Brick By Brick Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2024 Pagelof8
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTrATIVE DEfAILS Name: Brick By Brick Charity Re8lStration Number (regbtered in England and Wales with the Charity Commission): 1129596 Trustees: Sarah Vallance-Goode, Chairman Ashley Aarons Alex Goode Alison Pearson Neil Pearson Sian Chadwlck {Appointed June 2024) Prfncipal Office and Admlnlstrative Add 46 Willoughby Road LONDON NW3 IRU Website: brickbybrickeducationMg Bankers: National Westminster Bank Pk Page2of8
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT STRucfuRE. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Brick By Brick is a charity governed by a Trust Deed dated l April 2009. Its object is: o advance the education of children In developin8 countries by bullding and operating schools." The principal activity of the charity, which comprises building primary schools and donating them free of charge to the local community, is entirely for educational and social welfare purposes. Brick by Brick currently operates solely in Malawi. All of the schools built so far have been for pupils of primary age. In practice, once the fabric of a school has been created and basic facilities provided, it is handed over to be run by the government. In addition, a small number of scholarships are provided to allow motivated students to continue to secondary education. The charity keeps in touch and visits annually when possible, often supplementing the initial investment by building additional classrooms, funding repairs and supplying items such as desks and chairs. The organisational structure of the charity is simple; there are no employees. Any activity in the UK is carried out by its trustees and, when overseas, by the trustees, paid contrartors and volunteers, usually villagers or parents in the local area. The initial term of office for a trustee is three years, but trustees can be re- appointed and serve unlimited numbers of terms. The sudden death of the Chairman and co-founder, David Aarons, early in 2019 required a review of governance arrangements, including the appointment of a larger board. Trustees were recruited principally to maintain family links with the founders including David's wrfe, Sarah. Nicola Silverleaf, a Chartered Accountant, took on the role of treasurer in October 2019 and Ashley Aarons (David's son) and Alex Goode (Sarah's son) completed the board. Nicola Silverleaf resigned in Page3of8
February 2023 following which Alison and Neil Pearson, family friends of the Vallance-Goodes joined in May 2023 to enhance the board. Sian Chadwick, a Chartered Accountant and friend of Sarah joined the board in June 2024 to take on the responsibility for the finances. Induction is given to new trustees, including moeting with the Chair and Treasurer to discuss roles, responsibilities and attivities, and a review of the Trust deed. PUBLIC BENEFIT The trustees confirm they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commissioners, general guidance on public benefit, "Charities and Public Benefif. All the activities of the charity are for the benefit of children resident in Malawi. Approved by the Trustees on 9 January 2025 S rfrtLLA/cc Pa8e4of8
FINANCIAL REVIEW Simple accounts, prepared on a receipts and payments basis as recommended by the Charity Commission for a charity of this size, are appended to this report. Following an appeal that was made in 2023 on behalf of the charity by Sarah at a series of benefit events held to celebrate the rugby career of Alex Goode, a large donation of £20,000 was secured. Other donations totalled £2,100 making total income, including gift aid, of £27,600. Expenditure for the year was £11,073. £8,206 was paid to contractors in Malawi to renovate current school buildings, £325 was spent on sports equipment and £2.542 was paid in expenses to Sarah Vallance-Goode to cover the trip to Malawi in November 2023. In summary therefore, as shown in the attached Receipts and Payments accounts, total income of £27,697 exceeded total spend of £11,073. The cash balance increased during the year from £5.334 on l April 2023 to £21,959 on 31" March 2024. RISK The Trustees have considered the risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to minimise them. Although the charity has had no regular source of income other than from the founders and from sundry donations. its reactive strategy means that it cannot exceed its income. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees consider the need for reserves to be minimal as the strategy is to react to income generation or to make the personal donations necessary to deliver the plans. There are no employees and very few operating overheads. This policy proved effective during the period of inactivity prompted by the death of the chairman, before the receipt of a legacy from his estate, but Page5of8
highlighted the need for additional resources to satisfy the demand for new schools, and the maintenance of those already built. Reserves are all held in cash and comprise the unrestricted funds of the charity. ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS TO 202312024 Since it was founded in 2009, the charity has operated as originally envisaged, and has now funded, built and handed over 11 schools in rural Malawi. All of these are still in operation. The areas in which the charity operates are shown on the map below. 2 are Yto i hrfrvrniown Olher 3. 2 I1$ awav T AWZ41iIA frcffl 3 fourhw I I IrS wa* from ZAII•IA In November 2023. Sarah visited Malawi to review the condition of the schools and to assess the need for further projects in anticipation of future funds being received. She noted that schools near main roads do well and have plenty of teachers. Remote schools are having difficulty retaining teachers especially female teachers. This Is an issue that is known to the Government. Sarah discussed the government feeding programs and arranged for the purchase of 160 cups. Pa8e6of8
Sarah visited Montsanto which has 196 pupils. It is well run with a good Headmaster and 8 teachers. 8 solar lamps have been installed in the staff room and 8 standard lamps elsewhere. In Louwe there is a new school with 183 pupils. There is a headmaster. deputy and 2 volunteers in place but no register as yet. Sarah visited Mbowe where there are 197 pupils, a headmaster and 6 teachers. It was noted that 35 bags of cement are missing and Sarah has asked the team to investigate properly to find thern and report back. Future plans The receipt of David's legacy put the charity on a firm financial footing, and more active fundraising has been achieved successfully thanks to the generosity of Alex Goode in publicising the work of the Charity during his benefit year and beyond. The charity plans to sponsor a number of pupils who have finished their primary education through secondary school. This will be done by a sponsoring program. Brick by Brick is wanting to build another school but this is being put on hold currently due to lack of teachers. Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 Numbers shown in separate document attached to thi5 report. Notes to the accounts Basis of preparation As recommended by the Charity Commission for a charity of this size, these accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments rather than an accruals basis. This means that only transactions which had passed through the bank account at the year*nd are included as income or expenditure. Pa8e7of8
Filln8 The accounts and annual report will be filed with the Charity Commission. Related party transartion5 Other than payment of expenses incurred in Malawi during 2023 to Sarah Vallance-Goode (explained in the Financial Review) there were no related party transactions. Page8of8
CHARITY (OMAIISSION FOR ENGLAND AP40 WALES 8rfck 8y 1129 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forth? period PenLxJ $lart d To 31-Mar-24 01 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricied nds Restrictod fvndg End01n0nt fvnds L••ty•ar Tolal fund A1 RIpts Don¥fy)ns iDdfv&Tr Gft aly on abD¥e 97 Z7fft7 UJ2 Sub total(Gross w)come trAR) A2 Assot and Inv•stThnt •alo9. Is tsble). Sub totsl 27.697 27•1 3M32 A3P rnents ronthvab Trav81fv And AccJJMMc¥Jaw aid S(cA¥5hips SpDrts8wI Other Emal and Msite 8301 873 1.865 6.31S 1,242 3397 120 123 17) 1.069 119 Sub total 11.07? 11.073 10.189 A4 Ast and Inv•stmont urchaso (s•e tsble Sub lo£al 11.073 11.073 10.189 Net of re¢elp(p8nQntsj AS Trnnsfern b•tT8n funds A6 Cash funds last year •nd Cash lunds thls &Tar efftl 16. 16.624 5.335 21.959 5.335 21.gS9 P¥8eli2
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unre5trIctsd fvnds Restricted fundg Endo¥wnènt lunds ts) nwr••t£ C•tegorf t•n••rvJt£ ID D•4r••i£ B1 Cash fund 1.812 20.0•7 Total c•sh funds 21.959 Unrnstrlct•d funds R•strletsd Endoryn•nt fund$ funds n••r•t£ Details n•arnJt£ F¥ndtA¢h D•tsils CumttAIu• Dttails CMtlopOothD B4 Assets r•talned for th ¢harWs own use Fund Vth•fy du• Ilon• BS Uablllll Sknature Print Nam Dats of IIIA(( VA(Lp4JCE- Pa8e2012
| Mytholmroyd i HX7 SHA Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). None Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl l Brick by Brick members of , On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charity no (if any) 1129596 Set out on pages I I I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trusf) for the year ended Responsibilitie5 and As the charty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {he Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed rny examination. I confirm 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: accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attents'on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Independent examiner'5 Statement Signed: Date: Name: i James Reader Relevant professional i ACA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address= | Hoo Hole House, IER October 2018