2024-07-31-accounts - Open Way

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Open Way

Helping people out of poverty

(Charity Number: 1122055)

Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended

31st July 2024

Charity accounts preparation & independent examination service

Open Way

Open Way
(Charity Number: 1122055)
Contents
Index	Page
Report of the trustees	1
Independent examiner's report	12
Receipts & payments accounts	13
Statement of assets and liabilities	14
Notes to the accounts	15

Open Way

helping people out of poverty

Registered charity 1122055

Trustee’s Annual Report for the period:

1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024

Reference and Administration details

Name:

Open Way

Other names charity is known by:

None

Address:

26 Spring Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. OX14 1AQ openway@hotmail.co.uk

Charity Number:

1122055

Names of the trustees who manage the charity:

Nicholas Osborne (chair) Maria Lopez (Trustee)

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity:

None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others:

None of any kind

Names and addresses of advisers:

Independent Examiner

Karen Wood ACMA

Outsource Accountancy Services & Independent Examination 2 Galligap Lane, York, YO10 3NR

Banker:

CAF BANK Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent. ME19 4JQ

Name of chief executive:

Nick Osborne (Chair of Trustees)

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document:

Trust Deed

How the charity is constituted:

Trust

Trustee selection methods:

Appointed by existing trustees

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity set out in its governing document

The relief of poverty and suffering related to the lack of basic needs for people of any age or cultural background in poor countries with the aim of bettering their present situation and improving their chances of future self-reliability.

To advance the education of the public in poor countries in the subjects of: health; and the conservation of the natural and physical environment.

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.

Helping people out of poverty in Ethiopia by:

Providing medical help.
Providing free pre-school education in poor rural villages.
Tackling malnourishment.
Helping the vulnerable and the elderly.

The trustees consider that they have complied with their duties to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Achievement and performance

Introduction

Ethiopia is struggling with several internal crises: fighting between ethnic groups, widespread food insecurity, medicine shortages in the hospitals, government workers not being paid, large cost of living increases and so on. For these reasons there is a lot of stress and anxiety in the country. This is heart-breaking to see and makes the work we are supporting all the more important.

Although the whole country is affected by these issues, the Sidamo region remains relatively peaceful, and we have been able to continue all our projects.

The last year has been Open Way’s most impactful year to date. The team in Ethiopia were even given awards from local government departments who have appreciated the difference Open Way has made in the region – so very nice to get that recognition.

Education project

The new school at Tula Hiricha

It has been another successful year at the Open Way schools and nearly 2000 young learners have had a valuable year getting started in education.

This year, 36 teachers and eight librarians were employed at our ten schools. We were happy to be able to raise the salaries significantly this year, since the cost of living is increasing so fast, and this was greatly appreciated. The libraries double as community centres in the evenings, equipped with satellite dish and solar powered TV, so that people can catch-up on the news and have a place to meet each other.

The school roll for 2023-2024.

School	Classes in 2023-2024	Total Number	Schools library
Shigesho	8	418	✓
T-K	5	244	✓
L. Wemerera	4	169	✓
Lela Honcho	3	132	✓
Hatabo	3	150	✓
Kokosa	3	152	✓
Mi-ke	2	106	✓
Bentibata	2	120	✓
Babe Colmocha	3	154
Tula Hiricha	3	146
	36	1,910*	8

* 980 girls / 930 boys

The schools have now broken up for the summer - time for repairs and repainting after a year of wet and windy highland weather.

The last academic year started with the opening of two new schools constructed last summer; three newly constructed libraries at schools which didn’t yet have one; and three classrooms added at existing schools.

The new Babe school under construction (left) and the opening ceremony (right).

A large proportion of students passing through Open Way schools go on to further education although it is difficult to get accurate numbers.

We were very happy to learn that 15 Open Way teachers have been given the chance to train on the government teacher training programme. This takes place at weekends over three or four years and is a great opportunity for them.

The new library at Mi-ke school.

Tackling food insecurity

Grain

The cost of a basic staple flour in Ethiopia at about 60p per kilo is not far off its cost in the UK or other European countries and is completely beyond the purchasing power of almost all rural subsistence farmers in Ethiopia. In the Sidamo region where we are operating, families typically subsist by growing what they can in their own plots and supplementing this with a few other essentials when some family members can earn money in the coffee picking season.

Grain distribution outside the mill

Malnutrition is, unfortunately, very common in this situation of deep poverty that people face. Over the last 12 months, we have distributed over 50 tonnes of grain. Beneficiaries are vulnerable families identified by our teachers and coordinators, local village councils, and health workers.

Seedlings

False banana seedlings have proved an efficient way to help people improve their food security situation. This is because they are a traditional staple, drought resistant, energy rich and nutritious, versatile and have a long storage life.

500 families received false banana seedlings during April and May 2024.

The distribution took place in two locations, TK and Tula. Distributing in Tula allowed us to reach more remote communities this time.

Tula distribution

TK distribution

We have now been distributing false banana seedlings for some years. It has been great to revisit some of the original recipients and see how they are doing. Many families have already benefited from harvests from their trees and have propagated new trees.

\ y |" \ . ~ Great to behold these fully grown false banana trees given to the family of a \ " ‘ ‘ " 4 sagt: visually impaired lady five years ago!

Business Training

Last year, we started a new project aiming to improve food security in a more long-term way by providing a practical business training course.

The training, led by Mulu, took place over four days in September. 482 villagers benefited from the training and either attended in the mornings or the afternoon to make it feasible for them to attend and continue their daily responsibilities.

The training was so successful and popular that Mulu repeated it in December for 376 more people.

The training showed people how to use the resources at their disposal to improve their situation by running a small-scale business. Many people were very encouraged and inspired.

The Open Way farm manager Hailu taught people how to rear chickens successfully and attendees were given two chicks which they could keep or sell on to develop their own business.

Chick distribution after the business training

Providing Housing

This project provides a simple house for people who are vulnerable in unsafe accommodation. Many people just cannot afford to rebuild or repair their houses due to old age, ill health and crippling poverty. There is no help available for people in such situations and it is common to hear of people forced to sell their plot to take a relative to hospital for example. After several years of this project, there are now well over 100 Open Way houses dotted around the countryside in Sidamo, each providing safe shelter for several people.

Over the last twelve months, Open Way has built 21 new houses for vulnerable people.

The new houses are 4m x 5m and are metal-roofed. They all eventually receive mudrendering inside and out, but this is seasonal work, and families very often move in before this is complete.

Here are a couple of examples from this year’s cases.

Konjit and her children moved into their new house and no longer have to fear hyena attack at night.

Gatuso’s family before and after receiving a bigger, safer and weatherproof house.

Medical Assistance

Assistance is organised for patients at several medical centres including TK Health Centre, Dilla Hospital, Yirgalem Hospital, Hawassa Hospital and occasionally Addis Ababa.

During the last 12-month period, 212 patients have been treated for various conditions. Of these patients, 111 were male, 101 were female, and 36 were children. Note some patients are treated for multiple issues.

Condition	No. Cases	Condition	No. Cases
Anaemia	3	Kidney	8
Asthma	4	Leg amputation	1
Benign moles on back	1	Leg injuries	8
Body Swelling	3	Leukaemia	1
Breast	4	Liver issues	2
Car accident	1	Lung issues	2
Cataracts	22	Malaria	1
Cellulitis	1	Myoma	2
Cervicitis	2	Pneumonia	13
Diabetes	2	Prostate	3
Ear, nose, throat	1	Psychiatric Disorder	3
Epilepsy	6	Rheumatism	1
Esophagus	2	Scabies	2
Eye cancer	1	Skin disease	6
Eye issue	2	Stomach issues	2
Fistula	2	TB	2
Gastritis	12	Tumour	2
Genital issue	3	Typhoid	45
Glaucoma	10	Typhus	31
Goitre	1	UTI	3
Gynecomastia	1	Unknown	2
HBP	4	Womb	7
Haemorrhoids	1	Worms	13
Heart issues	23	TOTAL	272

Assisting students into further education

This small project enables successful students to progress to further education when needing to cover costs such as rent, food, stationery, and clothing would have made it impossible for them to do so.

We have supported four university students and four high school students.

Helping the elderly

For many years, Open Way has been supporting 16 elderly people with clothes, food support and a small pension. This is a hugely important help for vulnerable people who have no help coming from family members or the state and allows them to live their last years peacefully and with dignity.

Financial Review

Open Way’s reserves are reduced due to priority spending.

Our end of year balance is £58,490.10. This is almost all earmarked for upcoming projects from 1[st] Aug 2024.

Our aim is to hold reserves of around 4 to 6 months.

Open Way has no funds in deficit.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signature

Nick Osborne Chair of The Trustees

Date:

7th Feb 2025

~~PT~~ Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Open Way

I report on the accounts of: Open Way for the year ended: 31st July 2024 which are set out on pages 13 to 16.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2 the accounts do not accord with those records

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.

17/02/2025 ~~ee~~

Karen Wood (ACMA) Outsource independent examination service

Date:

2 Galligap Lane Osbaldwick York YO10 3NR

Open Way

(Charity Number: 1122055)

Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st July 2024	Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st July 2024	Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st July 2024	Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear ended: 31st July 2024
Total receipts Receipts Grants Donations - standing orders My Donate / Wonderful Bank interest Gift aid Balance carried forward Net of receipts/(payments) Total payments Transfers between funds Balance brought forward Payments Grants to project Bank charges & trf fees Independent examination fee Travel expenses Donations - one-off	Unrestricted funds £ - 7,095 611 - 964 58 8,728 6,892 41 310 150 7,393 1,335 - 87 1,422	Restricted funds £ 124,270 346 - 60 - - 124,676 122,108 - - - 122,108 2,568 - 54,500 57,068	2024 Total funds £ 124,270 7,441 611 60 964 58 133,404 129,000 41 310 150 129,501 3,903 - 54,587 58,490	2023 Total funds £ 147,308 7,726 5,420 80 3,163 39
				163,736
				120,500 - 361 150
				121,011
				42,725 - 11,862
				54,587

Open Way

(Charity Number: 1122055)

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at:	Statement of Assets and Liabilities at:	31st July 2024	31st July 2024
CAF current account Liabilities Independent Examination fee Assets Cash at bank and in hand	Unrestricted funds £ 1,422 1,422 Unrestricted Funds £ 150 150	Restricted funds £ 57,068 57,068 Restricted Funds £ - -	2024 Total funds £ 58,490 58,490 2024 Total Funds £ 150 150	2023 Total funds £ 54,587
				54,587
				2023 Total Funds £ 150
				150

Notes to the Accounts for the year ended:

Open Way (Charity Number: 1122055)

31st July 2024

1. Basis of Accounts

The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

2. Analysis of Funds

2.1 Details of restricted funds

All funds of the charity are utilised in the alleviation of poverty in Ethiopia. However the charity obtains grants and donations which are restricted for the following purposes: Education

Elderly & vulnerable (Malnutrition, Housing and Farm projects) Help to individuals Medical

Medical Restricted Funds Education Band Aid Trust Total Funds Donations Total Restricted Band Aid Just Trust Elderly & Vulnerable Help to individuals Band Aid Trust (Malnourishment) Hazel's Footprints Trust Donations (Elderly) Band Aid Trust (Housing) 2.2 Movement of major funds Unrestricted Funds General unrestricted funds	Balance b/fwd £ 87 87 17,925 - - 17,925 27,400 - 8,300 35,700 - 875 54,500 54,587	Incoming resources £ 8,728 8,728 40,905 1,000 4,050 45,955 56,640 60 19,633 76,333 346 2,042 124,676 133,404	Resources Balance expended c/fwd £ £ £ 7,393 1,422 Trf between funds
			7,393 - 1,422
			42,800 6,950 22,980 1,000 - - 4,050 - -
			47,850 6,950 22,980 38,600 (16,200) 29,240 60 - - 24,252 - 3,681
			62,912 (16,200) 32,921 346-- 11,000 9,250 1,167
			122,108 - 57,068

			129,501 - 58,490

The transfer of funds is money that was originally budgeted for grain that has been reallocated to Education and Medical as it was needed more in these areas. This was agreed in writing by the funder, Band Aid.

~~CT~~ Approval of Accounts for the year ended: 31st July 2024 The report and accounts were approved at a 16th Feb 2025 meeting of the Trustees held on: ~~—s~~ Date 16th Feb 2025 ~~7~~ Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees Date Nick Osborne Chair ~~|~~ Print Name Position (e.g. Chair etc)