2020-08-31-accounts - Operation Imprezza

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Operation Imprezza

Annual Report For the year ending 31[st] August 2020

Charity number 1148240 Company number 8090833

Registered address

14 Elm Grove Teignmouth Devon TQ14 8SA

“Even those without hope can excel given the opportunity” As ever the school motto rings true at Imprezza Academy

Trustees: Alison Revell, David Dupont, Robert Cross, Christopher Hulme, Michael Anthony, Alison Clarke (resigned 4[th] May 2021), Bhumika Sinha (appointed 10[th] November 2020), Benjamin Bailey (appointed 1 December 2020).

Bankers: NatWest 108 Union Street Torquay Devon TQ2 5PH

Our Aims and Objectives:

Welcome to our annual report.

Operation Imprezza raises money from donors and fund raising activities to support the establishment of an all-age academy in Western province Kenya which provides education to those who would not otherwise be able to go to school. The students include HIV/AIDS victims and orphans. Girls are given equal access and the school accepts students from all religious and ethnic groups.

Our aims and objectives as set out in our Articles of Association are:

To advance the education and development of students attending (or who have attended) an Operation Imprezza school in Africa and to relieve them and their families who are suffering financial hardship by such charitable means as the trustees see fit in particular but not exclusively by:

a. Providing support (financial or otherwise) to students so that they can attend in particular secondary education.

b. Assisting students who require support when leaving school to attend university, receive vocational training or set up a small business; and

c. Assisting them with medical, food and other appropriate aid with the aim of helping help themselves.

How our activities deliver public benefit

Imprezza Academy is a secondary school in Busia in rural Western Kenya providing education to those who cannot possibly afford to pay the fees and other costs required to progress beyond the primary level.

Secondary education is not free in Kenya for all practical purposes. Whilst some costs are met by government, significant costs are still incurred by parents/guardians, so for poorer students such as AIDS orphans or those from a destitute family it would normally be an impossible dream. As the school has established a reputation for high standards there are now some students who are able to pay part-fees which helps to meet the cost of the school.

Ever since the school opened in 2003 it has been fully committed to equal opportunities for all with respect to gender, ethnicity and religion creating a tolerant and progressive ethos. The Academy is licenced to offer all-age education but the focus is currently on the secondary stage. A small adult education programme is in place teaching conservation agriculture (a method practiced by the school) to the local and wider community.

Review of the year

Since the year end we have welcomed Bhumika Sinha and Ben Bailey as new Trustees. The joint Chair arrangement continues to work well between Chris and Bob.

The electric power we receive from the Rural electricity initiative referred to in our previous report went live in October 2019 and has worked well all year. We have plenty of electricity and, it has proved reliable, so during the period up to August 2021 we will be looking to equip the school, funds allowing, with fridges and possibly freezers. A mass education programme will be required as apart from Catherine no one at the school has any experience of fridges or freezers, safe storage of food etc.

As reported in the previous report, a new water bore hole has been drilled on the site by WellBoring a charity who specialise in the work. Generous support again from Torquay Girls Grammar School who were by far the main contributors to the bore hole project allowed us to become possessors of unlimited pure water, an absolute life changer for the school which became even more so with the Covid 19 restrictions which are referred to later in the report. The borehole has worked well with adequate water all the time. We allow some from the community to draw from it (monitored of

course) to save walking to the river for “dirty” water. The water remains pure with no filtering needed, and the borehole is regularly serviced. We had to use WellBoring’s breakdown service once which also functioned well. Ironically on the day the borehole went live, the drought broke and over the time of this report we have had two exceptionally long periods of rain, exceeding anything that is normally experienced. These floods caused as much damage in different ways as the drought. As already mentioned our water has remained pure even with trials like this.

The school continues to develop in many areas although the number admitted is affected by funds available. It is an integral part of the local community reinforced by our being the base for the rural electricity scheme and allowing locals access to our bore hole.

There were again 320 pupils enrolled in the school in 2019/20 with 300 boarding. Food shortages caused by the drought pushed prices sky high causing further pressure on funds. This trend continued throughout all of the period of this report, although we went from drought to floods wiping out crops planted. On top of this, although they did not travel quite as far as Imprezza Academy, the devastation caused by the swarms of locusts put food supplies and prices nationally under further pressure.

The national examination results (KCSE – equivalent to UK A levels) were again very good confirming the high standard of education offered at Imprezza Academy. With the exception of one student who failed due to medical reasons, all of our students again passed. Naturally we are very proud of them all. The sick one will retake in the coming year. These achievements by the students highlight why Imprezza Academy is vital to so many in the local communities, none of these students would have received secondary education if Imprezza had not been there for them.

The Rural Training Programme continues to progress although training is currently suspended due to the Covid 19 regulations. This is still the situation at end of November 2020.

The planned trips to Imprezza by various Trustees during 2020 all had to be cancelled due to Covid 19 restrictions, they are pencilled in for 2021 assuming regulations allow.

Catherine Omanyo, Founder and Principal of Imprezza Academy, came over to visit us in Devon in February and just made it back to Kenya before the Covid restrictions came into force. It was a very successful visit some holiday, with some talks and about 3 days spent at Torquay Girls Grammar School and two half days at Stokeinteignhead Primary School. Catherine was the guest of honour at a new venture Imprezza tried as a fundraiser, a Valentines Ball held at Teignmouth Golf Club and organised by Nikki Burgess, an Imprezza supporter. This was very successful and introduced Imprezza to some new people. The Trustees also used the opportunity of Catherine’s visit to get updates first hand on Imprezza, its progress and plans and needs for the future.

As it has in virtually the whole world Covid 19 hit Kenya hard. The government acted quickly which created its own challenges initially with decisions being made at hardly any notice. Curfews were brought in and schools closed, including boarding. We asked for dispensation because of our situation with so many needy orphans. Whilst we got a concession only14 students were allowed to stay boarding with all students having to be put out either with family, extended family or put to fosterers organised by Catherine. Students were monitored by staff throughout and school work delivered and collected each week. An additional challenge came with the ruling that all schools had to be fumigated.

Operation Imprezza does not hold any funds on behalf of others.

The school continues to move slowly but surely to self-sufficiency. However due to the droughts and then the floods that the area has experienced, and more recently the impact of Covid 19, the target date of end of 2020 has slipped back.

Having water which will allow us to irrigate will help but the school is starting again from scratch with crops as yields during the drought and floods were either very poor or non-existent depending on the crop grown.

In addition with food prices being so inflated by shortages caused by the drought, floods and locusts, helping the school through this crisis has depleted funds available to do other things.

Whilst the detail of what is going to happen in our area due to climate change is not exact, there is no doubt that Imprezza is seeing changes in the weather. The advice last year from the Kenya Met Office has not changed and seemed to indicate that new methods of growing crops will need to be found rather than relying on the twice yearly rains when planning for the future.

Development work for additional facilities will run for the foreseeable future. This in part caused by extra demands from covid restrictions and in part by additional improvements in standards generally now required. An example is classroom floors now have to be tiled rather than bare concrete, to aid cleaning and prevent dust. This increases the cost of new build and the existing classrooms have had to be tiled retrospectively.

Since the year end we have put in an additional girls’ toilet block and completed a part built classroom block to give an additional lab and a classroom. These are to meet covid 19 regulations requiring additional spacing between pupils. The positive part is that these facilities will be permanent assets when covid 19 has passed.

The new curriculum for the whole of the Kenya education system and a different split of educational years between nursery, primary, secondary and what would be in UK a type of 6[th] form college took place at very short notice and was introduced from January

It will be fully implemented in January 2024 when Imprezza will have to absorb two additional years of pupils taking Imprezza to 6 school years rather than the current 4.

The school will need all new textbooks and additional facilities including dormitories to cope with this influx. As was said in previous report, at the top end schools can specialise or have specialist streams; Imprezza will have the 3 specialist streams. It is the only way with our very needy students that we can guarantee that all students have the opportunity to complete secondary education to National exam level.

As previously noted we do support our students with medical needs. This is normally covered by normal running costs with an occasional need to appeal.

Last year we reported that one of our students had been diagnosed with cancer. Social services eventually took over the cost of her treatment from Imprezza, a massive relief, as her treatment was a massive drain on funds, beyond the amounts raised by special appeals for her. Her treatment is ongoing and will go into 2021. The prognosis is 50%50% - it could all go either way. Whatever happens Imprezza gave her the chance to survive, without Imprezza she did not have the funds to even visit a Doctor, never mind have treatment.

We always have a percentage of students with physical handicaps, nearly always from polio, although hopefully with the vaccination programme and elimination of polio in Kenya this problem will disappear over the years. (Imprezza is used as one of the bases for polio vaccination of the local communities)

We always have some epileptic students and ones with asthma. Generally once they have been to Aga Khan hospital, often staying in for a few days, their medication is balanced and their symptoms are normally controlled, often for the first time in their lives. Imprezza still faces the challenge of being told by parents/guardians that it is a curse, been inherited by a spirit of an ancestor etc, not that it is a medical condition that can be treated.

HIV is an ongoing challenge of course; the area Imprezza is based is a very high infection area and this is reflected in infection rates amongst our pupils. They are all tested once per year so the school knows their status.

The students and staff at Imprezza Academy are a shining example to all with their positive attitude and determination to succeed despite difficulties we can barely imagine in the UK. The exam results previously referred to and achieved year on year demonstrate clearly the quality and attitude of our teachers and the determination of our students to succeed. They know education is their only hope of escaping the grinding poverty they see every day.

We cannot thank enough the teams in Kenya and UK and all our supporters. Their work changes lives for the better, at times it is life changing or life-saving, giving opportunities to students, girls and boys, who would not have received secondary education without Imprezza Academy. Over 2,000 students have now passed through Imprezza and gone on to almost 50 different career paths. Whether aeronautical engineer, accountant, teacher, chef, or small business owner, the only thing the students have in common is that without Imprezza none of those students would have received secondary education. What a waste of talent that would have been both for the students themselves but also for Kenya.

Both teams work so well together, as I have said many many times, it is great fun, a pleasure and an honour to be associated with them all. The pride and sense of achievement we all have in the UK with what is achieved at Imprezza keeps us going and inspires us to do more when the difficulties arise.

Thank you all so much for all your hard work and dedication seems inadequate for what you all achieve.

Financial Review

Fundraising remains very tough, particularly as most of our fundraising activities had to be suspended from March onwards due to Covid 19

We hugely appreciate the ongoing support of our regular supporters, many of whom contribute by regular giving, which has generally been sustained and in some cases increased notwithstanding the financial challenges many people are facing in current circumstances.

During 2019/20 we raised £36k (compared to £48k in 2018/19) and ended the year with cash balances carried forward of £6k (compared to £9k at 31[st] August 2019. The £9k was unusually high as it included significant funding for the borehole which was developed early in 2019/20)

The main sources of income continue to be:

Regular giving by our supporters
Additional contributions from our supporters
Funds raised from fundraising activities
Grants received from grant making trusts

Regular giving (including the associated gift aid) provided about 60% of our income in 2019/20, with about 20% from fundraising, 10% from grants and the balance from one-off gifts, collection tins and other sources.

We organised a number of fundraising activities/events including 3 murder mystery/theatre dinners, a Valentines night ball, an organ recital, a jazz event and a quiz night. Since “lockdown” these have all been curtailed, but we have held a series of on line “pub quizzes”

We also benefitted once again from generous support from sponsored events at Torquay Girls Grammar School (this was received after the year-end) and income from collection boxes at the Whistlestop Cafe and Ashleigh Road Post Office.

Reserves Policy

We do not have a specific reserves target. The basic amount we send to the school weekly is broadly covered by regular giving (including gift aid) by standing orders from our supporters. Contributions from grant making bodies and fundraising activities are used to meet additional needs as they arise and support development projects.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee without share capital, incorporated on 31[st] May 2012 and re-registered as a charity on 23[rd] July 2012. The company is governed by its Articles of Association. The Directors of the company are also currently the members of the company. In the event of the company being would up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1

Recruitment and appointment of Trustee Directors

The directors of the company are also currently the trustees of the charity. Under the Articles of Association every Director must retire from office on every fifth anniversary of his/her appointment but is eligible for re-appointment.

All directors give their time voluntarily. The Board includes members with education and business experience. In the event of particular skills being lost due to retirements, individuals are approached to offer themselves for election to the Board.

All the directors have met Catherine Omanyo, founder and principal of Imprezza Academy, and half have visited the Academy and are familiar with its activities. As noted a number of Trustees, including David Dupont and Mike Anthony and possibly Alison Clarke plan to visit in 2021, after covid 19 forced postponement of the 2020 trip.

Chris Hulme & Bob Cross

Joint Chair of Trustees May 2021

Operation Imprezza (Company Limited by Guarantee)	Operation Imprezza (Company Limited by Guarantee)	Operation Imprezza (Company Limited by Guarantee)	Charity No (if any)	1148240
Annualaccountsforthe period
Period start date	01/09/19	To	Period end date	31/08/20

Section A Statement of financial activities

Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05	Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05	Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05	Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05	Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05
24,227	6,366	-	30,593	43,805
-	-	-	-	-
5,889	-	-	5,889	4,343
1	-		1	2
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
30,117	6,366	-	36,483	48,150

1,470	-	-	1,470	1,798
26,232	14,832	-	41,064	43,918
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
27,702	14,832	-	42,534	45,716

2,415	8,466 -	-	6,051 -	2,434
-	-	-	-	-
2,415	8,466 -	-	6,051 -	2,434
-	-	-	-	-
1,616 -	1,616	-	-	-

-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
799	6,850 -	-	6,051 -	2,434

4,733	7,821	-	12,554	10,120
5,532	971	-	6,503	12,554

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteosl members of OPERATION IMPREZZA On accounts for tho year ended 31 AUGUST 2020 Charfty no (if any) 1148240 Sot out on pages RETURN AS PER THE AThACHED TEMPLATE I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charFty {Ihe Trusf) for the year ended Rèsponsbbilitios and As the thartty trustees of the Tnjst, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of tha 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 Acl and in Garrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sedion 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. l ttinfim that no material matters have come lo my attention (Other than that disclosed below ') in Gonne¢tion vnth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any malerial respect.. aoUntIng records Yre not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wth the accounting records Independent 8xaminerf8 Statsment I have no concems armd have come across no other matters in connection with the examinalion to which attenlion should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf th&y do not apply. Signed: Date: 13105121 Name: MARK CHAMBERS Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): ASSOCIATION OF CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Addross: 50 VELWELL ROAD EXETER DEVON EX4 4LD IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of Charity accounts". directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detall8 of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. NONE IER October 2018