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AFRICAN WOMENS AID NETWORK (AWAN)
15, Hilltop Lane, Heswall, Wirral Cheshire, CH60 2TT
Email: cheshirelife@aol.com. Tel: 07850 154651
Charity Reg No. 1133118
African Women’s Aid Network (AWAN)
Annual Report & Financial Statements For the year ended 30[th] June 2023
African Women’s Aid Network Report & Accounts Contents
Charity Information Ethos, Ethics & Mission Statement Trustees report Independent examiners report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to Accounts
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ETHOS, ETHICS & MISSION STATEMENT
Brice Burgum and the late Joni Bather created AWAN in 2009. We operate in the UK with one trustee and two volunteers. There is only one trustee in Uganda who is paid a nominal salary. We have the same in Kenya.
We decided to deal with women and children because we believed that they were in a very precarious position in East Africa, where we would be operating. At the same time, if given the chance, they were very capable of improving their circumstances.
We decided right away to build up our organisation to reduce all wages and administrative expenses. We want the largest amount of money made to directly affect the people it is meant to help.
We don't have any particular religion. We do not preach, but we do honour and support our members and recipients in their chosen faith. We also don't discriminate or pass judgement. in any manner
Our goal is to help those in the most dire circumstances—such as child soldiers, rape victims, war victims, disabled people, and street children—by empowering them to support themselves instead of living a life of dependency on aid. This includes women, frequently with children, lone children, orphans, and street children. We accomplish this by first offering them immediate assistance, then helping them start a small business (microfinance), or finding them a job that suits them, and if necessary, arranging for their own or their children's education.
Our focus has been on giving Kampala's orphaned street children loving homes and shelter since 2017.
Our children's village, Eden Children's Village, in Kampala, has 71 children as of 2023. The ages range from 18 years to 24 months. Everyone is enrolled in school, and many of them have bursaries. Because it's a more cost-effective choice, some secondary school students attend boarding schools.
Trustees Report for July 2022 - June 2023
Fundraising.
This post covid year has been more difficult for us. Whilst internet sales of our goods slumped, cost have become much higher. Thus our income is down on last year and our costs higher.
UGANDA PROJECTS
During this period we have been able to sustain our key projects though funding is a constant source of concern for us.
1. The Eden Childrens Village. This project is advancing, we have around 71 children now. Run by one of our trustees and her family. We provided the seed funding for this and also obtained several direct donors, one of our trustees in the UK and several donors in Kampala. A little more land was acquired this year for accommodation and there are around 65 children ranging in age from around 12 months to 17yrs, 70% female. There are also some boys beyond school age who work in a small fruit farm that we started. They farm passion fruit that is sold wholesale into the local market. Our small pig farm is also providing income and now has around 45 pigs. We will bring our pig farming to an end within the next 2 years and begin a new non animal venture.
- The ‘Swamp Farm’ is constantly providing food and income for the project. We have now added a second small pool and changed to farming catfish as the turnaround is faster.
At the children's village we have 400 laying hens in a barn setup where they are free to roam. The children look after them. They provide a good source of protein for the children and the remainder are sold on. When the hens come to the end of their lives they provide meat .
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The concrete block manufacturing enterprise is going well a we are building a customer base and expanding the range of products.
Most of the pigs from our pig farm have been sold of and the money invested in starting a Posho Mill business. It will take some time to complete this project however
The Remaining pigs and land etc will be put up for sale later in the year.
We have a number of properties that are rented out at affordable rents, this bringing in much needed local income. A small block of apartments was purchased early in 2022 with tenants in. The cost was approx £20,000 and this was paid for by a trustee. earnings from the rentals will be used locally Any income generated locally in Uganda is independent of the UK operation
Kenya
Right now, we are helping about four families, totaling twenty persons. Two women have HIV, and antiretroviral medication is frequently not free. In the upcoming years, we expect to be able to get them to the point where they can sustain themselves completely. After that, we will focus on other areas. FUTURE PROJECTS
We hope to increase the fish farming project as there is a demand for catfish and tilapia locally
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Any comments and help with the work we are doing would be most welcome. We are a small charity with at the moment very limited funds – but we ensure that every penny is effective.
We will be happy to send a DVD with video, photo’s and documents connected with our work to anyone who feels they may like to help or know more.
African Women’s Aid Network Independent Examiner’s Report
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I report on the accounts of the trust for the year ended 30[th] June 2023 which are set out on the following pages.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and the Independent examiner
As the charities trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts: you consider the audit requirement of s.43 (2) of the Charities act 1993 does not apply. It is my responsibility to state , on the basis of procedures specified in the general directions given by the charity Commission under s.43(7)(b) of the Act whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent examiners statement
My examination was carried out in Accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and the comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would require audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiners statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirement to:
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keep accounting records in accordance with s.41 of the act and
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prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met: or
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(ii) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Derick Humphry Independent Examiner LG Algezares 9 B-1 Campillo De Los Jimenez 30439 Murcia Spain
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African Women’s Aid Network Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30[th] June 2023
| Incoming resources. | £ |
|---|---|
| Sale of Donated Items & Value added items | 46727 |
| Misc Income | 546 |
| Donations | 420 |
| ----------------- | |
| Total Incoming resources | 47693 |
| Resources Expended | |
| Project Costs expended in East Africa | 24695 |
| (Kenya £18,000,Uganda £22,299) Approx. | |
| Transport & Fuel costs | 1519 |
| Office (Inc Admin & Phones) & other materials | 1377 |
| Carriage & Postage | 8360 |
| Purchase of materials for adding value | 5248 |
| Vat | 243 |
| UGANDA TRAVEL | 989 |
| eBay fees | 3630 |
| NI | 2321 |
| Misc | 140 |
| ------------ | |
| Total Resources Expended | 48522 |
| _ | |
| (Deficit ( owed to Trustee) | 829 ) |
| Balance B/fwd 1st July 2020 | 1264 |
| Balance C/fwd 30th June 2021 | 133 |
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African Women’s Aid Network Statement of Assets & Liabilities for the year ended 30[th] June 2023
| Funds | |
|---|---|
| Current Assets | £ |
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | 133 |
| ---------- | |
| Net Current assets | 133 |
| ______ | |
| The funds of the Charity: | |
| Income funds | 133 |
| Total Charity Funds | ----------- |
| 133 | |
| _ |
This financial statement was approved by the trustees of African Women’s Aid Network On……11th June…2025 And signed on their behalf by:
Brice Burgum
B.F. Burgum Trustee ………………..
African Women’s Aid Network Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30[th] June 2023
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1. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation of the accounts
The financial statements are prepared on an ongoing basis, under the historical cost convention.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of recommended practice, “Accounting & Reporting by Charities” and any applicable legislation.
Incoming resources.
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amounts can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on a cash basis and has been included under expenses categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Administrative expenditure relates to costs incurred in running and managing the charity.
Funds
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion or the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for specific purposes.
Status
African Women’s Aid Network is a registered charity (with charitable aims & objectives) with the Charity Commission Reg No. 1133118