Gulu Mission Initiative Annual report 2021/2022
Welcome
What a year it has been. On one hand there have been many challenges and frustrations with everything that has gone on with COVID, but on the other hand we have seen huge strides ahead which have been very exciting for us. Gulu Mission has and always will be about helping to change and transform family life through our vision of education, church leadership and feeding those in desperate need. In Deuteronomy 15 v 10 it says ‘Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to’. NIV
We are thankful for all that we have been able to achieve this year, despite all the interruptions.
At the beginning of 2022 we have seen many children return to Bethel schools and continue with their education, and succeeding in their exam results.
Bethel Secondary and Primary schools
Senior 4 students began their national exams on 26th February 2021, which ended on 6th April. On 1st March Primary 6 and Senior 3 students were able to return to school. Sadly, in June 2021, after just 3 months back at school Uganda went back into another lockdown for 42 days.
There has been a lot of disruption for the students at both schools as they have suffered a third lockdown. Students have returned to home learning, which many are unable to access, as families are struggling to survive and children need to find different resources to feed their families.
GMI has been able to continue to support a skeleton staff at both Bethel primary and secondary schools. The staff travelled and visited students in their homes, and made phone calls where possible, and sent home learning materials to those that could be reached.
On 10th January 2022 schools were finally re-opened and lots of students returned, which is such good news. There were also many challenges too, like finding new nurses and English teachers as many had gone to find work in government schools, in the army or started their own businesses, but we can report that all has been sorted and both schools are doing well.
We were also able to gift the teachers at Bethel £700 as a thank you for all their hard work during a difficult year.
Senior 4 students did extremely well in their national examinations in February despite the COVID restrictions during the past two years:
Senior 4 students after their exams
First grade - 10 students Second grade - 34 students Third grade - 36 students Fourth grade - 18 students
By regional standards this was a very good performance. One of the best performing students appeared in the national newspaper; the Sunday Monitor.
School inspection
In September, the Uganda National Examination board – (UNEB) school inspectors visited Bethel High school to see whether they could become a sitting centre for national examinations. This is such a huge step for them as it would mean that they would no longer have to transport pupils long distances to undertake their national exams, which can be very costly.
We were delighted to be given a centre number. This also means that other schools can use the centre too. It holds 800 students!
Continuing to feed the vulnerable
Gulu Mission has continued giving to help with feeding the vulnerable especially to the elderly who are unable to grow their own food, as gardening it too difficult. So, in April 2021 Phoebe visited Paicho and Oswaldo sub countries to feed 200 vulnerable people.
In August over 60 Pastors were given 15kg beans and 5kg sugar. We gave to these Pastors as during COVID have had no jobs, they weren’t able to get to their gardens and no churches were in a position to support them.
In September, Phoebe visited Pugwinyi and Adak villages to support them with more food items; sugar, posho, beans and soap bars.
Vocational Training Centre update
In October 2021 we were gifted £15,000 made up of two donations to start the building of the new Vocational Training centre. What a joy it is to receive this and be able to young people the opportunity of a non-formal education. This will make such an impact on their lives but also the communities they are a part of.
The Vocational training centre (VTC) building is growing, and here are some stages of the build.
This new project will start with around 50 students. We intend to create a student-centred environment with excellent teaching and training standards, counselling and support that will promote the health and wellbeing of these vulnerable young people. The students will be equipped with skills for a wide range of vocations, to encourage them to flourish. This will enable them to realise their potential and earn a living so they can support their families, breaking free from the cycle of poverty for future generations.
Young people will have the opportunity to learn skills in construction, carpentry, tailoring, fashion, beauty, hairdressing, bricklaying, welding and mechanics. Alongside vocational trading in their chosen trade, they will also be trained in I.C.T. and business skills to build their businesses.
In February 2021 the water source had dried up, so work stopped on the building. Through the very kind donation of £4,200 we are able to build a borehole. This will have such an impact not only on the building of the VTC but also within the community of around 2,000 people will use it for drinking, washing their clothes, bathing, watering their animals etc.
Access to water before the borehole. People would suffer stomach problems and diarrhoea
Gulu Mission re-registered in Uganda
Our Community based organisation registration had expired. This allows us to work in Uganda. We were re-registered as GMI-Uganda in September 2021.
Honorary Doctorates
We are delighted to congratulate Bishop James and Phoebe, Steve and Helen Lock as they were awarded honorary doctorates in Divinity, Ministry and Mission. They received their awards in November 2021 from Leadway Institute of Ministerial arts in Nairobi. They also attended a three-day leadership conference with a variety of guest speakers from Tanzania, Nigeria, and Uganda. It was such a joy to meet together as it had been over two years since they had been together.
Charity Name No (if any) Gulu Mission Initiative 1136683 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/04/2021 31/03/2022
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 7,872 8,975 1,818 4,000 - - - - 22,665 - - - 22,665 12,250 500 - - - 1,150 - - 534 - 14,434 - - - 14,434 8,231 - 4,742 12,973 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 16,200 - 2,000 - - - - 18,200 - - - 18,200 - - - - 15,000 4,200 - 1,650 - - - 20,850 - - - 20,850 - 2,650 - 4,900 2,250 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 7,872 25,175 1,818 6,000 - - - - 40,865 - - - 40,865 12,250 500 - - 15,000 4,200 1,150 1,650 - 534 - 35,284 - - - 35,284 5,581 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Donations - Monthlysponsorship | 7,872 | 8,068 | ||||
| Donations - Other | 8,975 | 10,620 | ||||
| Income Tax Refundable(Gift Aid) | 1,818 | 1,962 | ||||
| Grants | 4,000 | 18,200 | ||||
| Income relatingto Africa visits | - | 1,900 | ||||
| Bank Interest | - | 1 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 22,665 | 40,751 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 40,751 | ||||||
| Bethel School Teachers Salaries | 12,250 | 21,000 | ||||
| Bethel High School Build | 500 | 8,000 | ||||
| School Equipment / Repairs | - | 850 | ||||
| Contribution to feeding the vulnerable (HardshipfollowingCovid-19 lockdown) |
- | 6,500 | ||||
| Contribution to vocational trainingcentre | - | 600 | ||||
| Bore Hole / Well Construction | ||||||
| Personal Sponsorship | 1,150 | 1,200 | ||||
| Travel to & from Uganda | - | - | ||||
| Printing, Website etc | - | - | ||||
| Governance Costs | 534 | 766 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 14,434 | 38,916 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 38,916 | ||||||
| 8,231 | - 2,650 | - | 5,581 | 1,835 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 4,742 | 4,900 | - | 9,642 | 7,807 | ||
| 12,973 | 2,250 | - | 15,223 | 9,642 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B2 Other monetary assets |
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Total cash funds Details Details None Details Current Account (40788732) Deposit Account (73556980) None None Details None Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 10,896 2,077 - 12,973 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 2,250 - - 2,250 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - Cost (optional) - - Cost (optional) - - Amount due (optional) - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| None | - | |||
| - |
Notes to the Accounts
Gift Aid - During 2021/2022 a single Gift Aid claim was made, for £1,818, covering the year 2020/2021. During 2020/2021 a single Gift Aid claim had been made, for £1,962, covering the year 2019/2020. Restricted Funds -
During the year, two significant grants were received from T & C Luther.The first, of £12,000, completed our fundraising for the Vocational Training Centre (VTC), while the other, of £4,200, was for bore hole construction. This money was sent to Uganda along with a further £3,000 received last year from Heb Ffin towards the VTC. We also received £2,000 from St James Place (Accountants) towards the VTC. This has not yet been spent. We also received unrestricted grants of £3,000 from the Tabeel Trust and £1,000 from St John's Knypersley. We are immensely grateful to all these people and organisations for their generous support.
In March 2021, Steve & Helen Lock deposited £1,900 towards the cost of their next trip to Africa. In October 2021, £1,650 of this was used to visit Kenya to receive Honorary Doctorates. The final £250 is carried forward to 2022/23. Reserves Policy - The trustees have agreed to keep a minimum of one quarter's committed payment to Bethel school in Uganda, i.e. £2,000, in reserve. This amount is held in the deposit account 73556980.
Audit Exemption - For the year ended 31st March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the period in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
These financial statements were approved by the Board on 29 November 2022 and were signed on their behalf by Mrs Helen Lock, their chairperson and Mr Anthony John Hornsby, their treasurer:
| A.J. Hornsby Signature Helen Lock |
Print Name Mrs Helen Lock Anthony John Hornsby |
Date of approval |
|---|---|---|
| Helen Lock | Mrs Helen Lock | 29/11/2022 |
| A.J. Hornsby | Anthony John Hornsby | 29/11/2022 |
Independent Examiner report
Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of Gulu Mission Initiative
On the accounts for the year ended March 31[st] 2022
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissions (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiners statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respects:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
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the accounts do 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 come across no other 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 by the examiner:
Date: 29/11/2022
Name: Malcolm Nicholas Address: 77 Fulmar Road, Porthcawl CF36 3PW