BHOLA’S CHILDREN
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 1 – 11 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 12 |
| Annual Accounts | 13 – 21 |
BHOLA’S CHILDREN
CHARITY REG. NO. 1118345 12 Cornwall Grove, London W4 2LB, UK Tel: +44(0)20 8994 6011 Website: www.bholaschildren.org
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31st March 2023
The trustees of Bhola’s Children (registered no. 1118345) present their annual report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes 1 and 2 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (second edition) and Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives, in planning future activities, and setting the budget and grant-making policy for the year.
The purpose of the charity set out in its trust deed is to advance education, health and poverty relief among children in Southern Bangladesh, particularly those orphaned or with disabilities. More particularly, it was established in 2007 to provide a permanent source of funding for Bhola’s Children Special School – Bangladesh (“BCSB”), a local charitable trust which runs a single project, a home and school for disabled children on the island of Bhola in Southern Bangladesh.
Background
Bhola is an island of two million people. The high level of poverty has been exacerbated by rapid erosion of the North East corner of the island which displaced families, some multiple times. There are very limited medical facilities on the island. Early marriage, early first pregnancy, poverty, lack of education, and inability to access appropriate medical care and facilities all contribute to high levels of disability. For the children and their families this is made much worse by the terrible social stigma attaching to disability. Disabled children are also more likely to be abused by family or neighbours.
Despite the evident needs, there is no other facility on the island capable of meeting those needs in the way that BCSB does.
The vision
The charity (hereinafter “BCUK”) furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit by granting funds to BCSB for the purposes of the home and school.
From the outset the project was unusual in two key respects:
-
it brings together and provides for children with all types of physical and mental disability; and
-
it feels like a home not an institution.
These were key parts of the vision of the founder and first director of the project, Howlader Ali. By having those with different disabilities together the children flourish helping each other. They see that their particular disability does not prevent them being a valued part of the happy “family”. And their actual families see in many cases that their disabled child can acquire economically productive skills. Indeed, the disabled child may be more productive than their siblings who have not had access to training. This is a start to reducing the social
1
stigma attaching to both the child and the family. Reducing that stigma was Ali’s long-term aim.
The trustees are proud of how successfully BCSB has realised Ali’s vision over the last sixteen years and how Zakirul Haque, the Director for the last nine years, has built on what Ali started. This has benefited the public through:
-
meeting the social, educational and medical needs of disabled children who would otherwise not have those needs met
-
educating the wider community about the contribution that those with disabilities can make economically and socially so that in time the disabled will be able to live with dignity and without stigma.
How BCSB realises the vision
1) Admissions policy
The home and school is open to any disabled child from the age of five, regardless of gender, religion, or social, political or financial status of their family. Now that BCSB is so well known throughout the island there is greater demand than BCSB can meet. Admission is based on an assessment of the needs of the child and BCSB’s ability to meet those needs. If demand exceeds the number of places, priority is given to the poorest.
During the year a more detailed assessment procedure was introduced, which includes a visit to the family home and looking at the whole family situation.
BCSB is not at present equipped to deal with children under five years old, or who are not capable of self-toiletting, or the seriously autistic. Also the focus is on disabilities arising before, during or shortly after childbirth. Disabilities resulting from injuries or illness sustained later in life are generally regarded as the province of other agencies.
The aim is to equip the children when they leave to live a productive life with dignity, so far as their disabilities permit, and while staying at BCSB to feel safe, loved and valued for who they are, as part of an inclusive family.
There is an increasing emphasis on support for the family as well as the child. Besides remaining in close communication while the child is in residence, this can be anything from advising on breast feeding a child with a cleft palate to teaching them to sign or to help the child with physio or occupational therapy exercises. This may involve the parent(s) staying at BCSB for a few days. This can benefit a child who cannot be admitted for some reason or can be admitted only for a short period.
2) Education
The children who are capable of attending normal school attend a school just up the road in the mornings. BCSB provides classes covering reading and writing in Bangla and English and in Bangla and roman script, arithmetic, art, dance, sign language and (for the deaf) lipreading and vocalisation.
For slow learners there is now a dedicated class called the Sunshine School. This takes non-residential children on a paying basis. During the year a partnership was set up with Mann, an Indian charity which specialises in training autistic children and young adults and finding them employment. Mann have provided free of charge access to their online training course for teachers of autistic children. This has enabled BCSB to raise the standard of
2
teaching provided by the existing staff. As the number of fee-paying students increases, fully qualified specialist teachers will be hired.
There is no religious education provided by BSCB, which has no religious affiliation. But the children are able to attend religious instruction at their local place of worship. An indicator of the inclusiveness of BCSB is that the staff, while mainly Muslim, includes two Hindus and one Christian.
3) Technical training
Older children are taught employable skills including:
-
Agriculture
-
Metalwork
-
Woodwork
-
Tailoring and embroidery
-
Computer skills
-
Mobile repair
-
Food preparation and cooking
-
Serving at table
Increasingly, BCSB is seeking to broaden the range of skills training available and increase the standard by forming partnerships with larger local organisations which can afford better facilities and specialist instructors teaching to certificated standards. For example, instruction in computers and IT and in electrical wiring is provided at HEED Technical Training College nearby. This increases the chances of each child receiving training which makes the most of their individual aptitudes and capabilities.
The ablest children are sent for further training in Dhaka where BCSB has close relations with specialist organisations providing training and safe accommodation for the disabled.
The older teenagers are given increasing responsibilities, for example as teaching assistants, for which they are paid a small salary.
4) Hostel accommodation and pastoral and medical care
The girls and boys sleep in small dormitories on separate floors of the main hostel building.
A house mother and house father provide pastoral care and instruction in personal hygiene for the girls and boys respectively.
Medical care is provided by local medical services except for physiotherapy and occupational therapy, which are provided on-site by staff – daily for those with cerebral palsy. (See Physiotherapy Department below.) Two female staff came to the home as blind children and when older were trained to provide physiotherapy. A consultant physiotherapist who is also qualified in occupational therapy visits weekly to provide diagnoses and treatment plans and to review progress. The occupational therapy is particularly helpful for the slow learners.
The arrangements whereby children needing operations for cleft lips, cleft palates and other deformities were taken to a hospital at Barisal or Dhaka on the mainland for free treatment has been suspended by the hospitals. It is hoped that this will resume at some point.
3
The children are expected to do their fair share of the household chores. They are organised into teams led by older children, which are responsible for cleaning their dormitories and the communal rooms and other tasks on a rota basis.
All the children and all the staff have to learn sign language so that the deaf children can communicate freely with anyone in the boundary.
At present the families must provide soap and toiletries. Everything else is free of charge. The trustees of BCUK and BCSB keep this under review and it is likely that more of the services will be charged for in future in those cases where the child’s family have the means to pay. The relief of poverty associated with disability is part of our aims, so priority would always continue to be given to the poorest.
5) Sport and recreation
Time is allocated every day for play and sport. Depending on the season and weather there may be cricket, badminton, football, swimming, bicycling, board games, chess, carom, hopscotch and many more. There are also regular dance and music classes – it is a joy to see a group of deaf children dancing gracefully and in time to music!
BCSB children are regularly entered for competitions almost invariably winning prizes. In 2022-23 these included:
-
Display, parade and dance competitions where the BCSB teams compete against teams from normal schools – two 1st and three 2nd places
-
Drawing competitions for the disabled at various levels – five 1st, five 2nd and four 3rd places, plus one chosen by the Prime Minister for her New Year greetings card
-
Chess competition for the disabled – 1st place
-
Cricket tournament – man of the match (wheelchair student)
-
Talent competitions in education – 1st and 2nd
-
Special Olympics qualifying competitions at local, regional and national level ... culminating (after the year end) in July 2023 when six of our children were selected to represent Bangladesh at the Special Olympics in Berlin. One could not get her passport in time, but the five who went won four gold medals, two silver medals and a fourth place.
The frequency and number of prizes won is extraordinary for such a small school and it does wonders for the confidence of the children involved. The Special Olympics winners were all from very poor families.
Grant making policy
Grants are made to BCSB in instalments against a pre-approved annual budget which has also been approved by the Bangladesh NGO Affairs Bureau. The grants are subject to BCSB complying with a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between BCUK and BCSB.
How our grants delivered public benefit
Typically the residential children included 30 deaf, 20 slow learners, 10 with physical disabilities, 3 with CP and 1 blind.
Besides the children, six of the staff of BCSB are themselves disabled and might otherwise find it hard to find accommodation and employment and impossible to get married. They
4
include two blind, one deaf, one CP, one acid victim and one with cleft and deformed foot. Three of them have successfully married with the support of BCSB.
BCSB thus provides substantial benefits to many disabled children from mostly very poor families in an island of two million people where there are no comparable alternative facilities. And, as its reputation grows, it benefits the wider community by showing that disabled children can be economically productive and valued individuals who deserve to live and be treated with dignity rather than stigma.
Monitoring of the achievements
BCSB operates as a project of DORP (Development Organisation for the Rural Poor), a large long-established Bangladeshi NGO. This means that the project is subject to detailed monitoring by the Bangladesh government’s NGO Affairs Bureau (“NGOAB”). This includes pre-approval of the annual budget, pre-approval of each payment received from BCUK and subsequent auditing by auditors on the Bangladesh government’s list of approved auditors.
BCSB also has to comply with the monitoring requirements of the Department of Social Welfare, with which it is registered, and with the financial control procedures of DORP through whom the funds are remitted.
To satisfy BCUK that BCSB spends the money received in ways which meet the specific intentions and charitable aims of BCUK the primary controls are:
-
the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) governing relations between BCUK and BCSB
-
pre-approval by BCUK of BCSB’s annual budget and five-year plans
-
online monitoring by BCUK of the BCSB cashbook
-
visits by one or more BCUK trustees two or more times a year to inspect the operations and financial records and attend meetings with the BCSB trustees and DORP
-
joint meetings on Zoom of the BCUK and BCSB boards; and
-
frequent, often daily, telephone and email contact between BCUK and BCSB, in particular between the Chair of BCUK and the Director of BCSB.
Financial review
Donations, grants and strategic review
Until this year, with one exception, namely a large legacy of £274,000 received in May 2019, almost all the charity’s income comprised personal donations from a core group of UK donors mainly in West London, supplemented by occasional fundraising events including appeals through local churches.
But the running costs of the project have grown sharply in recent years, due to the increased number of children, increased quality of care provided and massive price inflation during and after the pandemic which show no sign of reversing. These cost increases have far outpaced the amount that could reasonably be raised from the existing donor base. So, if the project in its present form was to be financially sustainable in the longer term, it was clearly necessary to develop a new source of income and/or make radical changes in how it was structured.
Fortunately, the legacy provided a breathing space. But it also made it very difficult to raise new funds during the pandemic and since then the Ukraine War and cost-of-living crisis. A
5
professional fundraiser was appointed for the first time in May 2021, but the results were disappointing with only £20,000 over two years raised by them from grant-making bodies. So that relationship has been terminated and the focus shifted more to reducing costs by making the project more self-sustaining.
Investment policy and performance
The trustees’ policy is to invest surplus funds in bank fixed deposits with up to one year’s maturity and/or notice accounts, while ensuring that all the funds are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Interest received in the current year was £2,180 (last year £1,346). This low return on the large funds invested from the legacy reflected the very low levels of interest rates in the period.
Expenditure
It has been the trustees’ policy that all of the money raised from donors and the net amount raised from fundraising activities should be applied for the benefit of the children in Bhola, except for money spent on:
-
bank charges (this year £148, last year £183)
-
CAFDonate charges on online donations (this year £49, last year £nil)
-
printing of the charity’s leaflet and Gift Aid envelopes (this year £180, last year £nil)
-
website upgrades (this year £nil, last year £nil)
The trustees personally have borne, and continue to bear, all the other administration costs. In particular they bear the considerable costs of travel and accommodation when visiting BCSB on charity business.
The fundraiser’s fees were this year £7,245 (last year £7,470, of which some £5,000 represented one-off set-up costs).
Expenditure – grants to BCSB
Expenditure on grants to BCSB is shown in the accounts on a cash basis. This is because grants are not confirmed until paid and they cannot be paid until both the annual budget and the individual payment have been approved by the NGOAB. BCSB’s accounting year is the calendar year, whereas BCUK’s is the year to 31st March. As NGOAB approval is not received until two, three or even four months into the year, the first payment for the year may be before or after BCUK’s 31st March year end. Also the amount of the first payment may represent anything between three and six months expenditure depending on our judgement of future exchange movements and, for example, the need to complete building work ahead of the monsoon. For these reasons the cash figure can be very different from the costs incurred in the year by BCSB.
To see the underlying trend in expenditure it is better to look at the BCSB budgets approved by BCUK. For the relevant calendar years these were 2020 £89,027, 2021 £88,321 and 2022 £95,000 and 2022 £98,000. Costs were lower in 2021 because many of the children were with their families during lockdown. Since then food and energy prices in particular have risen spectacularly (up to 300% for some staples), but a significant part of this increase has been offset by a more favourable exchange rate.
6
Financial summary
| Results per the accounts | This year | Last year |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Personal donations | 26,078 | 27,314 |
| Grants from foundations/trusts | 3,000 | 13,000 |
| Fundraising events | 12,736 | 0 |
| Investment income | 2,180 | 1,346 |
| Total income | 43,994 | 41,660 |
| Cost of raising funds | 10,750 | 7,578 |
| Cost of grants paid to BCSB | 98,339 | 133,839 |
| Total expenditure | 109,089 | 141,417 |
| (Deficit) per accounts | (65,095) | (99,757) |
| Total funds at end of year | 98,109 | 163,204 |
| of which restricted funds | 40,000 | 40,000 |
If the grant expenditure had been accounted for on an accruals rather than cash basis:
-
the deficits would have been £74,349 this year and £53,757 last year
-
the funds at the year end would have been £134,859 this year and £209,204 last year.
In summary, the charity ended the year with sufficient unrestricted funds to cover the next year’s expenditure. But in the absence of new sources of funds the number of children would have to be cut thereafter to a point where the continued viability of the project would be in question.
Fundraising
At the time of writing the charity is about to launch a major fundraising initiative, a Sponsora-Child scheme, to draw in new donors.
The exhaustion of the legacy funds removes an obstacle to securing funds from grantmaking bodies. Also BCSB is developing activities, in particular regarding the Sunshine School for slow learners and the Physiotherapy Department, which such bodies are more likely to have an interest in funding.
The trustees, therefore, have reason to expect greater fundraising success in future.
Going concern basis
The chances of the charity ceasing to be a going concern are minimal, so long as there is a surviving trustee and the charity has banking facilities. The charity’s administrative expenses are almost all borne by the trustees personally. Grants are only finally approved at the time they are paid and they are only paid if the funds are available. The trustees therefore consider it is appropriate to present the accounts on a going concern basis, especially in the light of the fundraising plans.
Risks
Unfortunately, it is a fact of modern life that Anti-Moneylaundering Legislation and Charity Commission rules and guidance are becoming ever more stringent. Any involvement with Bangladesh is of itself sufficient to raise the authorities’ concerns. The trustees are confident
7
that under the current rules they can satisfy enquiries made by the banks at their annual reviews of the charity’s accounts or by the Charity Commission, but it is impossible to predict how those rules and the attitudes of the various authorities and the banks may develop in future. If the worst were to happen and the charity’s banking facilities were withdrawn, this would prevent the charity from operating.
The chances of the grantee ceasing to be a going concern are more significant, in particular:
-
Bhola is a high-risk area in terms of environmental disasters.
-
Children’s homes are a high-risk activity in terms of the potential for reputational damage, both deserved and undeserved.
-
The Bangladesh authorities have the legal power to close down Non-Governmental Organisations and their projects without notice.
-
BCSB is a small organisation which is heavily reliant on the person of the Director for whom a replacement could be difficult to secure at short notice.
-
BCUK might be unable to provide funds sufficient to cover the minimum costs for the project to be viable.
The charity aims to have sufficient reserves to provide emergency financial aid in the interests of the children in any such circumstances, but there is no binding legal obligation to provide that support. In such circumstances, even if it had the funds, there is no guarantee that there would be a legal means of delivering them to where they were needed.
Under the MOU BCSB is required to have a safeguarding policy which meets UK requirements. In the UK the requirement now is to have a policy which safeguards not just vulnerable children and adults but anyone within or who comes into contact with the organisation. BCSB’s policy was last reviewed in July 2021 but is updated between reviews as and when necessary.
BCUK reviewed its own safeguarding policy at the same time. Before authorising visits by BCUK trustees the trustees consider the security and health risks to the visiting trustee, who also has to be personally satisfied that the visit is safe.
During the year the Director introduced a more detailed and integrated system for planning, budgeting and managing the human and financial resources of the project. This will make it much easier for an interim or permanent successor to take over when he leaves or for any reason becomes unable to carry out his duties.
Reserves policy (see note 13 to the accounts)
Total reserves at the year end stood at £98,109 (last year £163,204) of which £40,000 at both year ends was restricted.
The trustees consider that there is no need for a designated contingency reserve, because this function is effectively fulfilled by the working capital reserve of £40,000 (equivalent to nearly 42% of the running costs for 2023). This reserve is restricted and may only be used to cover adverse short-term cashflow fluctuations. The understanding is that any amount drawn from the fund is reimbursed within twelve months.
The use being made of the legacy in 2019 has been explained above. Note 13 to the Accounts concerning the Reserves shows how the legacy fund has been earmarked. It has taken a long time to sort out the design of the BCSB staff provident fund at BCSB but this was resolved during the year and the £6,300 earmarked for funding past service entitlement was delivered to the great satisfaction of the staff.
8
Plans for the future
An overarching aim is to make the project more self-sustaining financially by raising donations locally and generating local income from sales of services and goods. The island of Bhola is undergoing rapid economic development following the development of substantial gas fields. Completion of a bridge to the mainland in the next two or three years will further accelerate development. It is anticipated that this will create significant markets for BCSB’s services and goods, bring businesses to the island who will want to be seen supporting local good causes and make it easier to hire qualified staff.
An immediate priority is to continue building up capacity at the Sunshine School and Physiotherapy Department, both to increase the numbers served and increase the income generated. In the medium term this will require a new building for the Sunshine School on land already owned by BCSB.
Another priority is to develop the production of handcrafts with a view to generating income from this source. This involves first developing the skills and organisation for items to be produced consistently to a sellable standard and identifying which products would be profitable. The technical training programmes would remain training programmes where students learn by making mistakes. Items for sale would be made only by older students preparing for the world of work outside BCSB, for which they would be paid.
Structure, governance and management
BCUK
BCUK is run by a board of the eight trustees listed below.
The board contains trustees with a range of relevant skills and experience and the balance of these skills and experience is kept under review.
There are no staff. All the work is done by the trustees with occasional assistance from other volunteers in connection with fundraising events and IT.
Office facilities are provided by the Chair from her home.
BCSB
BSCB is a Bangladesh charitable trust with a board of nine trustees who are all wellrespected members of the local community. The Chairman is an influential local politician. BCSB is registered with the Social Welfare Department.
BCSB is a small organisation and relies heavily on the person of the Director. The current Director, Zakirul Haque, has been in post seven years and is highly regarded by BCUK.
MOU
The MOU between BCUK and BCSB was last revised in January 2023. It sets out various matters that must be agreed jointly by the two parties. These include the appointment of the Director of BCSB, terms of his or her employment and any changes thereto. In practice there is email, telephone and Zoom contact between the Chair of BCUK and the Director, at least weekly and often daily.
9
The purchases of the land and original buildings were funded by a group of individual donors including the current chair of BCUK. The subsequent buildings were funded by BCUK. All the land and buildings are now registered in the name of BCSB, but under the MOU BCUK must agree to the disposal of any interest in the land and buildings.
The MOU also requires both parties to share minutes of their meetings.
DORP
Pending BCSB getting its own NGO registration, which can take years, BCSB became a project of DORP (Development Organisation of the Rural Poor) a large long-established Bangladesh NGO. DORP handles the considerable work in dealing with the NGO Affairs Bureau in respect of the project in return for 5% of the funds remitted by BCUK (reduced to 3% from January 2023). Otherwise it is supportive of but plays no part in the management of the project. The involvement of DORP was a necessary price for BCSB being allowed to receive funds from BCUK through the banking system.
Reference and administrative information
Trustees
Dinah Wiener, Chair of Trustees Alexander (“Sandy”) Anson FCA, Treasurer Nicholas Breeze Bruna Colombo-Otten Freda Graf Anne Hamilton Andrew Hogan Michael Maude (resigned 06/12/2022) Barnaby Wiener
Registered Office and Principal Office 12 Cornwall Grove, London, W4 2LB
Charity Number: 1118345
Independent examiner
Michael Godbee FCA, 99 The Avenue, London, W13 8JT
Bankers
CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA
Trustees’ responsibility in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
10
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
-
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
Approved by the trustees on 12th December 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Dinah Wiener, Chair of Trustees Alexander Anson, Treasurer
11
Independent examiner's report on the accounts Report to the truslees of: Bhola's Chlldren (Charity no. 1118345) On accounts for the year ended: 31st March 2023 Set out on pages: 13to21 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity I'the Trust") for the year ended 31st March 2023. 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 tho Charities Act 2011 {°the Acr'i. I report in respect of my examination of the trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions giv8n by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examinerfs slatement I have compteled my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come lo my attention in connoclion with the examination which gives me cause lo believe that, in any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in ae¢ordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord ¥th the aetounting records., or the accounts did not wmply with the applicable requirements conmIng the fomi and content of ac£ounls set out in the Charities (Accounts and ReF)Ortsl Regu12tions 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 draw attentlon lo pages 5 10 9 of the trustees, annual report whare Ihe trustees. give more explanation of the financial situation of the charity and their reasons preparing the accounts on a going concern basis. With that exception I have no concems and have come across no other matters in wnneclion with the examination to which attention should b8 drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts lo be reached. Slgned: nknJL Dats: '? Name: MICHAEL GODBEE Relevant professional qualification: FCA Address: 99 THEAVENUE, LONDON, W13 8JT 12
BHOLA'S CHILDREN
Charity No. 1118345 Annual accounts for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Statement of financial activities
| Note Income and endowments from: Donations 3 Grants 3 Other trading activities 3 Investments 3 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 4 Total Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Other recognised gains/(losses) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward – |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 26,078 - 26,078 3,000 - 3,000 12,736 - 12,736 2,180 - 2,180 43,994 - 43,994 10,750 - 10,750 98,339 - 98,339 109,089 - 109,089 (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) 123,204 40,000 163,204 58,109 40,000 98,109 ––––––– Current year ––––––– |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 26,078 - 26,078 3,000 - 3,000 12,736 - 12,736 2,180 - 2,180 43,994 - 43,994 10,750 - 10,750 98,339 - 98,339 109,089 - 109,089 (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) 123,204 40,000 163,204 58,109 40,000 98,109 ––––––– Current year ––––––– |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 26,078 - 26,078 3,000 - 3,000 12,736 - 12,736 2,180 - 2,180 43,994 - 43,994 10,750 - 10,750 98,339 - 98,339 109,089 - 109,089 (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) - - - (65,095) - (65,095) 123,204 40,000 163,204 58,109 40,000 98,109 ––––––– Current year ––––––– |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 27,314 27,314 13,000 - 13,000 - - - 1,346 - 1,346 41,660 - 41,660 7,578 - 7,578 133,839 133,839 141,417 - 141,417 (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) 222,961 40,000 262,961 123,204 40,000 163,204 ––––––––– Prior year ––––––––– |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 27,314 27,314 13,000 - 13,000 - - - 1,346 - 1,346 41,660 - 41,660 7,578 - 7,578 133,839 133,839 141,417 - 141,417 (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) 222,961 40,000 262,961 123,204 40,000 163,204 ––––––––– Prior year ––––––––– |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 27,314 27,314 13,000 - 13,000 - - - 1,346 - 1,346 41,660 - 41,660 7,578 - 7,578 133,839 133,839 141,417 - 141,417 (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) - - - (99,757) - (99,757) 222,961 40,000 262,961 123,204 40,000 163,204 ––––––––– Prior year ––––––––– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (65,095) | - | (65,095) | (99,757) | - | (99,757) | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (65,095) | - | (65,095) | (99,757) | - | (99,757) | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (65,095) | - | (65,095) | (99,757) | - | (99,757) | |
| 123,204 | 40,000 | 163,204 | 222,961 | 40,000 | 262,961 | |
| 58,109 | 40,000 | 98,109 | 123,204 | 40,000 | 163,204 |
There were no endowment funds at any time in either year.
13
Balance sheet At 31 March Current year Prior year Current assets: Stock Debtors Investments Cash at bank 300 3,869 58,033 35,911 98,113 180 3,852 137,050 22,122 163,204 Total curnt assets Creditors 10 Total cunpnt liabilities Net cumt assets 98,109 163,204 Total assets less cUt Ilabllitles 98,109 163,204 Net assets 98,109 16 The funds of the charlty: Endowment and restricted income funds Unrestricted funds Totsl charity funds 12 40,000 40,000 123.204 163.204 13 98,109 Approved by the trustees on ??? 2023 and signed on their behalf by: Position Name nature Chair of the Trustees Dinah Leah Carlotta WIENER Treasurer Alexander Lothlan ANSON 14
Notes to the Accounts
Note 1 Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historic cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:
-
the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) (second edition, effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019); and with
-
the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); and with
-
the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
1.2 Change in basis of accounting
There has been no change in the basis of accounting in the current year.
1.3 Changes to previous accounts
There have been no changes to the figures for last year.
Note 2 Accounting policies
2.1 INCOME
Recognition of income
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the
-
resources; and
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Offsetting There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS or SORP.
Grants and donations Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income criteria are met (5.8 to 5.12 FRS102). In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance-related conditions are met.
Tax reclaims on donations Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid and gifts declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Donated goods Donated goods are measured at fair value (the amount for which the asset could be exchanged) unless impractical to do so.
15
Notes to the Accounts
Donated services and Donated services and facilities are included in the SOFA when facilities received at the value of the gift to the charity provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably. Volunteer help The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report. Income from interest, This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and royalties and dividends the amount can be measured reliably. Investment gains and This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments and losses any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
2.2 EXPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES
| Liability recognition | Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that |
|---|---|
| there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the | |
| charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation | |
| can be measured with reasonable accuracy. | |
| Governance and support costs |
Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with |
| regulation and good practice. Support costs include costs of | |
| grant-making and subsequent monitoring. All governance and | |
| support costs in the year other than bank charges were borne | |
| personally by the trustees in accordance with their policy of | |
| not charging such costs to the charity. | |
| Grants with performance conditions |
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be |
| provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once | |
| the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service | |
| or output. | |
| Grants payable without | Where there are no conditions attaching to the grant that |
| performance conditions | enables the donor charity to realistically avoid the |
| commitment, a liability for the full funding obligation must | |
| be recognised. | |
| Deferred income | No deferred income has been included in the accounts. |
| 2.3 ASSETS | |
| Fixed assets and | The charity had no fixed assets or investments in the current |
| investments | or prior year. |
| Stocks | Stocks held for sale as part of non-charitable trade are |
| measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value. |
16
Notes to the Accounts
Note 3 Analysis of income and endowments
| Donations and legacies | This year Last year £ £ |
This year Last year £ £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations andgifts – unrestricted | 20,401 | 21,228 | |
| Donations – restricted | - | - | |
| Expenses waived bytrustees | 2,764 | 2,764 | |
| Gift Aid tax recoverable | 2,913 | 3,322 | |
| **Total ** | 26,078 | 27,314 |
The trustees' expenses above and in Note 4 were expenses incurred on travel and subsistence in the course of their duties when visiting the project in Bangladesh. The Trustees waived their right to claim these expenses. The Trustees also incurred and waived other expenses in the course of their duties on, for example, the provision of home office and telephone facilities and travel to meetings, but it was not considered economic to identify and quantify these.
| Grants Grants fromprivategrant-makingbodies Total Income from other trading activities Income from fundraising event Total Investment income Bank interest Total Costs of raising funds Fundraiser's fees Commission and fees paid in respect of donations received through the CAFDonate website Printing Expenses of fundraisingevent Bank charges on foreign donations and account maintenance Total Charitable activities Grantspaid to BCSB – other Trustees' expenses for visits to BCSB Bank charges on foreignpayments Total Note 4 Analysis of expenditure |
Grants fromprivategrant-makingbodies | 3,000 | 13,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Total ** | 3,000 | 13,000 | |
| Income from fundraising event | 12,736 | - | |
| **Total ** | 12,736 | - | |
| Bank interest | 2,180 | 1,346 | |
| **Total ** | 2,180 | 1,346 | |
| This year Last year £ £ |
|||
| Fundraiser's fees | 7,245 | 7,470 | |
| Commission and fees paid in respect of donations received through the CAFDonate website |
49 | - | |
| Printing | 60 | - | |
| Expenses of fundraisingevent | 3,323 | - | |
| Bank charges on foreign donations and account maintenance |
73 | 108 | |
| **Total ** | 10,750 | 7,578 | |
| Grantspaid to BCSB – other | 95,500 | 131,000 | |
| Trustees' expenses for visits to BCSB | 2,764 | 2,764 | |
| Bank charges on foreignpayments | 75 | 75 | |
| **Total ** | 98,339 | 133,839 |
The only costs borne by the charity in respect of grantmaking are bank charges.
17
Notes to the Accounts
| Approved expenditures funded by grants to BCSB |
This year Last year £ £ |
This year Last year £ £ |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings and equipment | 10,094 | 2,660 |
| Staff salaries | 39,174 | 34,016 |
| Food,medecine and healthcare | 30,958 | 18,913 |
| Education,trainingand rehabilitation | 9,864 | 8,712 |
| Travel | 2,758 | 1,816 |
| Utilities and security | 2,561 | 2,515 |
| Administration and audit | 3,047 | 788 |
| Contribution to DORP | 4,697 | 5,087 |
| **Total ** | 103,153 | 74,507 |
These figures are on a cash basis. The Trustees' report contains further explanation.
Note 5 Details of certain items of expenditure 5.1 Trustee expenses
| Number of trustees who claimed expenses Total amount claimed |
Thisyear | Lastyear |
|---|---|---|
| None | None | |
| £0 | £0 |
All the trustees who incurred expenses in the performance of their duties waived their right to claim those expenses. See Note 3 for details.
5.2 Fees for examination or audit of the accounts
| Independent examiner’s fees for reporting on the accounts Other fees (for example: advice, consultancy, accountancy services) paid to the independent examiner |
This year £ |
Last year £ |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | |
| 0 |
0 |
Note 6 Stocks
| This year £ |
Last year £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Gift Aid envelopes | 180 | 180 |
| Leaflets | 120 | 0 |
| 300 | 180 |
18
Notes to the Accounts
Note 7 Debtors and prepayments
| Amounts falling due within one year |
Amounts falling due within one year |
Amounts falling due after more than one year |
Amounts falling due after more than one year |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This year £ |
Last year £ |
This year £ |
Last year £ |
|
| Accrued bank interest | 1,193 | 542 | 0 | 0 |
| Gift Aid recoverable | 2,676 | 3,310 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3,869 | 3,852 | 0 | 0 |
Note 8 Investments
| This year £ |
Last year £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Bank 1-year fixed deposits | 15,000 | 65,000 |
| Bank 100-daynotice deposit | 43,033 | 72,050 |
| Total | 58,033 |
137,050 |
The figures for last year in Notes 8 and 9 have been restated to correctly show the 100-day notice account as an Investment rather than Cash at bank.
Note 9 Cash at bank and in hand
| This year £ |
Last year £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Cash at bank | 35,911 | 22,122 |
| Cash in hand | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35,911 |
22,122 |
Note 10 Creditors and accruals
| Note 10 Creditors | and accruals | and accruals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amounts falling due within one year |
Amounts falling due after more than one year |
|||
| This year £ |
Last year £ |
This year £ |
Last year £ |
|
| Creditors –CAFDonate fees | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note 11 Transactions with related parties
11.1 Remuneration and benefits
No remuneration or other benefits were paid to a trustee or other related party during either year by the charity or by any institution or company connected with it. See note 5.1 regarding trustees' expenses.
11.2 Loans
No amounts were owing to or from the charity’s trustees or other related parties by the charity at either year end.
19
Notes to the Accounts
11.3 Other transactions with trustees or related parties
| Name of the trustee or relatedparty |
Relationship to the charity |
Description of the transactions |
This year £ |
Last year £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhola's Children Special School Bangladesh ("BCSB") |
Bangladesh charitable trust which operates the home and school funded by the Charity |
Grants paid by the Charity to BCSB for the purposes specified in Note 4 |
95,500 | 131,000 |
Note 12 Endowment and restricted income funds
CURRENT YEAR
| Restricted income Fund | Fund brought forward £ |
Added £ |
Utilised/ Released £ |
Carried forward £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workingcapital fund | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 |
| **Total restricted funds ** | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 |
PRIOR YEAR
| PRIOR YEAR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted income Fund | Fund brought forward £ |
Added £ |
Utilised/ Released £ |
Carried forward £ |
| Workingcapital fund | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 |
| **Total restricted funds ** | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 |
There were no endowment funds in the current or prior year.
The £40,000 Working Capital Fund is intended to cover adverse short-term cashflow fluctuations in income and expenditure. There is an expectation but not a legal requirement that amounts drawn from the fund are repaid within 12 months.
Note 13 Unrestricted funds – designated
CURRENT YEAR
| CURRENT YEAR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Reserve brought forward £ |
Surplus/ deficit for the year £ |
Transfer from restricted £ |
Newly designated £ |
Utilised/ Released £ |
Reserve carried forward £ |
| Legacy contribution to running costs |
80,000 | - | - | - | (40,000) | 40,000 |
| BCSB staffprovident fund | 6,300 | - | - | - | (6,300) | - |
| Undesignated reserve | 36,904 | (65,095) | - | - | 46,300 | 18,109 |
| **Total unrestricted funds ** | 123,204 | **(65,095) ** | - | - | - | 58,109 |
20
Notes to the Accounts
PRIOR YEAR
| PRIOR YEAR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Reserve brought forward £ |
Surplus/ deficit for the year £ |
Transfer from restricted £ |
Newly designated £ |
Utilised/ Released £ |
Reserve carried forward £ |
| Legacy contribution to running costs |
120,000 | - | - | - | (40,000) | 80,000 |
| BCSB staff provident fund | 6,300 | - | - | - | - | 6,300 |
| Undesignated reserve | 96,661 | (99,757) | - | - | 40,000 | 36,904 |
| **Total unrestricted funds ** | 222,961 | **(99,757) ** | - | - | - | 123,204 |
There is no designated contingency reserve as the Trustees consider that the Working Capital Fund (Note 12) fulfils this role.
21