COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 7900474
BRIDGE OF HOPE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1[st] February 2024 – 31[st] January 2025
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
CONTENTS
Annual Report Independent Examiner’s Report of Financial Activities Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31[st] January 2025
Reference and Administrative Details:
Registered Charity Name Bridge of Hope Foundation Charity Registration No. 1152252 Company Registration No. 7900474 Principal Office Bridge of Hope Foundation 4 Brunner Road Ealing London W5 1BA
Registered Office
Bridge of Hope Foundation 4 Brunner Road Ealing London W5 1BA
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
The Directors:
Mr Robert Newell CVO (Chair) Ms Lisa Yacoub (Company Secretary) Mr Martin Fletcher
Patrons:
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub OM Nadia, Lady Plumbly
Advisory Board:
Ms Katie Campbell (London) Ms Sharon Hendry (London) Mr M A Khalid, FCCA (Nairobi) Ms Selam Bekele (Addis Ababa) Ms Ruth Isooba (Kampala)
There are no permanent paid members of staff.
Registered Office:
4 Brunner Road Ealing London W5 1BA
Bankers:
The Co-operative Bank Plc 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Bridge of Hope Foundation is a registered charity in the UK number 1152252 and is a Limited Company in the UK number 7900474.
Bridge of Hope is governed under its Articles of Association.
The day to day running of the charitable company is by the trustees who are also the directors. The trustees are responsible to the Charity Commission.
In the event of the Company being wound up, the directors are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Playing a crucial role in bridging the gap in educational access, Bridge of Hope directly supports students who would otherwise be unable to afford schooling. By working closely with local partners, the charity ensures that financial aid reaches those most in need, empowering children and young adults with the education necessary to build better futures for themselves and their communities. This targeted approach not only provides individual students with opportunities but also strengthens educational infrastructure where it is needed. Through the sponsorship of teachers and the building of classrooms, our aim is to foster long-term positive change.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Bridge of Hope maintained its sponsorship programmes in Kenya, Uganda, Northern India, Nepal, Haiti, and Egypt. In the past year, the charity expanded its reach by supporting a school in the Chegutu region of Zimbabwe and is now sponsoring 23 children in Zimbabwe.
The charity also established a new partnership with the Australian charity – “A Future 4 Kids” to assist a rural school in Zambia.
Bridge of Hope continued its reach through a strong network of local partnerships and trusted advisors in each country where it works, ensuring the effective sponsorship of children and schools.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
FUNDRAISING
Bridge of Hope Foundation sustained its fundraising efforts through various channels, including:
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Online giving via the charity’s website: www.bridge-hope.org
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Regular monthly donations
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Corporate sponsorship, including a renewed grant from the Aveva Foundation
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Annual sponsorships and matched giving
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Coffee mornings
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Sponsored walk
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Summer Garden party with raffle and auction
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Christmas Fair
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Sales of Christmas cards
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Musical reception
BRIDGE OF HOPE PROGRAMME ACTIVITY
KENYA
Secondary School Sponsorship
Bridge of Hope collaborates with the Ummah Foundation and the Rotary Club of Milimani to administer funding, monitor student progress, and provide annual reports. Currently, the charity sponsors:
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10 secondary school students (3 through the Ummah Foundation and 7 with the Rotary Club of Milimani).
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Additional support is provided for uniforms and books as needed.
University Sponsorship
Bridge of Hope continues to sponsor a medical student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The sponsorship includes tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses in Thika.
Bridge of Hope is sponsoring a mathematics student at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Nairobi.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
UGANDA
In Kampala, local representative Ruth Isooba oversees the distribution of funds to schools and provides yearly progress reports.
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A young student whom Bridge of Hope sponsored through primary school receives an annual contribution of £600 toward his secondary school education. The Finlay family provides additional support.
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Bridge of Hope continues to sponsor a young girl with special needs who is granted full sponsorship.
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Three secondary school students are sponsored at the Ekitangaala Transformational School in Nakasongola
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A young girl in Jinja was rescued from an early arranged marriage and is now continuing her education with Bridge of Hope’s sponsorship.
THE GAMBIA
Bridge of Hope was approached for help regarding the support of a young boy who had developed a brain injury after a road accident. The child was no longer able to attend mainstream education and was in need of a special needs school which his family could not afford. Bridge of Hope stepped in to sponsor the child and are following up his progress through a known social worker in Banjul.
ETHIOPIA
Bridge of Hope, in collaboration with Snap Trading in Addis Ababa, has donated a laptop at a discounted rate to a special needs student studying IT in college. Having grown up in the Kidane Mehret orphanage in Addis Ababa without family support, this student now has the necessary resources to pursue his tertiary education. Through efforts like this, Bridge of Hope continues its mission of bridging the digital divide in Africa, ensuring that students in need have the technology required to succeed.
ZIMBABWE
Bridge of Hope joined forces with the Mike Campbell Foundation to sponsor a school in the Chegutu region of Zimbabwe. Bridge of Hope is sponsoring 27 children in the school and helping with the salaries of the teachers in this rural school.
ZAMBIA
Bridge of Hope is supporting A Future 4 Kids School in Ndola, Zambia. Located 200 miles north of Lusaka, Ndola is a community where access to education, healthcare, and basic resources are limited. Through our partnership, we aim to bring lasting change to the lives of the school’s 215 students, many of whom are orphans or come from extremely impoverished backgrounds.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
HAITI
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Two students in Jacmel, have been sponsored since 2015, with a commitment to support them through secondary school. They are due to graduate next academic year.
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St Marc’s Vocational School, Trouin receives an annual grant of £3000. The funds have contributed to constructing a new classroom and supporting vocational courses in computing, decorating, and motorcycle maintenance.
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The school also runs catering, flower arranging and solar power classes.
TIBETAN REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME
Secondary School Sponsorship:
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Bridge of Hope supports 20 students in Mussoorie, Northern India, and 3 students
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in Nepal via an annual grant to the Tibet
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Relief Fund.
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Children send greeting cards and letters to their sponsors during the Christmas season.
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The Aveva Foundation renewed its grant for
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the continued education of the 23 Tibetan refugee students.
University Sponsorship
- Bridge of Hope supports a student in Kathmandu, Nepal who receives sponsorship to study Tibetan medicine, with the charity’s commitment to support her through to graduation.
EGYPT
A further grant of £5,000 was provided to the Banati Foundation in Cairo to support girls in need of educational support who lack family resources.
Abnaa El Ghad (Banati) Foundation was established in 2010 to promote and protect the lives of children at risk, children in street situations and children deprived of parental care. These children are vulnerable and live with dangers that expose them to different forms of exploitation as well as mental, physical and sexual abuse.
Through its mobile unit reception center and shelters, Banati provides all encompassing services with quality (psychosocial, legal, educational, medical and rehabilitative workshops) through continuous capacity building.
This Bridge of Hope grant contributes to teachers’ salaries and supports the formal education of these students.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The income and net expenditures for the financial year are detailed in full in the accounts. Total funds raised for the year ended 31/01/2025 were £45,253. Funds allocated to overseas projects: £39,748. Administrative and fundraising expenses: £3,875, representing only 8.6 % of income spent on administration and fund raising. The charity works hard to keep down the percentage spent on administration as a result of having no remunerated staff and keeping fund raising costs low.
FUTURE PLANNING
Bridge of Hope remains committed to supporting children through secondary education and, for outstanding students, providing access to tertiary education. The priority is to continue sponsorship for current students, ensuring their successful completion of secondary school and higher education where applicable.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRIDGE OF HOPE FOUNDATION (REGISTERED CHARITY IN THE UK 1152252)
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended January 31st 2025.
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:
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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.)
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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
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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:
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Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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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
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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
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Which are consistent with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
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Have not been met or
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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: 30/04/2025
Relevant professional qualification or body: AATS Address: 5 Chamberlain Close, Hayes, UB3 2GB
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
| BRIDGE OF HOPE ACCOUNTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year ended 31/01/25 | Year ended 31/01/24 | |
| Income | £ | £ |
| UK Donations | 13,715 | 23,767 |
| Overseas Donations | 15,000 | |
| Christmas Card Sales | 568 | 240 |
| Charity Event Garden Party | 7,330 |
8,248 |
| Musical Reception | 2,860 | |
| Coffee Mornings | 1,424 | 1,605 |
| Just Giving Platform | 1,289 | 1,291 |
| Online Giving (Stripe) | 2,022 | 4,166 |
| Bank Interest | 498 | 1,199 |
| Gift Aid Claims | 9,826 | |
| Total Income | 44,706 | 50,342 |
| Distribution of Donations | ||
| Ethiopia | 1,605 | |
| Kenya | 11,476 | 12,874 |
| Tibetan Refugee Project | 6,900 | 6,900 |
| Haiti | 3,698 | 3,720 |
| Uganda | 2,779 | 3,855 |
| Egypt | 5,000 | 3,013 |
| Zimbabwe | 3,000 | |
| The Gambia | 290 | |
| Zambia | 5,000 | |
| Total | 39,748 | 30,362 |
| Expenses | ||
| Honorarium | 500 | 500 |
| Christmas Cards | 603 | |
| Web Content Management | 251 | 80 |
| Web Hosting | 216 | 216 |
| Audit Fee | 100 | 100 |
| Anti-Virus Software | 55 | 55 |
| Charity Events | 408 | 251 |
| Promotion | 97 | 210 |
| Printing, Stationary & Post | 827 | 230 |
| NSPCC Training | 75 | |
| Safeguarding Training | 720 | 300 |
| Bank Charges | 98 | 19 |
| Total | 3,875 | 2,036 |
| Under/ |
1,133 | 17,944 |
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252
Bridge of Hope Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee No. 7900474 Financial Statements Year ended 31st January 2025
| Year ended 31/01/25 | Year ended 31/01/24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | £ | £ |
| Cash at bank | 81,254 | 80,619 |
| Savings Account | 61,983 | 61,484 |
| Fixed asset (Banners) | 244 | 244 |
| Stock (Christmas Cards) | 94 | |
| Total Assets | 143,575 | 142,347 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Donations Retained | 143,237 | 142,103 |
| Charity’s Equity | 338 | 244 |
| Total Liabilities | 143,575 | 142,347 |
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Balance at 31/01/2024 | £80,618.76 |
|
| + Income | 44,756.24 |
|
| _______ | ||
| Total | £125,375.00 |
|
| - Outgoings | £43,623.00 |
|
| - Bank interest | £498.20 |
|
| Balance at 31/01/2025 | £81,253.80 |
For the year ended 31/1/2025 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 Date: 30/04/2025
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1152252