The Belarus Fund The Belarus Fund In Partnership with 89 Overdale Road Registered Charity No. Romiley 1116762 Stockport Supporting victims of Cheshire Chernobyl in Belarus TT2 SK6 3JB 0161 494 6736 The White email : alan.bridgewater1@ntlworld.com Flower Charity www.thebelarusfund.org
Trustees Annual Report 2024-2025
Introduction.
The charity has experienced a year of continued success in funding projects and the support scheme in Belarus. However, there is continued frustration at not being able to see the beneficiaries in Belarus itself. We continue to adhere to Foreign and Commonwealth advice not to travel to Belarus. Our key people in Belarus are encountering increasing bureaucracy in obtaining travel documents and restrictions on where they are able to travel to.
We continue to be reliant on our team of local resident volunteers in Belarus without whom the charity could not function. Our focus remains upon the support scheme and existing projects. We continue to carefully monitor these and they are subject to scrutiny by the teams in Belarus and the trustees here in the UK. Any additional requests are carefully assessed for cost and potential impact.
Sadly, the issues around sanctions and conflict mean and show little or no sign of improving. The folks in Belarus still regularly ask when their English friends are coming to see them. Their resilience has to be admired!
Communication.
We are grateful that we are able to keep in regular contact with friends and workers in Belarus. Zoom, WhatsApp, emails and Skype (soon to become Microsoft Teams) continue to be very effective in keeping in contact with the volunteers working in Belarus. We are able to consult, provide directives and plans for the charity work and to receive feedback on progress and how things are working out for the recipients of the resources. This acts a source of encouragement for the charity folks here in the UK.
Carrying out the work of the charity.
Nothing has changed in relation to visiting Belarus as to do so would go against FCO advice with regard to safety and issues around insurance as well as security. Our contact with Belarus continues and we are seeking safe ways to meet with our colleagues from
Belarus in a third nation (Poland, Lithuania, for example). We remain in regular contact with the folks in Belarus.
The focus of our discussions are:
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Reviewing 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
The quarterly plans, identifying what funds are to be allocated and where, are working well.
Doing these things have enabled us to achieve the objectives of the charity. We remain in awe for the enthusiasm, commitment and dedication of the folks in Belarus. Their resilience in these difficult times continues to amaze us. This serves as an inspiration for the UK based charity work.
Objectives of the charity.
To employ a variety of fundraising methods to achieve a minimum target of £20,000
The actual amount raised was £33,923.64 with expenditure of £35,724.91, the difference was met from reserves. We will continue with the existing target as a matter of expediency. The charity benefitted from a legacy and a number of Large one-off donations which cannot be guaranteed in the future.
The charity income enables it to continue the work in Belarus along with some small one-off projects. This has become possible because of a few one-off larger donations.
The main source of income remains individual supporters.
The people in Belarus continually thank God for the generosity of all the donors in the UK especially since the conflict continues in their neighbouring country, Ukraine.
To recruit volunteer helpers for the work of the charity in the UK
We have been unable to recruit new volunteers but despite existing volunteers aging and health issues, we are still able to run the charity efficiently and effectively.
To identify appropriate projects in Belarus
Our main projects are through the Support Scheme. However, we have been able to identify needs that have been one-off in nature and within the objectives of the charity.
To liaise with the White Flower charity in Belarus through visits and electronic communication.
Our liaison has been via electronic means although it is hoped to meet with their representative face to face in the future, when it becomes possible for them to travel.
To transfer funds to Belarus to finance identified projects agreed by the trustees.
The present method of getting funds to Belarus is working well, but bank fees continue to be incurred at a rate of about 3%.
To supervise projects working with children, adults, people with disabilities and older people in Belarus.
The trustees can only supervise projects through the volunteers in Belarus. The work continues, carried out by our colleagues and volunteers in Belarus, who continue to keep us fully informed. The work is supervised and monitored by Oleg and Nicolai. The safety and wellbeing of these folks remains of paramount importance
To operate appropriate administration systems and reporting mechanisms to ensure the proper deployment of resources and the proper running of the charity.
The systems in place are robust and working well.
To liaise with other charities and funders where appropriate.
Our relationship with our American partner* remains good and, jointly, we continue to finance 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 still in place and 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 2024-2025 accompanies this report. We do not spend money we have not already raised. Should a shortfall arise, there is an arrangement for an interest-free short-term loan.
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 support of an architect, who is a trustee of the charity, to assist a church to further develop the site of the church which has been successfully renovated. The additions will enable more activities and facilities to be available on site.
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The 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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Support for outreach work done by the HOS Pentecostal Church in asylums. 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 and medicines 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.
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Christmas gifts for children in an abandoned babies’ home.
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Christmas programs for families.
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Christmas gifts for poor families and children.
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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 church in Grodno (social and material support)
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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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Backpacks and educational materials for children from poor families.
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Financial support for one and a half days per week for the Project Manager in Belarus, and Director in Belarus for half a day per week. All other workers are volunteers.
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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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Support for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Belarus.
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Material costs improving sanitation and clean water supply.
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Further corrective surgery and treatment for Varvara funded by Sisters of St. Joseph of the Annunciation. This took place at a specialist hospital in Austria.
Throughout this year, we have again been consolidating the work of the charity, so most of the public benefit is still 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 we can get to the workers in Belarus.
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. This has been our strategy throughout and has proved successful.
The work of the charity continues and even though it has lost the benefit of face-to-face interaction with the beneficiaries. Fortunately, technology continues to enable 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. Being able to meet them outside the country would be of great importance and benefit, but still remains second best to in-country visits.
We anticipate that 2025-26 will be another challenging year as we cope with the restrictions forced upon us by not being able to travel to Belarus. Also, the geopolitical situation resulting from the war in Ukraine remains a major concern. We are 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.
It may seem that the work of the charity is somewhat static but in fact dynamic processes are in action and there is development within the boundaries and parameters that the charity has established. The work of the charity is reviewed at Trustee meetings and other regular contact between those who are charged with the day-to-day responsibilities. These procedures are proving effective for now.
We remain extremely grateful for the wonderful generosity of our supporters, without whom the work of the charity could not continue
On behalf of the Trustees and with heartfelt thanks, Alan Bridgewater Charity Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee August 2025.
*Direct Connect Humanitarian Aid a USA based charity.
BELARUS FUND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FROM 6th APRIL 2024 TO 5th APRIL 2025 Current Account
PAYMENTS
| Current Account | PAYMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Donatons Gif Aided Non Gift Aid Donations GASDS donatons Interest Totals Deposit Accounts on 5th April 2024 Barclays £53.92 Halifax B Acc £7,000.00 Deposit Accounts on 5th April 2025 Barclays £4.47 B. Account Halifax £5,000.00 |
Total To Belarus via ATM £14,050.00 £19,823.09 £50.00 £0.55 £33,923.64 Total Spend Balance at 6th April 2024 Balance at 5th April 2025 Money Withdrawn Total raised Total Balance 5th April 2025 Total Balance 6th April 2024 |
£7,849.01 £6,047.74 £35,724.91 £33,923.64 £6,047.74 £7,849.01 |
Sterling £35,724.91 £35,724.91 |
| The Belarus Fund | Registered Charity 1116762
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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Belarus Fund
| report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 5" April 2025 which are set out on the Belarus Fund Statement of Accounts from 6" April 2024 to 5" April 2025.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's 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.
It is my responsibility to:
- e examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; e to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
e to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's 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.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: and ° to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; nor
(2) which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
The accounts and financial statement, as presented, represent a true and accurate record of the charity’s account.
Name: Susan Margaret Selby
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Profession: Retired Pharmacist / Store Manager for Boots the Chemist Address: 87, Overdale Rd, Romiley, Stockport. Cheshire SK6 3JB ns Signature: ey 4 SL Qe my Date: 12.11.2025
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