RedTribe
Charity # 1129481
Trustees’ Report and Accounts
For the year ended 31 December 2023
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees are pleased to present their report along with the receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities for the year ended 31 December 2023 and confirm that they have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s governing instrument and all applicable statutory requirements.
Constitution
The charity, which is registered with the Charity Commission, was set up under deed of trust on 1[st] May 2009.
Objects, Structure, Governance and Management
RedTribe is a non-governmental, non-political, faith-based charity seeking to partner with the Maasai communities in Olorte, Kenya, with the aim of helping them overcome the effects of poverty and preventable disease, and build a sustainable, economically viable future that conserves the environment.
Our objects, as defined in our trust deed are:
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(i) The promotion of health and relief of financial hardship among the Maasai communities of Kenya, primarily by, but not exclusively, providing such communities with education, training and the provision, improvement and maintenance of infrastructure and micro-finance, enabling members of such communities to establish and grow their own local businesses;
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(ii) To advance the Christian religion in Kenya, for the benefit of the Maasai, through the holding of prayer meetings and lectures, and producing and/or distributing literature on Christianity, to enlighten others about the Christian religion;
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(iii) To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the Maasai by:
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a. the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources,
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b. the relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in the socially and disadvantaged Maasai communities of Kenya,
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c. the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration;
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(iv) To advance the education of the Maasai in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects, provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large. Sustainable development shall mean “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
The organisation is managed by a minimum of three trustees according to our trust deed. The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Trustees
The existing trustees who served during the year were:
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Revd Mark Melluish – Chair of Trustees
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Vicky Read - Treasurer
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Fadi Barrak
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Ray Guirguis
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Claire Sullivan
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
- Rev’d Mike Tufnell
New trustees are appointed by the board of trustees, given an induction into the work of the trust and provided with guidance from the Charity Commission to fulfil their roles. Our trustees are unpaid and, whilst eligible to do so, have not incurred any expenses this year in the fulfilment of their duties.
We encourage all of our trustees to develop an active relationship with the team in Kenya and create an opportunity to visit the projects being delivered. All visits to the team in Kenya have been personally funded by the trustees.
How we work
RedTribe was formed to raise funds, manage donations and provide support for operations in Kenya. RedTribe began in 2009, under the name Walking with Maasai (changed in 2014), with the vision of partnering with the rural Maasai communities of the Olorte area of southern Kenya, where about 12,000 people live. The remoteness of this community puts it almost beyond the reach of the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation, leaving it firmly in the grip of poverty and underdevelopment. Its projects aim to bring assistance in a holistic way that doesn’t fundamentally change the Maasai culture. Whilst the people of Olorte are predominantly Maasai, other tribes are also integrated members of the community and RedTribe makes no distinction between them in the projects and services it delivers.
The RedTribe team in Olorte consists of a number of operations managers (mostly Maasai and one nonKenyan) and several local support staff. Other local community members are employed from time to time according to project or operational needs.
We, the RedTribe trustees, take a continued role to receive donations and sales income in the UK and disperse them to Kenya to fund the projects and operations. In addition, the trustees seek to provide some basic governance around the projects to ensure that the funds deliver the benefits to the Maasai community, in line with the wishes of the donors.
Activities
In general, the activities that RedTribe undertakes can be broadly categorised as follows:
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Public health – this includes providing basic healthcare, education on general health matters and nutritional advice;
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Education for primary school children – this involves building and operating a new primary school to meet the capacity needs of the community and to improve standards of education;
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Income generation – this is mainly through the creation of employment opportunities for the local community members through participation in the various projects;
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Church leadership development – this largely involves equipping leaders and members in their roles in the various active local churches in Olorte.
These activities fall into two categories:
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Projects – which have a finite life and deliver a specific end result, such as a building, and
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Operations – which are steady state day-to-day activities that typically deliver a service, such as healthcare or education.
What we achieved
The following progress is reported for the work that RedTribe did in 2023 among the Maasai communities in the Loita Hills, spanning the continuation of existing long running projects, new projects and operations.
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
MAASAI ACADEMY
Our teaching team focussed on delivering quality wducation. Grades 6-8 were given the opportunity for on-site boarding with extra evening classes and tutorials on the weekend. This investment proved to be successful as the Academy achieved its best results placing the school at the top of the table in the Education division. The building team continued to construct dormitories at the school.
Further Education Scholarship Programme
We launched a Scholarship Programme to invest bright but marginalised children to help them through further education/university. In 2023 RedTribe gave 4 scholarships to gifted young students who completed Secondary School. They all went on to university to study Engineering, Medicine and Community Development.
REDTRIBE BEADWORK
The beadwork enterprise worked on designing new collections in 2023. We also tested a few new events to sell the jewellery. Sales were steady throughout the year and are closer to our pre-pandemic levels.
CLINIC AND HEALTHCARE
The clinic continues to expand its services in 2023. We recruited a new Clinical Officer to join the team as the demand for our services increased. We invested in constructing a new dental room and maternity delivery suite. The clinic team is doing a weekly outreach to remote villages to focus on antenatal care and vaccinations.
WATER PROJECTS
The RedTribe Team continued to maintain and service the 11 different water projects that serves around 3000 people. We installed a new water project at the local girls’ secondary school in Olorte, which means the girls have access to clean water on site. This year we scouted new springs in the forest which will allow us to bring water to more villages and schools.
REDTRIBE FARMING PROJECTS
The RedTribe farm continues to grow food for the Maasai Academy and RedTribe projects. The farm currently provides vegetables for around 18,400 meals a month as the number of children and staff have grown at the school. RedTribe rolled out a project to plant 250 acres of maize and beans for the most vulnerable families in the community. We planted an acre each for 250 families – the harvest was successful, and we estimate that around 5,000 people benefitted from this project. Each family received enough maize from their harvest to feed them for 6-7 months.
REDTRIBE COMPOUND AND STAFF
RedTribe now employs 36 staff members in its different projects. Our building projects employ around 15 casual staff. All the permanent staff now receive hospital and social insurance. This loyal team of staff works hard as the projects are growing and making an impact in the community.
LOOKING FORWARDS
The services RedTribe provide are now affecting a community of 15,000 people. We want to invest in the hardworking team members to ensure that they have the capacity and skills to grow in their roles as they serve their community. The key areas RedTribe want to focus on are long term food security, education, healthcare, income generation and scholarships to ensure succession planning.
Underlining all these activities is Christian outlook and leadership training to ensure the RedTribe team puts God and the community first and work towards a future where everyone regardless of their faith will prosper and be lifted out of poverty.
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
Financial review
We began this year with funds of £100,250 from previous donations.
This year we received a total of £119,757; £87,176 as donations from individuals, churches, companies and other charitable trusts. £19,262 came from the sale of beadwork which has increased by 60% over 2022 and is close to our pre-pandemic sales. We also received £12,217 for fundraising activities which included trips to see the projects in Kenya.
We spent £101,506 on our projects in Kenya, including £90,453 of direct grant funding to RedTribe Kenya. A further £3,874 was spent on projects costs in the UK, mostly beadwork materials. We spent £2,307 on fundraising/selling costs mostly relating to beadwork sales costs, marketing and fundraising. Governance costs include fees for the preparation of the accounts and annual report and accounting software charges.
We therefore end the year with funds of £110,302.
The details of our financial performance are set out in our accounts on the following pages.
Reserves policy
RedTribe’s reserves policy is to follow the Charity Commission guidelines of holding six months’ operational costs in reserve as funds.
Advisors
To help us with our work this year we have been grateful for the contribution of the following professional advisors:
Solicitor: Sweetman Burke and Sinker, 158-160 The Broadway, London W13 0TL Banker: Barclays Bank PLC, 52 The Broadway, London W5 5JT Examiner: Graham Bonds FCA, Buchanan Bonds Ltd Chartered Accountants, 39 Braehead Crescent, Aberdeenshire AB39 2PP
Registered office
The registered address of RedTribe is: c/o St Paul’s Church Ridley Avenue London W13 9XW
T: 020 8579 9444 W: www.redtribe.org
This report is approved by the Trustees on …23 October 2024….. and signed on their behalf by:
Rev’d Mark Melluish
Vicky Read
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees’ of RedTribe
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 8 to 11.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Graham Bonds FCA
Buchanan Bonds ltd. Chartered Accountants 39 Braehead Crescent Stonehaven Aberdeenshire AB39 2PP
Date: 23-10-2024
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
RedTribe
Receipts and Payments Account
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2023 total | 2022 total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | funds | |
| Receipts | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Voluntary Receipts | ||||
| Donations from individuals | 14,741 | 12,030 | 26,772 | 27,647 |
| Donations from churches | 10,856 | 23,891 | 34,746 | 19,818 |
| Grants from trusts/foundations/companies | 1,494 | 19,883 | 21,377 | 18,522 |
| Gift Aid received | 4,281 | - | 4,281 | |
| Receipts from generated funds | ||||
| Sales income | 19,262 | - | 19,262 | 11,996 |
| Receipts from fundraising activities | 12,217 | - | 12,217 |
6,441 |
| Other Receipts | 1,102 | 1,102 |
||
| Total Receipts | 63,953 | 55,804 | 119,757 |
84,424 |
| Payments | ||||
| Charitable Activities | ||||
| Payments to Redtribe (Kenya) and costs incurred in | Kenya | |||
| Salaries and staff expenses | (21,468) | (22,218) | (43,686) | (49,397) |
| Administrative, Educational and compliance costs | (4,592) |
(2,059) | (6,652) | (275) |
| Project materials | (6,281) | (12,518) | (18,799) | (8,365) |
| Food Security | (5,062) | (21,578) | (26,640) | (9,864) |
| Buildings and vehicle Repairs and maintenance | (5,552) | (177) | (5,729) | (6,896) |
| Sub-total | (42,956) | (58,550) | (101,506) | (74,797) |
| Project costs incurred in UK | (3,806) | (68) | (3,874) |
|
| Fundraising/selling costs | (2,307) | - | (2,307) |
(7,254) |
| Governance Costs | ||||
| Bank and transaction charges | (495) | - | (495) | (95) |
| Other Admin costs | (864) | (58) | (922) | (5,799) |
| Accounting costs | (601) | - | (601) | (480) |
| Sub-total | (1,960) | (58) | (2,017) | (6,374) |
| Total Payments | (51,029) | (58,676) | (109,705) | (88,425) |
| Net Receipts/(Payments) | 12,924 | (2,872) | 10,052 | (4,001) |
| Transfers between funds | (2,629) | 2,629 | - | - |
| Cash and Bank Balances at 1 January 2023 | 55,499 | 44,751 | 100,250 | 104,251 |
| Cash and Bank Balances at 31 December 2023 | 65,794 | 44,508 | 110,302 | 100,250 |
Notes 1 to 2, on page 11, form part of these accounts.
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
RedTribe
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As at 31 December 2023
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
2023 total funds |
2022 total funds |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Cash Funds | ||||||||||
| Bank and Cash Balances: | ||||||||||
| Bank Account | 65,794 | 44,508 | 110,302 | 100,250 | ||||||
| Other Monetary Assets | ||||||||||
| Gift Aid to be claimed | 2,320 | - | 2,320 | 2,225 | ||||||
| Liabilities - current | ||||||||||
| Independent Examiner's fees | (480) | - | (480) | (480) |
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on …23 October 2024……….and signed on their behalf.
-------------------------------------------------Rev’d Mark Melluish (Chairman)
------------------------------------------------Vicky Read (Treasurer)
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
RedTribe Notes to the Accounts
1. Basis of accounting
A receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities has been produced in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008.
| 2. Funds | As at Receipts Payments Transfers As at between |
As at Receipts Payments Transfers As at between |
|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2023 £ £ £ 24,556 32,167 (23,873) 4,020 12,415 (14,292) 15,875 19,370 (12,863) 10,000 - - 1,057 - - |
funds 31/12/2023 £ £ 3,842 36,692 2,143 (6,471) 15,911 10,000 1,057 |
|
| Unrestricted | ||
| General: | ||
| General | ||
| Fundraising trips | ||
| Designated: | ||
| Beadwork | ||
| Academy | ||
| Staff Training | ||
| 55,499 63,953 (51,029) |
(2,629) 65,794 |
|
| - - 2,461 4,641 (13,573) 5,045 - - 273 6,269 (5,220) 24,674 11,350 (10,357) 5,165 - (4,318) 3,500 - (3,087) 170 - - (0) 23,929 (19,746) 342 - - - 9,390 (2,358) 2,715 - (18) 350 - - 25 225 - 33 - - |
6,471 - 5,045 1,322 25,667 847 413 170 (3,842) 341 342 7,032 2,697 350 250 33 |
|
| Restricted | ||
| Maasai Academy | ||
| Academy Building | ||
| Academy Sponsorship | ||
| Clinic | ||
| Clinic Building | ||
| Clinic Water | ||
| FGM | ||
| Food Security | ||
| Bridge | ||
| Further/Higher Education | ||
| Water Projects | ||
| Logburner | ||
| Landrover | ||
| Carpentry | ||
| 44,751 55,804 (58,676) |
2,629 44,508 |
|
| - - 100,250 119,757 (109,705) |
- 110,302 |
|
| Total |
Maasai Academy – funding for supporting the costs of the Maasai Academy. Academy Building – funds given for construction of new buildings and associated facilities, e.g. classrooms, dormitories.
Academy Sponsorship – funds given to cover school fees for specific children. Clinic – funds given towards costs of Maasai clinic and community healthcare. Clinic Building – funds given for construction and enhancing current clinic buildings.
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023
Clinic Water – funds given for enhancing water supply to current clinic buildings FGM – funds given towards FGM initiatives in the community.
Food Security – funds given for projects to improve food security including ploughing and sowing 250 acres of maize, providing food parcels to community families, providing meals to those in school and purchasing malnutrition treatment packs.
Bridge – funds given towards construction of a river crossing
Further/Higher education – funds given to provide scholarships for further and higher education courses Water Projects – funds given for provision of water supplies in the community Log burner – funds given towards to purchase of a log burner Landrover – funds given to support maintenance of the Landrover Carpentry – funds given for carpentry tools and material.
Additional notes:
£3,842 of funding was required as seedcorn funding for the Food Security project during 2022 and it was agreed by the Trustees that this would be sent in advance of any donations into this fund and was taken from the General Fund. Donations were received in 2023 for Food Security and St Paul’s PCC agreed that their donations could cover any additional outlay so this has been transferred from the Food Security Fund to the General Fund to reflect this.
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RedTribe Trustees Annual Report and Accounts 2023