# **Trustees Annual Report for the period from 1[st] April 2021 to 31[st] March 2022** 1. **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS Charity Name** Friends of Conakry Refugee School **Other name charity is known by** FCRS **Registered charity number** 1124736 **Charity’s principal address** Gretton Mill Cardington Church Stretton Shropshire SY6 7HZ ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:** Rolf Levesley Chair Reappointed 23[rd] June 2021 Mark Walmsley Trustee Reappointed 23[rd] June 2019 Tanya Walmsley Trustee Reappointed 23[rd] June 2019 Rachel Roland Trustee Reappointed 12[th] October 2020 Angela Saganowska Trustee Reappointed 23[rd] June 2019 Ruth Walmsley Trustee Reappointed 23[rd] June 2020 Jacqueline Watkins Trustee Reappointed 18[th] July 2021 Jeanette Whitford Trustee Appointed 11[th] February 2020 Jana Kaminski Trustee Appointed 8[th] December 2021 ## **Name of the volunteer Director** Angela Saganowska until 1[st] January 2022 Jacqueline Watkins after 1[st] January 2022 ## **Name of the volunteer Treasurer** Pauline Levesley ## **Name of the Independent examiner** Kate Chetwood. ## 2. **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** _Type of governing document_ Trust deed signed 23[rd] June 2008 _How the charity is constituted_ Trust _Trustee selection methods_ New Trustees will be selected for appointment by the Trustees with regard to the skills, knowledge and experience 1 needed for the effective administration of the Charity There were 4 Trustee Board meetings during the 2021/22 financial year. There were also Strategy Sub group and Fundraising group meetings. ## _Trustee length of service_ Three of the above Trustees have served continuously for over nine years. Rolf Levesley (Chair) Mark Walmsley Founding Trustee Tanya Walmsley Founding Trustee The Charity has succeeded in attracting a variety of Trustees with appropriate skill sets since inception in the interests of refreshing the Board. The Board have agreed unanimously to the extensions of the terms of office of the three Trustees referred to above for exceptional reasons as follows:- 1. Rolf Levesley (Chair) has been a Trustee since inception and offers particular skills as a retired solicitor not otherwise available and has broad experience as the Chair in local government, health and housing association sectors. 2. Mark Walmsley founded the Charity and has invaluable in-depth experience of Conakry Refugee School and an extensive range of friends and supporters who have supported the school for years 3. Tanya Walmsley also founded the Charity and has current and extensive experience in international development with refugees and conflict resolution which Trustees feel, again, is invaluable. ## _Additional governance issues_ _Relationship with any related party._ There were no payments to related parties. ## 3. **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** _Summary of objects of the charity set out in its governing document:_ To advance the education and relieve the financial hardship of those refugee children and children of refugees who require schooling and attend Conakry Refugee School, (CRS) Guinea, which is currently not supported by the Government of Guinea or any other agency. _Our vision and objectives_ 2 FCRS believes that every child and young person should be educated, protected, respected and valued regardless of their faith, gender, ethnic background or financial circumstance. ## We believe that:- - Good quality education is the cornerstone to developing a child or young person’s potential, improving their life chances, equipping them to gain employment and enabling them to play an active role in advancing their community - Refugees and children of refugees are particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged and should be enabled to access school and other services regardless of their status - Sustainable, good quality education requires good teaching staff who are appropriately trained and remunerated for their work - - A greater understanding of other people’s lives and cultures is important for everyone and leads to a more tolerant society FCRS supports CRS in Guinea, West Africa, to advance the education and life chances of vulnerable and marginalised children and young people, many of whom were originally from the refugee community. We are one of the few UK charities involved in enhancing the education and wellbeing of English- speaking children in Guinea. As a value-driven organisation we are passionate about ensuring access to good education, promoting gender equality and tolerance. All our programmes are aimed at bringing about change to achieve our mission and objectives. Our successes are based on fostering a direct and honest working relationship with the school based on mutual respect and collaboration. We do not underestimate the challenges of working in a country which features in the bottom ten in terms of literacy, girls’ access to school and life expectancy. Conakry is the capital of Guinea, which is one of the poorest African countries. CRS is an English-speaking school and a remarkable establishment; its ethos and values of equality, tolerance, compassion and its quest for excellence in education sets it apart from other schools in Guinea. Its promotion of access and education for girls as well as its stance on supporting them on controversial issues like FGM and early marriage makes it unique. Over 50% of students at the school are female. It is a large school of nearly 600 students providing both primary school and secondary school education, with an excellent reputation in external exam performance. The vast majority of its pupils come from very disadvantaged refugee backgrounds and are often living with single parents or extended family members. It functions as more than just a 3 school…. It provides a safe haven for vulnerable and at risk young people as well as serving as a community resource. CRS receives no government support and without the support of FCRS the school would have to rely totally upon the fees of the students. The fees have to be very low because the students are very poor, yet many are still unable to afford them. ## **4. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT** Trustees have had regard to the guidance provided by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit. In deciding upon the objectives listed below they recognise the activities undertaken in pursuance of those objectives are for the public benefit. _Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects in 2021/22_ FCRS has 7 objectives listed below which are not mutually exclusive and are aligned with our vision and mission. We deliver our objectives through a series of programmes. We actively engage, provide resources and programme-manage developments, aligned with our vision on education, in support of CRS, to improve the life chances and advance the education of marginalised and vulnerable children and young people. ## **Objective - Focusing on Marginalised and Vulnerable Children** ## **and Young People** - Scholarship and Student support programme - Hardship Fund ## **Objective – Achieving excellence in education** - Exam scholarship programme - Professional Development programme - Relocation of the school building and improved facilities - Advancement of science education ## **Objective – Supporting the school towards realistic sustainability** - Relocation of the school building and increasing students and/or fee levels - Provision of resources and mentorship in setting up a science lab - Governance and budget management advice for a more selfsustaining management team - Assisting the school in their marketing plans - Solar Power programme 4 ## **Objective – Well-being and safety for all** - School meals programme and Breakfast Club - Health Club / Girls and Young Women’s programme - Female hygiene and sexual health in collaboration with other organisations - Support and mentorship to introduce / implement safeguarding child protection policy and procedures - Relocation of the school building and a better and healthier school environment - PHSE programme ## **Objective – Building equality** - Scholarship programme - Female hygiene programme - Health Club ## **Objective – Building professional development and leadership training** - Professional training programme - - Management team leadership programme ## **Objective – Promoting a more tolerant society by raising awareness and knowledge of life in Guinea** - FCRS newsletter and website - Presentations on the work of FCRS to schools and other charitable groups Our UK schools programme was not possible because of the Covid pandemic ## **Our approach** Our aim has always been to work in true and equal partnership with the school and we will continue to strive and challenge our actions, language and behaviour to ensure this approach. FCRS acknowledges we have considerable privilege and power and we must pay attention to issues of race and avoid a paternalistic approach. FCRS will continue to focus on our belief that good quality education is the cornerstone to developing a child or young person’s potential and improving their life chances. We will create a narrative that emphasises self-determination and constantly review our policies and programmes and challenge each other to ensure that we are not inadvertently using discriminatory policies or practicing discriminatory behaviour. We will engage the CRS management in all decisions about funding and use of funds. 5 ## **5. 2021/2 ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Synopsis of the year** We are extremely pleased to be able to report that we have achieved a very big step forward in three of our main objectives; - Achieving excellence in education - Supporting the school towards realistic sustainability - Well-being and safety for all Thanks to a grant from The Merck Family Foundation, (received in 2 equal instalments January 2020 and January 2021) our own supporters and a very good exchange rate we were able to help CRS move into new premises for the start of the 2021/22 academic year. A fully fitted and equipped science laboratory has been installed in the building which means that for the first-time students will be able to be instructed in practical science – a compulsory part of their final science exams – and their 2 science teachers have been able to undertaken specialist training to become fully qualified practical science teachers. Few schools in Conakry have the capacity to teach practical science. The building provides a vastly improved educational and physical environment for its current staff and pupils away from the traffic, noise and pollution that blighted their former location and for the first time they have running water, inside flushing toilets, electricity & glazed windows. It also provides a more attractive building with improved facilities and increased space so it can accommodate more students. CRS will be able to market the school not just on its existing excellent academic reputation of academic successes and high quality of education but also on its much - improved educational environment as well as its unique science education offer to prospective students. By increasing capacity CRS now has the opportunity to generate a significant increase in annual income from increased student fees whilst not losing its focus on educating children in most need. In addition to these achievements, we were able to maintain all our other planned programmes so that 154 pupils received Scholarships; 13 of the most able scholarship students received exam scholarships; hot school-meals were served - although, unfortunately, had to be restricted to 8 days per month due to budgetary pressures from October 2021 and 2 teachers were able to continue their professional development programme. (See below) 6 All of this has been achieved in difficult times both in Africa and Europe. Covid has remained a problem still affecting and restricting fundraising opportunities. (See fundraising later in this report) and a visit to Conakry was not possible until May 2022. The world is now struggling with the consequences of the Russian Invasion of the Ukraine and the resultant cost of living rises are affecting Africa as well as Europe. The exchange rate was high throughout 2021 which enormously helped the financing of the building and our other programmes but since the new year has started to go down which will mean that we will have to raise more money to pay for the same support, while prices in Guinea rise even more quickly. Acquiring the new building, negotiating the lease and managing all the building works required CRS and FCRS to work very closely together and be involved in protracted planning and risk-analysis discussions over an extended period. The task of ensuring all the building work required to make the building ready for use by the start of the new academic year in October (3 months) was a mammoth challenge. We would like to especially pay tribute to the very capable and hardworking CRS Management Team and school staff who were responsible for overseeing all the building works and ensuring all work was completed and the school successfully transferred for the new school year. They successfully achieved this huge undertaking in a period of massive global uncertainties and rising building costs as the world began to come out of Covid lockdowns. All our sincere thanks and appreciation also go to all our loyal local supporters and donors, together with our volunteers and contributors to all our fundraising events during the year. We would specifically like to thank our major donors; the Merck Family Foundation, the Avonbrook Foundation, and the Waterloo Foundation (via the Big Give 2021 Christmas Challenge) whose generosity and support has been instrumental in the continuing achievement of our Sustainability Plan. Special thanks to Dr Alan Farnaby who worked for Merck and was responsible for the Merck project’s progress. His personal interest, knowledge, advice and help was invaluable. The challenges ahead are still immense. Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world; its political and economic future remains precarious with refugee communities, several decades on, 7 remaining some of the most marginalised and vulnerable groups in the community. Girls are particularly vulnerable with Guinea being ranked 152 out 154 countries in terms of inequality for girls’ access to education. Although our plans aim to attract more fee-paying students, a large number will be unable to pay and ongoing financial support for those students will be needed for the foreseeable future. The school will still require considerable support while it builds up its student numbers and we acknowledge this will pose a challenge to FCRS particularly in the current post lockdown COVID climate. The challenges for CRS must focus upon the need to build up the number of fee-paying students so that CRS can pay the increased rent when the rent-free period ends August 2023. The challenges for FCRS will be to balance celebrating the achievement of acquiring a new building while still giving a strong message that CRS still needs a lot of support over the next few years. Fundraising is likely to be increasingly difficult in the UK over the next year especially. The detailed sections set out below, provide information on the performance of our priority programmes. a. **The School Building and Advancement of Science** Physical changes to the external environment of the school (increasing traffic, noise and pollution) and the lack of maintenance by the landlord, had made the school building inferior to the other private schools in Conakry. It was felt that the poor physical condition and locality was not only providing a poor educational environment but would also hinder CRS’s potential to attract pupils that could pay higher fees and therefore its future sustainability. Finding a solution to address these concerns became a key priority for FCRS. Solving the problem of the lack of practical science teaching had also been a high priority for several years. In 2020 The Merck Family Foundation awarded FCRS 75,000 Euros (two payments of 37,500 Euros over two years were made in January 2020 and January 2021) for “The Guinea science education and sustainability project” It gave FCRS the resources to - help CRS move to a new building to improve the physical learning environment, 8 - provide a science lab so that students could have practical science lessons which form an obligatory part of the science exam curriculum - provide training to improve science teaching and ensure the new science lab was used to its best advantage. Throughout 2020 and the first part of 2021 the CRS management team searched for an appropriate new building. FCRS worked closely with them helping them undertake risk analysis of several potential buildings and detailed discussion regarding negotiations with potential landlords, engineers and builders. The search came to an end when a suitable building was found not far from the old school but in a quiet residential area with little traffic and no pollution. A four-year lease was signed in early June 2021. A programme of major building work was undertaken by the landlord using the advance rent paid to adapt the building to the needs of the school so that it provided appropriately sized classrooms, a meeting hall, a room suitable for a science lab and a tiled outdoor courtyard with all the services – running water, electricity, flushing toilets on each floor. Most of the window are glazed. CRS was responsible for procuring work for the internal decoration of all rooms and the purchase of furniture, special doors and equipment for the science lab. Dr Alan Farnaby who worked for Merck at the time and was responsible for the Merck project gave the senior science teacher advice and support in planning and setting up the science lab. Our sincere thanks for all of his personal interest, advice and help. Training in teaching practical science was arranged for the 2 science teachers at the Government Science Research Unit in Sierra Leone so that they could learn how to work with science apparatus, run a science laboratory and teach laboratory-based practical science The total cost of this project was £85,686.53 Advance Rent to pay for Landlord building work £58,000.86 Science Lab Room, Cupboards & Equipment £9,790.91 Teacher Training £2,225.24 Work on building by CRS £ 8,920.35 Fees, Relocation, Publicity £6.749.17 This was paid for by Merck Family Foundation £61,133.09 9 Individual donation for science equipment and science training £2,500.24 FCRS General Fund £22,053.20 Staff and pupils successfully moved into the building in October 2021. - Pupils are now being taught in a modern building providing an improved, effective learning environment. Gone is the deafening noise of traffic from the highway and from the market. The classrooms are bright and glazed windows keep the weather out - Pupils are also being taught in a healthier environment in a building with flushing toilets and running water. Gone are the traffic fumes from the highway. - For the first time pupils are not only being taught practical science but in a fully fitted science laboratory by qualified staff. Hopefully the new building will help CRS attract more fee - paying students so that they can become self- sustaining while continuing to provide an excellent education to marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the community. **b Student Scholarships and Examination Achievements** Scholarships are awarded annually for an academic year. The criteria for choosing which students are awarded scholarships ensures that the many marginalised and vulnerable pupils are able to continue their education. If a student’s circumstances do not change for the better and they have attended school regularly they are eligible for a scholarship the following year. In addition, each academic year if finance allows, 12 of the most able scholarship students in the external exam grades are awarded with exam scholarships. This means the students know that all their exam fees and other costs associated with taking their exams will paid by FCRS. They are therefore able to put all their energy and effort into achieving high standards in the exams rather than being worried that they may not be able to afford to take them. During the last school visit parents reported the positive and important impact of the scholarship programme on both pupils and their families. It meant families could afford transport costs and therefore send their children to school on a regular basis. The Exam scholars all reported that the scholarships gave them an opportunity to take exams they could not afford and extra motivation to do well. 10 In the past we had a much smaller programme whereby supporters sponsored an individual student and supported that student throughout his/her education at the school. This programme is being phased out and we hope that in future supporters will sponsor scholarships instead. All students in our sponsored student programme are automatically awarded a scholarship each year ensuring that they do not have to pay any school fees but in addition they are provided with additional help to keep them in education and their exam fees are paid when they are in the appropriate grades. The number of students supported on this programme will decline as these students complete their education and hopefully leave school with recognised academic qualifications. During the 2020/21 academic year 2 students remained on our sponsored student programme. They were also provided with a small allowance to help them get to school, purchase school uniform, schoolbooks and equipment. 1 of these students was in Grade 12 and had been supported through most of her school career. Her final exam fees were covered and she passed all of her 8 chosen subjects. That has left only one remaining student on the sponsored student programme for the 2021/22 Academic year. She will remain on the programme until she completes her education at the school. She will be taking her grade 9 exams Summer 2022. The fees that FCRS pay for the scholarship students are used by CRS to provide members of staff with a guaranteed minimum wage each month and therefore staff receive a higher level of pay than could have delivered if CRS was reliant on fee payment by pupils alone. Those with children have also been awarded one scholarship per family thus further helping their families’ well-being. Without this support many of the staff would not be able to continue working at the school. Ensuring a higher wage is important for their well-being, motivation and morale and also helps CRS retain the right people thus contributing to the quality of education. - Throughout the 2021/22 financial year, 154 students were able to attend school and concentrate upon their education throughout the academic year with total confidence knowing that their school fees and registration costs would be paid in spite of the poverty of their family / guardian - 13 students were able to take their external exams Summer 2021 because FCRS paid for all their exam fees. - 4 took their grade 6 exams - 4 took their grade 9 exams 11 - 5 took their grade 12 exams thus being able to graduate from school with recognised academic qualifications. - All members of staff have received a higher wage than the school would otherwise have been able to afford. Since August 2019 at CRS’s request, FCRS has divided the fee money by 12 so that staff can receive some money each month throughout the year. Ensuring a higher wage is important for their well-being, motivation and morale and also helps CRS retain the right people thus contributing to the quality of education. ## **c. School meals programme** - A hot midday meal was provided for all pupils attending school. The provision of a school meal increases the concentration and learning of all pupils but for many it is vitally important to them and for some it is their only meal. It also encourages regular attendance at school. - Students were better nourished than they would otherwise have been and were incentivised to attend school in spite of their poverty - Unfortunately, it has only been possible to provide 8 meals per month this year as the cost of food has increased and FCRS has not been able to raise any more money for this programme. - The provision of school meals remains a priority for CRS and FCRS Trustees. The school reports there were noticeable differences at school on the days when school meals were not provided – poorer attendance, students are hungry. Many have to leave home as early as 6am to get to school on time. ## **d Breakfast Club Programme** - FCRS has supported a term-time breakfast club that produces cheap food at the start of the day by paying the rent and providing 2 catering staff with a guaranteed minimum salary. - All pupils have been able to purchase cheap food at the start of the day after their journey to school and on the days when the free meal cannot be provided. - A small profit is made providing both the staff and CRS with a small amount of extra income. ## **e. PHSE and Sanitation materials** During the pandemic, water and hygiene has been, and still is, highly important. The Guinean Government set out stringent hygiene measures that schools had to undertake before they were allowed to 12 reopen and once open schools had to abide by further strict measures. There were regular visits from Ministry of Education officials to check that these measures were in place and were being implemented. Throughout FCRS has helped achieve and maintain these measures. The teaching of good hygiene is of paramount importance. - Whereas the old school had no running water and very poor toilet facilities the new school has running water and proper toilets on each floor of the building. The new school itself is therefore a major step forward for hygiene and sanitation. However, resources are still required to maintain and keep these facilities clean and in good working order and ensure pupils know how to use them properly. - PHSE classes are provided for all students - A school nurse is employed to support hygiene good practice - Water, soap, towels are provided - Students have increased their understanding of the importance of hygiene and diet - Students have been able to practice good hygiene at school reducing the potential occurrence of disease ## **f. Female Hygiene Kits** This project has suffered as a consequence of the cancelled visit in April 2020 and the inability to visit for two years. Over 80 sustainable sanitary kits made by volunteers of the Penrith Chapter of Days for Girls and Dunstable Inner Wheel were all packed ready to go. The volunteers have prepared many more kits since then. Over 200 were taken out when it was eventually possible for the Director and two other supporters to visit May 2022. Sanitary pads are expensive in Guinea, in some cases costing up to 25% of female staff’s monthly salaries and in many cases leading to absence from school because they are too expensive. Reusable sanitary wear saves money for both them and the PHSE budget and should decrease female student absenteeism. ## **g. Health Club** Many of the activities were curtailed because of COVID restrictions but the club has been able to meet and flourish thanks to the extra resources previously made available. Their meetings continue to provide a safe place and space where girls can be educated about their rights, inspired to stay in school and supported in avoiding FGM 13 and Early Marriage. During the year they also developed a play about Covid and made their own traditional dancing and drumming costumes. ## **h Professional Development** With the help of the Avonbrook Foundation, members of staff have been able to attend a three-year training course that leads to a professional teacher certificate thus increasing the quality of education at the school. The training comprises of three residential courses in Sierra Leone per year normally held during the Christmas, Spring and Summer holidays and one period of teaching practice also in Sierra Leone either during the Autumn or Spring terms of their second and third years. Three members of staff have successfully completed their training under this programme. In 2021/2:- - An FCRS scholarship student who had just graduated from CRS and is working as a classroom assistant, began her training Sept 2019 and successfully completed her second year. She started her 3[rd] and final year Autumn 2021 and undertook her final period of teaching practice February 2022, two months teaching 26 primary students in Kambia and scored 89% with her assessed lesson described as good. - The fifth member of staff was accepted for training October 2020 and successfully completed his first year and progressed onto his second year. He successfully completed his first period of teaching practice in February 2022. - The increased skills of all those trained are benefitting not only their pupils but also other members of staff as they share their new knowledge and ideas. In addition, with the help of a £2,500 donation the 2 science teachers at CRS are attending courses during the school vacations to train to be teachers of practical science so that they can make full use of the new science lab. By the end of the course, summer 2022, they will have obtained the highest qualification in teaching practical science. - By September 2022 students will have both the facilities and qualified teachers in practical science which is a compulsory part of the Grade 12 science exams. Few other schools in Conakry have any facilities for practical science nor teachers qualified to teach practical science. ## i. **To maintain that support and raise awareness and knowledge of life in Guinea** 14 This programme was badly affected by the pandemic in the UK and the links with local UK schools and talks to community organisations could not be maintained. All activity had to be undertaken on-line. Some talks to community organisations restarted towards the end of the year. - Raised awareness through Zoom fundraising activities, talks, the website and Facebook - Emailed regular newsletters to supporters. ## 6. **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## _i._ _**Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**_ FCRS has no overheads, does not have paid staff and therefore has no ongoing commitments in terms of its day to day running costs in the UK. It therefore does not need to ensure a level of reserves to be retained to meet legal or contractual liabilities within the UK. FCRS’s income is used to support programmes at Conakry Refugee School that will advance the education and life chances of marginalized children and young people, many of whom were originally from the refugee community. To give CRS more security and help them better manage their finances, Trustees have decided that they will annually determine the programmes FCRS can realistically provide for CRS for the whole of the following academic year. That support will be based upon CRS’s needs and the amount of money FCRS has at the end of July. Once the annual amount has been agreed FCRS will support other requests from CRS only if extra funding / grants are obtained over and above those needed to provide the agreed support for the year and build up a fund for the following year’s support. This means that although the amount of money held during the year will fluctuate Trustees will ensure that there is sufficient income held to honour the agreed support and any other agreed projects. For 2021/22 Trustees were working towards ensuring that by the end of July 2022 (the end of CRS’s academic year) there would be at least £30,000 in the bank that could be committed for the 2022/23 academic year. At the end of this financial year we had £18,144.44 unrestricted funds and £18,398.87 in restricted funds. Total £36,543.31 Restricted funds 15 Big Give 2021 for 2022/23 scholarships £ 13,187.53 Professional Development (Avonbrook) £ 4,816.03 Health Club £ 395.31 This was sufficient to fulfil all our commitments for the academic year ending July 2022 but required fundraising by the end of July to be able to commit £30,000 for the 2022/3 academic year. Trustees would like to thank all our generous supporters who ensured that, despite Covid 19 and the growing cost of living crisis, we reached that target by the end of July 2022. ## _ii)_ _**Principal sources of funds**_ ## **Donations** General (unrestricted) fund - £27,104.70 Student sponsors - £ 3,328.00 Big Give 2021 donations - £ 8,883.78 Science Equipment & training- £ 2,500.00 School Meals - £ 1,346.11 ## Raised by - 66 supporters who gave monthly donations to the general fund (1 of whom donate via the Charities Trust (pay as you earn scheme) and another via Just Giving) - 15 supporters who made regular monthly standing orders to support students. - 60 one-off donations from individuals mainly as a result of the newsletters and “fundraising events” outlined below but also birthday presents, community group collections etc - 1 person donated £2,500 to provide science lab equipment and support the 2 science teachers at CRS become trained teachers of practical science. - 35 people who donated or held events and donated the proceeds for 2022/3 science scholarships via the 2021 Big Give Challenge - donations from 7 individuals and a singing group plus an unknown amount of people who donated via the school meals Just Giving appeals - a further unknown amount of people who donated via PayPal Giving - donations have also been received from Easy Fundraising, Recycle4charity and Amazon Smile. 16 Gift Aid has been claimed on all eligible donations raising a further £6,880. ## **Grants** Big Give 2021 - The Big Give is a mixture of donations and grant. The 2021 Big Give appeal for 2022/23 Science Scholarships raised a total of £13,187.53. Our champion, once more, was the Waterloo Foundation provided £3,000 of that total. ## Professional Development - The Avonbrook Foundation paid £4,642 towards the Professional Development of two members of staff. ## **Fundraising** Pre-Covid. fundraising events were a major source of income (£4,587.50 in 2019/20) and also an important way of raising awareness, support and donations. The pandemic meant that live fundraising events were not possible. The Fundraising Group quickly adapted to producing more regular newsletters and organising on-line “events” to raise awareness, support and donations. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who donated their time and expertise to support CRS and lightened the effect of lockdown for many of our supporters who were able to join these events free of charge and the supporters who remained amazingly supportive and generous. However, by summer 2021 on-line events became less popular and it was felt that real-life events should be resumed. Unfortunately, Covid once more intervened and the National Polish Folklore Choir of Great Britain Concert first planned for May 2020 and rearranged for September 2021 had to be cancelled once more and the ticket money returned. Our apologies to the choir but many thanks for their understanding and their generous intentions. Thank you also to those people who donated their ticket money rather than receive the rebate offered It was, however, possible to successfully run two smaller events after Christmas – a workshop on Stone Age living by Dan and Naomi Walmsley and a talk by Jo Jukes on Hill Forts in Shropshire. Both were successfully run and thoroughly enjoyed by the smaller audiences 17 These events plus sales of Christmas cards, yoga bags and other items made by volunteers from material bought in Conakry before the pandemic raised £1,173.50. ## **Refund** We eventually received a refund of £1,578.27 from Air France for the tickets bought for the planned 2020 trip to Conakry that had to be cancelled at the beginning of the first lockdown. Trustees and all the staff and pupils of CRS would like to thank everyone who has supported the school with their money and their time during this very difficult year. ## _**iii How expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity**_ Most of FCRS’s income goes straight to CRS for the identified programmes detailed above. This year we sent £127,891.22. A large increase on previous years because we spent £85,686.53 securing and improving new premises and relocating CRS. CRS gives FCRS detailed estimates and sends scanned receipts and we pay for an annual external audit of CRS’s accounts. **Bank Transfer fees** are charged each time we send money to Guinea. This year we spent £130 in bank fees compared to £120 last year. 14 separate payments were made compared to 12 payments the previous year. **Visit to school.** FCRS believes that visits to the school are an essential way of ensuring its programmes are still relevant and fulfilling their objectives. They provide up to date understanding of the problems and issues the school faces and a reminder of the considerable positives of CRS and FCRS’s work. Visits also allow items such as solar lamps, hygiene kits, secondhand text books, refurbished laptops to be taken to Conakry from the UK. The cost of posting such items would be prohibitively high and undependable. 18 Following ewch visit 8t) *tion plan 15 th¢1¢)tol ¢ovttith8 *tions CRS and FCRS will und¢rtak¢ the follo￿Ints )'eaT. Thisen5ures FRCS'S work is relevant aThJ fow5¢d. Tn15￿ moniknr plan ￿ exh trKwd mcdithg. Unfortuna*ly, Lt wible io visii durin¥ the 2021122 financial year but on¢ planned and m* mid-may 2022. afi¢rth¢ end of this wing ye4r. As w¢ll &% annual VISI￿ FCRS 15 in reguknremail conw with CRS. Thc lev¢1 of - way ¢ommunic8tth is high. As visits w¢rt ￿ p)ssible. we also h*J g number of confer¢nc¢ ￿lIS with the sclwl'5 fflanagun¢DI team ¢SPLYially during the summer ¢wly Ruiumn months whcn th¢T¢ W*$ ¥ lot ofioini planning and di5CU5Si¢)n re the new school buildin8. Th¢ exw1er￿e ofihc years h&% reinr￿c￿ QUT belief that an annual visii is ¢%set)iial and sknuld k tJk¢rt so IM8 as those goin8 fe¢1 cornfortabl¢ doirt8 80. Revtuue geneThti•i ¢tsty were £520.10 wmpwed to £412.05 year. 'rhey paid for... £216 Mth)Ihly fees toJu5t Givirtg £ 31.87 PayPal fecs £ 158.29 subscriNion £42 Hire of T￿￿5 for Jo Jukes talk the Stsne A8t wothp £71.94 websi￿ thmain rwne rtwl We rc¢¢iveJ £771.93 in dol￿tIo￿ vii Just Givin8 8Th1 £1.547.25 was r¢ttive4 via PayPal. Zoom provided the platform for T￿S￿e meetin8s ciffiftraKr ¢all$ with CRS and the y free events omg¢d *prrfer& Iv. ￿￿tr ()n the.31' March 2021 thue was £18.398.87 re5tric¢d li¥ Cjive 2021 for 2022r23 *holxrship5 £ 13.187.53 Professional Dcvelopneni {Avonbmokl £ 4,816.03 Health Club 395.31 DECLARATION The TnJ#¢¢s declare that they hDvc the TnLoets rtpjrt above SiBncd on ￿half of the Ch￿lY'sTn￿I¢e ROLF LEVESLEY. CHAIR OF TRUSTEES Si8ned Il 14JL• a*2L 16 19 Frlends of Conakry Refugee School Rocglpts and Paymont Accounts for the perfod 1st ApTiI 2021 to 31st Marth 2022 2022 Total funds 2021 Last year Unrestricted funds Restiicted funds Roctlpts Student sponsors Fundraising events Donations Grants Gift Aid Refund Interest 3,328.00 3,328.00 1,173 50 39,834.59 7,642.00 6,880.95 1,578.27 3.48 60,440.79 3.666.00 40.00 32,558.04 48,511.10 9,699.91 1,173.50 27,104.70 12.729.89 7,642.00 2.176.25 4,704.70 1,578.27 3.48 34.564.65 23.53 94,498.58 Total recelpts 25,876.14 Payinents Scholarships I Sponsored students Other School programmes Vi8lt to scho Bank Transfer fees Revenue raising costs Governance costs 7,432.83 40,931.01 10,188.52 69.338.86 17,621.35 110,269.87 0.00 130.00 520.10 0.00 17,932.25 30,971.89 1.578.27 120.00 412.05 0.00 130.00 520.10 0.00 Total payments 49,013.94 79,S27.38 128,541.32 51.014.46 Net of rgcelpts I Ipayments) -14,449.29 -53,651.24 -68.100.53 43,484.12 Transfer betwe•n funds Cash fundslagt year end 32,593.73 72,050.11 104,643 84 61,159.72 Cash lund$ thls year end 18,144.44 18,398.87 36.543.31 104.643.84 stat￿70nt of assets and Ilabllltles at the end of the period Unrestricted Restrided nd5 funds Cash fijnds". In bank Glft aid claimed but nol recelved Investment assets Assets retained for Ihe charity's Ltse Liabi15bes 18,144.44 18,398 87 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Signed by Rolf Levesley, Chair of the Trustees on behalf of all the Trustees Date of approval /4￿. Signed by Kate Chetwood, Extwnal Exafniner Date of approval 2?1,.1. ## ## ##