Swawou School Foundation
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ending 31 December 2024
Charity number 1148588 Company number 07847447
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Swawou School Foundation Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Contents Page
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Reference and Administrative Information
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Report of the Management Committee
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Statement of Financial Activities
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Balance Sheet
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Notes forming part of the financial statements
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Independent Examiner’s Report
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Swawou School Foundation Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
The Management Committee presents its directors’ report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
Reference and Administrative Information
| Charity Name: | Swawou School Foundation |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number: | 1148588 |
| Company registration number: | 07847447 |
| Registered Office: | 128 Freston Road |
| London, W10 6TR | |
| Management Committee: | Mr C Campbell |
| Mr R Davey | |
| Mr S O’Meara | |
| Independent Examiners: | Rev’d Alan Clements (Fellow of the Association of Charity |
| Independent Examiner’s) | |
| 15 Carleton Road | |
| Great Knowley | |
| Chorley, PR6 8TQ | |
| Bankers: | CAF Bank Limited |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill, West Malling | |
| Kent, ME19 4JQ | |
| Solicitors: | Lansdowne Law LLP |
| First floor | |
| 14 Hanover Square | |
| London, W1S 1HN |
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Swawou School Foundation Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Our Aims and objectives
Purpose and Aims
To advance the education of the pupils in the Swawou Layout area of Kenema, Sierra Leone, in particular those at the Swawou Layout Community Primary School for Girls, by providing funding and assisting in the provision of facilities for education
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous period. The review looks at the success of each key activity and the benefits they have brought to those groups of people we are setup to help.
The review also helps us ensure our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
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The focus of our work
We work to raise funds for the local community of Swawou Layout, Kenema town that give disadvantaged girls access to a free quality education. By removing the barrier of poverty and creating a nurturing and safe school environment, we are able to get girls back into the classroom.
The school operates with several unique features:
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Assistance with uniforms and learning materials free of charge
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Secure and clean sanitary facilities, including private toilets and a hand washing corner
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Zero tolerance on physical punishment
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Involvement of families and the community in school management and decision-making
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A nutritious, hot school lunch every day to aid learning and support healthy physical and mental development
Financial Review
The Swawou School Foundation was incorporated on the 14 November 2011 with Companies House and gained charitable status with the Charity Commission on 16 August 2012.
Principal Funding Sources
The principal funding sources for the charity are currently by way of corporate donations as well as through individual charitable donations and gifts from charitable trusts and foundations.
Reserves Policy
The Management Committee has examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The policy being that the available cash balance should be at least nine months running costs. The cash balance at 31 December was £96,791 and as such the Management Committee are confident that they are able to continue.
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Activities and Achievements in 2024
Enrolment
The School maintained an enrolment level of 120 pupils. Vigorous selection criteria were applied to ensure that the most needy girls were recruited; for example, those living below the poverty line and those who were otherwise not attending school.
All pupils received a ‘back to school’ kit at the beginning of the school term, which included two school uniforms, textbooks and stationery. While the School was open, an entirely free education was provided, including a nutritious hot lunch each day.
Trustees Visit
The Trustees were able to visit to the School in early December 2024. We were delighted to engage with the dedicated staff and principal and hear first-hand about the challenges faced and success achieved by the pupils. Trustees funded their own travel expenses in keeping with the ethos of the charity that all income is donated to the Swawou Lay Out School for girls except for UK regulatory compliance costs.
School field protection and security enhancements
During 2025 a budget will be prepared by the principal to communicate the cost and timeline to erect a perimeter fence around the school land. Such a fence would mitigate against soil erosion of the school field and protect the integrity the school land as Kenema continues to grow and develop.
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School Farm
The school farm serves as an excellent aid for the pupils and teachers during agricultural lessons (a core primary school subject), and also provides a small amount of food items that can be used for school lunches.
Training and support
We continue to invest in training and development for the staff of Swawou.
Fundraising and awareness raising
Swawou School is only possible thanks to the continued generous support of Law Business Research Ltd and its staff charity committees. Together, LBR Ltd and its staff raised all of the money necessary to fund the annual budget of The Swawou Lay out School for Girls by hosting a series of external and internal fundraising events.
SSF would like to thank the staff and management and the owners of Law Business Research Ltd (now ICG) for their sustained generosity over the last 16 years.
A look ahead to 2025 - plans and ambitions
Provision of quality free primary education
We will continue to offer free quality primary education to the pupils at Swawou school in a childfriendly, safe and nurturing environment. We will continue to champion our core values, including a zero tolerance policy on corporal punishment, the involvement of families and the community in school management and decision making and the maintenance of low teacher-pupil ratios to ensure that each girl gets the support she needs to learn and thrive.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14 November 2011 and registered as a charity on 16 August 2012. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Every member of the charity promises, if the charity is dissolved while he or she or it is a member or within twelve months after he or she or it ceases to be a member, to contribute such sum (not exceeding £10) as may be demanded of him or her or it towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the charity incurred before he or she or it ceases to be a member, and of the costs charges and expenses of winding up, and the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
To simplify the administration of the charity the decision was made to convert the organisation to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as members of the Management Committee. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association there must be two or more members at any given time.
It is considered that the Trustees and any others who could be understood to be ‘managers’ in the activities and affairs of the Swawou School Foundation are deemed to be ‘fit and proper’ persons under the terms of the Finance Act 2010.
Training is available for the Trustees and any other members of the management team as and when required.
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Responsibilities of the Management Committee
Company law requires the Management Committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the management committee should follow best practice and:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is not appropriate to assume that the company will continue on that basis.
The Management Committee is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. The Management Committee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
With regard to the ‘Safeguarding’ of vulnerable adults and children who come within the compass of school activities, whilst the Foundation is in effect the fund raising entity for the Swawou Layout Community run school and supports and encourages the school to ensure the girls have a safe and nurturing environment in which to learn, the Management Committee feel that ‘loco parentis’ rests with the school. To that end the school employs a Child Protection officer specifically to ensure the local legislative controls and protections are in place.
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Members of the Management Committee
Members of the Management Committee, who are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.
In accordance with company law, as the company’s directors, we certify that:
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so far as we are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware
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as the directors of the company we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information.
The Trustees are confident that over the next five years that funding will be adequate to cover the running of the school. The time frame beyond that is harder to predict but is heavily reliant on the continued support of the primary donor Law Business Research Ltd, that said, if their support were to end we would anticipate adequate time to engage alternative donors and/or make other arrangements to ensure the school continues to function.
Independent Examiners
Rev’d Alan Clements was appointed as the charitable company’s Independent Examiner during the period.
This report was approved by the Management Committee on 20[th] October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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Swawou School Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income & Expenditure Account)
| Notes Income resources from generated funds Voluntary income: Donations and legacies 3 Interest income Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable activities Governance costs Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources from operations Other recognised gains Depreciation 5 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
2024 Total £ 54,859 122 54,981 42,773 160 42,933 12,047 - 4,839 7,208 153,937 161,145 |
2023 Total £ 55,865 134 |
|---|---|---|
| 55,999 | ||
| 49,036 105 |
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| 49,141 | ||
| 6,857 - 4,844 |
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| 2,013 151,924 |
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| 153,937 |
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Swawou School Foundation
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024
| Notes Fixed Assets Tangible assets 5 Current Assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Current Liabilities Loan from Director 2 Net Current Assets Net Assets Unrestricted Funds Opening Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year General funds Restricted Funds 3 Total Funds |
£ £ £ £ 64,354 69,193 64,354 69,193 - - 96,791 84,744 96,791 84,744 - - - - 96,791 84,744 161,145 153,937 153,937 151,924 7,208 2,013 161,145 153,937 - - 161,145 153,937 2024 2023 |
£ £ £ £ 64,354 69,193 64,354 69,193 - - 96,791 84,744 96,791 84,744 - - - - 96,791 84,744 161,145 153,937 153,937 151,924 7,208 2,013 161,145 153,937 - - 161,145 153,937 2024 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 153,937 |
For the year ended 31 December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption 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 year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by the management committee on 20[th] October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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Swawou School Foundation Notes forming part of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
1. Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year.
(a) Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the inclusion of fixed asset investments at market value, and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice : Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005.
(b) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
(c) Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
The following policies are applied to particular categories of income:
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Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
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Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
(d) Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred.
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2. Loan from Director, Trustee Remuneration and Related Party Transactions
No members of the management committee received any remuneration or lent money to the Foundation during the period.
3. Donations
| 2024 | 2023 £ 55,865 - 55,865 - 55,865 |
|
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| Law Business Research Ltd | 53,229 | |
| Other donations | 1,630 | |
| Total unrestricted donations | 54,859 | |
| Total restricted funds | - | |
| Total Donation received | 54,859 |
Law Business Research Ltd continues to support the Foundation, in September 2024 £50,000 was received related to its 2023 external events programme, a further £3,229 was generously raised by the Law Business Research Ltd staff during 2024.
4. Taxation
The company is registered as a charity and as such is entitled to the exemptions under the Corporation Taxes Act 2011.
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5. Fixed Assets
| Opening Cost Additions Disposals Closing Cost Opening Accumulated Depreciation Depreciation Closing Accumulated Depreciation Opening Book Value Closing Book Value |
Land & Buildings Fixtures & Fittings Total 104,125 3,363 107,488 - - - - - - |
|---|---|
| 104,125 3,363 107,488 34,932 3,363 38,295 4,839 - 4,839 |
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| 39,771 3,363 43,134 69,193 - 69,193 64,354 - 64,354 |
Land & Buildings relate to the school in Kenema town in eastern Sierra Leone which officially opened 1st September 2017
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life, which for the building is estimated at 20 years and for fixtures and fittings at 3 years.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Swawou School Foundation.
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31st. December 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 15.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner.
The trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the 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 present 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 my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and - to prepare accounts which accord with accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.