EXETER ETHIOPIA LINK ANNUAL REPORT JANUARY- DECEMBER 2023 Enabling communities to help themselves
ANNUAL REPORT - CONTENTS
2023 PROJECT UPDATES
-
¡ LIBRARIES & LITERACY
-
¡ YEAR OF READING
CHARITY UPDATES:
-
¡ MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
-
¡ TREASURER’S REPORT
-
¡ GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE & ROLES
2024:
-
¡ 2024 AGM PROPOSED RE ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
-
¡ STRATEGY FOR 2024
-
¡ YEAR OF THE TEACHER FOCUS 2024
INTRODUCTION FROM SECRETARY
2023 was the second of our 2 small scale education year year project. Much of the hard work had been done and this was a year to consolidate. The project committee is to be thanked for their keen attention to the details of the projects and budgeting.
The Year of Reading proved to be difficult from a fund raising perspective but our initiative of the coffee book swap inspired two very successful and enjoyable fund raising events. We chose the Year of the Teacher for our 2024 focus.
In 2023 we aimed to improve communication by more "story telling" around the lives of individuals in Nekemte. Murti sent us some excellent and vivid accounts of day to day life and, in particular, the impact of the libraries on students and the positive consequence of employment as a librarian. Our newsletter continues to evolve and be a vital form of communication.
We held our first face to face meeting since Covid in November. This was a great success with much enthusiasm and many ideas for and This will be the for more fundraising engagement. springboard face to face engagements which will enhance our sense of community and catalyse our fundraising.
In August 2023 we were very sad to hear the news of the passing of Dick Benn. Dick was treasure of EEL for 15 years and he will be remembered with affection, not just for his dedication to EEL but for his kind and understanding manner, his consideration and thoughtfulness.
In Nekemte there continued to be huge challenges with security issues and the bravery and determination of teachers, librarians and our own team is to be credited. Murti has worked tirelessly to ensure the safe and efficient continuation of the work within safe limits and her communication between the team and our project committee has been outstanding and essential.
I would like to extend sincere thanks and appreciation across the spectrum of EEL. From our members and supporters through to our board of trustees and treasurer, our project committee, our volunteers Lee and David and our Nekemte team working with our teachers, librarians and local communities.
Thank you for your continued support.
Dawn Swettenham
2023 PROJECT UPDATES:
2023 was a hugely challenging year because of the political and security situation in and around Nekemte with regular armed conflict around and at times in Nekemte. Nekemte was declared (and still is) an area which the FCDO advises against all travel to. However, EEL is continuing to work with the EECMY CS-DASSC. It puts the security of the team as a total priority but uses local knowledge to identify areas where it is safe.
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Thank you from the team in Nekemte
1. LIBRARIES
In 2023, EEL supported 39 primary school libraries:
¡ 34 librarians were employed (27 Females) in the context of the area where the unemployment rate is 30%. This enabled them to access a monthly income often paying for their studies.
¡ 5 librarians were employed by the government and additional 3 librarians compared to 2 in 2022. The project supports the schools by providing librarian training.
¡ The libraries had a total average monthly footfall of 17,800 students and an average of 3,042 books were lent each month.
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2. LITERACY
-
¡ 12 teachers were trained in the teaching of early grade reading from four rural schools .
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¡ We have continued girls’ literacy tutorials in four schools . This resulted in 63 girls who otherwise were not achieving literacy in mainstream classrooms to reach a minimum word level of literacy and an additional 34 girls to become fluent in reading.
-
¡ We supported 20 deaf students in secondary school through additional tutorials on key subjects (English,Maths and Science subjects).
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- GIRLS’ BIKE
PROJECT
¡ 12 girls from two secondary school were selected to practice cycling. In addition, three girls from this project took part in regional under 17 cycling competition in June 2023.
¡ In solo events, they earned 9 silver medals , a and in team competitions, they secured bronze medal individually, totaling 10 medals overall.
LIBRARIES AND LITERACY
We have planned to extend the project agreement for an additional year, starting in June 2024. Under this we are planning to:
-
¡ Support an average of 20,000 students a month to access class libraries
-
¡ Employ 34 librarians each year
¡ Carry out support visit to disability associations or parent support groups with VSLAs which were set up in previous years.
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Once again Annie Bainbridge organized our stall at the Exeter Respect Festival which was well supported by. We had 20 new sign ups to the newsletter and raised £200
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The Year of Reading
Book swap fundraiser
March 3 [rd] – 5 [th]
We are asking your guests to help us raise funds for books and
reading tutorials in Nekemte, Ethiopia
£3 (the price of a cup of coffee) will buy one book
£20 will provide tutorials sufficient to teach one child to read
A
A dona'on dona'on
of £3
of £20
£1,041 was raised by
Coffee Morning Book Swaps For more informa+on and to donate visit www.exeterethiopialink.org
To make an even bigger difference, consider making your dona+on monthly. THANK YOU.
To celebrate World Book
Day please invite your
friends and family to come
together to exchange books
and enjoy a cup of coffee J ).
(preferably Ethiopian
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• Funds raised were spent on Literacy Tutorials to support children to read
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EEL UPDATES:
MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
abceeeeeee
A big thank you to all our members whose subscriptions help fund our much needed and appreciated projects in and around Nekemte
We have 2 more members than in 2023 and of course our aim is to increase membership year on year. The annual fee is £10 single and £15 joint membership. It is easy to subscribe online through our website
I would also like to thank those who are not members but give their time and energy to the Respect Festival and other fundraising activities
We have focused on inviting friends and followers to sign up to our newsletter.
We hope that this is an easy step towards membership.
Annie Bainbridge Membership secretary
CURRENT MEMBERS = 107
We currently have 147 people signed up to our newsletter.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The trustees have approved the accounts and Emerald Davies will examine our accounts for January to December 2023 in line with financial legislation, and submit her report to the Trustees.
The Link has finished 2023 with total funds of £32,119 (2022: £38,204).
We raised a total of £20,042 compared to £26,968 the previous year). This decrease is in part due to reduced funder grants and part due to decreased fundraising. We again carried out a very successful Big Give campaign in which we raised £9106. Money from this is included in both fundraising and donations lines (from our match funders Ethiopia Aid and Enable Ed CIC) of our Statement of Financial Activities. We spent £26,127 of which 91% went as grants out to Ethiopia and 6% as a stipend to our volunteer project manager in Ethiopia
Currently the accounts for Exeter Ethiopia Link are healthy, with totals of £21,259 in unrestricted funds and £10,860 in restricted funds (£32,119 in total).
EEL has finished 2023 with total funds of £32,119 (2022: £38,204). (See separate Financial Report for detail)
What’s Next:
Our projects come to an end in June 2024 and given the financial position, trustees took the decision to sign a one year extension project with EECMY CS DASSC with approximate expenditure of £21,500 over the next 12 months. This will be made up of approximately £18,500 new funding from EEL and £3000 in underspend already sent to our project partner DASSC.
By Mark Smith EEL Treasurer.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS APPROVAL
GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE AND ROLES OFFICERS:
| OFFICERS: | |
|---|---|
| Role | Officer during 2023: |
| General Secretary | Dawn Swettenham |
| Treasurer | Mark Smith |
| Membership Secretary | Annie Bainbridge |
| Fundraising, social media, publicity | Lee Davies |
| Website Editor | David Scarbrough |
| Project committee chair | George Dexter |
| Project committee | Penny Pullen, Liz Horsefield, Aynsley Jones Jordan Jones, Sue Parks, Marc Zuiderveen Joanne Keenahan, Sue Parks, Murti Uma |
GOVERNANCE, PEOPLE AND ROLES TRUSTEES:
| Trustees during 2023 | Changes During Year: |
|---|---|
| Penny Pullen | Appoionted honorary trustee at AGM June 2023 |
| Kirsten Pullen | |
| Annie Bainbridge | |
| Liz Horsefield | |
| Dawn Swettenham | |
| Ella Sadler | Resigned June 2023 |
| George Dexter | |
| Selam Uma | Appointed at AGM June 2023 |
| Cynthia Palmer | Appointed at AGM June 2023 |
| Kenechukwu Leonard | Appointed at AGM June 2023 |
Trustee Changes at 2024 Trustees Standing Down AGM Kirsten Pullen Standing down Annie Bainbridge Standing down Liz Horsefield For re election by rotation Ex-officios Dawn Swettenham Secretary Mark Smith (Treasurer) Treasurer (non trustee)
2024/5 STRATEGY
Our 2023 accounts show a decrease of £6926 in funds raised. As a consequence we are being cautious about our commitment to projects in 2024. Our core project has been identified as the libraries. Additional projects will be linked to funds raised.
1. FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING
HOW:
-
Encourage monthly donations
-
Identify specific needs which is more inspiring to both potential fundraisers and donors 3. Encourage participation in the fundraising conversation. A lot of people raising a small amount makes a BIG difference.
-
Trustee Cynthia Palmer will co ordinate fundraising ideas together with support from Dawn, David (website and newsletter support) and Lee (social media and advertising design). 5. The Big Give will be repeated in December 2024.
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2. SCHOOL LINKING
Murti has taken over the schools linking programme. She has now produced our first schools newsletter. We will be sharing this with our linked schools.
3. GRANT FUNDS
We will continue to submit applications for grant funding.
The aim is to recruit more schools across the country Once we have a school engaged there will be the opportunity for new members and fundraising.
Mark Smith has successfully secured one grant for £2000 from the Waterloo Trust
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5. UNIVERSITIES
5. NEW TRUSTEES
Our trustee Ken is engaging with Exeter University with the aim of organising an event during Fresher's Week.
We hope to engage students and encourage them to organise a community of interested students to spread the word of EEL, organise fundraisers and provide some new ideas.
We now have vacancies for TWO trustees. The recruitment of two active trustees will be a huge help towards steering our charity forward.
Exeter Ethiopia Link CIO
Charity Number 1154085
Annual Accounts and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 December 2023
Unaudited Accounts
Exeter Ethiopia Link CIO
Independent examiner's report on the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state
whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 the 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.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met.
Signed:
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Dated:
Exeter Ethiopia Link CIO Charity Information
Charity Address:
5 St. Marys Drive BRIXHAM Devon TQ5 9FB
Charity Number 1154085
Trustees
Dawn Swettenham Kirsten Pullen Annie Bainbridge Eloise Sadler Resigned 22/6/2023 George Dexter Penelope Pullen Elizabeth Horsefield Selam Uma Appointed 22/6/2023 Kenechukwu Osanakpo Appointed 22/6/2023 Cynthia Palmer Appointed 22/6/2023
Independent Examiner
Emerald Thomas MAAT FCCA CTA 5 Sansaw Road Clive SY4 3JT
Exeter Ethiopia Link CIO Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2023
| Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | ||
| Notes | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Current Assets | £ | £ | |
| Bank Account ...5188 | 26,549 | 26,673 | |
| Bank Account …7900 | 5,570 | 12,131 | |
| 32,119 | 38,804 | ||
| Creditors | |||
| Liabilities Falling Due Within One Year | - | 600 | |
| Net Assets | 32,119 | 38,204 | |
| Funds of the charity | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 21,259 | 15,788 | |
| Restricted funds | 10,860 | 22,416 | |
| Total Funds | 32,119 | 38,204 |
Approved by the Board of Trustees on
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and signed on its behalf by
Exeter Ethiopia Link CIO
Statement of Financial Activities for year ending 31/12/2023
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds |
Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Income | ||||||
| Grants Received | - | 2,200 | 2,200 | 6,625 | ||
| Donations | 634 | 4,430 | 5,064 | 6,133 | ||
| Subscriptions | 3,132 | - | 3,132 | 3,397 | ||
| Fundraising | - | 5,478 | 5,478 | 10,803 | ||
| Bank Interest & misc credit | - |
- | - |
10 | ||
| Gift Aid | 4,168 | - | 4,168 | - | ||
| Total Income | 7,934 | 12,108 | 20,042 | 26,968 | ||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Accountancy | - | - | - | 470 | ||
| Fundraising costs | 280 | - | 280 | 80 | ||
| Grants out | - | 23,664 | 23,664 | 26,008 | ||
| Travel costs Ethiopia | - | - | - | 1,235 | ||
| Volunteer Stipend | 1,470 | - | 1,470 | 1,700 | ||
| Volunteer Expenses | 191 | - | 191 |
- | ||
| Room Hire+ Refreshments | 241 | - | 241 | 74 | ||
| Insurance | 251 | - | 251 | 251 | ||
| Evaluation Costs | - | - | - | 1,750 | ||
| Grant Repayment | - | - | - | 190 | ||
| Donation | 30 | - | 30 |
- | ||
| Total Expenditure | 2,463 | 23,664 | 26,127 | 31,758 | ||
| Net Income/(Expenditure) | 5,471 | (11,556) | (6,085) | (4,790) | ||
| Reconciliation of Funds | ||||||
| Total Funds brought Forward | 15,788 | 22,416 | 38,204 | 42,994 | ||
| Total Funds carried Forward | 21,259 | 10,860 | 32,119 | 38,204 |
EXETER ETHIOPIA LINK CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2022
Accounting policies
- 1.1 These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 effective 1[st] January 2019
Project Fund Balances
Below are the fund balances. Trustees took the decision to simplify the project lines. In the Unrestricted Funds, funds were merged into one. For Restricted funds a number of fund lines were spent out. If future grants are obtained, these will be managed on separate project lines.
| Unrestricted Funds General Restricted Funds IEP Souter Charitable Trust Linked Schools Sponsorships Travel Fund Librarians The Bike Project Year of Reading EEL Project Fund Total Funds |
Jan-23 Income Expenditure |
Dec-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 15,788 7,934 2,463 |
21,259 | |
| 15,788 7,934 2,463 |
21,259 | |
| 5,580 - 5,580 |
- | |
| - 2,200 159 |
2,041 | |
| 635 - 635 |
- | |
| 1,391 480 1,291 |
580 | |
| 610 - - |
610 | |
| 6,002 8,207 10,656 |
3,553 | |
| 524 - 524 |
- | |
| - 1,041 1,041 |
- | |
| 7,674 180 3,778 |
4,076 | |
| 22,416 12,108 23,664 |
10,860 | |
| 38,204 20,042 26,127 |
32,119 |