2025-03-31-accounts - Gulu Mission Initiative

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Gulu Mission Initiative

Annual Report 2024/25

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: Gulu Mission Initiative (GMI-UK) Company Registration Number: 06812312 (Registered in England & Wales) Charity Number: 1136683

: Governing Instrument

Company incorporated on 6th February 2009. Constitution adopted 19th January 2010.

: Principal Address

51 Raglan Close

Dinas Powys South Wales CF64 4NX

: Independent Examiner

Malcolm Nicholas

: Trustees who served during the year

Helen Lock (Chair)

Stephen Lock (Secretary)
John Hornsby
Clare Luther
Tim Luther
Fiona Brind
Gwyn Trehearne (Treasurer)

Aims and Objectives

1.To advance education in Uganda, in particular through the maintenance and support of schools and educational activities in the community.
This year, we continued to support Bethel Primary and Secondary Schools, contributing to new classroom buildings, an A-level block, and a new kitchen.
Both schools continue to achieve strong results in national exams and grow in enrolment.
We also supported Salem Vocational Training Institute (VTC) with the construction of new classrooms,a kitchen and some dormitory roofs. Students who complete six months of training in tailoring and hairdressing are now equipped to start independent businesses in their communities.

items that empower people to meet their own needs.

We regularly help the most vulnerable by providing food and mattresses for the elderly and disabled.
To date, six boreholes have been constructed to provide clean water to communities that previously relied on unsafe river sources.

Overview of the Year

Our mission focuses on four main areas:

Education – through Bethel Primary and Secondary Schools.

Vocational Training – providing practical skills and resources for young people at Salem VTC. Community Support – offering clean water, food, and essential items to those in need. Spiritual Development – supporting local churches, leadership training, and discipleship.

Month-by-Month Highlights

November 2024

Windows and doors fitted in the new tailoring classroom block at the VTC.

150 tailoring students and 80 hair and beauty students registered, an incredible milestone.

December 2024

Borehole completed in Onyayorwot village, kindly funded by an incredible supporter.

Raised £5,500 for a new brick-built kitchen at Salem VTC.

January 2025

e Soul Gospel Centre Ministries held a vibrant three-day Thanksgiving Celebration at Paminano. Attended by regional bishops and church leaders from Uganda and Nigeria.

March–April 2025

Sent money for 100 mattresses, and £300 for the Leadership Conference.
Sent £2,700 for mattresses and £3,100 for a generator.
UK Mission Trip: Clare, Martin, and Helen visited Gulu and ministered to the elderly, led a Leadership Conference, taught at Bethel Primary, and attended a council meeting with Mama Phoebe.
Distributed Spring Newsletter to supporters.
Received £2,000 from The Bishop Radford Trust for 200 mattresses.

May 2025

Sponsors received updated letters and photos.
Funds sent for 30 sewing machines for the VTC.
Donations received:
£1,500 (Barrie & Jen Huckstepp) towards doors and windows for the VTC.
£3,000 for additional sewing machines.

June 2025

Phoebe began her campaign for Women MP (NRM Party).
Sent £1,600 for VTC dormitory doors and windows.

August 2025

Graduation Ceremony took place, what a celebration:

73 tailoring and 29 hairdressing graduates.

Tailoring graduates received shared sewing machines to start businesses.

Hairdressing students to receive basic salon kits.

Guests included local government officials and pastors.

Bethel Soccer Academy launched!

Originated from Bethel Schools; the U12 team won their first match (3–1).

Sent £7,000 for three VTC dormitory roofs and £4,500 for a borehole.
Received £1,000 from St. James’ Place for tailoring stools.

September 2025

Steve and Helen began Caleb Leadership Development Training to become course facilitators.
Phoebe’s campaign successful in primaries with 70%; final election in January 2026.

Structure, Governance, and Management

Gulu Mission Initiative (GMI-UK) is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

The charity is governed by its constitution and managed by a Board of Trustees, who meet regularly to oversee the charity’s strategic direction, financial accountability, and compliance with UK charity law.

The trustees work closely with Mama Phoebe Obol and Bishop James Ochan and the local leadership team in Gulu to ensure that all projects are effectively implemented and that accountability is maintained through regular reporting and communication.

Risk Management and Safeguarding

Trustees have reviewed the key risks facing the charity, particularly around financial management, safeguarding, and overseas project delivery.

All funds are monitored through accountable bank transfers and project receipts.

Safeguarding policies are in place for the UK and are being updated within the Uganda operations, and the trustees continue to ensure that all activity with children and vulnerable adults meets appropriate standards.

Future Plans

Looking ahead to 2026, our goals include:

Continuing construction and equipping of Salem VTC dormitories.
Supporting Bethel Schools with teacher training and classroom development.
Expanding child sponsorship and improving communication with sponsors.
Providing additional boreholes and improving community access to clean water. Launching Caleb Leadership Training across churches in Northern Uganda.
Supplying solar power and battery to both Bethel Primary and Secondary schools, also at Salem VTC.
Helen & Steve to move to Uganda as missionaries to support the work there.

Acknowledgements

We give heartfelt thanks to:

All trustees for their guidance and commitment.

Our supporters, donors, and partners across the UK and Uganda.

Mama Phoebe, Bishop James and the team in Gulu for their tireless work on the ground.

And above all, to God, whose grace sustains every part of this mission.

Together, we are changing lives through education, community support and leadership training, and through the love of Jesus Christ.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Helen Lock

Chair of Trustees, GMI-UK

October 2025

Charity Name a ~~vs~~	Charity Name a ~~vs~~	Charity Name a ~~vs~~	No (if any) 1136683 ~~=—hCOoTid~~	No (if any) 1136683 ~~=—hCOoTid~~	No (if any) 1136683 ~~=—hCOoTid~~
	Period end date 01/04/2024 31/03/2025 Receipts andpayments accounts For the period from Period start date To ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~					CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds		Endowment funds	Total funds	Last year
	to the nearest £	to the nearest £		to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Monthly giving	7,236	3,750	3,750	-	10,986	5,789
Child sponsorship	1,668	-	-	-	1,668	1,026
Donations	11,103	7,043	7,043	-	18,146	9,755
Gift Aid	4,387	750	750	-	5,137	-
Grants	-	-	-	-	-	2,000
Income relating to Africa visit	-	-	-	-	-	6,646
Bank Interest	30	-	-	-	30	18
Bank compensation	-	-	-	-	-	400
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	(Gross income for AR)24,424	11,543	11,543	-	35,967	25,634
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - *Total receipts* 24,424 11,543 - 35,967 25,634 ~~——————~~
A3 Payments
Teachers support & child sponsorship 8,000	Teachers support & child sponsorship 8,000	-	-	-	8,000	8,000
Vocational Training Centre - Building	850	-	-	-	850	5,500
VTC - Teachers Support	2,800	-	-	-	2,800	2,800
VTC - Sewing machines	1,000	2,600	2,600	-	3,600	1,000
VTC - Kitchen	1,057	4,443	4,443	-	5,500	-

Borehole	-	4,500	4,500	-	4,500	4,500
Mattresses & food for the vulnerable	1,676	24	24	-	1,700	2,650
Trips to Uganda	-	362	362	-	362	8,267
Other costs (Printing, Website etc)	1,199				1,199	1,110
Governance Costs	421	-	-	-	421	354

Sub total [ 17,003 ] 11,929 - 28,932 34,181 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total [ - ] - - - - ~~—~~ Total payments ~~————~~ 17,003 11,929 - 28,932 34,181 Net of receipts/(payments) 7,421 - 386 - 7,035 - 8,547 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 7,677 386 - 8,063 16,610 Cash funds this year end ~~===>~~ 15,098 - - 15,098 8,063

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

None Details Details None Details None Details None Current account (40788732) Deposit account (73556980) *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - 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

Restricted Funds -

During 2024/2025, we received £2,600 from the Souter Trust to allow us to purchase sewing machines and chairs for the Vocational Training Centre (VTC). We also funded the building of a kitchen for the VTC (£5,500), via a £1,000 grant from the Tabeel Trust, an online Fundraiser (£3,443) and £1,057 from general funds. These grants were fully spent during the year. Also, a long-standing supporter, Mr Alastair Strachan, personally funded the digging of a borehole (£4,500). We are immensely grateful to these organisations, along with numerous individuals, for their generous support. In July 2024, Fiona Brind used money she had deposited in 2023 to pay for the extra baggage she took with her to Uganda. Gift Aid - During 2023/2024 a single Gift Aid claim was made, for £1,935, covering the year 2022/2023, but this was not received from HMRC until April 2024, so is part of this year's accounts. A further claim was made in February 2025 to cover the year 2023/2024. This was for £3,202, making the total received from HMRC during the year £5,137. Reserves Policy - The trustees have agreed to keep in reserve 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 2025 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 7 October 2025 and were signed on their behalf by Mrs Helen Lock, their chairperson, and Mr Anthony John Hornsby, another trustee:

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Helen Lock A.J. Hornsby Signature	Mrs Helen Lock Anthony John Hornsby Print Name	Date of approval
	Helen Lock	Mrs Helen Lock	07/10/2025
	A.J. Hornsby	Anthony John Hornsby	07/10/2025

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] 2025

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,
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
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:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
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: 8/12/2025

Name: Malcolm Nicholas

Address: 77 Fulmar Road, Porthcawl, CF36 3PW