OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Withy Trees Welfare & Education

2024-12-31-accounts

Withy Trees Welfare & Education

157 Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 3BH

Email: office@withytrees.org.uk

REPORT & ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDING 2024

WE BELIEVE THAT CHARITY IS NOT A HANDOUT, IT’S A HAND HELD.

Registered Charity Number: 1138788

Page | 1

INTRODUCTION

  1. We are a U.K. registered charity carrying out humanitarian work in some of the poorest parts of the world.

  2. We registered as a charity in 2011; however our overall activities have only increased in the last 6 years, in particular from the year 2020.

  3. We do not employ or use any paid or professional fundraisers. Our donations are largely via word of mouth, including from the live feedback we send from the ground.

  4. We use the premises of 157 Garstang Road (Preston) as our correspondence address, with an office for administrative work.

Page | 2

100% DONATIONS POLICY - GIFT AID

  1. We have a 100% donations policy. All administrative, office and project delivery costs are met from Gift Aid.

  2. Gift Aid is an important income stream; thus we encourage all eligible donors to fill in a Gift Aid declaration, or simply email us with your full name, address, postcode and a declaration that you are a UK taxpayer for Gift Aid purposes.

  3. Even a donation of £20 with Gift Aid is significant, as these small donations with their Gift Aid soon add up.

Donation Amount With Gift Aid Increase of:
£20 £25 +£5
£50 £62.50 +£12.50
£100 £125 +£25
£300 £375 +£75
£1000 £1250 +£250

Page | 3

WHAT WE DO IN THE U.K.

  1. We work both in the U.K. and abroad.

  2. Our U.K. activities are funded through grants and Gift Aid.

  3. These monies are kept in a separate account.

  4. Gift Aid also supports administration costs of projects outside the UK.

IN THE UK WE HAVE TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

Referrals are made by social services, council workers, partner organizations, Imams, faith leaders etc.

Page | 4

WHAT WE DO ABROAD

  1. These projects are funded by donations from the Muslim community, in the month of Ramadhan (the month of fasting).

  2. Muslims who meet certain criteria give 2.5% of certain assets to charity. This is known as Zakat. These donations are used to support projects in needy countries / regions such as:

  3. Afghanistan: we made two trips in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  4. Rohingya Refugees (Bangladesh).

  5. Rural communities in Bangladesh and India.

  6. Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

  7. Syria and Yemen.

  8. As our Zakat donors are largely from South Asia, our projects are primarily focused on these countries.

Page | 5

BREAKDOWN OF FUNDS SPENT (2024):

Funds are allocated to a region / area / country based on donor preference.

----- Start of picture text -----
COUNTRY AMOUNT
1 Afghanistan £186,000
2 India £69,000
3 Yemen £65,000
4 Sri Lanka £47,000
5 Pakistan £30,000
6 Qurbani £29,500
7 Rohingya £29,000
8 Bangladesh £8,000
9 Nepal £8,000
10 Misc. / Other [1] £58,000
Total: £529 500.00
,
----- End of picture text -----

1 This includes £30,434 project delivery costs met from Gift Aid. All figures have been rounded off in the above table. Actual 2024 total expenditure is £529,503 (2023 = £410,099).

Page | 6

BREAKDOWN OF RAMADHAN 2024:

Ramadhan 2024 - 7 Countries

Ramadhan 2024 - 7 Countries Ramadhan 2024 - 7 Countries Ramadhan 2024 - 7 Countries Ramadhan 2024 - 7 Countries
Country Food
Packs		 Daily Iftar
Provision
Afghanistan 600 families -
17000 hot meals
Bangladesh 3 projects 317
30,000 hot meals
India 7 projects 1156
3000 hot meals
Myanmar Arkan State -
3000 hot meals
Nepal 3 projects 463
800 hot meals
Pakistan 300 food packs + financial aid (x150)
delivered before Ramadhan.		 5000 kg flour
Sri Lanka 3 projects 550
2486
Food Packs		 53,000+
hot meals!
Over 3300 families supported in Ramadhan.

Page | 7

FOCUS:

AFGHANISTAN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

"APPROXIMATELY 85% OF AFGHANS LIVE ON LESS THAN $1 A DAY."

Source: UNDP. Accessed on: 15.08.2025

  1. In February 2022 we made our first ever visit to Afghanistan. Since then, we have made 6 visits to Afghanistan (as of 31 Dec 2024), personally distributing over £438,000 of aid.

  2. We still are one of the very few and first UK charities to have an “on the ground” presence in Afghanistan, providing aid directly to the poor and needy without any third-party involvement.

  3. 9.5 million people are classified as “high risk” and on the brink of famine, with 3.5 million children under the age of 5 severely malnourished.

"NEARLY 69% OF AFGHANISTAN’S POOR ARE CHILDREN."

Source: Global Poverty Index

Page | 8

PROJECTS IN AFGHANISTAN:

1 2 3 4 5
Food Aid Cash
Distribution		 School
Children		 Supporting
Schools		 Water Aid

  1. On a longer-term basis, we are sponsoring children to attend school and get an education. This project will get children off the streets, into learning and allow them to earn a respectable living as adults.

  2. In 2024 we initiated various water projects, which have been hugely successful. To date, we have completed 9 water projects, providing water to over 13000 people (mostly in rural areas). Donors receive video updates whilst the work is ongoing, and we personally visit each completed water project.

  3. We are also focussing on income generation projects.

Page | 9

PROJECT DELIVERY

  1. Although we work with local charities abroad, we ensure that our key projects are delivered in our presence.

  2. This ensures funds are spent correctly and gives confidence to our donors, as we send live reports on WhatsApp (videos) and via our Instagram page.

  3. Our donors also donate on the understanding that we are personally going to deliver aid.

  4. The costs of these trips are met via Gift Aid, allowing us to ensure that 100% of the donation reaches the poor and needy.

  5. The following page has details of where we have been personally delivered aid.

Page | 10

AID DELIVERED PERSONALLY:

The following list are countries where we have personally delivered aid.

PROJECTS PERSONALLY DELIVERED.

Region / Country Year
Afghanistan
Pakistan		 Feb 2023
Syria
Türkiye		 April 2023
Afghanistan
Pakistan		 June 2023
India
(Assam, West Bengal, Haryana & U.P.)		 Dec 2023
Afghanistan
Pakistan		 Feb 2024
Afghanistan June 2024
Yemen (South Yemen) Oct 2024
Rohingya (Bangladesh)
India (Hyderabad), Sri Lanka		 Dec 2024

Page | 11

VOLUNTEERS / VOLUNTEERING

  1. Volunteers are essential to our success in personally delivering projects. We strongly encourage our donors and supporters to accompany us on our foreign deployments, which range from 5-8 days.

  2. You may be an Imam, local activist, businessman, or just someone passionate about helping others.

  3. You will undergo a great life experience when you accompany us. All you have to do is raise funds (from friends and family) for the respective projects. We provide you with all the necessary support.

  4. Other than a contribution of around £400 per person, all costs are met from Gift Aid. Email us if you are interested in accompanying us.

Page | 12

FUTURE

  1. We want to totally separate our UK and foreign operations, in a manner where foreign projects run under a separate charitable entity. The name of “Just Relief” has been proposed.

  2. The reason for this is to ensure our UK operations attract grant funding, and we can clearly demonstrate that we are only working in the UK. Currently the Zakat donations received gives the impression that we have a “strong and healthy” stream of income when this is not the case for our UK operations.

  3. As part of our UK operations, we want to support the local community, especially with the “cost of living crisis.”

  4. We also wish to sponsor more children in Afghanistan who can attend school. Our target is to have one hundred children, whose approximate cost is £40,000 per annum.

  5. We also want to recruit a paid employee to help further our objectives, in particular give us a presence on social media and help with day to day running.

Page | 13

SOCIAL MEDIA

We currently do not have a website.

You can see various updates (Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, India, Yemen etc) on our Instagram page. Scan the QR code and join us:

Join our community WhatsApp group and keep up to date with all our projects / updates:

Page | 14

TO DONATE – OUR BANK DETAILS ~~ee~~

This is the easiest, fastest, and cost-free method to donate. We receive your donation in full, without any deductions / fees etc.

OUR BANK DETAILS FOR DONATIONS:

Account name: WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

Sort Code: 16-20-16 Account number: 10 25 64 36

BIC : RBOSGB2L

IBAN : GB33RBOS 162016 10256436

| If you are a UK taxpayer, email us your Gift Aid declaration. Simply scan the QR code and fill in the form online (takes less than 30 seconds).

Page | 15

Page | 16

IID ri

Updated: 16.08.2025

End or report.

Page | 18

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

CHARITY NUMBER: 1138788

STONEBRIDGE ACCOUNTANTS 19A CHORLEY OLD ROAD BOLTON BL1 3AD

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

CONTENTS INFORMATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

Index to Financial Statements

Page
Legal & Administrative Listing 3
Accountants Report 4
Report of the Trustees 5
Statement of Activities 6
Balance Sheet 7
Notes to the Accounts 8 - 10

2

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

CHARITY INFORMATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

Trustees

Mohammed Farook Kazi Summiyyah Hasan Fatima Patel

Charity Chairman

Mohammed Farook Kazi

Charity Secretary

None

Registered Office

157 Garstang Road Fulwood, Preston PR2 3BH

Bankers

Royal Bank of Scotland Drummond House 1 Redheughs Avenue Edinburgh EH12 9JN

Accountants

Stonebridge Accountants 19a Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AD

3

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS' REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

I have examined the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 as set out on the annexed pages which have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out below:

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s 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. The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA).

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to an audit under company law and is eligible for an independent examination; it is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner's Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a 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 you as 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 a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting

  4. requirements of the Charities Act 2011 have not been met; or

  5. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of

the accounts to be reached.

__________ Honorary Independent Examiner

Faruk Patel FFA FTA Stonebridge Accountants 19a Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AD

17th April 2025

4

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements and statements of assets and liabilities for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial activities for that period together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the period and adequately distinguish any material special trust or other restricted fund of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice and the regulation made under S44 of the Charity Act 1993 as amended by Charity Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud or other irregularities.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Mohammed Farook Kazi (Charity Chairman)

17th April 2025

5

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

INCOME
Voluntary Income
Donations
Building Appeal
Government Grants
Government Grants (JRS)
Investment Income
Income from Charities Activities
Other Income
Lillah/Sadaka & Other Donations
Zakat Donations
Gift Aid Payments
Sponsors Income
TOTAL INCOME
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Cost of Generating Funds
Charitable Activities
NET INCOMING RESOURCES
Fund Balances Brought Forward
FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
92,710
-
63,958
-
156,668
30,434
53,557
72,677
12,169
84,846		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
15,826
60,683
323,080
-
1,020
400,609
-
445,512
(44,903)
305,343
260,440		 Totals
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
15,826
153,393
323,080
63,958
1,020
557,277
30,434
499,069
27,774
317,512
345,286		 Totals
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-
4,652
106,782
293,906
30,555
1,005
436,900
22,967
387,132
26,801
290,711
317,512

Continuing Operations

None of the charities activities were acquired or discontinued during the above financial period.

Total Recognised Gains and Losses

The charity has no gains or losses other than the profit or loss for the above financial period.

6

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES
FIXED ASSETS
As per Fixed Asset Schedule
4
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors & Prepayments
5
Cash at Bank
Cash in Hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank Overdraft
Accurals & Creditors
7
Other Creditors & Loans
Net Current Assets / (Liabilities)
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
LONG-TERM CREDITORS
Creditors due after one year
8
NET ASSETS
REPRESENTED BY:
ACCUMULATED FUNDS
Net Assets B/fwd 01/01/2024
Surplus for the Year
Net Assets C/fwd 31/12/2024		 £
-
345,668
-		 2024
£
-
345,286
345,286
-
345,286
317,512
27,774
345,286		 £
-
333,286
-		 2023
£
-
317,512
345,668 333,286
-
382
-		 -
15,774
-
382 15,774
317,512
-
317,512
290,711
26,801
317,512

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Mohammed Farook Kazi (Charity Chairman)

17th April 2025

7

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Preparation These financial statements have been prepared under historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice (SORP) and accounting and reporting by charities' published in October 2005.

(b) Fund Accounting General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for the use of discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and has not been put aside for other purposes.

Restricted Funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions which has been raised by the charity for a specific purpose. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

(c) Investment Income Income from investment and from rental income is included in the SORP in the year in which it is receivable.

(d) Incoming Resources All incoming resources are included in the SORP when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be can quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity been notified of and impending distribution of the legacy being received. Donated facilities are included at the value to the charity when this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost.

(e) Resources Expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the heading that aggregate all costs relating to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on the basis consistent with use of resources.

(f) Tangible Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets costing more than £ 1000 are capitalised and included at cost including incidental expenses of acquisitions.

8

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

(g) Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated on all tangible fixed assets on straight line basis at rates calculated on the cost of the asset over the useful economic life of the asset as follows:

Freehold Land & Building 0%
Motor Vehicles 20%
Fixtures & Equipment 10%

(h) Investment Revaluation

None of the charity's functional fixed assets have been revalued during the year.

2. Cost of Generating Funds

3. Cost of Charitable Activities

Bank Charges
Advertising
Legal & Professional Fees
Office & Admin Expenses
Food Packs Projects
Hand Pump Projects
Student Education & Welfare Costs
Orphan Sponsorship Costs
Water Projects
Widows Support Projects
Building Projects Costs
Zakat Donations
Lillah/Sadaka & Other Donations
Other Project Costs		 2024
Unrestricted
1,190
-
237
29,007
30,434
2024
Unrestricted
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
53,557
53,557		 2024
Restricted
-
-
-
-
-
2024
Restricted
230,353
-
54,489
-
-
-
-
-
-
160,670
445,512		 2023
511
-
50
22,406
22,967
2023
69,039
-
39,730
-
-
-
-
-
-
278,363
387,132

4. Trustees' - Related Party Transaction

Included in Wages, PAYE & Pension Costs (See Note 2 above), the following payments to the trustees listed below were made for services rendered to the charity.

Mohammed Farook Kazi
Summiyyah Hasan
Fatima Patel		 2024
-
-
-
-		 2023
-
-
-
-

9

WITHY TREES WELFARE & EDUCATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

5. Tangible Fixed Assets

Land &
Total
Property
£
Cost
As at 1 January 2024
-
-
Additions
-
-
Disposals
-
-
As at 31 December 2024
-
-
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2024
-
-
Charge for year
-
-
Disposals
-
-
As at 31 December 2024
-
-
Net book value
As at 31 December 2024
-
-
As at 31 December 2023
-
-
6. Debtors & Prepayments
Gift Aid Payments
Prepayments
Other Debtors
7. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Trade Creditors
Accruals
Other Creditors
8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year
Loans (Karz-e-Hasna)		 Land &
Total
Property		 Motor
Investments
Vehicles		 Fixtures &
Equipment
£
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-		 £
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-		 -
-		 -
-
-		 -
-		 -
-
-		 -
-		 -
2024
-
-
-
-
2024
382
-
-
382
2024
-		 2023
-
-
-
-
2023
15,774
-
-
15,774
2023
-

10