## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year **From** 01 April 2020 **To** 31 March 2021 ## Section A Reference and administration details |**Charity name**
**Other names charity is known by**
**Registered charity number (if any)**
**Charity's principal address**|
Adonai UK|
Adonai UK| |---|---|---| |||| |||| ||1136724|| ||
11 Roselands|| ||Totland Bay|| ||Isle of Wight|| ||**Postcode**|PO39 0DB| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Richard Britton|Chair||| ||Hazel Britton|Vice-Chair and
Administrative
Officer||| ||Sue Boardman|Finance Officer||| ||Christine Allwright|Child Sponsorship
Coordinator||| ||Dina Haywood|||| ||Dave Haywood|||| |||||| ## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)** **Name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of adviser Name Address** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** **TAR** August 2021 1 **Section B Structure, governance and management** ## **Description of the charity’s trusts** Type of governing document Trust Deed - (eg. trust deed, constitution) How the charity is constituted Trust - (eg. trust, association, company) Trustee selection methods Appointed by the existing board of trustees in line with our trust deed (eg. appointed by, elected by) ## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: - policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; - the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; - relationship with any related parties; - trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. An annual meeting is held at the end of the financial year at which policies and procedures (including financial controls) are reviewed, annual accounts presented, projects in Uganda evaluated and plans formulated for the coming financial year. As part of this meeting, trustees’ roles and responsibilities are also evaluated and commitments made for the coming year. During the year, the trustees are in regular contact with each other via email, telephone and video links. The Child Sponsorship Coordinator, Administrative Officer and Finance Officer are also in regular contact with Adonai Family Uganda. This is mainly by email but urgent messages requiring an immediate response are sent and received via WhatsApp. All decisions re projects to be supported by Adonai UK are made jointly with the Director of Adonai Family Uganda, Pastor Aloysious Luswata. Adonai Family Uganda (AFU) has a sister organisation Ruach Life (RL). RL is a registered Ugandan NGO. It has no official status in the UK but does have an informal support base. AFU, RL and Adonai UK have an agreement that funds from the UK for RL will be sent via the Adonai UK bank account to the AFU account and that AFU will take responsibility for the onward transfer to RL. Adonai UK keeps accurate records of money sent, the donors and the intended recipients. These details are sent to AFU when bank transfers are made. Details can be seen in a separate section of our annual accounts. Adonai UK sends these funds with a statement of intended use. The UK Ruach Life committee takes responsibility for monitoring that they are used in the intended way. This arrangement is set out clearly in our document ‘Financial Procedures and Statement of Risk’. ## **Section C Objectives and activities** **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** The prevention or relief of poverty in Africa, particularly Uganda, by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty. The prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship in Africa, particularly Uganda, by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and all the necessary support designed to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient. **TAR** August 2021 2 ## **BACKGROUND** Adonai UK was formed primarily to support the work of Adonai Family Uganda (AFU), a Ugandan NGO based in the Wakiso District of Uganda. AFU was initially supported informally by individuals in the UK who knew the Director of AFU (Aloysius Luswata) personally. As the scope of the work in Uganda expanded, Aloysious asked if the UK support could be formalised and so Adonai UK was founded. It was registered as a UK charity in July 2010. Adonai Family Uganda operates a Child Development Centre (The Adonai Centre) which comprises a primary school, a medical centre, and two children’s homes for those with nowhere else to live. These are all situated on the same plot of land with the medical centre being open to the wider community and having a separate access road. The whole plot is surrounded by a perimeter fence. A staff accommodation block is situated nearby and a home for vulnerable teenage girls has been built on the site of the Director’s home – his wife keeps a watchful eye on the girls whilst also encouraging independence. Adonai UK has contributed to all buildings and many of the projects connected to the work of Adonai Family Uganda – see ‘specific projects’ below. **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** Friends of Adonai in the U.S. have funded a safe water system which benefits not only the centre but also those living nearby. AFU also operates micro-finance schemes in the local community giving opportunity for those in need to generate a sustainable income. **THE WORK OF ADONAI UK Child Sponsorship Scheme** Our principal activity is long-term support through the running of a child sponsorship scheme. Details of children and young people in need are sent to our Child Sponsorship Coordinator, Christine, by the team at AFU (Adonai Family Uganda). The entire trustee board is responsible for promoting the scheme and finding potential sponsors. Christine links sponsor and sponsee, acting as the conduit for communications between them. Sponsorship is paid monthly by standing order to the Adonai UK bank account and is then transferred bi-monthly to the Adonai Family Uganda bank account. Many sponsors also choose to send a monetary gift for their nominated child’s birthday or at Christmas and this is itemised on the record of the bank transfer. On rare occasions, sponsors are asked if they would like to contribute towards other expenses such as medical needs or specific equipment for college courses. Some sponsors elect to support their sponsee in their first steps of work by helping with initial costs. Our Finance Officer keeps accurate records of all monies received and sends this, in spreadsheet format, to AFU when the bank transfer is made. A copy is also sent in advance to the admin officer for checking and approval. All funds sent by Adonai UK are administered by the team at Adonai Family Uganda who ensure that individuals’ needs are met as far as the finance will allow. Whilst some of the sponsored children live in the homes at The Adonai Centre, others live with extended family. In the case of the latter, the whole family is supported pastorally and immediate daily needs such as food and essential items met. Our Child Sponsorship Scheme ensures that we meet the charitable objectives set out above with the public benefit being to the sponsored children and their families or carers. Our activities are all dedicated to meeting our charitable objectives with the main public benefit being to the children and young people sponsored along with their immediate families/carers. Young people are given the opportunities, **TAR** August 2021 3 support and tools to become independent adults with the capability to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient. Each year we see some of our older ‘children’ graduate and enter the world of work thus breaking free of the cycle of poverty although lockdowns due to Covid have been a barrier this year. The relief and prevention of poverty is the cornerstone of all we do. Over the years, we have funded, or helped fund, the building of children’s homes for those with no family to care for them, the purchase of agricultural land to help self-sufficiency and sustainability of the homes, a perimeter fence for security, and ongoing maintenance including regular replenishing of mosquito nets and mattresses. We also fund a Christmas project each year which gives widows and needy families fresh beef and sacks of rice whilst the sponsored children also receive a useful gift and enjoy a party. Whilst most benefit is to the children and young people associated with Adonai Child Development Centre, it also extends to the wider community through the Christmas Food project, the work of the medical centre, and employment opportunities at The Adonai Centre. ## **COVID RESPONSE** This year has been one like no other. While we continued to run our child sponsorship scheme, our main area of concern has been support through the Covid pandemic. We ended last year’s annual report by mentioning the pandemic and stating that there would be more to say this year. We had no idea at that point that it would dominate the year! Covid reached Uganda in March 2020. Travel restrictions and a ban on social gatherings was instigated on March 18[th] . During the next couple of weeks, restrictions were tightened including the closing of schools and the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew. The Adonai Schools and Children’s Homes were closed and ‘temporary homes’ were found for the residents of the latter with trusted families…. no-one realised at this stage just how long these temporary measures would stay in place. Lockdown restrictions were gradually eased from May 5[th] but schools remained closed. The struggle to feed all the children and their temporary hosts was taking a huge toll on the Adonai Family Uganda team - emotionally, physically and financially. We launched an appeal and funds rolled in from our supporters giving a much-needed boost to Aloysious and his team. Knowing that so many were thinking of them and going out of their way to help despite our own lockdown struggles in the UK, made a world of difference. As well as supporting the Adonai families, Aloysious joined the local Covid response team which involved being on call and driving sick people to hospital; he was very tired but the benefit of being able to use his vehicle to deliver supplies was immeasurable. He and the Adonai Family members still on site (basically camping down in his and Abbi’s home) used lockdown to establish new vegetable gardens and these proved invaluable when a second lockdown followed hot on the heels of the first. They also used the time to pave large areas of the school compound which otherwise turned to mud in the rain. Abbi produced home schooling materials which were distributed as far as funds and practicalities would allow. They all worked tirelessly. Candidate classes returned to school in October 2020, 7 months after closing, but only after a £6k spend to pass an inspection on the new stringent Covidsafe operating procedures. Adonai UK was pleased to foot that bill. **TAR** August 2021 4 Whilst impossible to have the usual Christmas party, we were determined that we would do something special. Our amazing sponsors and supporters dug deep again and we were able to fund a gift for each sponsored child chosen by the AFU team according to individual need. Most were clothes or warm blankets. Those who were able made their way to the Adonai Centre to collect their gifts whilst others were delivered by the team. We were also able to fund the Christmas bull which meant that many families had a treat of fresh beef and sacks of rice which again were either collected or delivered. What a privilege to share some Christmas cheer in this way and how wonderful our supporters are, especially given the lockdown Christmas that we endured here too. A presidential election in January 2021 led to more challenges with violent protests and ears of food shortages. Aloysious and Abbi found themselves caught up in the protests on a routine trip to Kampala and feared for their lives. Thankfully, they both made it home safely and life returned to normal once the election was over. A national phased return to school was instigated in January 2021. By June, all the Junior children had returned to Adonai and children were back in the safety of the residential homes. However, not all returned. Due to the long absence and the difficulties faced by the AFU team in keeping a pastoral eye on them all, lives changed for ever for some of our sponsored children. Some of the girls became parents themselves, some youngsters entered the world of work prematurely without the enhanced prospects that a good education would bring, some simply didn’t return. Their sponsors were all informed. As we end this financial year, Uganda is in the grip of a second lockdown so next year’s report will take up the story. We certainly didn’t expect our closing paragraph of the 2019 report to be a prelude to the next 2! ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** Individuals or groups of supporters sometimes choose to raise funds for Adonai UK via coffee mornings, suppers, giving talks, selling items at tabletop sales etc. Occasionally someone will undertake a sponsored event. Our PLI covers all such activities if undertaken in our name. You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. **TAR** August 2021 5 Section D Achievements and performance **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** - 87 children currently being sponsored through their education - • The Christmas appeal enabled all sponsored children to receive a useful gift of clothes or blankets. - Fresh beef was distributed to widows and the needy in the local community at Christmas with those in most need also receiving a sack of rice. - Ongoing maintenance of the three children’s homes - £1900 sent to cover business set up costs sent for pupils who have now graduated. - £21k sent for Covid support: essential food and medical supplies, PPE, home schooling materials. - £6k sent to make the Adonai school Covid compliant and thus allow reopening. - Paving slabs funded to make the compound more useable in all weathers. Monitoring of the projects at AFU takes place via: - Visit to AFU by trustees and other supporters (not possible during the pandemic) - Written and photographic reports from the Director of AFU along with video calls when possible. News and achievements are reported to Adonai UK supporters and sponsors via email updates and our Facebook page. News of individual sponsored children is given directly to the sponsor by email or occasionally in person or by telephone if an ‘urgent’ situation arises e.g. illness. **TAR** August 2021 6 Section E Financial review NIA Brief statsment of the charity's policy on reserves Details of any funds matsrially in deficit NIA Further financial review details (Optional information) SOURCES OF FUNDS The bulk of our funds are from the Child Sponsorship programme Isee section Cl and are directed towards specific children for daily needs such as education, food, medical needs. N.B. Children and families do not re￿1ve the funds directly but are included in the educational, feeding and medical care programmes administered by Adonai Family Uganda who ensure that all their needs are met. Individuals or groups of supporters sometimes choose to raise funds for Adonai UK via coffee momings, suppers, giving talks, selling items at tabletop sales etc. See Sertion C. In this financial year, we a150 re8lStered with Amazon Smile and Give as You Live so that funds can be raised when supporters shop online. You may choose to include additional infomiation, where reSevant about.. the charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraisingl., how expendrture has supported the key objectives of the ¢harity- investment policy and objectives including any ethical inveslment policy adopted. EXPENDITURE Expenditure is kept to a minimum and comprises 2 items: Bank charges for the two-monthly transfer to Uganda Public Liability Insurance All expenditure is from general funds NOT from child sponsorship money or events held to support a specific project. All funds given by sponsors SUPPOrt 'their' child and all funds raised go to the project they were raised for. All sponsors and supporters are invited to Gift Aid their contributions and this gives a large boost to funds available. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signaturels) Full namels) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etcl Ric thony Britton Hazel Jean Britton Chair SeGrelary Dale 0610812021 TAR August 2021 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the p￿10d To 31103r2021 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funts Endowment funts A1 Receipts Adonai-Sp¥)n5uth¥J & th)Trats< Ruath Lrf&Sponsorship & Gffts 31259 f4658 20955 Fundra￿[r¥u9andanSU GIft￿d Re￿pts COV￿ Appeal ManteThan￿ Fth)d 1140 9.611 135 14276 9Xts Sub total(Gross income for AR) 14541 40 table). Sub total 61479 tr4002 A3 Payments Ad)Trai.Sponso￿hip & Dmabons 30.716 30.716 20,955 30￿$6 16.112 12.OlQ 1.735 100 B￿l￿1n Training andTuibon FeÉ5 cO￿d Appe Mantenar¢tr FLYWJ B8nk TrfCosts.UK to Lfg*Kla Ir*L5ran Shop Rent 30D 21.104 9323 150 15 165 120 347 Sub totsl 61. 7&K1 6IA55 A4 Assèt and Investment purchases. see table) Sub total 74146 Net of receiptsl(payments) A5 Transfers l)etween funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year Ènd 3￿7 6.177 111598 CCXX Rl aCttx￿ts (SSI 1110912021 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrèstricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds B1 Cash funds 7.158 rotalcash funds 7.158 funds funds to nearest£ B3 Investment assets CurrentYxIvE B4 Assets retained for the charitys own use ArnwThtd then due Details B5 Liabilities Suned by one ¢ytM) InJ5te8S C beha￿Of all the trustBes Date of roval .A.££i I iohj H.3. GieiT70 o&/o>l CCXX P2 a(x￿￿ts ISSI 14109r2021 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGL4ND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent ExamineVs Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts for the year ended Charity no (rf any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (1he Trusf) for the year ended -. Responsibiltties and basis of report the charitys trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chatities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respe(a of my examination of the Tnjsys a(xxJunts Lzrried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Lzrying out my examination, I have followed all the applioxble DirectK)ns given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement e chgRty's gross in(x¥ne exceeded £250.QOO and l am ¢ualtfied to dettske e epminatiotT by being a qualffiedmember ol [irbseFkname of ble lis LKxty]]. Delete [ J rfnot applicable. I have o)mpleted my examination. l ¢x)nfirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wth the examination (other than that disdosed below") vhjich gives me cause to believe that in, any matertal the a(xounting re(xJrds were not kept in a(￿Ordan￿ with section 130 of the Chartlies A¢ or the accounts did not accord wtth the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply wtth the appliGgble requirements con￿mIng the fom) and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that Ihe a(xx)unts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter nsrdered as part of an independent exaTnination. I trove IX)ncEms and have acTOSS 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 aC￿unts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body IER Oct 2018 (rf any): Addre55: tl +Ic Ll SL Ic-:cllr- Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material Matte￿ of concem (see CC32. Indepe￿Ient examination of charity accounts: directions and guidan￿ for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018