## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
## **For the period :-**
## **From 01/08/2023 to 31/07/24**
# **Giving Opportunities to Achieve and Learn for The Gambia GOAL for The Gambia (Charity No. 1125489)**
29 Upton Scudamore
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 0AG
Trustee - Sandy Sanyang Chair Paul Reynolds Treasurer Daniel Harston Secretary Bank - HSBC PLC 2 London Road, Twickenham, Middx, TW1 3RY
## **Structure, Governance and Management:-**
**Type of governing document:-** Constitution adopted on 13[th] August 2008
**How the charity is constituted:-** Association consisting of 10 members
**Trustee selection:-** Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting
**Additional governance issues :-** All trustees give their time voluntary and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
## **Objects and Activities :-**
## **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document:-**
To advance the education of Gambian Children by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities and equipment for their use at school including the provision of funds for the construction and improvement of educational facilities.
## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects:-**
## **Sponsorship Programme :-**
We currently have 441 children being sponsored, with 242 regular sponsors.
## **Bantangba Nursery :-**
The charity has continued to support the Nursery by providing Teacher salaries and continuous teacher training. We also manage the children sponsorship programme and the development of planned building projects.
## **Kitty :-**
We continue to work with the school, providing school materials, toys, donations and supplementing staff incomes.
## **Sanyang Arabic School :-**
We have continued to build a very good relationship with the school and very pleased to help the school with their building projects and support their teachers through the National Training programme.
## **Sanyang Scouts :-**
The Charity has continued to be involved with the Sanyang Scout Troop by providing financial support and the donation of musical instruments to their Scout Band and other training requirements.
## **Sanyang Clinic:-**
The charity has continued to support the Clinic by providing medical equipment and medicines, and financial support to assist in the daily running of the clinic.
## **Beach Days :**
We had 4 beach days for the children from Bantangba, Kitty, Sanyang schools, and the Scouts.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities:**
The Charity has continued to ship school and sports equipment from England, this has been funded by the secondhand clothes that have also been shipped and sold to the Gambian people.
Rice donations from sponsors to their sponsor child/ family have continued to increase, and occasional requests for additional support.
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year:-**
## **Sponsorship Process :-**
We currently have 441 children being sponsored, with 242 regular sponsors. There were 15 new sponsors during the year and 14 donors stopped their sponsorship. The current financial environment has had a negative impact in support within many charities, however we have been able to keep a constant number of sponsors throughout the year.
## **Bantangba Nursery :-**
We only had one visit to the school this year, the staff and students do miss seeing visitors. We employed 3 new female teachers there, all recently qualified. They came from Brikama so had to rent a house to stay there during the working week. They settled in well but I am not sure how long they will stay as they are all young women and likely to marry soon, one has already done this and is now expecting a baby. The rest of the staff are still there and our student teacher, who lives in Somita, is an excellent member of staff. Hopefully we can keep hold of him once he is qualified. Our Nanny sadly passed away in December 2023. A big loss, she had been with us since the school opened in 2014. A new Nanny was employed. We continue to provide school stationery, learning materials and top up first aid boxes.
We plan to paint the outside wall of the school this year, it has taken quite a battering from the elements and could definitely do with freshening up. Long term we need to look at the fencing around the school as the wire on top of the bricks is spoilt. I think the best option is just to build the fence up a few more courses with blocks so we can keep animals out.
We haven’t had to do much at the school other than small running repairs and maintenance
The school attended the annual Independence celebrations which is a very special day for the schools and the students, We funded all the transport and food for the day
## **Kitty School :-**
We had no visitors here this year although I have visited on several occasions taking along school supplies and first aid items. They are always very pleased to see me and we will continue to support them. The only outstanding work there is to repair the nursery block fencing. Just as at Somita ,we will remove the wire fencing on top of the blocks and build a few more courses to keep animals out. The staff have gardens they plant with the nursery students and sell the produce to raise funds as well as supplementing the kitchens who provide lunch for the children.
## **Sanyang Arabic School :-**
The building projects for this year have been at this school. They are a lovely school and community and are truly grateful for all that has happened since we first started work there 4 years ago. Most of our visits have been to this school this season as people are interested to see what we have achieved. We have donated a large number of Qurans there, donated by
sponsors in the UK. All the staff were first aid trained and we supply school stationery and first aid items here.
Since we first started there we have built a toilet block, provided water taps, renovated the original classroom block, built the second classroom block consisting of a further 6 classrooms and office, constructed a kitchen as well as the new Nursery bock.
An opening ceremony for the Nursery block was held and I was invited along as guest of honour. They put on a lovely day and I was impressed by the number of parents, community members, Imam and mosque members who attended A real celebration
## **Sanyang Scouts :-**
We continue supporting this amazing group of young people. We have had musical instruments donated to the band which are much appreciated. 8 of our scouts were selected for the Armed Force training. They all completed and passed with flying colours. They had an extensive kit list which they had to take with them when they first report for training. We provided what we could and gave each of them a donation of D1000 to help them with the rest.
The scouts had two training camps, which were well attended, and we had donations from sponsors in the UK to help out with rice etc. They always do some community work when camping including Beach cleaning and planting mangroves.
A sponsored beach day was arranged for them in November, always great fun and lots of scouts as well as ex Scouts who are now in the military attended.
They had another donation from Hope Christian Fellowship which has been an annual event for several years. Bags of toiletries and school stationery are sent and are very popular with all the scouts.
## **Sanyang clinic project**
We have continued supporting this clinic, which has a catchment of over 50,000 people and very little is provided by the government. We receive large quantities of medical items from various donors and have an ongoing appeal for paracetamol.
We have repaired the toilets in the Maternity unit and have also paid to recover several mattresses which were split and not at all hygienic. Cleaning materials are provided as requested.
We have a lot of donations of hand made blankets, hats as well as baby clothes, and nappies which are given out to new born babies delivered at the clinic. When we have nappies, sanitary towels, soap etc these are also given to the mothers after delivery. They are much appreciated and the items that are crocheted and knitted are beautiful.
Sadly Mariama, one of the midwives passed away following complications when she was in labour. The baby survived and we have enough donations to be able to provide milk for the next year and beyond if necessary. We keep a close eye on the family and baby and offer support where we can. We managed to get sponsors for all of Mariama’s children as well as sponsoring
the children of the sister in law who is caring for the baby while he is very young. A total of 8 young people.
## **Beach Days :-**
We were lucky to get donations for 4 beach days so Bantangba Nursery, Sanyang Arabic School, Kitty Arabic School as well as the Scouts, all had an amazing day at the beach. These days are so important especially for the younger students as most will never have visited the beach or seen the sea before. A good educational trip.
## **Case Workers**
We have retained all 5 members of staff, each has a caseload and their really busy time is June – October, collecting sponsor updates, and paying school fees. There were a few hiccups but they have now been sorted out and further training and advice will be given before next year.
Janko remains as team leader and Bakary was promoted to assistant team leader supporting both Janko and myself. Bakary is an excellent team member, always willing to take on extra work, help others out and his IT skills have been a huge benefit to me! We have a caseload of 635 sponsored students currently although some have finished education and will be removed from our list soon.
## **Shipments**
The charity has spent £ 8195 on shipping items out to The Gambia during this year, this is a decrease of 4% on the previous year. Once again, we have been extremely lucky to have a large number of sponsors who have donated towards the costs of these shipments. When Gift Aid has been claimed on their donation, the total of their contribution is £5324. There has also been a further £1524 raised from the sale of Secondhand clothes. This brings the total to £6848. Leaving only £1345 to be taken from the main charity account
## **UK Support :-**
We continue to send out all the sponsor updates every summer. It is a huge job collating them all and chasing the boys for missing information. Our long time volunteer also organises a lot of our shipping and regularly sends items to sell.
Another one of our active supporters has connected us with Rotary clubs, fundraising and donating personally. She has continued to concentrate on the Sanyang Arabic School and has been the driving force for many of the projects since we started working there.
I have made some good links with the Muslim community in Blackburn and they are very generous with their donations. They have provided clothing, toys and medicines and Qurans and rice at Ramadan .
There has also been a further 108 bags of rice purchased by sponsors for their sponsored families to celebrate Christmas and Ramadan.
I am very grateful to all the above as well as countless other supporters who support us. We couldn’t do it without them!
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The charity bank accounts had a balance of £12,782 at the end of the 23/24 financial year. The total income for the year was £83,346 and total expenditure for the year was £83,170, giving a small surplus of £176 this year.
The exchange rate for the Dalais against the Pound was relatively stable during this year and this was highlighted by the reduction in spend on School Fees (£2461) over the previous year. The Donations from Sponsor expenditure was also reduced by £4505 due to the strong exchange rate.
There has been less movement in all other areas of business
Charity vehicle replacement :-
We have had our Charity vehicle for the past 5 years and unfortunately it developed serious mechanical problems at the end of this year. We had a replacement engine fitted and this has also failed. We feel that the road conditions in Gambia are very poor and this vehicle has become unreliable over the past year and we should look to purchase a newer vehicle, We have set up an appeal to raise the £5000 we need to replace the current vehicle and this will need to be sourced from the UK. In the meantime Sandy is relying on local transport to visit the schools and projects, which is not an ideal situation,
## **Summary :-**
The charity has continued to provide support to all our sponsored children throughout the year, and when possible, we have provided additional support to the schools and other projects we feel need our help.
The support from donors in the UK has allowed us to continue with this level of support, however we are very conscious that many people are experiencing financial pressures and are looking to reduce their financial commitments. Luckily it has not impacted on our work at the moment and we are still striving to reach our £1 million target.
## **Trustees :-**
The Trustees have all agreed to stand for a further year and they will continue to liaise via email or telephone on all relevant issues, and all actions will be agreed before actioning.
## **Declaration :-**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature :- _**P.A. Reynolds**_ Full Name :- Paul Albert Reynolds Position :- Treasurer/Trustee Date : 30/1/25
**Charity Name GOAL for The Gambia No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period** Period start date Period end date **To** — ~~—_—__=~~ **from** 01/08/2023 31/07/2024 **Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts** Regular Donations **40,026 - 38,945** Fundraising/Donations **28,114 - 25,136** Gift Aid **11,817 - 10,249** Donations in Gambia **1,865 - 2,771** Secondhand Clothes Sales in Gambia **1,524 - 2,037 - - -** _**Sub total** (Gross income for AR)_ **[ 83,346 ] - 79,138** ~~=—_====~~ **A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total**_ **- -** _**Total receipts**_ **83,346 - - - 79,138** ~~SSS=~~ **A3 Payments** School Fees **30802 - 33263** Staff Remunerations **10567 - 11814** Charity Expenses **6538 - 6620** School Projects **17181 - 15049** Shipment Costs **8178 - 8542** Medical expenses **0 - 0** Beech Days **830 922** Donations from Sponsors **9074 - 13579 -** _**Sub total**_ **[ 83,170 ] - 89,789** ~~eee~~ **A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - - -** _**Sub total**_ **-** ~~SSSSS SSE~~ _**Total payments**_ **[ 83,170 ] - - 89,789** _**Net of receipts/(payments)**_ **176 - - 10,651 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end - - - -** _**Cash funds this year end**_ ~~==~~ **176 - 10,651**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
15/04/2025
1
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Signature
**_P.A Reynolds_**
**Details**
**Details**
Cheque Account
Savings Account
Money in Gambia
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**724**
**9,739**
**2,319**
**12,782**
Agreement Error
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Paul Albert Reynolds|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
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**funds**
**to nearest £**|
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**(optional)**|
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||||Date of
approval|
||**_P.A Reynolds_**|Paul Albert Reynolds|14/04/2025|
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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
15/04/2025
2
`CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examiner's report FOR ENGLAND AND WALES` Ns? CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent `on the accounts` examiner's report | `Section` Section A `A` Independent `Independent` Examiner’s `Examiner's` Report `Report` 7 SE a ee Report `Report` to `to thetrustees/hty` the trustees/ `Name` F `members` members of `[of]` | G.0.A.L. `G.O.A.L.` for `for` The Gambia `[The][ Gambia]` | `On` On accounts `accounts for` for the `theyear` year | 31/07/24 `31/07/24` Charity `Charity` no `no` 1125489 `1125489` lr: `ended` ended (if `(if` any) `any) Setouton pages` Set out on pages | : `(remember` a `to include the` ae `page nunoers` 7 ~ `of additional` ee `sheets) Respective` Respective The `The` charity's `charity's` trustees `trustees` are `are` responsible `responsible` for `for` the `the` preparation `preparation` of `of the` the accounts. `accounts. responsibilities` responsibilities `of` of The `The` charity's `charity's` trustees `trustees` consider `consider` that `that` an `an` audit `audit` is `is` not `not` required `required` for `for` this `this` year `year trustees` trustees `and` and examiner `examiner` under `under` section `section` 144 `144` of `of` the `the Charities` Charities Act `Act` 2011 `2011` (the `(the` Charities `Charities Act)` Act) and `and` that `that` an `an` independent `independent` examination `examination` is `is` needed. `needed. It` It is `is my` my responsibility `responsibility` to: `to:` e `examine` examine `the` the `accounts` accounts `under` under section `section` 145 `145` of `of` the `the` Charities `Charities` Act, `Act,` e to `to` follow `follow the` the `procedures` procedures laid `laid` down `down` in `in` the `the` general `general` Directions `Directions given` given by `by` the `the` Charity `Charity Commission` Commission (under `(under` section `section` 145(5)(b) `145(5)(b)` of `of the` the Charities `Charities Act,` Act, and `and` e `to` to state `state whether` whether particular `particular` matters `matters` have `have come` come to `to my` my attention. `Basisofindependent` Basis of independent My `My examination` examination `was` was `carried out` carried out in `in` accordance `accordance` with `with` general `general` Directions `Directions given` given `examiner's` examiner’s statement `statement` by `by` the `the` Charity `Charity` Commission. `Commission. An` An examination `examination` includes `includes` a `a` review `review` of `of` the `the` accounting `accounting` records `records kept` kept by `by` the `the charity` charity and `and a` a `comparison` comparison of `of` the `the` accounts `accounts presented` presented with `with` those `those` records. `records.` It `It` also `also` includes `includes` consideration `consideration` of `of` any `any unusual` unusual items `items` or `or disclosures` disclosures in `in` the `the` accounts, `accounts,` and `and seeking` seeking explanations `explanations` from `from` the `the` trustees `trustees concerning` concerning any `any such` such matters. `matters.` The `The` procedures `procedures` undertaken `undertaken` do `do` not `not provide` provide all `all the` the `evidence` evidence that `that` would `would` be `be` required `required` in `in` an `an` audit, `audit,` and `and` consequently `consequently` no `no` opinion `opinion` is `is` given `given` as `as` to `to` whether `whether` the `the` accounts `accounts` present `present` a `a true` ‘true and `and fair` fair `view` view and `and the` the report `report` is `is` limited `limited` to `to` those `those` matters `matters` set `set` out `out` in `in` the `the` statement `statement below.` below.
## Independent `Independent examiner's statement` examiner's statement
- !n `In` connection `connection` with `with my` my examination, `examination,` no `no` material `material` matters `matters` have `have` come `come to` to `my` my attention `attention (other than` (other than that `that` disclosed `disclosed` below `below` *) `")which` which gives `gives` me `me cause` cause to `to` believe `believe` that `that` in, `in,` any `any material` material respect,: `respect,:` e `the` the accounting `accounting` records `records` were `were` not `not` kept `kept` in `in` accordance `accordance` with `with` section `section` 130 `130` of `of the` the Charities `Charities Act;` Act; or `or`
- e `the` the `accounts` accounts did `did` not `not` accord `accord` with `with` the `the` accounting `accounting` records; `records;` or `or` e the `the accounts` accounts did `did` not `not comply` comply `with` with the `the` applicable `applicable` requirements `requirements` concerning `concerning` the `the` form `form and` and content `content` of `of` accounts `accounts` set `set` out `out` in `in` the `the` Charities `Charities` (Accounts `(Accounts` and `and` Reports) `Reports)` Regulations `Regulations 2008` 2008 other `other` than `than` any `any` requirement `requirement that` that the `the` accounts `accounts` give `give` a `a true` ‘true and `and` fair’ `fair` view `view` which `which` is `is` not `not a` a `matter` matter considered `considered as` as part `part` of `of` an `an` independent `independent` examination. `examination.`
| `Thave` have have `have` come `come across` across no `no` other `other` matters `matters` in `in` connection `connection` with `with` the `the` examination `examination` to `to` which `which attention should` attention should be `be drawn` drawn `in` in this `this` report `report` in `in` order `order` to `to` enable `enable` a `a proper` proper understanding `understanding` of `of the` the accounts `accounts` to `to be` be reached. `reached.` * `*` Please `Please` delete `delete` the `the words` words in `in the` the brackets `brackets` if `if` they `they` do `do` not `not` apply. `apply. Signed: Date: 13 April 2025` Name: `Name:` | Jolyon `Jolyon` Head `Head`
## `Signed:`
IER `IER`
December `December 2017` 2017
Relevant `Relevant professional` professional | `Member` Member of `of` Institute `Institute of Chartered` of Chartered `Accountants` Accountants of `of Scotland` Scotland (ICAS) `(|CAS) qualification(s)` qualification(s) or `or body` body `(if` (if any): `any):` Address: `Address:` 1 `1` Argyle `Argyle` Road, `Road,` Tunbridge `Tunbridge` Wells, `Wells,` TN40SU `TN4 OSU`
## `Section` Section `B` B
Disclosure `Disclosure`
> `Only` Only `complete` complete if `if` the `the examiner` examiner needs `needsto` to `highlight` highlight matters `matters of` of concern `concern` (see `(see CC32,` CC32, Independent `Independent examination` examination of `of` charity `charity` accounts: `accounts:directionsand` directions and guidance `guidance for` for
> `examiners).` examiners).
`2` 2
`December[2017]` December 2017
`IER`
> `Give` Give `here` here details `details` of `of any` any items `items` that `that` the `the` examiner `examiner` wishes `wishesto` to `disclose.` disclose.
|IER `IER` 3 December `December 2017` 2017