To operate appropriate administration systems and reporting mechanisms to ensure the proper deployment of resources and the proper running of the charity.
The administrative systems and reporting mechanisms continue to be robust and support the running of the charity and in informing trustees and UK supporters.
To liaise with other charities and funders where appropriate.
We have continued our work with our American partners and, jointly, we have financed some provision for specific small projects
To report activities to the Charity Commission.
This is done through the trustees’ report and Annual Return to the Charity Commission.
To operate appropriate financial systems.
The financial systems of the charity are transparent and robust. Detail expenditure is recorded electronically and in a bank statement file. Expenditure is monitored at the end of each month, thus enabling the charity to remain in credit. These record in detail the income and expenditure of the charity, gift aiding and small donations gift aiding. A copy of the balance sheet for 2021-2022 accompanies this report. We never spend money we have not already raised.
Public Benefit Statement.
Much of the work done by the charity is ongoing and is listed below:-
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The White Flower charity continues to work as our partner in Belarus, serving as the vital link to the network of projects around Belarus.
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The ongoing support of an architect, who is a trustee of the charity, to assist a church to convert a derelict building into a church and community centre, at no cost. The church runs a range of community activities and is involving the local community who live around the church building.
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The Borisov Abandoned Babies Home continues to receive funding for prioritised needs and welcomes our continuing involvement.
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Continued funding of individual people and families on the support scheme receiving monthly monies from UK sponsors and general fundraising. Some families receive an additional support amount because of the complex needs within the family.
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Continued funding for a youth camp for the social development and life skills of young people in danger from drugs and prostitution. Also, to prevent people trafficking.
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Support for outreach work done by the Hope of Salvation Pentecostal Church in asylums around Minsk. They also undertake camps for children at special times of the year, for example, at Christmas. They selflessly give of their own time and it is a privilege to be able to support this important work.
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Family food parcels in the Grodno region. These are distributed in the “Forgotten Villages” in isolated locations in the border regions with Poland.
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Art and Craft materials for young women to earn a living. Life is difficult for these sisters as their health continues to deteriorate. The second sister has had the second hip
replaced. The cost of these hip replacements has been shared with DCHA our American charity partner.
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Christmas gifts for children in an abandoned babies’ home.
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Christmas gifts for children.
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Christmas programs for families.
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Christmas gifts for poor families.
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Gifts for elderly people living alone.
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Firewood for families on the support scheme.
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Outreach work by the Grace church in Grodno (social and material support).
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Support for disabled children in Minsk at Leila’s education centre. This is ongoing.
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Support for anti-human trafficking work.
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Support for countering domestic violence.
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Support for an elderly person’s social group.
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Travel costs to enable visits to ex-prisoners detained in WWII.
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Incontinence supplies for bedridden people.
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Hip joints for hip replacement surgery.
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Medical and therapeutic treatment of young women with severe cerebral palsy.
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Backpacks and educational materials for children from poor families.
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Refreshments for asylum social group.
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Financial support for one day per week for the Project Manager in Belarus, and Director in Belarus for one day per week. All other workers are volunteers.
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Education programme for Miron with partner DCHA.
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Special food for Lisa with PKU. Also partnered with DCHA.
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Purchase of medicines.
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Additional support for people with Covid.
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Digging of a water well and the installation of clean water equipment in a village house where two disabled young men and their widowed mother live.
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A mobile phone for a young woman with cerebral palsy.
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Educational course for a group in Zhodina.
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Purchase of a school printer.
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An MRI scan and treatment.
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Purchase of a wheelchair.
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Support for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Belarus.
Throughout this year, we have been consolidating the work of the charity, so most of the public benefit is a continuation of what the charity has already been doing. The needs being met are mostly long term in nature. Any new approaches in Belarus are being assessed by our colleagues there. However, meeting these needs is constrained by the resources available
We continue to work to ensure compliance with the requirements of GDPR and to operate within the law. The charity still does not directly approach people for funds, but rather relies up giving information and then following up where interest is expressed.
The effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic continue to have a significant impact on the work of the charity. The work of the charity continues but has lost the benefit of face-to-face interaction with the beneficiaries. Fortunately, technology has enables forms of personal contact (email, Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp) with the project manager and Director. This has been vital to the fulfilment of our purposes.
2022-23 will be another challenging year as we cope with the restrictions forced upon us by Covid19 and our ability to fundraise and to travel to Belarus. Also, the geopolitical situation around
Belarus throws up a number of challenges of its own. As a result of this year’s experiences, we are better prepared to meet these challenges and look forward to when we can reinstate our visits to Belarus and have first-hand experience of the impact of the work of the charity.
On behalf of the Trustees, Alan Bridgewater Charity Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee April 2022.
*DCHA is Direct Connect Humanitarian Aid, a USA based charity
BELARUS FUND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FR Current Account
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations Gift | Aided | £18,658.00 | |
| Non Gift Aid Donations | £14,741.38 | ||
| GASDS donations | £1,075.50 | ||
| Contra item | Flights paid | by Team | £785.02 |
| Contra item* | Currency for cancelled visit due to Covid 1$19,635 | ||
| Totals | £34,474.88 | ||
| Bank Balance at 6th. April 2021 | £16,193.13 | ||
| Balance at | |||
| Balance at | |||
| Contra item | |||
| Deposit Account | |||
| Balance | £23.57 | ||
| Note | *Trustees to decide on what should happen eg. Convert to sterli |
OM 6th APRIL 2021 TO 5th APRIL 2022
PAYMENTS
Sent to Belarus
Sterling £44,100.00
| Total Spend Totals 5th April 2022 £6,568.01 5th April 2021(less) £16,193.13 £785.02 Money withdrawn £44,100.00 Interest on Bus Acc. £0.01 Total raised £34,474.88 ing or wait until travel is possible. |
£44,100.00 |
|---|---|
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