## **Congo Children Trust Annual Report 2020-21** The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. During the year 2020-21 the trustees continued to focus on supporting fundraising by groups and individuals although the usual range of events where we have a presence or which are organised to raise money were limited due to the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, although St Margaret’s, Whalley Range did manage to hold and online auction. However, trading increased significantly due to the launch of an online Etsy shop and a large number of churches and individuals continued to give generously. Congo Children Trust made both monthly maintenance grants and occasional one-off grants to the Kimbilio Project for street children in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo and to related projects in Lubumbashi and a particular focus was the funding of construction the Kimbilio School. ## **Income** In 2020-21 income fell a little in comparison with the previous year and expenditure was almost exactly the same. In both cases a significant proportion of both income and expenditure was due to fundraising focussed on the continuation of the new school building on the Maison Kimbilio site, to be run by the Anglican Church of Congo and which will provide education for the street children in the project and their integration with children in the wider community. While grant funding fell back due to a reduction in investment income experienced by many trusts and school and some church donations were affected by suspension of activities during the pandemic, general donations rose and trading income also made a significant contribution thanks to the work of Ruth Edson who launched and operated an online Esty shop during the first Covid-19 lockdown, supported by a number of highly committed sewing volunteers in various parts of the UK including Gill Venton, Elizabeth Allen, Eileen Knibb and Denise Kingsnorth to whom the trustees owe especial thanks. As in previous years, a great deal of hard work by volunteers and Ian Harvey, the founding Director went into maintaining personal contact with group and individual supporters. The trustees are deeply grateful to the following trusts and companies for their generous support: - The Carmela and Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation, The British Human Association, The Morel Trust, Flow Control Systems. A substantial body of regular donors continue to support the charity via standing orders ensures that funds are available for grants for costs of food and utilities. In addition, the trustees owe particular thanks to the following churches and organisations: - The congregations and church councils of St Andrew, Hadfield; St Michael and All Angels, Cosby; Horwich Evangelical Church; Wesley Methodist Church, Chester; Central Exeter Parish; St Michael Helston; St Helen, Wheathampstead; Nursling and Rownams Parish; The Church of the Good Shepherd, Romford; St Margaret, Lowestoft; St Andrew, Lowestoft; St Francis, Heartsease, Norwich; St Michael, Kingsteignton; St James, Woodley; St Margaret, Whalley Range; Christ Church, West Didsbury, St Columba by the Castle, Edinburgh; St Helen, Etwall; Hillheads Community Church; St Michael, Mytholmroyd; Wheathampstead Churches Together; All Hallows, Allerton, Holy Trinity, Warrington. - Rev Steve Johnson, one of our trustees, and his family walked a marathon during lockdown and raised £2,325 - A legacy of £15,000 was received from the late Stuart Menzies and will be set aside to fund a new project in due course. - Donations were also given in memory of the Rev. Graham Cansdale, dedicated supporter of the work of Congo Children Trust. - Global Giving continued to be a particularly helpful online fundraising tool in the course of the year with significant match funding provided. ## **Expenditure** A significant proportion of expenditure was dedicated to the construction of the Kimbilio School including shipping costs for chairs, desks, computers and generators donated from the UK as well as the payment of builders and purchase of raw materials. The school building made very substantial progress in the course of the financial year with the external structure being completed. Capital grants were also made for the maintenance of the existing residential houses. Operational expenditure increased somewhat but funds were able to absorb both this and the capital expenditure on the school project. The bulk of Congo Children Trust’s financial support continues to provide for the day to day running of the Centre Kimbilio and Maison Kimbilio, a day centre for street children and accommodation and support provision for former street children. Taking the month of December 2020 as an example, 396 visits were made to the Kimbilio Day Centre, 46 children were in residential care and 1 child was reintegrated with their family. Alongside this work, substantial grants from Saidiana via CCT funded the Sewing Project and the Young Mums’ Hair Salon. Through most of the year 2020-21 the Trust continued to have very low UK running costs and we are extremely grateful once again to the St Margaret's Centre, Whalley Range, Manchester for giving use of office space free of charge. The Kimbilio Project UK director Ian Harvey worked two days a week on a mainly voluntary basis with some support donated to restricted funds specifically for his expenses. His activities involved communicating with supporters and volunteers in the UK, including emails, newsletters and online meetings and he was also able to visit some churches outside lockdown periods. He also maintained regular contact with the volunteers and staff at the Kimbilio Project. We are deeply grateful to Eva Walters for her years of volunteering working on funding applications. Eva has stepped down as she is now in paid employment. We warmly welcome Andrew Mullens, who has joined the office volunteers to work on accounts and financial management and planning. We were also pleased to welcome two new trustees at our February trustee meeting, Isabelle Bryan and Balagizi Maheshe. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Cliarity Naine No lil any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from Pprioil p.nd dalp. 3110312021 To 0110412020 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds toth• nèarogt Restricted funds Endow1￿￿nI funds Total funds Last year to Ihg nfyarest£ tothe neare5tE io the th•arost £ to the nearest e Al Recelpts Donations Grants Tradin Bank Account interest Sewin Pro &ft l￿d Church DOna￿onS Reinlegralion Sch￿1 Buikjing Waler proie¢l Meial Cabinets Shipping c051s Sl Marogrel roof Joel Robbery appeal 118,350 15,500 12,040 36 118,35 15,500 12,040 36 130 102,705 25,790 1,515 43 7,396 9,843 27,911 1,000 21,846 750 800 130 23,428 23,420 6.250 11,068 11,068 1,400 1,400 19D 252 199.851 180,420 7,970 188,39D A2 Asset and Investment sales, (see table). Sub total Total recelpts 180,420 7,970 188,390 199,851 A3 Payments 1,7S9 288 180,45Y 346 2.243 36$ 1,759 320 306 168.649 346 SubscriptK)nsImtrm￿rg￿IpS Grants lo DR Congo Insurance Staff Expenses Bank Fees Pub11¢11y Evenl$ Visits lo DRC Transler lo reserve a(￿ount 180.457 2,242 565 362 333 3,497 10.000 10.000 UKvolunieèr. offi¢eand shlpplw expenses Reintegrat￿n School Buildiry and fumishing Sewng ProjBGt Sl Margaret r(x)f Joel iobbery appeal Trading exptrnses 1,709 1.000 21,8S5 7,396 6,250 130 1,400 190 6,250 130 1,400 190 1,931 1,931 Paymenl io Mary Ralter Sub total 197.488 7.970 205,458 205.773 A4 Asset and investment purchasès, see table Sub total Total payments 197.488 7,970 205.45B 205.773 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 2810112022 Nat of re¢eipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 17,068 10,000 50,172 43,104 17,068 10,000 52,286 45,218 5,922 2.114 2,114 58,208 S2,286 CCXX R2 a¢¢ounls ISSI 28101r2022 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to n•ar•st £ Restricted fund8 Endowment funds to nearest £ Categoriès Detaols to neaiast£ B1 Ca8h funds Main A(Kouni 25,OB2 ReseNe account 18,022 2,114 Total cash funds 43.104 2,114 IzgiÈEbèLw$with iÈeeipi$and paymenis cc(xrt{sll C)A Unrèstrlcled funds to ngarest £ OK Restrlcted funds to nea¥o8t£ OK Endowment funds to nearest£ Detalls B2 Othèr monatary assats Fund to whlch 0$8ot belon Curront value Details Cost Iopiiona Fund lo whl¢h asset belon Detalls Cost lop¢lonall Current value B4 As$ots rotained for the charity's own u8e 71m- Fund towhl¢h relate Amount duo When dug Detslls BS Llabllltles Signed by one or tsvo Iiustee5 on behalf of al the Iruslees Date ol rov81 Sign8lure Prlnt Name /ilz CCXX R3 attounls ISSI 2810112022 ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** ## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name CONGO CHILDREN TRUST **members of** ~~a~~ 31 March 2021 **Charity** 1121048 **On accounts for the no (if year ended any)** ~~fT~~ **Set out on pages** (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~a~~ **Respective** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the **responsibilities of** accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for **trustees and examiner** this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act, - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act, and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. **Basis of independent examiner’s statement** ## **Independent examiner's statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act - have not been met ; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. - _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ **Date:** 17 January 2022 **Signed: Name:** Euan Menzies ~~—~~ **Relevant professional** ACA **qualification(s) or body (if any):** **Address:** 24 Balcombe Road, Haywards Heath West Sussex, RH16 1PF ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .