2024-03-31-accounts - Chinese Welfare Trust

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

AMENDED

Charity Registration No. 1126505

Company Registration No. 06526776 (England and Wales)

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees	Mei Sim Lai OBE DL(Co-Chair )
	Eddie Chan MBE ( Co-Chair )
	Kam Lee
	Dr Mark Chem Yen Lim
	FangMin MacDonald
	Geoffrey Man Bon Yeung
Hon Treasurer	Kam Lee
Secretary	Lisa Yeung-Donaldson
Charity number	1126505
Company number	06526776
Registered office	1 Beaufort Gardens
	London
	NW4 3QN

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees present their report and unaudited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Structure, governance and management

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.

It was founded on 7 March 2008.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and in the period since 31 March 2024 were:

Eddie Chan MBE ( Co-Chair ) Mei Sim Lai OBE DL ( Co-Chair) Kam Lee ( Hon Treasurer ) FangMin MacDonald David Wei ( resigned 20.11.24 ) Geoffrey Man Bon Yeung Dr Mark Chem Yen Lim Dr Yeow Hua Poon ( ceased as director on 18 December 2023) Jing Fan ( resigned 25.05.24 )

The trustees consist of at least three and not more than twelve individuals, all of whom must be members of the charity. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the Company and promises if the company is dissolved, whilst he or she remains a member within 12 months afterwards, to pay up to £10 towards the costs of dissolution and the liabilities incurred by the charity whilst the member is a contributor.

During the period under review the work of the charity was delivered by an outreach worker and also by a project director. The trustees act as directors and may exercise all the powers of the charity. Meetings of the trustees are held on a regular basis and there is also a Fundraising Committee responsible for events and other initiatives to help raise funds for the Charity. .

The Charity has the power to establish and support any charitable association or body and to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable purposes to further the objects of the Charity

No trustees received any remuneration for their services during the year and no trustee (or any firm or company of which a trustee is a member) may enter into a contract with the Charity to supply goods or services in return for a payment or other material benefit. Whenever a trustee has a personal interest in a matter to be discussed at a meeting of the trustees or committee, the trustee concerned must follow the rules set out in the Company’s Memorandum & Articles of Association.

Risk Management

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to major risks.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Objectives and activities

The charity’s objectives are:

to relieve financial hardship, sickness and poor health among people within the Chinese Community by providing such persons with goods and/or services which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means.
to provide education and training to children and young people within the Chinese Community to encourage them to realise their full potential and aspirations;
to work towards the elimination of racism and discrimination against members of the Chinese Community;
to promote the contribution made by the Chinese Community in the UK statutory agencies, government and the wider community; and
such other objects which are exclusively charitable under the laws of England and Wales as the directors may from time to time decide.

The powers available to the trustees in furtherance of these objectives are:

to promote or carry out research, provide advice, publish or distribute information;
to co-operate with other bodies, support, administer or set up other charities
to raise funds (but not by means of taxable trading) borrow money and give security for loans (but only in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the Charities Act), acquire or hire property of any kind, let or dispose of property of any kind, make grants or loans of money and to give guarantees.
to set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves against future expenditure, deposit or invest funds in any matter with specialist advice and delegate the management of investment to financial experts;
to insure the property of the charity against any foreseeable risk and take out other insurance policies to protect the charity when required;
to employ paid or unpaid agents, staff and advisers;
to issue appeals, hold public meetings and take such steps as may be required for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Charity in the shape of donations, subscriptions or otherwise make any charitable donation, grant or other payment in cash and/or other assets

There has been no change in the above objectives and activities during the year under review.

Public Benefit

The trustees have considered the activities of the Chinese Welfare Trust against the Public Benefit Guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The purpose of the Charity is enshrined in its objectives as outlined above. The trustees ensure that this purpose is carried out for the public benefit in its activities.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

A chievements and Performance

The charity continued to expand its scope of services and activities during this accounting period. We were successful with funding applications from two NHS sources that enabled us to implement two cancer screening awareness–raising projects that have a reach beyond the Chinese community in the Greater London area.

One of the core charitable services that we run is the Chinese Mental Health Counselling Service. It is a Cantonese and Mandarin speaking telephone –based nationwide service. The team of 4 qualified and practicing psychotherapists provide counselling to people of Chinese heritage in the UK who have difficulty in accessing mainstream mental health support services due to language and cultural reasons. Since the Launch of the service in May 2022 to the end of March 2024, the counselling team have helped 69 service users who were offered between one and two talking therapy courses each ( 6 sessions per course ). A small number returned for more therapy after their personal circumstances had changed and some time had passed since their last course. Referrals for remote counselling have been received from GP practices, statutory and mainstream organisations and even schools. The demand for this service has been steadily growing and we are very grateful for the continued support of our donor, W Wing Yip & Brothers Foundation.

The flagship dementia support service (formal name: Chinese Welfare Trust Admiral Nurse Clinic ) was codeveloped and co-launched by us and our partner organization Dementia UK in September 2022. This pilot project was for 2 years with the two charities sharing monitoring and management responsibilities. During this reporting period the reputation of the family -centred approach of the Dementia UK Admiral Nursing service became increasingly familiar to the London Chinese community. To make the service accessible and community focused, the clinic offered mobile clinic appointments delivered by a specially recruited Chinese speaking Admiral Nurse. GP clinics and Chinese community organisations in Barnet, Brent, Camden, Tower Hamlets and Westminster supported local delivery by hosting clinics in their premises. Carer support groups were held monthly with the generous support of University College London which offered venue space. One of the main objectives of this project is to promote greater understanding of dementia symptoms and to encourage early diagnosis and treatment. To this end our Admiral Nurse on the project delivered 4 dementia awareness raising talks to the community across Greater London. During the 2023 National Carers Week our charity organized a well attended event in June 2023where Chinese carers of people living with dementia shared their knowledge and experience with those who attended. In collaboration with the Frank Soo Foundation , a dementia awareness themed Football tournament was enjoyed by all who attended the event at Hendon Football Club in July 2023.

As of the end of March 2024, the Admiral Nurse project had helped nearly 100 families. The satisfaction rating to users who responded to our survey indicated a highly successful service , with 9 out of 10 people giving a “ very satisfied “ response. In 2023, within one year of this service being introduced, it had attracted 3 nominations for national Nursing and Patient Experience wards and reached the finalist stage in each on

During the year the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust commissioned us to promote to the Chinese community the importance of undergoing cervical screening. Their data had shown consistently low take up of screening invitations sent to the Chinese community cross 8 boroughs in North West London. We also actively promoted their online portal to Chinese community organisations outside London to widen the reach.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

In the period under review the charity also received a large grant from NHS North West to promote the full range of available national cancer screening programmes to the members of the Chinese community in particular those living in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. The project which started in January 2024 involves producing a full set of information on cancer screening, running focus groups, holding a symposium as well as running a series of workshops.

We continue to provide a useful outreach service to elderly members of the Chinese Community in London who are vulnerable and isolated. Help provided include dealing with their housing, benefit issues and other issues and signposting them to the relevant organisations who can assist them. Many have benefited from the befriending visits from our Outreach worker.

Risk Assessment

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to such risks. These included safety measures on Covid-19 related risks .

Financial Review

The results for the year are set out in the accompanying financial statements. The net surplus for the year was £33,636 (2023 £33,66 ). As at 31 March 2024, the charity had total reserves to be carried forward of £81,643 (2023 £47,057).

Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three to six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Charity’s current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.

Investment Powers and Policy

The Charity may deposit or invest funds in any manner after obtaining advice from a financial expert and having regard to the suitability of investments and the need for diversification. It may delegate the management of investments to a financial expert subject to agreement of terms or to arrange for investments of the charity to be held in the name of a nominee under the control of the trustees or a financial expert acting under their instructions and to pay any fee required

Future plans and Developments

In the coming year CWT will continue to focus and deliver the various initiatives already outlined in the Achievements and Performance section of this Report in particular building stronger relationships with the different partner organisations and continuing and delivering the projects undertaken by the charity.

. CWT will also continue to increase its outreach work with the elderly and provision of counselling services in the coming year.

On behalf of the Board of trustees

Mei Sim Lai Trustee 31 December 2024

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees, who are also the directors of Chinese Welfare Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable it to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Notes Incoming resources from generated funds2 Donations, grants and gifts Event income Total incoming resource Resources Expended4 Charitable Activities Cost of Generating funds Governance costs Total resources expended Net surplus for year Fund balances at 1 April 2023 Unrestricted Funds as at 31 March 2024	UnrestrictedRestricted £ £ 15,659 63,500 4,894 20,553 63,500 14,288 31,603 2,376 1,200 17,864 31,603 __ 2,689 31,897 10,865 36,192 __ _____ 13,554 68,089	2024 Total £ 79,159 4,894 84,053 45,891 2,376 1,200 49,467 . _ 34,586 47,057 ____ 81,643	2023 Total £ 70,718 2,646 73,364 38,358 1,370 39,728 _ 33,636 13,421 ___ 47,057

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Fixed assets 5 Current assets: Debtors Cash at Bank Current liabilities: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 3 Total assets less current liabilities: Reserves Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds		- 89,943 89,943 8,300	2024 - 81,643 81,643 13,554 68,089 81,643	2023 4 650 70,007 70,657 23,600	47,057 47,057 10,865 36,192 47,057

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2024. No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these accounts.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The accounts were approved by the Board on 31 December 2024

Mei Sim Lai Trustee Company No 06526776

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by charities ( SORP 2015 – FRS 102 version), applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006. They are prepared in presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have reasonable expectation, after assessing the situation. that the charity will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence in the foreseeable future. Accordingly the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

1.2 Incoming resources

Donations, legacies and other forms of voluntary income are recognised as incoming resources when receivable, except insofar as they are incapable of financial measurement. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.

1.3 Resources expended

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity.

1.4 Depreciation

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rate in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life

Computer equipment - 25% straight line basis

2 Incoming resources

Donations & Gifts Event income Donations and grants for projects 3Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Deferred income Accruals		2024 £ 15,659 4,894 63,500 84,053 2024 £ - 8,300 8,300	2023 £ 7,818 2,646 62,900 73,364 2023 £ 15,000 8,600 23,600

Deferred income of £15,000 in 2023 related to funding received for the Admiral Nurse project in respect of the 2023/24 year.

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

N OTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4 5	Total resources expended: Project director’s non project fees ( unrestricted ) Project costs ( restricted ) Outreach worker (unrestricted ) Outreach worker (restricted) Other costs ( unrestricted ) Total Charitable activities Costs of generating funds Event costs Website & IT costs Governance cost Independent examiner’s fee Total resources expended Fixed Assets Computer equipment At cost at beginning of year Less accumulated depreciation Net Book Value at 31 March 2024 Net Book Value at 31 March 2023	2024 £ 7,482 31,603 6,000 - 476 37,158 2,377 330 48,268 1,200 49,468 £ £ £ £	2023 £ 4,244 26,708 2,375 3,625 206
			37,158 996 374
			38,528
			1,200
			39,728
			349 349 Nil Nil

6 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or reimbursed expenses during the year except for one trustee who was reimbursed travel expenses of £242 relating to the charity’s work

7 Employees

There were no employees during the year (2023 Nil).

CHINESE WELFARE TRUST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS ( CONTINUED )

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8. Restricted Funds Dementia Counselling Cervical Cancer Totalr Screening Screening £ £ £ £ £ Income 16,500 12,000 10,000 25,000 63,500 Expenditure (16,054 ) ( 6,249 ) ( 6,215) ( 3,085 ( ( 31.603) Net 446 5,751 3,785 21,915 31,897 Balance 1 April 2023 19,900 16,292 - 36,192 Balance 31 March 2024 20,346 22,043 3,785 21,915 68,089