The Vinjeru School Trust - Charity No: 1135234
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2020
The trustees present their annual report and the independently examined accounts for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020.
Name and principal address
The name of the charity is The Vinjeru School Trust and the principal address is 17 Sayer Way, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6BN.
Trustees
The trustees who served during the period were: Ross Power – Chair Roberta Power – Vice Chair Martin Hodder – Treasurer Jonathan Field – Secretary Gillian Hodder David Power Adrian Bright Andrew Young Malcolm Pickard
Objectives
The objectives of the Trust are:
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To raise funds for the building and establishment of a school based on Christian principles in the town of Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia.
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To provide education and bring hope to the underprivileged children in Kapiri Mposhi who would otherwise not be able to afford education.
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To raise funds to operate an effective bursary scheme to enable a quarter of the students to have a reduced fee or a free place.
The School is accessible to all, regardless of race, religion or gender. The school endeavours to provide quality, holistic education which will be of benefit to the students and to the wider community in the area around Kapiri Mposhi.
Review of Activities
2019 –2020 presented significant challenges for the Trust as the Vinjeru School had to deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pandemic
The pandemic in Zambia led the government to order that all schools be closed for a significant period of time. This affected the education of many children and reduced the income of the school from those families who pay fees.
Examinations
Despite the pandemic, the national examinations were held for grades 9 and 12. The teachers worked incredibly hard to support the students who had been working from home even when they were not able to attend school.
The students from Vinjeru again achieved a pass rate of 100% which puts Vinjeru Trust School in the top strata of schools in the region and the country.
The Vinjeru School Trust - Charity No: 1135234
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2020 (continued)
Boarding
This year, we welcomed boarders to the school for the first time. The female only boarders were initially housed in rented accommodation and then moved to temporary accommodation on the school site. The boarding facility ensures that students from a wider geographical area can attend the school and benefit from high quality teaching. This model also ensures more stable income generation which supports the operation and sustainability of the school.
Building
The new accommodation facility with 48 beds, a new ablution block and a staff quarters were completed in 2020. Female students are due to move in to the accommodation building at the start of the 2021 academic year.
Resources
The Trust continued to arrange for materials to be sourced, purchased and transported to Zambia to facilitate the operation of the school.
Funding
The Trust has continued to support the operational costs of the school as the school is currently in a growth phase. Due to the pandemic, the income to the school from tuition fees significantly reduced leading the Trust to provide additional resources to pay the teachers’ salaries while the school was closed (the Zambian government did not offer a furlough scheme).
The Trust held a number of Zoom Quiz fundraising events and requested additional financial aid from supporters. The Trust was overwhelmed with large and small donations and was able to provide funding to pay for the school operation without compromising building objectives.
The Trust continued to be supported by many sponsors who have continued to provide funds for tuition fees for students through our bursary scheme. Over 49 students benefited from the Vinjeru School Trust Bursary Scheme, without which, these students would not be able to access secondary education.
Supporting the School Leadership Team
The Trustees have been in even more frequent contact with the school through the last year to ensure that the Senior Leadership Team in Zambia have the appropriate resources and support.
The Trust had facilitated a number of volunteers travelling to Zambia to support the work of the school in 2019/2020. Unfortunately these individuals had to leave Zambia due to the pandemic in March 2020.
Governance
The Trustees continue to look forward to a time when the school is financially independent in its operations and governance. The Trust encouraged the establishment of a Zambian based Trust to oversee the operation of the school and its assets. It is intended that eventually, the Vinjeru School Trust (UK) will primarily focus on fundraising for building projects.
Future Work
The Trust is looking forward to building a new boarding block for boys and additional classrooms in 2021. These facilities will allow more students to benefit from excellent teaching facilities and methods at the school.
Signed on behalf of the trustees on 30th September 2021
Ross Power
Chairman
The Vinjeru School Trust – Charity No: 1135234
The Vinjeru School Trust – Charity No: 1135234
Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees for the period ended 31 December 2020
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 December 2020 which is set out on page 1.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 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.
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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
• The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or
• The accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Y P Chin Date: 20/08/2021
Chartered Accountant 50 Redwood Glade Leighton Buzzard LU7 3JT
| The Vinjeru School Trust | Charity No: 1135234 | Charity No: 1135234 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and Payments Account | ||||
| For the year to 31st December 2020 | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | ||
| funds | Funds | 31/12/2019 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||||
| General fund donations | 50,475 | 50,475 | 14,505 | |
| Building fund donations | 4,611 | 4,611 | 24,520 | |
| Simbeye fund donations | 15,285 | 15,285 | 17,082 | |
| Bursaries fund donations | 18,431 | 18,431 | 15,793 | |
| Interest income | 28 | 28 | 41 | |
| 50,503 | 38,327 | 88,830 | 71,941 | |
| Payments | ||||
| Grants paid - School operations | 7,576 | 23,606 | 31,182 | 30,107 |
| Grants paid - Building works | 36,652 | 36,652 | - | |
| Simbeye support | 14,445 | 14,445 | 16,195 | |
| Bank and finance charges | - | - | ||
| Professional fees | - | - | ||
| General administration expenses | 116 | 116 | 5,376 | |
| Asset purchases | - | - | ||
| 7,692 | 74,703 | 82,395 | 51,678 | |
| Net receipts / (payments) | 42,811 | -36,376 | 6,435 | 20,263 |
| Transfers between funds | -14,907 | 14,907 | - | - |
| Total funds brought forward | 9,770 | 29,479 | 39,249 | 18,986 |
| Total funds carried forward | 37,674 | 8,010 | 45,684 | 39,249 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total funds | ||
| funds | Funds | |||
| Cash funds | ||||
| HSBC | 37,674 | 8,010 | 45,684 | |
| 37,674 | 8,010 | 45,684 | ||
| Martin Hodder | ||||
| Trustee |