## **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) 1 ## **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. 2 ## **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. 3 ## **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. 4 ## **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. 5 ## **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** 6 ## **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!** 7 ## **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** 8 ## **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.** 9 ## **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**| 10 ## **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 11 ~~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 12 ## **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**| 13 ## **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**| 14 **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**| 15 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)** 16