TRANSPORT for UGANDAN SICK CHILDREN (TUSC)
ANNUAL REPORT 2024/2025
This year TUSC has undertaken 1,530 episodes of transport for healthcare needs. Below is further information about our work and the challenges that are faced serving communities in the Jinja District, Eastern Uganda.
Health and Social Care support has also been given to over another 1000 people during the three ‘Outreach Events’ that have been carried out during this period (see information below).
Where we work, what we do and who we work with.
Our work is mainly in the Jinja District of Eastern Uganda but we will transfer clients to other areas if their medical needs can only be met in specialist centres out of the District and they have been referred.
Our ‘passengers’ come to us for a wide variety of health needs that require intervention and access to healthcare. These needs include those who are acutely or chronically sick, who may have been injured, or need to attend for immunisations. We respond when there are maternal/delivery crisis and intervention is needed that cannot be provided in the local clinics; in these cases we transport women to the Main Referral Hospital which saves them being at further risk on a motor bike taxi, which is often the only other option.
We support children with physical and cognitive challenges to access regular physiotherapy sessions and also their follow-up appointments with their care providers. This follow up care is not local for many of them as they are enrolled onto the services of an International Hospital in northern Uganda. We will also facilitate transport costs if these children become acutely sick and we are not available to get them to the centre in a timely manner.
Nine children continue to receive support with education costs via TUSC supporters. These children either have a direct health need of their own or a carer/family member does. All children attend local schools that provide a meal and the sponsors are given feedback each term. Our social worker/project manager monitors attendance and encourages families to support the children to ‘be serious’ about their education.
Our partnerships with other organisations (NGO’s and Government facilities) continues. We balance their wishes to access our service with remaining independent so that we can be available to all who may need transport for healthcare needs and not just specific client groups.
We regularly partner with and support the work of :-
RHHJ (Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja)
SNUPA (Source of the Nile Union for People with Albinism)
SALVE (Safe and Loved Via Education)
Kimaka Clinic (Jinja)
Mpumudde Health Centre 4
Dignity for the Elderly, Jinja.
We support the work of local health sta ff and transport them when they wish to conduct ‘follow- up visits to vulnerable patients, or if community immunisation programmes are underway; this means that more children can be vaccinated than would otherwise happen as there is no other transport for the health care workers.
Outreach work continued to be a growing part of our activities. Local VHT’s (Village Health Trainers) request the support of TUSC when they are concerned about people in their village. These people may be may be deteriorating as they are not attending for essential medications, or they are too sick to travel or cannot a ff ord the transport. Our team will make a plan with the client and the VHT as to how to help but we are now setting protocols for not just being a delivery service of medications for those who don’t attend due to their (understandable) privacy/confidentiality concerns. Often we will end up transporting the client to a healthcare facility, sometimes even obtaining their medications (this is a challenge both financially and in terms of expectations in the communities, clinics and with the clients), or referring them to one of our partner organisations.
When funds allow we will provide Insecticide Treated Nets to vulnerable people, with priorities given to the very young, pregnant women, the elderly and those who have other health vulnerabilities. Not surprisingly, we can never satisfy the great need for these. Prevention is deemed to be cost e ff ective both in health terms and transport costs. If it is possible (this is financially determined) the team will undertake ‘OutReach’ sessions in isolated villages. The requests for these will come from VHT’s or local clinic workers, and we will hold a one o ff healthcare session (with permission from local leaders) where very many people attend for a health consultation and obtain screening, health information/advice, treatments and wound care. Many people attend with known chronic disease but they neglect these due to the cost of transport and/or medications. Often they will attend ‘local healers’ (aka Witch Doctors) as this is deemed to be cheaper. The team counsel clients about the dangers of this, give our contact numbers and encourage them to plan ahead for their next health appointment/costs. During these sessions there is also the opportunity to provide worming tablets for children and families and Vitamin A supplements for young children as is the policy in Uganda. Mosquito nets are provided to high risk patients and contraceptive supplies can be provided by local sta ff in a culturally sensitive way, without judgement, and showing care and respect for the client. It has to be noted that some of the health conditions that people tolerate due to their social/ financial situations, are shocking to see, and often can be life threatening. We have supported emergency transport to health facilities on several occasions.
We are grateful to health colleagues in the Jinja District that come and help support this work. It is hard to give an exact figure of people treated/supported at these sessions
(due to various reasons of some people attending twice) but the numbers at each outreach vary between 300 – 450 clients.
Communication between the Project and the UK.
The UK director of TUSC has visited 3 times in this period (not using TUSC funds to facilitate this) and ensures that all policies and practices that are embedded in our Aims and Objectives are being adhered to. There is also liaison with our local partners where we support the team and discuss possibilities for greater co-operation that may benefit the local communities where we all operate.
Local Registration as a CBO is maintained and all insurance policies are kept up to date to protect clients and TUSC as a whole.
Accounts are checked and receipts obtained for verification to support our continued registration with the Charity Commission.
Training/updates/performance reviews for the local sta ff are discussed and supported and the sta ff maintain their professional learning and registration in Uganda.
There is good and regular communication via a Sta ff WhatsApp group. This allows for any concerns, new information or incidents being discussed and addressed with full knowledge and agreement between the local sta ff and the UK/Chair of TUSC.
Fundraising
Fundraising is an ongoing challenge as it is for many charities, especially in light of world economic di ffi culties, famine, wars and environmental events. Food prices in Uganda are continuously climbing and malnutrition is an increasing challenge both in severity and numbers.
This is reflected by there being less money available for transport by sick people so the need for our service is ongoing/increasing (we have done 300 extra episodes of transport in this current period over the last year). Once at hospital/clinic there are often no resources; whilst TUSC cannot pay for hospital costs for everyone, we often will support some costs (out of simple humanity) for the most vulnerable clients.
The cost of fuel is high (depending on exchange rates it is the equivalent of around £1.10/litre and our vehicle is heavy on use) and along with the damage to the vehicle from the poor roads, and the above costs, we need to keep working hard at the fundraising element of the project. Sadly there has never been any local interest in taking on some responsibility for that but we will keep that idea burning.
TUSC survives financially on the good will of people who support our work. Sponsored events have become rare since Covid and in that era we lost several of our regular donors/supporters.
We continue to receive some support from two Rotary Clubs and we are immensely grateful for this. We are grateful too for the wonderful team on the ground who work hard to
maintain the very good name that TUSC has in the local communities where we operate, and to the Trustees and volunteers that help us to keep ‘On the Road to Health’.
PREPARED BY
Carol Mitchell (Chair of TUSC) on behalf of and in hand with the Trustees.
20th April, 2025.
| TRANSPORT FOR UGANDAN SICK CHILDREN (TUSC) | Company No. | 08032230 |
|---|---|---|
| Charity No. | 1152255 | |
| Annual Accounts for the Period | From | 01 May 2024 |
| To | 30 Apr 2025 |
Balance sheet at 30 April 2025
| Total fixed assets tal current assets one year assets/(liabilities) current liabilities e year Net assets Total funds |
This year at 30.04.2025 Last year at 30.04.2024 £ £ |
This year at 30.04.2025 Last year at 30.04.2024 £ £ |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| - | ||
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| 38,081.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| 675.00 | - | |
| 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | |
| 2 2 |
Fixed assets
Tangible assets Investments
Current assets
Stock and work in progress Debtors (Short term) investments Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Provisions for liabilities and charges
Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds
Average number of employees
Statements
For the year ending 30 April 2025 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Signed
| Signed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Signature | Date of approval |
| Carol Mitchel Director | 23.01.2026 |
CC17a (Excel)
24/01/2026
1
| TRANSPORT FOR UGANDAN SICK CHILDREN(TUSC) | Company No. 08032230 Charity No. 1152255 |
Company No. 08032230 Charity No. 1152255 |
Company No. 08032230 Charity No. 1152255 |
Company No. 08032230 Charity No. 1152255 |
Company No. 08032230 Charity No. 1152255 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Financial Activities | From 01-May-24 To 30-Apr-25 |
||||
| Cash and Bank Balance brought forward Incoming Resources Donations, legacies and Grants Fundraising events Other Income Total incoming resources Resources Expended Fundraising Expenses - curry night Legal and professional fees Support Costs - Wages Support Costs - Book Keeping Fees Support Costs - Bank and transfer fees Support Costs - Insurance Support Costs - Mobile & data Core Activities - Fuel Core Activities - Parking Core Activities - Vehicle repair and service Community Health Costs - Mattresses Community Health Costs - Nets Community Health Costs - Other Community Community Health Costs - Treatments Community Health Costs - Medical Costs Child Education Support - Child Education Support Staff Training and compliance Other expenses and write off Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Cash and Bank Balance carried forward |
Total this year Total last year Unrestricted funds Restricted Funds 2024/2025 2022/2024 |
||||
| 38,087.73 | 38,087.73 | 17,580.49 | |||
| £ £ £ £ |
|||||
| 24,103.09 | 24,103.09 | 47,710.52 | |||
| 1,277.50 | 1,277.50 | 1,197.20 | |||
| 675.00 | 675.00 | - | |||
| 25,380.59 | 675.00 | 26,055.59 | 48,907.72 | ||
| 947.50 | 947.50 | 800.00 | |||
| 624.25 | 624.25 | 660.59 | |||
| 4,580.52 | 4,580.52 | 4,572.08 | |||
| 387.54 | 387.54 | - | |||
| 325.95 | 325.95 | 345.37 | |||
| 2,044.70 | 2,044.70 | 1,863.25 | |||
| 258.36 | 258.36 | 241.21 | |||
| 8,590.49 | 8,590.49 | 10,178.52 | |||
| 172.24 | 172.24 | 715.96 | |||
| 1,900.46 | 1,900.46 | 1,670.51 | |||
| 25.84 | 25.84 | - | |||
| 2,373.69 | 2,373.69 | 4,166.40 | |||
| 72.13 | 72.13 | 105.26 | |||
| 188.28 | 188.28 | 454.03 | |||
| 341.64 | 341.64 | 257.00 | |||
| 1,187.53 | 1,187.53 | 1,143.55 | |||
| 258.36 | 258.36 | - | |||
| 1,107.38 | 1,107.38 | 1,226.75 | |||
| 25,386.86 | - | 25,386.86 | 28,400.48 | ||
| 6.27 - |
675.00 | 668.73 | 20,507.24 | ||
| 38,081.47 | 675.00 | 38,756.47 | 38,087.73 | ||
CHARITY COMMIS FOR ENGLAND AND ION ALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Indepenjent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Tran rt for Ugandan Sick Children On accounts for the year ended 301041 025 Charity no (if any) 1152255 Set out on pages I repo to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above ("the Trust.) for the year ended 3010412025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the accou ("the charty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the ts in accordance with the requirements of the Charrties Act 2011 ct"). I repo under have f under in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out ection 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I lowed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission tion 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have examiner's statement come cause completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have o my attention in connection with the examination which gives me o bdieve that in, any material respect: he accounting records were rK)t kept in accordance with section 130 f the Charities Act; or he accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or he accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements onceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement hat the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter onsidered as part of an independent examination. e no concems arKI have come across no other matters in connection th ination to which attention should be drawn in this report in to ena le a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. wit ord Signed: Date: /A Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:
Section B Only com (see CC3 guidance f lete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern Independent examination of charty accounts: directions and r examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose.