2022-01-31-accounts - Bridge Of Hope Foundation

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Trustees’ Annual Report

For period from 1[st] February 2021 to January 31[st] 2022

Charity name: Bridge of Hope Foundation

Charity registration number: 1152252

Objectives and Activities

The primary purpose of Bridge of Hope Foundation is to advance education for the public benefit of young people in developing countries as the trustees determine.

The primary objective of Bridge of Hope is to enable children to complete their secondary school education and for outstanding students to have the means to go to college or university. Priority is given to the students whom we have sponsored through secondary school. Our commitment remains to support our current students through to graduation.

As well as sponsoring individual students, Bridge of Hope continues in the direction of giving financial grants to schools across the developing world, with a particular focus on enabling marginalised children or those with a disability to receive an education who otherwise would be denied one.

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.

In this financial year being reported on, Bridge of Hope continued to realise its objectives of sponsoring secondary and tertiary education. Bridge of Hope is sponsoring the secondary school education of students in Haiti, Kenya, Uganda and as well as supporting the secondary education of Tibetan refugee children in India.
Bridge of Hope continued to sponsor three university students: James is studying medicine in Kenya, Daniel is studying engineering in Uganda, and Tsewang is studying Tibetan medicine in Nepal.

Due to the ongoing school closures, no school fees were sent to the Zimbabwe and Ethiopia programmes. This is reflected in the accounts.

Bridge of Hope gave grants to the St Marc’s Trouin Trade school in Haiti and to the Centre Amane Street children project in Morocco.

Organisational Structure

Bridge of Hope implements its objectives by collaborating with charitable foundations and educational institutions overseas, which help to administer the funding for the sponsored students. The charity also has volunteer representatives overseas who act on behalf of Bridge of Hope to monitor the sponsored students.

Guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit.

The trustees of Bridge of Hope Foundation have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and have taken account of this guidance when making decisions relating to the charity’s work.

Grant making policy

Bridge of Hope have a grant making policy to which the trustees refer.

Contribution made by volunteers

Bridge of Hope operates through a network of volunteers in the UK, in particular through the active advisory board. The charity also works with volunteer representatives in the countries where the charity has its projects. There are currently no paid staff.

Achievements and Performance

Bridge of Hope programme activity:

Kenya

Secondary school sponsorship.

Bridge of Hope continued with its collaboration with Ummah Foundation, the Rotary club of Milimani and Hifadhi Africa who assist with the implementation of the Bridge of Hope sponsorship of children in Kenya. The foundations we work with administer the funding to the schools, colleges and universities. They also monitor the progress of the students and where necessary pay their stipends and accommodation fees.

University sponsorship.

Bridge of Hope supports the ongoing college fees of James, a medical student in Kenya. James continued with his studies and is making great progress. Bridge of Hope also sponsored James’ accommodation and monthly stipend whilst he lives at university away from his village.

Uganda

The schools in Uganda remained closed due to the pandemic for most of the financial year being reported on and only opened in January 2022. Bridge of Hope works with a local representative in Kampala, Ms Ruth Isooba who implements the sponsorship programme in Uganda on behalf of the charity.

Esther and Ibrahim are two children in Uganda being sponsored by Bridge of Hope. Their respective schools were closed until January 2022. Their school fees are being part-sponsored by an educational grant from the Royal Overseas League.
Daniel is a final year university student whom Bridge of Hope sponsored through Secondary school and is now studying engineering at Kyambogo University. His university fees had been covered by the Bridge of Hope Foundation until graduation. This has been delayed due to the pandemic.

Haiti

Bridge of Hope continues to sponsor two children in Jacmel whose family were badly affected by the 2010 earthquake. David and Kiki are monitored by the Bridge of Hope representative in Haiti, Mr Barbe Kettiny.

Bridge of Hope have made a commitment to St Marc’s trade school in Trouin, Haiti, to help enable secondary school children to have a vocational education. Each year, Bridge of Hope donates £3000 which is being put towards building a new classroom at St Marc’s.

The grant from the year before was returned due to a banking error, which is why in this financial year a double grant was made of £6000 covering two years’ donation from Bridge of Hope to St Marc’s school as reflected in the accounts.

Tibetan refugee sponsorship programme

Secondary school sponsorship:

Bridge of Hope have a commitment to 20 children’s sponsorship in Mussoorie, Northern India.

The children are monitored by the Tibet Relief Fund who provide feedback reports, photos and letters from the children. Due to the pandemic, the school was closed for part of the year, with the children learning online and from home. This was hampered due to poor internet access and lack of laptops.

University sponsorship:

The University student – Tsewang studying Tibetan medicine in Nepal, resumed her studies half way through the year after lock down was lifted. Bridge of Hope have made a commitment to see her through to graduation.

Morocco

Bridge of Hope started supporting a new project to enable the education of children living on the street in Taroudant, South Western Morocco. This was implemented through a grant sent to the Moroccan Children’s Trust.

Financial Review

The trustee board review the charity’s financial position at the trustee board meetings which meet quarterly.

The income and net outgoings of resources have been reflected in the accounts of the year. During this financial year, Bridge of Hope Foundation raised a total income of £ 37, 277

Total Funds distributed to our overseas projects for this financial year were £30,185 with £2268 spent on administration and fund raising. This reflects a percentage of 6% being spent on administration.

The charity adheres to the guidance on internal financial controls issued by the Charity Commission and reviews the financial controls check lists on a yearly basis.

Reserves Policy

Bridge of Hope Foundation holds a 2 years reserve policy to ensure that the current students being sponsored remain in school till graduation and holds £40,000 in a savings account under its reserves policy.

Sources of Funding

Principal sources of funding this year were through:
individual philanthropy and monthly giving
The annual Summer Garden Party and raffle
Harvest Festival and Spice Fair
St Andrew’s School Woking - Cake Sale
Sale of Bridge of Hope Christmas cards
Corporate sponsorship
Online giving through the website – www.bridge-hope.org

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees of Bridge of Hope Foundation. (Registered charity in the UK 1152252)

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended January 31[st] 2022

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and examiner.

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity is required by company law to prepare accrued accounts and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)

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:

Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act and Section 44(1) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act.)

To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Act

To state whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission and is in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 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 next statement.

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 and in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006, section 44 (1) (b) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations and
Which are consistent 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

Name: Dagmawit Shitaye Date May 2021

Relevant professional qualification or body: AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)

Annual Accounts

Donations 33,963 25,063 Gift Aid 12,128 Christmas card sales 914 743 Charity Events 1,675 Raffles 712 Bank interest 13 198 Total 37, 277 38,132 Funds returned 2454 DISTRIBUTION OF DONATIONS Ethiopia 2,000 Kenya 13,310 7,320 Tibetan Refugee Project 6,000 6,000 Haiti 6,010 305 Egypt 450 Morocco 2,000 Uganda 2,865 Total 30,185 16,075 EXPENSES Online fund raising 4 Honorarium 500 (2020/2021) 1,000 Christmas cards 288 Bank charges 20 Web content management 311 286 Web hosting 231 115 Postage 70 Audit fee 100 100 DBS/Criminal record check 10

Volunteer retention
Anti-virus software 50
Facebook Ads 74
Charity Events expenditure 82
Printing and literature costs 916
Misc. 4
Total2268
Under/ distribution 6498
Balance Sheet as at 31/1/2022
ASSETS£
Cash at bank 70,225
Savings Account 40,211
Fixed asset 400
Accounts receivable
Total Assets 110,836
LIABILITIES
Donations retained 110,436
Charity’s equity 400
Accounts payable
Total Liabilities 110,836

33
1,926
20,131
as at 31/1/2021
£
63,571
40,198
400
407
104,576
103,888
400
288

104,576

For the year ended 31/1/2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies’ regime.

Signed

Director and Company Secretary

Date: Sept 28[th] 2022

Structure, Governance and Management

The governing document of Bridge of Hope is its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on 6[th] January 2012 as amended by special resolution registered at Companies House on 27[th] March 2013.

The Charity is a Registered Company number 7900474

Election of Trustees

Election of trustees is based on a recommendation by a current trustee serving on the Bridge of Hope Trustee board. The recommendation is then put to the board for a vote by all current serving trustees for acceptance.

All Bridge of Hope Foundation trustees undergo DBS checks and have signed the declaration of good character form required by the Charity Commission.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Bridge of Hope Foundation
Other name the charity uses	Bridge of Hope
Registered charity number	1152252
Charity’s principal address	4 Brunner Rd. Ealing London W5 1BA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Robert Newell CVO	Trustee and Director
	Martin Fletcher	Trustee and Director
	Lisa Yacoub	Trustee and Director And Company Secretary

Names and addresses of advisers

Name	Address
Katie Campbell	London
Claire Finlay	London
Sharon Hendry	London
Selam Bekele	Addis Ababa

Ayub Khalid Nairobi Ruth Isooba Kampala

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signed on behalf of the	charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Lisa Yacoub
	Company Secretary and Trustee
	29.11.22
	29.11.22