**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 2021** 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **CONTENTS** 

||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' report**|2 - 26|
|**Independent examiner's report**|27 - 28|
|**Statement of financial activities**|29|
|**Balance sheet**|30 - 31|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|32 - 41|





## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

|**Trustees**|Jessica Norman (appointed 12 December 2019, resigned 1 January 2022)|
|---|---|
||Michael Cook (appointed 12 December 2019, resigned 1 January 2022)|
||Gerald Ackroyd (appointed 12 December 2019, resigned 1 January 2022)|
||Stephen Thompson (appointed 1 January 2022)|
||Mark Lawrence (appointed 1 January 2022)|
||Ken Rich (appointed 1 January 2022)|
|**Company registered**<br>**number**<br>06035936<br>**Charity registered**<br>**numbers**<br>1118674 and SC043181<br>**Registered office**<br>4 Priory Park<br>Mills Road<br>Aylesford<br>Kent<br>ME20 7PP||



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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

The Trustees present their Annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity Charity for the  1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. 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 Charity 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 Charity also uses the 'Working Name' _Computers 4 Charity, Caring for Climate and Community_ . 

The year started with more COVID 19 lockdowns. However the charity was able to continue rebuilding its activities, helping more and more in need. Its financial position also improved. 

## During 2021 the **charity gave away free of charge 347 computers to 165 other charities and beneficiaries,** conservatively **valued at £75,849.** 

On 26th November 2020 the Charity had 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) in 2021. 

At the beginning of the year **BITC** introduced us to a **government department** and we began many months of negotiation, liaison and extensive due diligence by _HM Treasury_ , the _National Cyber Security Centre_ and others. We began receiving the first few donations of laptops and smart phones in December. 

We have also signed an MoU with _**LandAid**_ , a charity created and funded by the commercial property industry, that supports homeless hostels. 

Another MoU was signed with _**Decathlon**_ , the largest sportswear Charity in the world. 

In December 2021 _**ACER**_ launched the Aspire Vero laptop made from recycled plastic and designed to be infinitely repairable, in partnership with Computers 4 Charity. 

## **Objectives and activities** 

## l **Policies and objectives** 

## _**Computers 4 Charity, Caring for Climate and Community**_ 

© 2021 

We don’t just **datawipe** … we **upgrade** older devices to use modern software and **donate free-of-charge** for **re-use** over 50% that we receive to other **charities** , recycle as few as possible and **waste none** . Donations **reduce CO2 emissions** : we **dismantle, refurbish, rebuild** and **upgrade** devices, **doubling their working lives** from 5 to 10 years. 

## **Climate** 

Each device given a true 2nd life through upgrade means a new one does not have to be manufactured and over **80% of a computer’s carbon footprint is in its production; every upgraded laptop saving the planet** 

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## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

**from 150kg of CO2 emissions and each desktop 250kg of CO2** *. This is not ‘ _Greenwashing_ ’ or ‘ _Phantom Forests_ ’, this is real, tangible and substantial. We offer genuine _**Carbon Emission Reduction Certificates**_ to help organisations achieve _**Net Zero**_ . 

**BBC report: “** _**How phantom forests are used for greenwashing**_ **”** https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61300708 

**Use your IT Asset Disposals (ITAD) for good** . As a small, efficient and effective charity we make the most of your surplus IT equipment to help those in need, using every part or component we can, with **zero landfill** ; **nothing goes to waste** . 

## **Upgrade** 

Most surplus IT equipment seems to be between 3 and 7 years old, the oldest we work with being 10 years old. We have found that **older devices need to be upgraded to give them a real 2nd life** . Although refurbishment does help by cleaning out all the dust to increase thermal efficiency, it can't stop slowdowns and freezes due to available RAM overflowing, slow or full hard drives and videos being pixilated or juddery. 

Many devices have two RAM slots and only one RAM stick; where practical we add another RAM stick so the device runs quicker. Desktops in particular often have two or more hard drive slots with only one drive installed, where practical we add another drive (ideally solid state), so the device runs quicker and has more storage capacity. Where graphics cards are integrated into the motherboard and there is a slot for an external faster video card, where practical we install one to achieve better screen resolution and refresh rates. 

## **Community** 

**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** previously **unemployed young people with jobs** and training under the government’s “ _Kick Start_ ” scheme in our Workshop, **creating social value from the refurbishing process** . 

**Do some good** with unused laptops, tablets and PCs. Have them refurbished and donated to **young carers** , **homeless youth, hospices, charity volunteers, unemployed veterans, bereaved forces children** and UK charities supporting **schools in Africa** . 

Your surplus IT equipment is: 

- End-to-end secure 

- Datawiped 

- Safety tested 

- Environmentally compliant 

- Software licence legal 

- Tracked and traced 

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

You can help: 

- Young carers 

- Homeless youth 

- Hospice patients 

- Charity volunteers 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

- Unemployed veterans 

- Bereaved Forces children 

- UK charities supporting schools in Africa 

* Notes: **Scope 3 Emissions** - https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/briefing-what-are-scope-3-emissions 

## **CO2** : 

_**Dell** Carbon Footprint of a Typical Business Laptop 2010_ 

_**Massachusetts Institute of Technology** A Tool to Estimate Materials and Manufacturing Energy for a Product 2010_ 

_**University of Edinburgh** Carbon Emission Implications of ICT Reuse 2016_ 

_**British Computer Society** Technology: a friend or foe of climate change? 2019_ 

_**United Nations E-waste Coalition** A New Circular Vision for Electronics: Time for a Global Reboot 2019_ _**Harvard University** Smaller, faster, greener: Examining the environmental impact of computation and the future of green computing 2021_ 

_**Lancaster University** The real climate and transformative impact of ICT: A critique of estimates, trends and regulations 2021_ 

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** 

## **Your surplus IT equipment** 

Our highest priority is your **data safety** and **security** , bearing in mind that devices are actually very difficult to properly datawipe and handling any personal data inappropriately is a criminal offence. As a charity **we giveaway all we can free-of-charge** , and are self-funding through the sales of surplus parts and equipment. 

## l **Activities undertaken to achieve objectives** 

## **Large collections** 

If you are disposing of a larger quantity, often 10 or more computers from a single location, depending on distance and value we might be able to collect with one of our vans. This is a bespoke service and, if this is helpful, please talk to us. Otherwise we do appreciate deliveries, as collections are a cost and every penny counts for a small charity like us. 

For a collection of above 500 units in a single delivery, we might manage and arrange the refurbishing through a sub-contractor, datawiping to our security and quality standards. This means we can deliver a very flexible service and can also respond to large delivery quantities, without carrying the ongoing burden of the overheads involved and keep our costs to a minimum; this makes us lean and efficient. 

Our largest receipt of surplus IT equipment to date was 30,000 PC systems from the _Department for Work and Pensions_ c/o EDS in 2008/9. We sub-contracted the refurbishing out to _Remploy_ , who sold 5,000 PC systems to pay their refurbishing costs, and we sent 25,000 PC systems to _Africa_ free-of-charge. We took ownership of the equipment and thereafter acted as project managers. 

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**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

## **Datawiping** 

We 100% datawipe your IT equipment, using bespoke overwrites customised to the individual drive, with datawiping certificates available and end-to-end security, free-of-charge. 

We offer to do this to any standard you prefer: 

- HM Government IS5 Enhanced (Infosec Standard 5) 

- National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) principles 

- US Department of Defence standard (DoD 5220.22-M) 

- NIST SP 800-88 Rev.2 

- CPNI Standards 

Or using any method you prefer: 

- ATA Secure Erase 

- BitRaser 

- Blancco 

- CBL Data Shredder 

- CCleaner 

- DBAN 

- Disk Wipe 

- Eraser 

- KillDisk 

- PCDiskEraser 

- WipeDrive8 

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 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. 

## **Keeping your hard drives for safety?** 

When we receive your devices, we literally wipe the data they carry out of existence soon after they arrive. When you lock up your hard drives in a safe, you do not know what the future holds and the data still continues to exist. People change jobs, fall ill, some even pass away and institutional memory can be lost very quickly; new incumbents don’t always read all the of the hand-over manuals. We have been given safes full of unwiped hard drives by those new to the role, which we have then securely wiped; but in some instances they go to be scrapped with all the data still on them and no password protection or encryption. 

Why take the risk?   Your data is safer with us, than with you – as we see it. 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

## **GDPR** 

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 fully enclosed roll cages for bulk collections, tracked geofenced vehicles and government security cleared staff. All incoming devices are placed into a restricted area with multiple levels of access control until all data is erased. Our Workshop is based next door to Kent Police, who have set up and monitor CCTV in our compound and theirs, with entry through three secure doors, in a gated compound with 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** 

The UK generates 1.5m tonnes of e-waste annually. 

https://globalewaste.org/statistics/country/united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland/2019/ 

We don’t just **datawipe** … we **upgrade** and **donate free-of-charge** for **re-use** as much as possible to other **charities** , recycle as few as possible and **waste none** ; your donations **reduce CO2 emissions** . We 

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## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

**dismantle, refurbish, rebuild** and **upgrade** PCs doubling their working lives from 5 years to 10, and laptops from 3 to 6 years. 

Each device given a second life through upgrade means a new one does not have to be manufactured; **every upgraded laptop saving the planet from 150kg of CO2 emissions** and **each desktop ¼ tonne of CO2** *. We offer you _**Carbon Emission Reduction Certificates**_ to help you achieve _**Net Zero**_ . 

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_ ”. 

_**Dell** Carbon Footprint of a Typical Business Laptop 2010_ 

_https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Corporate_corp-Comm_Documents/en/dell-laptop-carbon-footprintwhitepaper.pdf_ 

_**Massachusetts Institute of Technology** A Tool to Estimate Materials and Manufacturing Energy for a Product 2010 http://web.mit.edu/ebm/www/Publications/9_Paper.pdf_ 

_**University of Edinburgh** Carbon Emission Implications of ICT Reuse 2016 - - - - https://turingtrust.co.uk/wp content/uploads/2020/09/pc carbonfootprints jh ecci2.pdf_ 

_**British Computer Society** Technology: a friend or foe of climate change? 2019 https://www.bcs.org/media/4689/climate-action-presentation.pdf_ 

_**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_ 

_**Lancaster University** The real climate and transformative impact of ICT: A critique of estimates, trends and regulations 2021 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666389921001884_ 

## **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: 

- Waste Exemption Certificate (NC2/061484), Environment Permit (CBDL11078), the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 

- Registered Producers of Hazardous Waste number ODR619 as ID: HazWasteReg – 1583003, 

- • Registered Carrier of Controlled Waste PCD/CBDL11078 

- Steps to Environmental Management Blue and Silver Level Certificate Number 1001345. 

## Notes 

**Environment – “waste”** 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

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. 

## **Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)** 

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. 

## **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 IT equipment supplier data is held securely. 

## **Security** 

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 Workshop. 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

## **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 Charity's purposes for the public benefit** 

## **Donations to charities** 

## **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 - 

- Out-patients’ health can be assessed by doctors and nurses without having to visit, and can see their children and grandchildren 

- In-patients can face-time with and, ultimately, say their final ‘goodbyes’ to their families if, and when, they are diagnosed to be in their last hours. 

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. 

## **Young carers** 

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**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

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. 

## **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. 

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

- - https://www.winstonswish.org/death through military/ 

## **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 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

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** 

**1994** 

## **Relief Aid Logistics** 

Our team members were running ‘ _Relief Aid Logistics_ ’ during the Bosnian War (April 1992 to December 1995), initially as an ad hoc storage and transport service for other charities, which was formalised into a charitable trust in 1994. We are the same people who now run _Computers 4 Charity_ . 

## https://reliefaidlogistics.org/ 

## **1995** 

## **CyberCycle** 

The founders of ‘ _Bootstrap_ ’, a charity in Hackney, were motivated to protect the environment and create jobs for the unemployed. Companies in the City of London were dumping their waste paper into landfill, so Bootstrap started collecting the waste paper from businesses for recycling and later formed the “ _Paper Recycling Company_ ” (PRC) in 1991. It recycled paper and toner cartridges from businesses all over the City and North London. In 1995/96, PRC collected 423 tonnes of paper from over 1000 businesses. 

Along with waste paper and toner cartridges, PRC was offered surplus computers. A volunteer, _Andy Tidman_ , offered to try and get some of these PCs working again and set up a workshop in _Bootstrap’s_ basement in 1995. This was the beginning of _CyberCycle_ , the forerunner of _Computers 4 Charit_ y. 

_CyberCycle_ was set up as a not for profit division of PRC and the aim was to collect old computers from businesses in the City of London, to recondition and sell the better ones and to reclaim plastics and other recyclables from the rest. 

_Bootstrap_ then received funding from _The Department of Environment’s Environmental Action Fund_ to expand the project. 

Ref: _Bootstrap_ Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996, page 6 

## www.bootstrapcharity.com 

## **1996** 

On Saturday 15 June 1996 an attack was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who detonated a 1,500-kilogram lorry bomb on Corporation Street in the centre of Manchester, at the Arndale Centre. It was the biggest bomb detonated in Great Britain since the Second World War. 

Our team, at our sister charity _**Relief Aid Logistics**_ , received a phone call from the _**Citizen’s Advice Bureau**_ in Manchester asking for help because of our war experience, as their offices had been almost destroyed by the blast. We helped them relocate and set up an alternative office, so they could then assist local residents to recover. 

We then set about doing what we can to enable other charities to become more resilient. Using an off-the-shelf 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

company, we set up the _Charity Disaster Recovery Network_ as “ _CDRN Ltd_ ” on 24th July 1996. We offered freeof-charge Business Continuity plans for charities so they can survive fire, flood, bombs or other emergencies, back-up office space, furniture and computers (complete office set-ups), eventually supporting 3,800 charities. 

To achieve this we needed standby office space, a stock of furniture and working computers. In August while phoning around all the large companies we could, _Bob Gibson_ at BP said “Come on over to _Britannic Tower_ ” (now called “CityPoint”) at Moorgate, which BP were vacating by 31st December 1996 - even though they had just had its 35 storeys refurbished and re-equipped with new furniture. We were invited to take everything and give it all away to charities, which we did; 250 tonnes of brand new furniture, 19,000 carpet tiles and 300 used computers. 

We needed to be able to datawipe and refurbish the computers, then we discovered _**CyberCycle**_ , which at the time was a project set up by _**Bootstrap’s Paper Recycling Company**_ in Hackney and was about to close down due to lack of funding. On a friendly basis we informally moved _CyberCycle_ to our space in 89 Albert Embankment and commenced our own computer refurbishment. 

## **1997** 

_“In the year to 31st March 1997_ _**CyberCycle** collected over 4,000 computers, 200 of which it reconditioned and sold on to local charities and individuals.  It employed four people and provided work experience for six unemployed residents.”_ 

Ref: _Bootstrap_ Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1997, page 8 

While we officially (legally) took over _**CyberCycle**_ on 1 April 1997, we had since the end of 1996 had been attracting volunteers to help recondition IT equipment, including IT graduates who could not get jobs without relevant work experience. We provided our volunteer IT graduates with work references, which enabled them to get jobs as a result. We understand that this was noticed by someone in _Millbank Tower_ (the then _Labour Party HQ_ ), 500 yards away on the other side of the Thames from us, and put into the Labour Party manifesto by _**Rt Hon Peter Mandelson**_ in 1997 as the “ _New Deal_ ”. 

In August 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. 

In September we were approached by the **Prince’s Responsible Business Network** _**Business in the Community**_ **(BITC)** and asked to showcase our work to business leaders. _BITC’s Patrick O’Meara_ then arranged a series of “ _Seeing is Believing_ ” visits to _CyberCycle_ by groups from major companies. 

We needed application software. So we contacted _**Microsoft**_ and asked for charities to be provided with discounts. As a consequence _Mark East, Head of UK Education_ , then offered software discounts to all the charities in the UK. This built a long-term relationship with _Microsoft_ . 

## **2003** 

**Bill Gates** signed a _Memorandum of Understanding_ with the then President of Namibia and _**Microsoft**_ was providing teacher training in IT. The teachers needed computers in their schools to practice on, in order to remember what they were taught, but many did not have any. _Microsoft_ wanted to send as many computers to teachers in Namibia as possible, for a limited budget. The solution was proposed to provide refurbished computers at less than half the unit cost of new ones, delivering twice as many than if new devices were purchased. 

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## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

**2004** 

In February 2004 _**Microsoft**_ then asked what is now the _Computers 4 Charity_ team, to manage the _**Digital Pipeline**_ project. This included refurbishing and shipping computers, helping set up an IT maintenance and repair workshop in _Windhoek_ , visiting schools in _Namibia_ and attending the launch ceremony with the President of _Namibia_ and _Jean-Philippe Courtois_ , Executive Vice President at _Microsoft_ . 

We found that when we tried to ask other organisations to donate to us their surplus computers, they responded that as this was an internal _Microsoft_ project and _Microsoft_ is a wealthy company, potential donor organisations should be paid for their surplus computers. We got around this by starting our own charity, called “ _**Computers 4 Africa**_ ”, so we could successfully appeal for donations while acting as project managers for the _Digital Pipeline_ project. 

**2006** 

The “ _**Digital Pipeline**_ ” project was so successful that _**Microsoft**_ then asked for the project to be turned into a charity in its own right, which we did. 

_**Microsoft**_ was the _Founding Member_ ; see the personal video from _**Bill Gates**_ at https://www.computers4charity.org/our-story. 

## _**Bill Gates**_ said: 

## " _Digital Pipeline offers an innovative approach to the effective re-use of technology_ " 

In the same year, while managing _Digital Pipeline_ , _Computers 4 Africa_ contacted _**B&Q**_ , asking for corporate sponsorship. We were told that we have to speak to someone called “AK”; this turned out to be _Aseri Katang_ a. _Aseri_ had been collecting donated computers in his two-bedroom ground floor flat. On a visit to meet him, we discovered computers in all the bedrooms, corridors, filling his garden shed to the ceiling and the space where his bin should have been. When asked how he got the equipment to _Africa_ , he explained that a truck carrying a shipping contained parks outside his house and blocks the street; he then invites all the neighbours to help load the container, as otherwise they can’t get their cars out – and it worked. 

We teamed up with _Aseri_ and started to help send computers to his home village near _Bukoba_ in Northwest _Tanzania_ . As we needed much more space to bring together computer donations, B&Q offered us the use of three of their empty sites, free-of-charge. We used these appeal sites to collect together large quantities and load shipping containers by hand. 

## **2007** 

_**Digital Pipeline**_ was established as a charity with _Mark East_ (Managing Director of _**Microsoft**_ Education Solutions Group) as Chair, with Trustees: _John Gallop_ (Trustee of _**Computer Aid International**_ ), _Kelly Schneider_ (Trustee of _**Digital Links Internatonal**_ ), _Wilhelmus Blonk_ (Chairman of _**Close the Gap**_ in Belgium), _Kevin Torgerson_ (Vice President of _**EDS**_ Service Delivery Operations), _David Sogan_ (Former CEO of _**Digital Links International**_ ) and _Tarek Shawki_ (Chief of Section “ICTs in Education, Science and Culture” _**UNESCO**_ ). _Digital Pipeline_ was project managed by _**Computers 4 Africa**_ . 

The charity engaged with the _**All-Party Parliamentary Group for Africa**_ (Africa APPG) to explore and understand the need for IT in Africa, especially in education and discuss possible partnerships to deliver access to digital devices. Digital Pipeline also entered into negotiations with _Lee Stevens_ ( _**EDS**_ Asset Management New Business Director UKIMEA), exploring the potential donations of computers leased to the UK government. 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

A team of four from _**Computers 4 Africa**_ visited _Tanzania_ , hosted by _Aseri Katanga_ , of _B&Q_ . The itinerary included visiting schools where the charity had supplied computers in _Dar es Salaam_ and _Bukoba_ , dropping in on _Musila Island, Arusha_ and _Mwanza_ . The team also witnessed schools which being built from scratch by the local villagers, including digging up clay and making their own bricks, inspired by _Aseri_ . 

## **2008** 

_**Microsoft**_ facilitated our largest donation of 30,000 PC systems from the _**Department for Work and Pensions**_ c/o _**EDS**_ (now part of _HP_ ) in 2008/9 with an estimated potential re-sale value of over £1m. We subcontracted the refurbishing out to _**Remplo**_ y, who sold 5,000 PC systems to pay their refurbishing costs, and we shipped 25,000 PC systems to schools supported by _**Computer Aid International**_ and _**Digital Links International**_ in Africa free-of-charge. _Digital Pipeline_ took ownership of the equipment and thereafter acted as project managers. 

These 25,000 PC systems were sent to schools in _Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia_ and _Zimbabwe_ . 

## **2009** 

In July our _**Computers 4 Africa**_ team stepped down from managing _**Digital Pipeline**_ and handed the charity over to a new Chief Executive, _Moise Ley_ , proposed by _**Microsoft**_ . 

Work commenced on a pilot project to recycle end-of-life PCs in Kenya, following an agreement with _**Computers for Schools Kenya**_ (CSFK) who established a PC dismantling and shredding facility near Nairobi. Subsequently CSFK established “ _**Digital Pipeline Africa**_ ” http://dpafrica.com/ 

The _Computers 4 Africa_ team sponsored some of its staff and other volunteers in its sister non-profit _**Community Resilience UK cic**_ to travel up to _Cumbria_ and help small businesses who suffered damage in the flooding. This happened to be the same time that _**HRH The Prince of Wales**_ was also in _Cumbria_ , asking who will help small businesses survive and recover from the flooding. He then asked **BITC** to form the _**Business Emergency Response Group (BERG)**_ , in which our team became key members. 

## **2010** 

In May 2010 _Steve Jones_ replaced _Moise Leye_ as _Digital Pipeline’s_ Chief Executive and in September work was completed on the PC Recycling Pilot project with _**Computers for Schools Kenya**_ (CFSK). This is the first e-waste management facility in _Kenya_ – The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre (WEEE Centre) which collects, scraps fractions, recycles and safely disposes all electrical and electronic waste. 

On 2nd November a merger was agreed between _Digital Pipeline_ and _Computers 4 Africa_ , to take full effect from 1st January 2011. Thereafter the merged charity operated as “ _**Computers 4 Africa**_ ”, the ‘ _Working Name_ ’ of _**Digital Pipeline**_ . _Computers 4 Africa_ appointed _David West_ as Chief Executive, and he served a five year term for the now combined charity to the end of 2015. 

## **2011** 

On 1st January 2011 the _**Computers 4 Africa**_ team took over _**Digital Pipeline**_ again, we merged _Computers 4 Africa_ into _Digital Pipeline_ , then the combined charity became independent from _Microsoft_ . 

On 6th January _Aseri Katanga_ , _Hope Katanga_ , _Ena Winch_ and _David Lowrey_ were appointed Trustees, with _Aseri_ as the Chair. _Mark East, John Gallop, Wilhelmus Blonk_ and _David Sogan_ stepped down as Trustees and 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

_Mark East_ appointed “ _President_ ”. 

_Mark East_ said “ _This represents an exciting next step in Digital Pipeline’s growth that will enable it to reach out to and transform the future lives of an even greater number of disadvantaged people in Africa and other parts of the world_ ”. 

During the year it is estimated that over 1/2m African school children were using a device we supplied. The combined charity carried out 166 large volume collections of donated computers from organisations all over the UK, and sent devices primarily to _Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania_ and _Zambia_ . 

The charity’s activities were focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, while an increasing number of smaller donations were made in the UK. The charity also moved to new premises in _Aylesford, Kent_ . 

## **2012** 

The combined charity carried out 216 large volume collections of donated computers from organisations all over the UK, including the _Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Economist, Kent Fire & Rescue, Lloyds Pharmacy, SEGA_ and _Travis Perkins_ . 

We partnered with _**Books2Kenya**_ to help establish a public library in _Naivasha_ , north of _Nairobi_ and shared a shipping container to send both computers and 10,000 books there. 

The charity sent devices primarily to _Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa_ and _Tanzania_ . 

## **2013** 

_**Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II,**_ and _**His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh**_ , along with members of the Royal Family hosted a _Commonwealth Reception_ at _Buckingham Palace_ and invited the charity’s then Chairman, _Mr Aseri Katanga_ , to attend on behalf of our charity in November 2013. 

_**HM Queen**_ is reported to have said “ _What Computers 4 Africa is doing for the children in Africa is wonderful_ ”. 

NB. “ _Computers 4 Africa_ ” used to be our ‘Working Name’, until we changed it in 2020 to “ _Computers 4 Charity_ ”. 

https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/18854/Computers-4-Africa-founder-meets-the.html 

The charity sent devices which will deliver a World-Class IT based education to an extra 94,000 school children, a running total of 1.3m student benefitting. These were primarily in _Benin, Cameroon, the Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, West Sahara_ and _Zambia_ . 

## **2014** 

We were a Founder Member of the _**ICT4D Network**_ and were exploring collaborating with _Camara Education, Computer Aid, Computers for Schools Kenya, Close the Gap, Via Africa_ and others. 

The charity sent devices for an additional 175,000 school children to use, a grand total of over 1.4m. These are primarily in _Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia_ and _Zimbabwe_ . 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

During 2013/14 we worked with **BITC’s** _**Business Emergency Recovery Group**_ (BERG), through a sister nonprofit _**Community Resilience UK cic**_ , supported by the _**Cook Foundation UK**_ , facilitated by _Joey Tabone_ , 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_ . 

## **2015** 

Computers supplied during the year will be used by an extra 187,000 school children, with a total of 1.6m students using our devices across the World. 

The charity sent devices primarily to: 

**Sub-Saharan African** - _Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia_ and _Zimbabwe_ . **Rest of the World** - _Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Moldova, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Ukraine_ and the _UK_ . 

We continued to work with the _**ICT4D Network**_ and explore collaborating with _Camara Education, Computer Aid, Computers for Schools Kenya, Close the Gap, Via Africa_ and others. 

_David West_ completed a five year term as Chief Executive (and later Chief Operating Officer) and was replaced by _Bevil Williams_ , who also served a five year term to the end of 2019. 

## **2016** 

We had visits from _Tracey Crouch MP_ for Chatham & Aylesford, _Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP_ , the then _Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change_ (later Home Secretary) and _Matthew Scott, Kent Police & Crime Commissioner_ . 

In the spring our “ _Digital Ambassador_ ” programme was launched with appointments to _Tanzania, Zambia_ and the _Gambia_ . 

We were particularly pleased to supply the _Ghurkha Memorial Foundation_ , providing 12 secondary schools with laptops in _Kakarvatti, East Nepal_ , where they don’t have any computers at all. We also gave to student nurses in _Naivasha, Kenya_ , to help them complete their training; they all subsequently worked in _Naivasha District Hospital_ . 

## **2017** 

We made two visits to _Tanzania_ to review progress at schools we have been supporting and open discussions with the government. These exploratory meetings began with the _Education Ministry_ and _Communications Ministry_ to discuss the possibility of supplying the equipment for 1,000 ICT classrooms. 

Enquiries were received from French-speaking African countries for the first time, including _Morocco_ . Meetings were held with the Ambassadors for _Togo, Mauritania_ and _Sao Tome_ & _Principe_ to assess the needs and possibilities. 

We completed 77 bulk collections of donations from organisations across the UK. 

Highlights were supplying devices to _Ballanta Academy of Music_ , in _Freetown_ , _Sierra Leone_ ; _Kidz Paradise, Tanzania; Rightway School, Tanzania; Igurusi School, Mbeya, Tanzania; Chibozu Community School, Zambia; Tweyambe School, Tanzania_ and _Help for Veterans_ in the UK. 

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## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

**2018** 

To date the charity is estimated to have **shipped around 200,000 machines** to economically deprived communities around the world. With a minimum of 20 school children using each computer, as many as **4 million students** have been given **access to the digital universe and a World Class education** by the charity. 

On 26th July _Mr Jim Myers_ and _Mrs Esther Kroll_ joined the Board of Trustees, as did _Mr Philip Jenkinson_ on 8th August and _Mr S Abraham Sangiwa_ on 5th September. _Jim_ subsequently stepped down on 31st December. 

In August the charity signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the _Education Ministry_ in the _Tanzanian government_ . 

The MoU opened up the potential to supply 40,000 computers to schools in _Tanzania_ , where the government offered seven acres of its own land to be set aside for a new digital campus to be built. The vison was to supply the computers for 1,000 ICT classrooms. 

As part of this MoU, on 12th December two 40’ shipping containers carrying 3,000 computers were shipped to _Dar es Salaam, Tanzania_ as a feasibility project. At a minimum value of £100 each, this free-of-charge shipment was worth £300,000 to the _Tanzanian Education Ministry_ . 

See: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/thousands-of-computers-sent-to-schools-in-africa-195218/ 

**2019** 

During the year the charity worked to make computer equipment more affordable for schools and community groups in the UK, as well as the developing world and especially _Africa_ . The deployment of used PCs and large screens allowed youth clubs to give digital access to areas of deprivation and poverty in the _West Midland_ s, attracting young people in with the opportunity of collective gaming as a ‘honey pot’, providing an alternative to gang membership, reducing vandalism and crime. 

Partnerships with housing associations were also developed to provide devices to tenants on benefits, giving the tenants easier and more immediate access to report building faults and other tenancy issues. Equipment was also supplied for use by the elderly and organisations supporting seniors, for introductions to IT for those who have never used computers before. 

On 6th June _Mr David Mayhew_ joined the Board, while _Mrs Esther Kroll_ stepped down on 5th July, _Mr S Abraham Sangiwa_ on 12th July and _Mr David Mayhew_ on 24 September. On 11th December _Kulbir Sanghera_ and _Philip Jenkinson_ resigned and on 12th December _Mr Gerald Ackroyd, Mr Michael Cook_ and _Mrs Jessica Norman_ were appointed. 

In December 2019 _Bevil Williams_ completed a five year appointment as Chief Executive and _George Cook_ took over as Honorary Chief Executive. The charity had 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_ . 

## **2020** 

On 23rd March the _Prime Minister_ announced a national lockdown and all operations ceased for a few weeks. 

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: 

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## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

In April the charity received a request from **Heart of Kent Hospice** for laptops, so that doctors and nurses did not have to visit outpatients (95% of clients) to assess their health and risk spreading the virus, also be able to see their children and grandchildren. We then tried to get the hospice tablets to in-patients can face-time with and, ultimately, say their final ‘goodbyes’ to their families if, and when, they are diagnosed to be in their last hours. 

In June one veteran a week was committing suicide from the _Queen’s Regiment_ alone due, among other things, to unemployment. We started giving them laptops through military charities to 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. 

August saw an appeal for young carers and October 2020 for school students to catch up on their homework. 

On 26th November 2020 we 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, both refurbishing ourselves and working with sub-contract partners. 

## **2021** 

At the beginning of the year _**BITC**_ introduced us to the _**Food Standards Agency**_ and we began many months of negotiation, liaison and extensive due diligence by _**HM Treasury**_ , the _**National Cyber Security Centre**_ and others. We began receiving the first few donations of laptops and smart phones in December. 

We have also signed an MoU with _**LandAid**_ , a charity created and funded by the commercial property industry, that supports homeless hostels. 

Another MoU was signed with _**Decathlon**_ , the largest sportswear company in the world. 

In December 2021 _**ACER**_ launched the Aspire Vero laptop made from recycled plastic and designed to be infinitely repairable, in partnership with Computers 4 Charity. 

## **2022** 

This year we plan on launching multiple local appeals using empty sites from _Currys_ and _Halfords_ , in 18 locations across _England_ . Our aim is to establish a national network of local computer appeal sites, so local organisations and individuals can donate their IT equipment with minimal travelling. 

We want to minimise our _road miles carbon footprint_ , re-use computers locally through give-aways to charities in the area. This will minimise our environmental impact, and maximise our community benefit. 

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 gCO2/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 gCO2/km (450 g/mile) 

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

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Objectives and activities (continued)** 

## **Scotland** 

To minimise road miles, we are working in Partnership with _**The Turing Trust**_ , who are based on the outskirts of Edinburgh. All offers of surplus IT equipment in Scotland are passed on the _James Turing_ , Founder & CEO. 

Founded by Alan Turing’s family, _**The Turing Trust**_ seeks to continue his legacy by using technology to empower disadvantaged communities. Alan is widely regarded as the father of modern computing and he saw IT as a tool for solving immense challenges. He also had a passion for helping others. 

## https://turingtrust.co.uk/ 

_**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. 

## **Achievements and performance** 

## l **Main achievements of the Charity** 

During 2021 the charity **gave away free of charge 347 computers to 165 other charities** and beneficiaries, conservatively **valued at £75,849** . 

The charity received donations of IT equipment from 121 donations being from individuals and 60 being from organisations. 

## l **Review of activities** 

Donations have been given to: ADHD Northwest Africa Community Action Age Concern Age UK Alabare Alabare Plymouth Alliance Young Carers Ark Project Armed Forces & veterans Breakfast Club Ashworth Highschool Atherton & Leigh Foodbank Aurora Hospice Care Barefoot BITC Blackburn Foodbank Blackburn UK Trust Blackburn with Darwen Carers Blackburn Youth Zone Blessings in Disguise Borough Green Primary School Breath Therapies 

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**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Achievements and performance (continued)** 

Broadway Lodge Broughton House for veterans Cancer Help Preston Canterbury Welcomes Refugees Carers in Hertfordshire Carers Link Lancashire Changing Lives Charity Volunteer Child Action Northwest Chiltern Academy Chums UK Derian House Children's Hospice Devon and Cornwall Food Action Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Dig in North West Doncaster Conversation Club Doncaster Foodbank Doncaster Homeless Youth Project Doncaster Housing for Young People Doncaster Lions Club East Lancashire Hospice Edwards Trust Ellie’s Haven Emmaus Preston Eve Merton Dreams Trust Farley Junior Primary School First Step Housing Foxton Centre Friends of Sussex Hospices Friends of Young Carers Gift 92 Global Challenge Charity Groundworks Guestling Bradshaw Primary School Hall Cross Academy Hampton College Hampton Vale Primary Academy Harbour Haven First Headway Help for Homeless Help for Homeless Veterans Herts for Refugees Home-Start (various branches) Imago Young Carers Inspire Motivate Overcome Integrate Just be a child Just Because Kindness Doesn’t Need a Reason Kent County Council Social Services Kenward Trust Landaid 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Achievements and performance (continued)** 

Lions Plymouth Literacy In A Box Lyn Lovell Maddies Butterflies MHA Communities Swindon Mind Nene Park Academy Newborough Primary School North Somerset People First Paddock Wood Primary School PATH Phoenix Women's Aid Plymouth Alabare Veterans Home Plymouth Foodbank Plymouth Lions Club Plymouth Rotary Club Plymouth Sea Cadets Plymouth Veterans and Family Hub Porchlight Preston Domestic Violence Support Preston Together Prospect Hospice Royal British Legion Aylesford Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Renew Doncaster Ltd Robert Watson Rotary Club in Doncaster Royal British Legion (various branches) Salvation Army Doncaster Sanctuary Supported Living for Young People SATEDA Save Our World Scotty’s Little Soldiers Sea Cadets Secret Santa Share IT Foodbank Shekinah Mission SLEAP Sober Social Project 6 Somewhere to Go St Vincent De Paul Stevenage Community Foodbank Stockwood Park Academy Swindon Food Bank Swindon Night Shelter Taylor Made Dreams The Brick The Gambia The Gap Project The Living Room The Luhimba Project The Phoenix Group 

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**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Achievements and performance (continued)** 

The Pioneers Project The Society of St James (Homeless Support) The Veteran's Club The Wish Centre Thomas Threshold Tower Hamlets Community Church Unemployed Veteran Veteran via Alabare Veteran via Help for Homeless Veterans Veteran via Minds at War Veteran Via QRA Veteran via Wigan Armed Forces Veterans in Community Voluntary Action Doncaster Wade Hall Community Association Weston Hospice Care Weston Rotary Club Weston-super-Mare Foodbank Wigan Armed Forces HQ Wigan Youth Zone Willbond Homeless Centre Wiltshire Treehouse Wish Centre WSM Air Training Corps XTND Improving Futures Young Carers Young Carer via Young Carers Crew Young Carers Doncaster 

The 347 computers were nearly all laptops. Each laptop given a true 2nd life through upgrade means a new one does not have to be manufactured and over 80% of a computer’s carbon footprint is in its production; every upgraded laptop saving the planet from 150kg of CO2 emissions. 

The total **carbon emission reduction** the charity has delivered in 2021 is therefore **52 metric tonnes** . 

Donors included the following: 

290 (W.SM) Squadron Air Training Corps Acer Anglo Saxons Apera Asset Management LLP Astute Mobile Data Solutions BITC Bluewater Chaplain BR-IT Broadstairs Scaffolding Caerphilly Business Centre Daren Seal Associates Limited David Payne CoachBuilders Diocese of Rochester Edwards Harvey Ltd EGIS 

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**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Achievements and performance (continued)** 

EZW Fairdeal Windows Ltd Food Standards Agency Gift 92 Graeme Levett Carpentry Limited Green Frog Connect Ltd Greenacres Dental Practice Heart of Kent Hospice Institute of development studies Integrity Kimberly Clark LandAid Law Centres Network LEIPA UK Ltd Macro Consultants Ltd Maidstone and Malling Alternitive Mayfox Consulting Paxton Access Quiss Technology Read Computer Services Reed Global Ribble Packaging Limited Riglift Ltd Royal British Legion RSPB Scotty's Little Soldiers Solar Gates UK Spayne lindsay Ltd St. Lawrence School Suez (Sita) Talktalk Testbed Audio The Charity Bank Limited The Economist The Perse School The Royal Masonic School For Girls Tudor Lodge Surgery U + I plc Utech Solutions Veterans In Communities Waller and Waller Washco Watchfinder 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Financial review** 

## l **Going concern** 

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity 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. 

Reserves as of 31st December 2021 were £20,850. 

## l **Principal funding** 

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

We fund our give-aways by selling surpluses, items that our charity beneficiaries do not want or less than 50% of the computers we receive. Together with some corporate sponsorship and grant funding, this is what enables us to give unemployed young people work experience, training and jobs and donate devices to charities free-ofcharge. 

In order to fund the refurbishment and upgrade of equipment we run a charity e-Shop with a “ _**Buy One, Give One Free**_ ” policy; each item bought enables us to give one away free-of-charge to another charity. Buyers can select a range of device specifications and add-ons, which are all refurbished and help enable us to be as _**selffunding**_ as possible. 

## l **Financial summary** 

The charity’s total income reduced slightly, down from £231,107 in 2020 to £217,509 in 2021, a fall of £13,598 (- 5.8%). 

Donations and legacies increased from £44,567 up to £105,994, a rise of £61,427 (+ 138%), but income from charitable activities reduced from £176,207 down to £111,533, a fall of £64,674 (- 37%) for the year. 

However the charity significantly reduced its total expenditure down from £219,501 in 2020 down to £179,473 in 2021, a fall of £40,028 (- 18%), making a surplus of £38,036 in 2021. 

Expenditure on raising funds increased from £6,990 up to £15,781, a rise of £8,791 (+ 126%), but expenditure on charitable activities decreased from £212,511 down to £163,692, a fall of £48,819 (- 23%). 

This improved its balance sheet from a deficit of (£17,187) in 2020 to a surplus of £20,850 in 2021. 

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**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **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, amended by Special Resolution dated 16 July 2012 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 Charity 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: 

- Board of Members 

- Board of Trustees/Directors 

- Honorary Chief Executive 

- Marketing, HR/Administration, Finance, ICT, Operations 

## 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. 

## l **Financial risk management** 

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. 

## **Members' liability** 

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

## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities** 

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Charity 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). 

Page 25 



**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities (CONTINUED)** 

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial . 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 Charity 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: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102); 

- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures 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 adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity 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 Charity 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 21 September 2022 and signed on their behalf by: 

## **Mark Lawrence** 

Page 26 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Digital Pipeline ('the Charity')** 

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2021. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the Trustees of the Charity (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 Charity 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 Charity 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 Charity'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 Charity 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 Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, 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 Charity 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 Charity'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 Charity'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 permitted 

Page 27 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

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

Signed: Dated: 21 September 2022 Kim Lee ICAS 

9 Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5BJ 

Page 28 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

|**Note**<br>**Income from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>3<br>Charitable activities<br>4<br>Other income<br>5<br>**Total income**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>6<br>Charitable activities<br>8<br>**Total expenditure**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>Net movement in funds<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**105,994**<br>**111,533**<br>**(18)**<br>**217,509**<br>**15,781**<br>**163,692**<br>**179,473**<br>**38,036**<br>**(17,187)**<br>**38,036**<br>**20,849**|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**105,994**<br>**111,533**<br>**(18)**<br>**217,509**<br>**15,781**<br>**163,692**<br>**179,473**<br>**38,036**<br>**(17,187)**<br>**38,036**<br>**20,849**|_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_44,567_<br>_176,207_<br>_10,333_<br>_231,107_<br>_6,990_<br>_212,511_<br>_219,501_<br>_11,606_<br>_(28,793)_<br>_11,606_<br>_(17,187)_|
|---|---|---|---|



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

The notes on pages 32 to 41 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 29 



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

## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

|**Note**<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>13<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>14<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within one<br>year<br>15<br>**Net current assets / liabilites**<br>**Total assets less current liabilities**<br>**Net assets / liabilites excluding pension**<br>**asset**<br>**Total net assets**<br>**Charity funds**<br>Restricted funds<br>17<br>Unrestricted funds<br>17<br>**Total funds**|**1,248**<br>**23,045**<br>**24,293**<br>**(6,246)**|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**2,803**<br>**2,803**<br>**18,047**<br>**20,850**<br>**20,850**<br>**20,850**<br>**-**<br>**20,850**<br>**20,850**|_3,423_<br>_13,302_<br>_16,725_<br>_(36,454)_|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_2,542_<br>_2,542_<br>_(19,729)_<br>_(17,187)_<br>_(17,187)_<br>_(17,187)_<br>_-_<br>_(17,187)_<br>_(17,187)_|
|---|---|---|---|---|



The Charity 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 21 September 2022 and signed on their behalf by: 

Page 30 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 06035936** 

**BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED) AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **Mark Lawrence** 

The notes on pages 32 to 41 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 31 



**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **1. General information** 

Digital Pipeline using Working Name ' _Computers 4 Charity, Caring for Climate and Community_ ' 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 Income** 

All income is recognised once the Charity 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. 

Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service. 

## **2.3 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. 

Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Charity 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 Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs. 

Page 32 



**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **2. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **2.3 Expenditure (continued)** 

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. 

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT. 

## **2.4 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. 

## **2.5 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 

## **2.6 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. 

## **2.7 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 33 



**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **2. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **2.8 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. 

## **2.9 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 Charity 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. 

## **2.10 Financial instruments** 

The Charity 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. 

## **2.11 Pensions** 

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

## **2.12 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 Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Page 34 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **3. Income from donations and legacies** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>Donations<br>87,086<br>Government grants<br>18,908<br>105,994|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**87,086**<br>**18,908**<br>**105,994**|_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_33,886_<br>_10,681_|
|---|---|---|
|||_44,567_|



## **4. Income from charitable activities** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>Sale of IT Equipment<br>103,533<br>Appeals (PR income)<br>8,000<br>Overhead recovery income<br>-<br>111,533<br>**5.**<br>**Other incoming resources**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>Sale of assets<br>(18)|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**103,533**<br>**8,000**<br>**-**<br>**111,533**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**(18)**|_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_40,949_<br>_134,596_<br>_662_|
|---|---|---|
|||_176,207_|
|||_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_10,333_|



Page 35 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **6. Expenditure on raising funds** 

## **Costs of raising voluntary income** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Total**|_Total_|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|_funds_|
||**2021**|**2021**|_2020_|
||**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Marketing and other fundraising costs|15,781|**15,781**|_6,990_|



## **7. Analysis of grants** 

|Grants, Sale of IT Equipment<br>**8.**<br>**Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**<br>**Summary by fund type**|**Grants to**<br>**Institutions**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>15|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**15**|_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_-_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||



|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>Sale of IT Equipment<br>129,412<br>Appeals (PR income)<br>34,280<br>163,692|**Total**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**129,412**<br>**34,280**<br>**163,692**|_Total_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_201,080_<br>_11,431_|
|---|---|---|
|||_212,511_|



Page 36 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **9. Analysis of expenditure by activities** 

|Sale of IT Equipment<br>Appeals (PR income)|**Activities**<br>**undertaken**<br>**directly**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>18,375<br>33,433<br>51,808|**Grant**<br>**funding of**<br>**activities**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>15<br>-<br>15|**Support**<br>**costs**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>111,022<br>847<br>111,869|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**129,412**<br>**34,280**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**163,692**|



|Sale of IT Equipment<br>Appeals (PR income)|_Activities_<br>_undertaken_<br>_directly_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_12,387_<br>_8,187_<br>_20,574_|_Support_<br>_costs_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_188,693_<br>_3,244_<br>_191,937_|_Total_<br>_funds_<br>_2020_<br>_£_<br>_201,080_<br>_11,431_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||_212,511_|



**10. Independent examiner's remuneration** 

||**2021**|_2020_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner for the independent|||
|examination of the Charity's annual accounts|**100**|_500_|



Page 37 



**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **11. Staff costs** 

|Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**78,681**<br>**1,340**<br>**197**<br>**80,218**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_71,960_<br>_849_<br>_223_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_73,032_|



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

|Appeals<br>Workshop|**2021**<br>**No.**<br>**2**<br>**5**<br>**7**|_2020_<br>_No._<br>_1_<br>_1_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_2_|



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. 

## **12. Trustees' remuneration and expenses** 

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits _(2020 - £NIL)_ . 

During the year ended 31 December 2021, no Trustee expenses have been incurred _(2020 - £NIL)_ . 

## **13. Tangible fixed assets** 

|**Cost or valuation**<br>At 1 January 2021<br>Additions<br>At 31 December 2021|**Plant and**<br>**machinery**<br>**£**<br>**2,554**<br>**1,596**<br>**4,150**|**Fixtures and**<br>**fittings**<br>**£**<br>**586**<br>**-**<br>**586**|**Office**<br>**equipment**<br>**£**<br>**3,188**<br>**-**<br>**3,188**|**Total**<br>**£**<br>**6,328**<br>**1,596**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**7,924**|



Page 38 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **13. Tangible fixed assets (continued)** 

|**Depreciation**<br>At 1 January 2021<br>Charge for the year<br>At 31 December 2021<br>**Net book value**<br>At 31 December 2021<br>_At 31 December 2020_|**Plant and**<br>**machinery**<br>**£**<br>**632**<br>**1,091**<br>**1,723**<br>**2,427**<br>_1,922_|**Fixtures and**<br>**fittings**<br>**£**<br>**62**<br>**147**<br>**209**<br>**377**<br>_524_|**Office**<br>**equipment**<br>**£**<br>**3,092**<br>**96**<br>**3,188**<br>**-**<br>_96_|**Total**<br>**£**<br>**3,786**<br>**1,334**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**5,120**|
|||||**2,804**|
|||||_2,542_|



## **14. Debtors** 

|**Due within one year**<br>Trade debtors<br>Other debtors|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**278**<br>**970**<br>**1,248**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_465_<br>_2,958_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_3,423_|



## **15. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year** 

|Debenture loans<br>Trade creditors<br>Other taxation and social security<br>Accruals and deferred income|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**5,266**<br>**-**<br>**980**<br>**6,246**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_30,000_<br>_1,989_<br>_3,965_<br>_500_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_36,454_|



Page 39 



## **DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

## **(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **16. Financial instruments** 

||**2021**|_2020_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|**Financial assets**|||
|Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure|**23,044**|_13,302_|



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

## **17. Statement of funds** 

## **Statement of funds - current year** 

|||||**Balance at**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance at 1**|||**31**|
||**January**|||**December**|
||**2021**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**2021**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General Funds - all funds|**(17,187)**|**217,510**|**(179,473)**|**20,850**|



## **18. Summary of funds** 

## **Summary of funds - current year** 

|||||**Balance at**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance at 1**|||**31**|
||**January**|||**December**|
||**2021**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**2021**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|General funds|**(17,187)**|**217,510**|**(179,473)**|**20,850**|



Page 40 



**DIGITAL PIPELINE** 

**(A company limited by guarantee)** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** 

## **19. Analysis of net assets between funds** 

## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>2,804<br>Current assets<br>24,292<br>Creditors due within one year<br>(6,246)<br>**Total**<br>20,850|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**2,804**<br>**24,292**<br>**(6,246)**<br>**20,850**|
|---|---|



## **20. 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 £197 (2020 - £223).   At the balance sheet date £ Nil (2020 - £ Nil) was payable to the fund and is included in other creditors. 

## **21. Related party transactions** 

The Charity has not entered into any related party transaction during the year, nor are there any outstanding balances owing between related parties and the Charity at 31 December 2021. 

Page 41