2022-08-31-accounts - Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Sponsor A Gambian Child

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 August 2022

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Sponsor A Gambian Child

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 August 2022

The trustees of Sponsor A Gambian Child (“the Charity”) present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

The principal aim of the Charity is the furthering of education in The Republic of The Gambia through the sponsorship of primary and secondary school age children as well as individuals continuing their education at university level.

The children who benefit from sponsorship from Sponsor A Gambian Child have to fit into the specified criteria as set out below:

Children from families whose parents/guardians are not in paid employment;
Children from families whose parents/guardians are self-employed at a level which provides an income insufficient to be able to afford to educate their children;
The trustees in England instruct Mr Muctarr Bojang (co-founder and trustee in The Gambia) to prioritise the children who are in most need of sponsorship.

Sponsor A Gambian Child invite donors to support a particular child with the hope that the donor will support the child’s education needs for the years remaining in their education. The Charity pays for the school fees, uniform, school lunches, books & stationery and other school or education related expenses.

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees of Sponsor A Gambian Child

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2021 as set out on pages 2 to 9.

Responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner

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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 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 did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning 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 fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

………………………………… Date: …………………………………

Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Structure & Governance

The Charity’s trust

The Charity is constituted as a charitable trust created by deed. The governing document of the Charity is a trust deed dated 5 August 2009 as amended by a deed dated 21 October 2013.

Trustees may be elected to the Charity by being nominated by an existing trustee. The nominated trustee will be appointed upon the acceptance by a majority of the trustees at a meeting of the trustees.

Other governance points to note

The organisation was founded in 2008 and was formally registered with the Charity Commission on 12 April 2010. The Charity has been accepted by HMRC to participate in the Gift Aid support program for eligible donations.

The Charity has no official relationships with other parties or organisations. The trustees may, in a personal capacity, sponsor one or more children via the Charity.

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Aims & Objectives

Objectives of the Charity

The objectives of the Charity are to promote education in the Republic of the Gambia through sponsorship of children of primary, secondary and university age and to support other general fundraising activities with the aim of providing facilities, equipment or services in support of educational development.

Activities undertaken for the public benefit

The main objective of the Charity is to improve the education chances of children and young adults in The Gambia. The Charity will select eligible children on the basis of the needs of the child and their family.

The Charity produces a report each year which details the activities undertaken during the year to show the public benefit and the achievement of the aims and objectives. A summary of the activities is presented on page 5 of this report.

Other points to note regarding activities for the public benefit

The Charity controls grants closely. When an award has been made, the Charity pays the school fees, purchases uniform, shoes, school books and other education related equipment and services directly so as to avoid simply giving money to the family of the child. This ensures the grant is only spent on what is intended.

The Charity is run entirely by volunteers, both in England and in The Gambia. It does not employ staff and is managed on a day-to-day basis predominantly by Carol Kendall-Smith and Muctarr Bonjang. No fees are paid to the trustees.

Administrative costs are controlled carefully. When providing grants the Charity incurs banking charges involved in sending monies internationally.

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Achievements & Performance

Summary of achievements for the year

The tourist industry has been hugely affected which has had a huge knock-on effect for thousands of people. Imported goods have risen in price greatly. So the financial circumstances for people have posed a serious problem. A bag of rice costs £30.00. This would feed a family of 15 for about three weeks. If you’d like to give your family this, I can arrange it.

Schools were closed for several months. Children do not have the benefit of on-line learning, so it’s been a huge problem. Teachers were liaising with children individually setting them work. When schools reopened, lessons were held in the evenings and at weekends. What commitment from both students and teachers…..

Here’s some facts and figures:

There have been 517 children who have been supported through Sponsor a Gambian Child
There are currently 223 children being educated now, from Nursery to Grade 12
There have been 20 students who have gained university places
There are currently 7 students attending university
This is our 13[th] year

Most of the students who have either graduated from university or left school with qualifications have gone on the secure employment. Careers include nursing, teaching, the business sector, police, army, shop work, tourism, and have started their own business. Many students ‘give back’ to schools by volunteering in many ways – sports, reading, extra lessons etc.

Parcels – three consignments have been sent – July 2020, April 2021 and November 2021. The gap between July 2020 and April 2021 was mainly because of lockdown and I didn’t want to put pressure on people to go shopping. I am planning on doing another one in a couple of months. It might be that next time, we can give you the option for you to send your child’s family some money rather than a parcel. I’ll let you know!

Gift Aid – a significant amount of Gift Aid during the past two years has been spent on essential food and medical items. It’s also paid for a couple of children whose sponsors have had to withdraw and three university students.

Appeal – the appeal I organised two years ago generated just over £10,000. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The money was spent on food, water containers, soap, masks, sanitiser and medical items. The appeal is still open if you’d like to contribute!

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Finances

Financial review summary

The principal source of raising funds is donations received from sponsors. The sponsor will donate monies equivalent to the cost of educating a child in the Gambia for a year. A child will be selected based on an assessment made by the Charity taking into account the needs of the child and his or her family’s ability to pay for education.

Other fundraising activity is achieved through donations not related to the education of one specific child. This includes activities such as sponsored walks, cake sales, sales of The Gambia related crafts, car boot sales and other non-specific fundraising. The Charity also recovers Gift Aid from HMRC where a donation is given supported by a Gift Aid Declaration.

The Charity continues to be run entirely by volunteers; no staff members or trustees take any wages or fees from the Charity. The Charity operates a very frugal cost base. Incidental administrative costs are often borne directly by the trustees in a personal capacity. General banking facilities are provided free of charge and the Charity attempts to consolidate international bank transfers to limit bank charges. International bank charges have been eradicated during this year due to the switch to an alternative foreign exchange service provider.

A summary of the receipts and payments of the Charity is provided on page 7.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees

………………………………… …………………………………

Carol Kendall-Smith, Trustee

Richard Kendall-Smith, Trustee

Date: …………………………………

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Receipts & Payments

For the twelve months ended 31 August 2022

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS

	Unrestricted	Other Funds	Total 2021	Total 2020
	Funds
RECEIPTS
Sponsorship	648,69	-	76,222	76,222
Gift Aid	4,844	-	9,885	9,885
Other	11,100	-	-	-
Fraud Refunds	-	-	-	-
TOTAL RECEIPTS	80,814	-	86,107	86,107
PAYMENTS
Grants Made	67,740	-	90,992	90,992
Administration	380	-	-	-
Bank Charges	42	-	-	-
Adjustments	4,500		290	290
TOTAL PAYMENTS	72,662	-	91,282	91,282
Net Receipts/(Payments)	8,152	-	(5,175)	(5,175)
Cash Funds lastyear end	1,557	-	6,732	6,732
Cash Funds thisyear end	9,709	-	1,557	1,557

ASSETS & LIABILITIES

	Unrestricted	Other Funds	Total 2021	Total 2020
	Funds
Cash at bank	9,709	-	1,557	1,557
Other monetary assets	-	-	-	-
Investment assets	-	-	-	-
Retained assets	-	-	-	-
Liabilities	-	-	-	-
	9,709	-	1,557	1,557

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees

…………………………………

Carol Kendall-Smith, Trustee

Richard Kendall-Smith, Trustee

Date: …………………………………

Sponsor A Gambian Child

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Administration & Other Information

Charity Name: Sponsor A Gambian Child

Registered Number: 1135446

Trustees

The trustees who held office during the year were:

Carol Kendall-Smith Jonathan Blundell Thomas Kendall-Smith Richard Kendall-Smith Muctarr Y Bojang

Office

18 Four Limes Wheathampstead AL4 8JN

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc 13-14 Cornmarket Thame Oxfordshire OX9 2BN