## _The David School Trust_
_(Charity Number 112931)_
## **Trustees Annual Report for Calendar Year 2024**
## Annual Accounts
The accounts for the calendar year 2024 show a closing balance of £24,532 compared with £30,734 twelve months ago. Income of £40,597 and spending of £46,779 shows an overall deficit of £6,202 in the year.
Again this year the accounts will need to be independently examined.
All the money raised is through donations and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters for their kindness and generosity.
Also thank you to all the volunteers who give their time, money and physical help with school visits, collection of supplies, shipping and admin. All are self-funded.
In addition to monies held in bank accounts, the Trustees would like to record details of assets held in Sierra Leone. The Trust owns a plot of land, donated by tribal elders in 2012, and registered with the Ministry of Lands(Ref MLS 625/2012). This is of low quality, unsuitable for farming and measures 10 acres, including a swamp. Sale value is difficult to assess but very low.
Also the buildings on the land and all equipment and fittings are the property of the Trust and again of low saleable value.
## **Review**
Trustees are concerned about the reduction in income which we have seen over the last few years. This year the deficit is much larger than planned
due to unforeseen maintenance costs relating to the premises. In November we took the decision to drill a new well as the original bore hole was dry. The solar system also needed repair and batteries replaced. The total cost of the repairs accounted for around two thirds of the deficit.
Despite this all education for Primary and Junior Secondary pupils remains free, plus in addition, pupils are supplied with uniforms, shoes, school equipment and hygiene products. They also receive food and medical provision and all receive a multivitamin pill on schooldays.
The Trustees are proud of this record and have no plans to instigate any changes.
Increasing income is a major challenge for the charity and we believe that more proactive fundraising is needed. The newsletter and website will be used to seek more donors and supporters. Appeals for help at presentations will also have a higher profile.
The economy in the country continues to be in a poor state but perhaps less so than twelve months ago. Most goods are imported and their weak currency leads to increased costs which are an additional burden for the charity.
In 2024 there were two trips, the first in March with a group of three volunteers including two Trustees followed by a team visit in October/November . Each visit was for around two weeks making total of 140 person days.
All our volunteers are self-funded. They donate money to the charity to cover all the costs of group visits which is a magnificent gesture on their part. Each visit costs in excess of £1700 per person.
During the visits our Trustees and volunteers organise, manage and supervise many activities. They found that lots of maintenance was needed, painting, roof repairs, replacing floor tiling on the veranda, furniture mending and chair replacement.
They were also involved in teaching, reading, staff training, meeting parents, identifying future priorities and much more. Considerable stocks of boys’ and girls’ uniforms, soap and toothpaste, girls’ underwear and sanitary products were all distributed.
A highlight for all of us was a Celebration Day we organised for all the pupils who passed their NPSE exam, their equivalent to our 11+. Thirty four children plus staff and ourselves travelled to an activity area for the day. There they were able to dance, swim and most of all, eat. Chicken or fish with vegetables and rice plus a soft drink. Children were saying ‘it was the best day of their lives’ or ‘the best meal they had ever eaten’. A very successful day and one which we hope to repeat on an annual basis.
Visits to the school enable us to witness its success. This we measure not only by examination results , but also by sharing the pupils enjoyment of being there. We have seen great improvements in their ability to socialise together and in their ability to speak to us in English. They are keen to be involved and to learn.
Success is down to the group of staff that we now employ. Good leadership, solid commitment, sound training and concern for our young people.
Two of the original five teachers are still with us. Several others joined soon after the opening in 2008 and they are loyal and stay. We have trained several of our own teachers by funding their education, part time in school and part time at the university. One female teacher is a former pupil and two others are half-way through their Higher Teachers Certificate training. Our Secondary School Principal has completed his BEd degree and our English specialist is in the first year of his degree course.
The staff work well as a unit and have gradually developed their awareness and initiative skills having been given the confidence to do so. We are pleased to report that the children enjoy the benefits of a very stable group of staff with no teacher leaving the school for more than three years. The Trustees would like to recognise their workload and commitment to the young people in their charge.
We also employ three people from the village to look after the premises including the toilet block. Other ladies from Mile36 volunteer to cook lunchtime food provided by the Government.
During the year four shipments of uniform, equipment and goods were sent via Marie Sinneh Shipping direct to Freetown where they were collected and taken to school. These shipments are essential in the functioning of the school and in supporting volunteers during visits.
Reporting on the priorities identified in the 2023 report brings more good news. The scheme to supply re-useable sanitary ware to junior secondary girls has been a great success. They confirm the added value it brings to their lives and the Ministry have made a contribution.
The introduction of Internet access has been of limited success for pupils yet invaluable for staff training. Limited bandwidth and the small number of computers has restricted development. Prospects are looking better with the possibility of WiFi access via satellite and a donation for at least ten additional computers. As part of our safeguard policy software will be built into the system to prevent inappropriate use.
Exam results are good in most subjects but lack of skills in reading and understanding English is still a concern. Plans to improve this continue, including a more co-ordinated whole school approach from year one, more training for primary teachers and the use of technology to promote individual learning.
One of our teachers has worked with senior pupils on a garden project and we are pleased to report that we were able to sample the first crop of pineapples. Groundnuts are also being sown.
The review of teachers’ salaries was completed and anomalies sorted Staff would always like more money but now are happy that equity and transparency prevail. Regular contact, discussion and the sharing of ideas has helped to develop the sense of unity that we now feel. A Zoom meeting on payday is much appreciated by them and they are encouraged to respond by WhatsApp, text or email. This improved level of communication has proved very useful in advising, motivating and congratulating staff members.
The Trustees are able to report that there have been no serious incidents at the school
More information on the structure and operation of the school is available via the website www.thedavidschool.co.uk which we try to update on a regular basis. We also produce a newsletter ‘The David School Messenger’ which is available on the website but can be delivered directly to interested parties by email. Please register your interest at wallwork26@btinternet.com
Original Signed in May 2025 by the Trustees as a true record.
David Wallwork
Janet B Wallwork
Catherine S Thomas
Sylvia M Abblitt
Marcus G Horrell
Thw DcwiLI SchooL fr
The David School
Email-. info@thedavidschool.co.uk • Website= wv*w.thedavidschool.co.uk
Education Changes Lives
Ind8pendènt Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of The David School Trust
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of The David School
Trust for the year ended 31 Dernber 2024.
As the Charity Trustees you are spOnSible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act").
The Charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under
section 144{2) of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to..
examine accounts under section 145 of the Act.
follow the procedures laid down by the applicable Directions given by the
Chaiity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
An examination incSudes a review of the accounb'ng records kept by the charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts and seeking
explanations from you as Trustees conceming any such matters.
I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to
my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that
in, any material respect the..
. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act., or
. accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or
accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and
content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations
2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is
not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in orderto enable
proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached.
Name.. Michael John Houlden
Signed..
Address.. Forest Lodge, 4 Stocken Hall Mevts,
Stretton, Oakham LE15 7RL
Date:
17, MAY Joi£
'5tsrEd Charity Na 1129314
## **THE DAVID SCHOOL TRUST Charity Number 1129314** Year Ended 31 December 2024 **HMRC Reference XT19571**
|**INCOME**||**2023**||||**2024**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Gift Aid Donations**|||||||||
|Lump Sum and Small Donations Scheme|£|25,949
|||£|16,065
|||
|Direct Debits|£|5,806
|||£|8,467
|||
||||£|31,755
|||£|24,532
|
|Other Donations and Contributions|£|17,575
|||£|9,805
|||
|Gift Aid Reclaim|£|7,854
|||£|6,102
|||
|Bank Interest|£|176
|||£|158
|||
||||£|25,605
|||£|16,065
|
|Sierra Leone non UK Receipts|||||||||
||||£|57,360
|||£|40,597
|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||||||
|Teachers Salaries/Wages|£|5,745
|||£|6,332
|||
|Pension Provision NASSIT|£|601
|||£|710
|||
|Teacher Training Fees|£|3,750
|||£|3,728
|||
|Shipping Costs and Transportation|£|3,365
|||£|3,122
|||
|School Repairs and Maintenance|£|12,533
|||£|10,559
|||
|School Furniture and Equipment|£|5,037
|||£|485
|||
|Supported Studets/Welfare|£|3,704
|||£|2,107
|||
|Food and Medical|£|5,574
|||£|4,315
|||
|Volunteer Costs(Self-funded)|£|17,304
|||£|13,833
|||
|Website|£|279
|||£|318
|||
|Bank Charges SL|£|210
|||£|220
|||
|Miscellaneous- Printing, Exam Fees, Unifor|£|742
|||£|1,070
|||
||||£|58,844
|||£|46,799
|
|Excess/Deficit Expenditure over Income|||**-£**|**1,484**
|||**-£**|**6,202**
|
|Balance brought forward 1 January|||£|32,218
|||£|30,734
|
|Balance carried forward 31 December|||£|30,734
|||£|24,532
|
|Balance at Bank UK|||£|21,351
|||£|15,396
|
|Balance at Bank SL|||£|1,529
|||£|3,034
|
||||£|22,880
|||£|18,430
|
## **Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024**
|||**2023**||**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**|||||
|Sundry Debtors|£|7,854
|£|6,102
|
|Balance at Bank UK|£|21,351
|£|15,396
|
|Balance at Bank SL|£|1,529
|£|3,034
|
||**£**|**30,734**
|**£**|**24,532**
|