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2020-12-31-accounts

Registered number: 06035936 Charity numbers: 1118674 & SC043181

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

UNAUDITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers 1
Trustees' report 2 - 13
Independent examiner's report 14 - 15
Statement of financial activities 16
Balance sheet 17 - 18
Notes to the financial statements 19 - 28

(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Trustees Jessica Norman (appointed 12 December 2019)
Michael Cook (appointed 12 December 2019)
Gerald Ackroyd (appointed 12 December 2019)
Company registered
number
06035936
Charity registered
numbers
1118674 and SC043181
Registered office
4 Priory Park
Mills Road
Aylesford
Kent
ME20 7PP

Page 1

(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Digital Pipeline for the year 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020. The Annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Since the Company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.

The Company also trades under the names Computers 4 Charity incorporating Computers 4 Africa .

COVID-19

The Charity entered the year with a new Board of Trustees, new management and was in the process of being totally re-structured and re-invented. COVID-19 broke out in China.

On 23rd March 2020 the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown and all operations ceased for a time. Thereafter charitable activities were on much lower level.

The Charity changed its ‘Working Name’ to “ Computers 4 Charity - incorporating Computers 4 Africa ” as we could not export to Africa and there was a need here in the UK:

On 26th November 2020 the Charity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Prince’s Responsible Business Network “ Business in the Community ” (BITC) to be their Tech Appeal refurbisher partner. The Charity has been fulfilling requests for IT equipment from charities on BITC’s National Business Response Network (NBRN).

The charity’s income drastically reduced, down from £693,582 in 2019 to £231,107 in 2020. However, the charity made a surplus of £11,605, brought down its balance sheet deficit and managed to give away free-ofcharge 152 computers to other charities and beneficiaries, conservatively valued at £33,540.

2021 also started with more COVID-19 lockdowns; but the charity is rebuilding its activities, helping more and more in need.

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities

l Policies and objectives

The Computers 4 Charity appeal invites donations of surplus computers from organisations and people everywhere. With us contributors can donate completely safely, minimise environmental impact and maximise community benefit .

We re-use and give-away free-of-charge as much as possible, recycle as few as possible and waste none ; your donations reduce carbon dioxide output. Each device given a second life through refurbishment means a new one does not have to be manufactured; each refurbished laptop saving the planet from 30kg of CO2 emissions *.

All are encouraged to use IT Asset Disposals (ITAD) for good. We make the most of donations to help those in need.

All our refurbishing is done in-house by us on a purely charitable non-profit basis , not by a commercial refurbisher; there is no profit making from the generosity of others. We are providing seven previously unemployed young people with jobs and training, and create social value from the process .

In working with Computers 4 Charity, donors are achieving maximum community benefit .

Supporters can do some good with unused laptops, tablets and PCs. Have them refurbished and given to those in re-hab, young carers, homeless youth, hospices, charity volunteers, unemployed veterans and UK charities supporting schools in Africa .

Unusable or surplus equipment is sold through our charity e-shop, components are re-used or recycled to fund the charity, nothing goes to waste .

Donations of IT equipment are:

Our team has been refurbishing computers since 1996, for 25 years.

Donors can help:

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.

l Strategies for achieving objectives

Donations of IT equipment

As a charity we give away all we can free-of-charge , and are self-funding through the sales of surplus equipment. For this we need to let as many people as possible know about the safety and security we offer them, bearing in mind that devices are actually very difficult to properly datawipe and handling any personal data inappropriately is a criminal offence.

l Activities undertaken to achieve objectives

Datawiping

We 100% datawipe IT donations, with data-wiping certificates available and end-to-end security, free-of-charge. We offer to do this to any standard preferred:

Or method preferred:

Data storage media can be very different, requiring customised data wiping. We take our data erasure responsibilities very seriously and we make a deliberate effort to stay up to date with the latest understanding of both data erasure and data recovery.

This has led us to developing a very flexible data-wiping service, allowing us to always use the best methods for each data storage medium. We also verify each wipe and if any drive fails digital erasure, it is destroyed and rendered physically unreadable.

We also test random samples with data recovery tools to see if any meaningful data can be retrieved; so far, we have never found remnant data on a drive we have wiped.

Although our chosen processes are completely effective, we also know that many organisations have extra

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

requirements, such as the need for drives to be wiped by a certain method or to a certain standard. In these cases, we are always able and willing to adapt to whatever your organisation needs and your ITAD policies.

Our data wipe is General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) compliant, protects you (the donor) from identity theft, as well safeguarding the beneficiary.

Our data wipe log details the times and dates that each hard disk drive has been securely data wiped or destroyed and Data Destruction Certificates are available on request. We are registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as number Z3321434.

https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/Z3321434

Please see the guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC):

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/secure-sanitisation-storage-media

End-to-end security

For highly sensitive data carriers, we use locked four-sided roll cages for bulk collections. All incoming devices are placed into a restricted area with three levels of access control until all data is erased. Our Workshop is based next door to Kent Police, with CCTV covering the whole area and 2m security fencing.

Notes

Datawiping: re-formatting

Our experience is that most people do not know how to datawipe their devices and often mistake a re-format to have this effect; unfortunately it does not. Re-formatting a hard drive merely removes the ‘headers’ and leaves all their personal data still there on the device. The legal problem is that even if a donor thinks they have wiped the data and signs a waiver or receipt, this has no effect in law. If anyone’s personal data still exists on the device, regardless of what a donor has signed, it still exists and the law recognises this.

Whoever handles that device is subject to all the prevailing laws that apply, and these are onerous. They could knowingly, or unknowingly, be illegally handling personal data of the donor and anyone else the donor has collected data from or about (a criminal offence), as well as contravening electronic waste regulations, passing on unlicensed software and be responsible for residual liability.

Data Protection Act 2018 - Criminal Offences

Section 170 adds the offence of knowingly or recklessly retaining personal data (which may have been lawfully obtained) without the consent of the data controller.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/data-protection-act-2018-criminal-offences

Environment

Each device given a second life through refurbishment means a new one does not have to be manufactured; each refurbished laptop saving the planet from 30kg of CO2 emissions.

The United Nations say “ Manufacture a tonne of laptops and potentially 10 tonnes of CO2 are emitted. When the carbon dioxide released over a device’s lifetime is considered, it predominantly occurs during production ”.

Research into the average weight of laptops currently in production indicates an average weight of over 3kg. Extrapolated, this means that every computer given a second life saves a new one needing to be manufactured, reducing Carbon Dioxide release by 30kg.

IT equipment donors will be offered CO2 Certificates, indicating the Carbon Dioxide reduction they have

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

achieved by their donation.

United Nations E-waste Coalition

A New Circular Vision for Electronics: Time for a Global Reboot, 2019

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_A_New_Circular_Vision_for_Electronics.pdf

Harvard University

Smaller, faster, greener: Examining the environmental impact of computation and the future of green computing, 2021 https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2021/03/smaller-faster-greener

Environmental compliance

We fulfil 100% of environmental rules, regulations and responsibilities, saving the computers from being scrapped, dumped or landfilled. In the event that we are given non-working IT equipment, that is “waste” (see notes), we are registered by the Environment Agency to carry out the repair or refurbishment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) under waste exemption T11.

We hold:

Notes

Environment – “waste”

We aim to only accept donations of working, operational computer equipment; that is “ used ” or “ second hand ” but “ working ” as originally designed and intended as its original purpose of manufacturing. This is not “ waste ”.

We do not want to recycle, we only refurbish and re-use; recycling destroys the computers. We do not break down IT equipment into its basic materials and recycle the metal, plastic, aluminium, gold, platinum, etc. Rather, we datawipe, clean and repair, sometimes upgrading with additional hard drives and RAM, then load fresh operating system software for re-use. At all times all the equipment is in working condition and fully operational, from beginning to end.

We ideally do not want to receive, handle or process non-working, broken or irreparable computer equipment; that is “waste”. However as we do occasionally unintentionally, or sometimes intentionally in order to receive other donations of value and use, accept or receive non-working equipment, we have all the environmental permits we understand are needed.

Just in case we are given equipment we cannot use we have secured all the relevant permissions to handle IT waste, bearing in mind a fundamental difference between commercial refurbishers and us; we own the equipment from the moment it is donated. Commercial refurbishers do not normally own the equipment they handle and so require a different set of environmental permits. All our equipment belongs to us from when we receive it up until we give it away or sell the surplus, including non-operational IT waste.

Software

We operate a 100% software licence compliant process. We load Microsoft Windows 10 on all that we give away to our beneficiaries, and on request for surplus sales. We ask that (where possible and practicable) those donating to us also include all physical copies of OEM software and licenses with the equipment they came preinstalled on, as these are associated with the motherboard.

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

Tracking

Every item is 100% tracked and traced throughout. All equipment is given a unique ID number and barcode label, with a duplicate label attached to each Donor Form, the ID is scanned into our database and assigned to a donation. Everything is tested and checked for functionality and, along with the serial numbers and specifications, entered into our database.

On request, an audit report can be provided, including any client asset tag details that were present on the devices to help you with your own internal end of life procedures; all donor data is held securely.

Historically our staff have been vetted to HM Government ‘Baseline Personnel Security Standard ’ (BPSS) and our policy is to continue to implement this. Our most recent recruits are yet to go through this vetting, but it is our plan to implement this on an ongoing basis throughout our organisation.

Depending on volume, value and distance, for large-scale collections we use our own vehicles and drivers to collect your IT equipment, when and where it suits you, GPS tracked and geo-fenced. To request a collection, please fill out our collection form; alternatively, you can drop off your equipment at any of our appeal sites, or at our office.

Safety

We carry out 100% Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) safety checks on every item, by PAT Testers who hold a 2377–22 City and Guilds qualification, especially verification of earth grounding continuity to protect future users. This complies with British Standard BS 7671 .

l Main activities undertaken to further the Company's purposes for the public benefit

Give-aways

Young carers

There are over 700,000 young carers in the UK.

1/3 of young carers reported having a mental health problem and 1/4 have difficulties at school due to their caring responsibilities.

These are children under 18 who help look after someone in their family who is ill or disabled. They sometimes manage the whole family, including brothers and sisters.

This can include managing family finances, benefits, shopping, cooking, cleaning, helping someone out of bed, bathing, getting dressed, washing and ironing clothes, collecting prescriptions, giving medicine and communicating with the authorities.

COVID-19 has meant many young carers self-isolating to shield the vulnerable, not going to school and organising safety measures throughout the home. This can mean a year of missed schooling, handicapping their education, career and life potential. Other children don’t understand carers’ responsibilities and that carers have less free time than others, making friendships difficult.

Young carer families are often on benefits and live in poverty. They are less able to afford computers, which are critical for their schooling and important for their social lives.

You can help them.

A good computer can often transform a young carer’s life for the better. Donate yours today!

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

Homeless youth

600,000 young people have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and many are now being evicted from their homes.

We are placing computers into homeless shelters so they can immediately seek work and somewhere longterm to live.

We are partnering with LandAid, Porchlight, Single Homeless Project, Evolve, Look Ahead and others.

Hospices

We are appealing for donations of unused IT equipment that we datawipe and refurbish, to get iPads, tablets and laptops to give away to hospices, so that patients can see their families and friends -

Patients normally only go into hospice when they need intensive care, especially 24/7 pain management. Patients can be of any age, and include children. They are usually only allowed one fully gowned, masked, gloved family member in at a time to hold their hand and talk to them, if any. There are wonderful caring staff; but it is not quite the same as your brothers and sisters, granny or grandad, mum or dad also being with you. Being able to see your family, talk face-to-face, is so much better than just a phone call.

Charity volunteers

At our outreach events, we display an exhibition showing what volunteering looks like and encourage people to give their time to the community. We also invite local charities to nominate a volunteer to receive a free laptop, as a ‘ Thank You ’ and also enabling them to support their charity even more.

Unemployed veterans

We provide free laptops for unemployed veterans, who are nominated by a local charity at our event locations. This will help them job search and apply from home, instead of having to go into the Job Centre or local library; it is difficult to do these on a mobile phone.

Bereaved Forces children

There are over 1,000 bereaved military children in the UK without access to support.

Any sudden death is a devastating event for children. When the death is that of a member of the Armed Forces there are additional factors to consider, such as the traumatic nature of a death in a combat situation, intense media interest, repatriation, an inquest and a service inquiry.

If a person has been on active service or deployed elsewhere, it may be difficult for a child to comprehend that they won’t be coming home as usual. It’s natural to want to spare children from learning how the death happened, however, it will soon become public knowledge and it’s better that they hear the facts first.

The family has often lost its bread-winner, a partner, a parent. Children can then go into shock and experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), disrupting their schooling and life chances.

Having their own device can be a source of solace, a way of reaching out to family and friends for encouragement, care and support.

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

https://www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/

Schools in Africa

In some developing countries, the school is the tree with the widest branches and the teacher is the villager who can read and write the best, who may never have left the local region. With computers, school attendances often double and IT literate children get jobs earning several times what their parents do, supporting their extended families for a lifetime, helping their nation develop and lifting them out of poverty.

Digital Pipeline’s “ Computers 4 Charity ” appeal delivers a World Class IT based education to an estimated 1.3 million children and, as Bill Gates said, “ Digital Pipeline … can play a role in combating aids, malaria and other infectious diseases ”. Now we are working through UK charities who support schools in Africa, to whom we donate laptops at our appeals.

l History and future vision

Digital Pipeline (now with ‘Working Name’ “ Computers 4 Charity incorporating Computers 4 Africa ”) started out as an internal project within Microsoft in February 2004, was incorporated on 21st December 2006 and registered as a charity on 3rd April 2007. Microsoft was the Founding Membe r; see the personal video from Bill Gates on our Computers 4 Charity website at www.computers4charity.org.

Bill Gates said: " Digital Pipeline offers an innovative approach to the effective reuse of technology "

In January 2011 Computers 4 Africa merged into Digital Pipeline and in January 2020 Digital Pipeline restructured and changed its ‘Working Name’ to “ Computers 4 Charity ”.

Future

For the future the charity plans to launch the Computers 4 Charity Network :

Our Aim: Local computer re-use

Our aim is to establish a national network of local computer refurbishers who will all work under our umbrella and coordination, to universal quality standards. This will minimise our environmental impact, and maximise our community impact.

We want to minimise our road miles carbon footprint , re-use computers locally and support regional refurbishers, as well as their local communities.

CyberCycle

In 1996 our team was running CyberCycle in London, datawiping and refurbishing IT equipment for charities and non-profits.

We provided our volunteer IT graduates with work references, which enabled them to get jobs as a result – this was observed and put into the Labour Party manifesto by Rt Hon Peter Mandelson in January 1997.

We were then asked to pioneer the government’s ‘ New Deal ’ programme with Rt Hon Tony Blair , setting up and establishing 20 CyberCycle computer refurbishing workshops across the UK. These were hosted by other charities and community organisations, providing work experience, training and IT engineering qualifications for the young unemployed.

This has left us in a unique position; we know a lot of people who also refurbish IT equipment all over the

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Objectives and activities (continued)

country and there is goodwill between us. Our relationships are key.

Computer refurbishers usually work in silos, alone, and perceive other refurbishers as competitors. We are uniquely different, having people we know everywhere who are willing to work with us as partners.

National Network: Building Upon Success

Bill Gates said that our charity is “ forging partnerships to ensure that affordable high quality computers, donated by businesses, reach underserved communities ”.

We would like to fulfil his dream.

We plan on working with one refurbisher in each region and nation: Scotland, North East, North West, Midlands, Wales, South West, East of England and South East ; a total of eight. At a future stage, we will explore the possibilities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic ; possibly up to ten across the British Isles.

Our largest single donation was 30,000 computers from the Department for Work and Pensions , when we successfully 100% sub-contracted out all the datawiping and refurbishment. We discovered and learnt the hard way how to manage refurbishing at multiple locations and with a range of sub-contract partners.

Business in the Community (BITC)

Our team has worked with BITC since 1996, when Patrick O’Meara arranged a series of “ Seeing is Believing ” visits to CyberCycle by groups of business leaders, 25 years ago.

During 2013/14 we worked with BITC’s Business Emergency Recovery Group (BERG), facilitated by Joey Tabon e, and were delighted to be publicly thanked by HRH The Prince of Wales at the BITC Responsible Business Awards on 8 July 2014 in the Royal Albert Hall.

On 26th November 2020 we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BITC to be their Tech Appeal refurbisher partner, both refurbishing ourselves and working with sub-contract partners.

Our hope is to fulfil our role as BITC’s Tech Appeal refurbisher partner through the Computers 4 Charity Network . This way we minimise our environmental impact, and maximise our community impact.

Notes on “Road Miles Carbon Footprint”

For vehicles, average figures for CO2 emissions per kilometre for road travel for 2013 in Europe, normalised to the NEDC test cycle, are provided by the International Council on Clean Transportation :

Light commercial vehicles: 175 g CO2/km (281 g/mile)

Average figures for the United States are provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency, based on the EPA Federal Test Procedure, for the following categories:

Trucks: 280 g CO2/km (450 g/mile)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint

There is a concept called “ Food Miles ”; maybe we should call these “ Computer Miles ”?

Our plan is to actively seek solutions that reduce our computer miles by working with regional partners, creating greater impact in these places and encouraging better stakeholder conversations between businesses and the communities they serve.

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Achievements and performance

l Review of activities

For a list of donors - see the addendum at the end of the accounts.

Donations have been given to:

• Aid for Ummah
• Alabaré Christian Care and Support
• Annie’s Orphans
• Armed Forces Cov. Hub Lancashire
• Books 2 Africa
• Borough Green Primary School
• Bristol Home for Veterans
• Broadstairs Town Shed
• Canterbury and Herne Bay Volunteer Centre
• Community Works
• Daylight Foodbank
• Wealden Talking News
• Doncaster SSAFA
• East Ham Hospice
• Empower the Gambia
• Imago Young Carers
• Friends of Sussex Hospices
• Kent County Council Social Services
• MYTime Young Carers
• Keep Britain Tidy
• Paddock Wood Primary School
• PATCH (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship)
• Paul Sartori Hospice
• Pembrokeshire People First
• Phoenix Women’s Aid
• Pilgrims Hospice
• Prospect Hospice
• School Gambia
• Shalom Hospice
• SSAFA
• SSAFA Wiltshire
• St. Catherine’s Hospice
• Taylor Made Dreams
• The Brick
• The Foxton Centre
• Voluntary Action Doncaster
• Volunteer Centre
• Weston Hospice Care
• Wigan Armed Forces HQ
• Young Carers x 3
• Wisdom Hospice

These free-of-charge donations totalled 152 computers/laptops and conservatively valued at £33,540.

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Achievements and performance (continued)

Financial review

l Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.

l Reserves policy

Much of the company’s charitable work cannot be expressed in financial terms and the aim of the Trustees is to accumulate a sufficient corpus of funds so that this work can be carried on. The charity also accumulates stocks of donated PCs and other IT equipment which are held in reserve to meet the needs and specific requests from other charities.

l Deficit

There was a net deficiency of assets of £17,188 at the balance sheet date, however the Trustees have confirmed continued funding arrangements and support and consider the company retains sufficient working capital and funding streams to continue trading for the foreseeable future.

l Principal funding

The Charity is principally funded by the income from its on-line eBay charity shop sales.

Structure, governance and management

l Constitution

Digital Pipeline is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association dated 10 December 2006 and is a registered charity number 1118674 in England and Wales and SC043181 in Scotland.

l Methods of appointment or election of Trustees

The management of the Company is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association.

l Organisational structure and decision-making policies

Details of the organisational structure:

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(A company limited by guarantee)

DIGITAL PIPELINE

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Structure, governance and management (continued)

l Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees

All Trustees are already familiar with the work of the charity and have a wide knowledge of business and commerce. They are guided by the Memorandum and Articles of Association, a copy of which is distributed to new Trustees along with copies of the latest financial statements. Trustees are then introduced to people involved with the organisation. Meetings are arranged with key people involved in the organisation to discuss information contained in the Trustees Induction Pack - these include: Trustees, Staff, Contractors and Volunteers. No formal training is undertaken.

Members' liability

The Members of the Company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the Company in the event of winding up.

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 24 September 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

(Chair of Trustees)

Jessica Norman

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Digital Pipeline ('the Company')

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 ('the 2005 Act'), the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) ('the 2006 Accounts Regulations') and the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). You are satisfied that the accounts of the Company are not required by charity or company law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company's accounts carried out under section 44(1)(c) of the 2005 Act and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the requirements of Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations and the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the Company is required by company law to prepare its accounts on an accruals basis and is registered as a charity in Scotland your examiner must be a member of a body listed in Regulation 11(2) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of the Association of International Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records and with the accounting requirements of Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

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.

This report is made solely to the Company's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Company's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Signed: Marcel Jung

Dated: 24 September 2021 ICPA (Fellow), FFA/FIPA, FAIA

IT & Accounting Solutions Limited Certified Practising Accountants 28 Harrow Way Maidstone Kent ME14 5TU

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DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other income
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
7
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2020
£
44,567
176,207
10,333
231,107
6,976
212,526
219,502
11,605
(28,793)
11,605
(17,188)		 Total
funds
2020
£
44,567
176,207
10,333
231,107
6,976
212,526
219,502
11,605
(28,793)
11,605
(17,188)		 Total
funds
2019
£
75,245
618,337
-
693,582
14,253
594,803
609,056
84,526
(113,319)
84,526
(28,793)

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 19 to 28 form part of these financial statements.

Page 16

DIGITAL PIPELINE (A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 06035936

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
Current assets
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
14
Net current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Net liabilities excluding pension asset
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
16
Unrestricted funds
16
Total funds		 3,423
13,302
16,725
(36,454)		 2020
£
2,541
2,541
(19,729)
(17,188)
(17,188)
(17,188)
-
(17,188)
(17,188)		 87,036
2,294
89,330
(118,484)		 2019
£
361
361
(29,154)
(28,793)
(28,793)
(28,793)
-
(28,793)
(28,793)

The Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 24 September 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

Page 17

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 06035936

BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

Jessica Norman

(Chair of Trustees)

The notes on pages 19 to 28 form part of these financial statements.

Page 18

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

1. General information

Digital Pipeline using Working Name ' Computers 4 Charity - incorporating Computers 4 Africa ' is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales and registered charity number 1118674 in England and Wales and SC043181 in Scotland. The registered office is Unit 4 Priory Park, Mills Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PP.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Digital Pipeline meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Going concern

These financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis.

The charity has net current liabilities of £19,729 (2019 - £29,154) and a total net liability position of £17,188 (2019 - £28,793) indicating a working capital shortfall and reliance on the support of its creditors and Trustees.

The Trustees consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on the going concern basis.

2.3 Income

All income is recognised once the Company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

2.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Page 19

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.4 Expenditure (continued)

Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Company to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

2.5 Government grants

Government grants relating to tangible fixed assets are treated as deferred income and released to the Statement of financial activities over the expected useful lives of the assets concerned. Other grants are credited to the Statement of financial activities as the related expenditure is incurred.

2.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing £250 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Plant and machinery - 33% straight line Motor vehicles - 20% straight line Fixtures and fittings - 25% straight line Office equipment - 20% and 33% straight line

2.7 Stocks

For resale - the Trustees consider it impractical, considering the time cost, to measure the fair value of goods donated for resale and therefore donated goods are recognised when they are sold.

For donation to beneficiaries - the charity aims to recognise donated goods for distribution to its beneficiaries as a component of donations when it is distributed, with an equivalent amount recognised as charitable expenditure and measured at its fair value.

2.8 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Page 20

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.9 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

2.10 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

2.11 Financial instruments

The Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2.12 Pensions

The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Company to the fund in respect of the year.

2.13 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Page 21

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

3. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
2020
£
Donations
33,886
Government grants
10,681
44,567		 Total
funds
2020
£
33,886
10,681
44,567		 Total
funds
2019
£
75,245
-
75,245

4. Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds
2020
£
Sale of IT Equipment
35,848
Appeals (PR income)
134,596
Sub-lease rental income
-
Overhead recovery income
5,763
176,207		 Total
funds
2020
£
35,848
134,596
-
5,763
176,207		 Total
funds
2019
£
101,163
476,007
27,601
13,566
618,337

5. Other incoming resources

Unrestricted Total Total
funds funds funds
2020 2020 2019
£ £ £
Sale of assets 10,333 10,333 -

Page 22

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

6. Expenditure on raising funds

Costs of raising voluntary income

Unrestricted Total Total
funds funds funds
2020 2020 2019
£ £ £
Marketing and other fundraising costs 6,976 6,976 14,253

7. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type

Unrestricted
funds
2020
£
Sale of IT Equipment
201,081
Appeals (PR income)
11,445
212,526		 Total
funds
2020
£
201,081
11,445
212,526		 Total
funds
2019
£
556,550
38,253
594,803

8. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Sale of IT Equipment
Appeals (PR income)		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2020
£
12,387
8,187
20,574		 Support
costs
2020
£
188,694
3,258
191,952		 Total
funds
2020
£
201,081
11,445
212,526

Page 23

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

8. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Sale of IT Equipment
Appeals (PR income)		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2019
£
31,013
34,990
66,003		 Support
costs
2019
£
525,537
3,263
528,800		 Total
funds
2019
£
556,550
38,253
594,803

9. Independent examiner's remuneration

2020 2019
£ £
Fees payable to the Company's independent examiner for the independent
examination of the Company's annual accounts 500 -
Fees payable to the Company's independent examiner in respect of:
All other services not included above - 1,500

10. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2020
£
71,960
849
223
73,032		 2019
£
274,184
12,584
3,913
290,681

During the year 14 staff were made redundant costing the charity £30,606 in redundancy payments.

Page 24

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

10. Staff costs (continued)

The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:

Administration
Appeals
Warehouse		 2020
No.
-
1
1
2		 2019
No.
2
2
14
18

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The Honorary Chief Executive role was undertaken pro bono during the year.

11. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2019 - £NIL) .

During the year ended 31 December 2020, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2019 - £NIL) .

12. Tangible fixed assets

Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2020
Depreciation
At 1 January 2020
Charge for the year
On disposals
Rounding
At 31 December 2020		 Plant and
machinery
£
36,276
2,554
(35,644)
3,186
36,276
632
(35,644)
-
1,264		 Motor
vehicles
£
20,705
-
(20,705)
-
20,705
-
(20,705)
-
-		 Fixtures and
fittings
£
80,747
586
(80,745)
588
80,747
61
(80,745)
-
63		 Office
equipment
£
7,557
-
(4,369)
3,188
7,196
266
(4,369)
1
3,094		 Total
£
145,285
3,140
(141,463)
6,962
144,924
959
(141,463)
1
4,421

Page 25

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

12. Tangible fixed assets (continued)

Net book value
At 31 December 2020
At 31 December 2019		 Plant and
machinery
£
1,922
-		 Motor
vehicles
£
-
-		 Fixtures and
fittings
£
525
-		 Office
equipment
£
94
360		 Total
£
2,541
360

13. Debtors

Due within one year
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2020
£
465
2,958
-
3,423		 2019
£
-
60,216
26,820
87,036

14. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Debenture loans
Payments received on account
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2020
£
30,000
-
1,989
3,965
-
500
36,454		 2019
£
30,000
20,000
36,219
17,218
10,843
4,204
118,484

Debenture loan totalling £30,000 repayable on demand paying monthly interest at 6% per annum.

Page 26

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

15. Financial instruments

2020 2019
£ £
Financial assets
Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure 13,302 2,294

Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure comprise cash balances.

16. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current year

Balance at
Balance at 1 31
January December
2020 Income Expenditure 2020
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General Funds - all funds (28,793) 231,107 (219,502) (17,188)

17. Summary of funds

Summary of funds - current year

Balance at
Balance at 1 31
January December
2020 Income Expenditure 2020
£ £ £ £
General funds (28,793) 231,107 (219,502) (17,188)

Page 27

DIGITAL PIPELINE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

18. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current period

Unrestricted
funds
2020
£
Tangible fixed assets
2,541
Current assets
16,725
Creditors due within one year
(36,454)
Total
(17,188)		 Total
funds
2020
£
2,541
16,725
(36,454)
(17,188)

19. Pension commitments

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £223 (2019 - £3,913). At the balance sheet date £ Nil (2019 - £2,064) was payable to the fund and is included in other creditors.

Page 28

Donors include:

Donors include:
290(W.SM)Squadron Air Giotech Ltd Pipers Corner School
2nd WoodleyScout Group Global Outreach Tanzania Pirtek
Accord Group Go Experience.com PopDevelopments Ltd
Acorn VeterinarySurgery Go-Train Porsche GB
Age UK Berkshire GrayIT Prima Stage School
Aggregate Industries Guideline Lift Services Production Resource GroupUK
Agil8 Harambee For Kenya Pro-Net Systems
Agile One Harvestore Systems(Holdings) Read Computer Services
AIS Ltd HighwayLearning& Support Reanimated Games
Alan Rogers Ltd HolyFamilySchool Recom
Amaze FamilySchool Renault Retail GroupUK Ltd
American International Howard Nurseries Rev GaryOwen
Ampletech Integrity Ridhwaa Seminary
Andrew Halstead ISG Construction Robson Forth Limited
Ashanti Development Jerroms Business Solutions RotaryClub Chelmsford
Ashurst CE Aided Primary JJ Systems Scott Wilkie PrimarySchool
Astute Mobile Data Jubilee Resource Hub SCVIDLER
Bass Educational Judah Praise CommunityCentre Sega Of Europe Ltd
BIBUS(UK)Ltd KDC Projects Ltd SEO NUTS
BT Kent Business Finance Ltd Simplify
Buzz website Design Kilomo PrimarySchool South African Children and
BWOC Ltd KimberlyClark Sovereign
Catalyst Commercial Kings Lynn Samaritans St Johns URC Orpington
CD Electrical Services Kings Norton Coaches St Lawrence CE School
Chester Development Koch Membrane Systems St Martins Church Coventry
Children Liver Disease Kotikeni Charles St Martins School
Childrer Salon Ltd Lakenheath CommunityPrimary St. Giles,Exhall,Parochial
Citizens Advice Bureau Lee Evans Partnership Steps to Work
Clemence Consulting Lobster Net StirlingTransport
Clemence Hoar Cummings Lombard Odier Asset STST
Club Chemistry London HairdressingAcademy Suez(Sita)
Collins Aerospace Lorenden School Susie K Brooks AIP(Hypnotist,
Colmore Intermediate Ltd Love of God Foundation T&B EngineeringLtd
Compton Hospice Make a Difference to Maidstone Techsurgeons Ltd
Computer Network Maes Glas Vets Terence Foster(EPA Ltd)
Conservative Party MCS-Aware The Beeches PrimarySchool
Coole Bevis LLP MedwayValleyCountryside The Code Company
Cornerstone Church MedwayYouth Trust The Economist Group
DG Cities Michelson Diagnostics The Franconian Sausage Co
Diocese of Mpwapwa MindLab International Ltd The Hive Chorleywood
Doggett Jones Ltd Mission and Relief Logistics Ltd The LivingWell
Downs Junior School MoneyPlus The School of Saint Yared
Dream for the Future MooncupLtd TMJ Legal Services
EasyInternet Morrison UtilityServices Tomorrow's Accelerating
Education Enrichment Mpeni School,Malawi TPS Global Logistic
Elaine Burton MVCP TrainingAssociate
Elzware Ltd National Police Aid Convoys TydesleyDistribution Services
Ex Hidden HearingLtd New Hope Foundation Africa Tyre-Line
FamilyTrust Nicol and Co Estate Agents Ursuline College
Fargo Systems Ltd Nonington CEP School ValleyPark SecondarySchool
Filmsmiths Oaklands PrimarySchool West Row School
First Choice Computers Ltd Obart Pumps Wested Logistics
FlyVictor Our Ladys Catholic Primary Whitstable Umbrella Centre
Four FiftyPartnership Padre Pio College of Health And WM HousingGroup
George Cook Penbow Displays Wycliffe UK Ltd
George White Jnr School PennyDropSolutions Zambia Orphans Aid UK