The Dust Project ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
Charity Registration No. 1155728 Registered Company No. 08822786
THE DUST PROJECT - ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
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ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
THE DUST PROJECT
(Company Limited by Guarantee)
REGISTERED COMPANY NO. 08822786
CHARITY REGISTRATION NO. 1155728
Pages 1 Legal and Administrative Information Pages 2 to 6 Report of the Directors Page 7 Statement of Financial Activities Page 8 Balance Sheet Pages 9 to 13 Notes to the Financial Statements Page 14 Independent Examiner's Report
Independent Examiners Ltd
2 Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham West Sussex PO18 8NF
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THE DUST PROJECT
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| CHARITY NUMBER | 1155728 |
|---|---|
| COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER | 08822786 |
| START OF FINANCIAL YEAR | 1st January 2021 |
| END OF FINANCIAL YEAR | 31st December 2021 |
| DIRECTORS | Fraser Higgs |
| AT 31ST DECEMBER 2021 | Sarah Higgs |
| Roy Chisnall | |
| Sarah Chisnall | |
| Thomas Stokely (Resigned 8th June 2021) | |
| REGISTERED ADDRESS | Lark Rise |
| Sandy Down | |
| Boldre | |
| Lymington | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO41 8PL | |
| DATE OF INCORPORATION | 20th December 2013 |
| GOVERNING DOCUMENT | Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on |
| 20th December 2013. | |
| BANKERS | HSBC |
| 7B Water Gardens South Gate | |
| HARLOW | |
| Essex | |
| EN11 8EP | |
| ACCOUNTANTS & | Independent Examiners Ltd |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER | 2 Broadbridge Business Centre |
| Delling Lane | |
| Bosham | |
| West Sussex | |
| PO18 8NF |
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Annual Review
The Dust Project was established as a company limited by guarantee on 20th December 2013. Ultimate responsibility for the entity rests with the Trustees. Day-to-day management is undertaken by Sarah Chisnall and Tiffany Stokely, Trustees of the charity.
TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees meets a minimum of four times per year, with further ad-hoc meetings as required.
OBJECTIVES
Our vision is to help, support, and relieve those in desperate situations of poverty, crisis or hardship, in developing countries and communities suffering the after-effects of war, natural disaster and/or economic frailty. We focus especially on the stability of family units and the safety, nourishment and education of children and vulnerable young adults by providing shelter, food, healthcare, schooling, tuition, and other such charitable services as the trustees may from time to time think fit, as need demands. We are currently focusing on communities in Colombo and Jaffna, Sri Lanka, through the physical construction and refurbishment of a children’s hostel, schools, and family homes, in addition to the support of community businesses, projects and sponsored children.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021
Website and Social Media
We are very prominent on social media (especially Facebook), with over 600 supporters. Our videos have had approximately 12,000 views. We are also on Instagram, Twitter and
THE DUST PROJECT - ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
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Linkedin, and have found a wider reach of international support and sponsorship through these. Our website continues to be successful both in gaining new followers as well as directly enabling more children to be sponsored. The Child Sponsorship page allows potential sponsors to read the bios of children living in need in our focal communities in Sri Lanka — who either attend a Paalam International School in Colombo or Jaffna, live in the Paalam Children’s Hostel in Jaffna, or are connected to a house build (or other project) which we have financed. Sponsors are given information about why the child needs support, along with details of his or her family and situation. We have found sponsorship to make a significant and lasting impact in a child’s life, having seen and heard firsthand from carers and the children themselves the difference it makes. The children’s basic needs of clothing, medical attention, primary education and nourishment are met, and they feel genuinely supported, encouraged and cared for. This can only make a positive impact on their futures.
The ‘Donate to a Build’ page speaks of those families in our communities who are currently living in completely sub-standard housing, or are currently or soon to be homeless. They are usually in serious need of a home, a well and a toilet.
Partnering with Paalam
Things are going well in our partnership with Paalam— a charity based in Sri Lanka. The charity has made a huge impact in Colombo, but even more significantly in Jaffna. Through our collaboration, they have been able to receive donations through The Dust
Project’s website and co-ordinate, distribute and oversee the child sponsorship program. We have had over 100 children sponsored through this program.
Since our partnership, we have been able to build or help complete over 20 houses for various families living in appalling conditions. We also continue to build wells and toilets as need demands. We are in the process of building a school in Jaffna, sponsored in part by Hiscox, London. Due to Covid, this is taking a lot longer than expected; but we hope to have it completed by Autumn 2022.
Fundraising
We had another quiet year in 2021 on the fundraising side, as we were unable to hold events due to Covid restrictions. However, this did not stop our amazing, generous supporters from donating to various needs through The Dust Project.
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• Our child sponsors continued to support children throughout the pandemic, which meant we were able to send funds to pay for food and home schooling. Every child that was sponsored through our schools received weekly school work in packs carefully prepared by our dedicated school staff. We were able to provide food parcels and medicine (as needed) for the children who are not sponsored through our schools.
• Due to the donations of three very generous families, we were able to build a house, toilet and well for both Ruben & Randika and family, and Balasingam and family. This totaled £16,700.
• During National lockdowns in Sri Lanka, we continued to support our teachers’ salaries throughout the year, using funds from business donors.
• Because of continued and sporadic lockdowns in Sri Lanka, many families who were already living hand-to-mouth or dependent on Tourism, daily trade, etc. for their families’ income we found to be extremely deprived of even the most essential nutrition. In June 2021 - after a very successful Appeal in the UK - we were able to send £5,614.00 to support essential food packs to provide for families in our schools and larger
communities who otherwise would have gone without. This was followed by a further £1,957.70 for food in September.
• In June our sister charity, Paalam, was asked by a local hospital to raise funds to provide an extra Oxygen Machine, as they were struggling to keep up with the demands of Covid patients in critical need. As this was an urgent issue, our Trustees decided to personally fund this, so we were able to quickly send £4,500 for one machine. This was gratefully received by the hospital.
• In August - as part of our Business Grant Initiative - we were able to fund a new business for Mr Jayaraj. We granted £825 for him to set up a shop in Jaffna selling hair salon products and barbering equipment, as well as providing a service to sharpen tools. Although niche, we felt this to be a well-researched and necessary business to provide for other local barbers and salons.
• In December, our very generous Trustees donated £17,500 for Paalam to seize a brilliant opportunity and purchase a lovely plot of land near our base in Jaffna, in the hope that it will become a vibrant community in its own right. We now have a space for further development - to allow families to build homes for themselves, or for future charitable causes.
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Mission
• Sadly, due to Covid restrictions and concerns, we were unable to arrange any volunteer trips. We are still very keen to take out teams to help build houses and to help work on the school and all it entails! We hope to do this in the coming year.
Finance
As a charity, we continued to support Paalam International School, New Living Flame Church and the Paalam Project. All three organisations are under the Paalam Charity, and in total we donated £105,578.17. The funds went toward purchasing land for building projects, building houses, toilets and wells, continuing to build the new Jaffna school, painting houses, and child sponsorship. We also helped to fund new businesses.
The Future
We hope to complete the school build in Jaffna with a view to an official opening in the Autumn, 2022.
Our aim is to continue to provide funds for our sponsored children, raise funds to provide food, essentials or housing for families in desperate need, and hopefully take a volunteer team or two out to Sri Lanka to serve and learn from the brave hearts in our local communities.
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THE Dvsf PROJEcr (A COMPANY UMITED BY GUARANTEE) REPORT OF THE DIREcfoRS (contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr DECEMBER 2021 The Charity's Objects are for publlc benefft and art restrfcted to the followlng.. The rellel of and hordship among chihjren and young people Ilvlng In developlng commun6tles In such p3rt5 of the World by the prDvlsbn of shdter. food, health, education and other such charitsble setvlces as the trustees may frryn to time think fft In partiojlar thwY)uyh the constructlon and refvrtshment of orphanages. $thts and accommdaODTr. Comn¥ law Nuire5 the dlrecior5 iD Prepa finanoal slaternent5 for each financial YVdrhth gives a true and fair VI of the state of affalr5 of the company and of the profft or hjss rf the Company dut1ng that whjd. fn prwarln9 those finandal statements the dltEctors a requ1 to.. (l) Selt witable ar£ounting TlicIeS and then akwly them cons15W. (il) make JLklgvnenrs and estimates that aTr %able and wuden¢ (ill) prepare finanoal statemertts on a going Conrn basls unless It Is InaFvoprlate to presumè that th• company will contw)ue in b[ness. The dirthr5 are reswr6ltAe for keeping prow accountyng rdS whlth dlsdose woth reasonable acojrncy at any tlffe the financial w5ition of the company aTrJ trj enable thern to ensure that the fina101 COM the Companle5 ALt 21)06. They are akn resp)ns4ble for uardlng the assets of the compJny and for taking rwoThable stEP5 fDr the prevenuon and detectton of fraud aThJ other Irregubrlt4&s. In preparing this rep)rt the t11¥ettots have taken •Jvanl3Je of spedal provisions of the cani•S Aci 26 relating to small rownponie5. I the steTht of finandal ac16vbts.es and balan sheet for the r)j ended 3tst Decantr 2021. and (firM that I have mode avallable all Inforniallon TeSsary for its prepar4tJon. Sarah Chtsnall, Dr/coOnY 5eu•tsry
THE DUST PROJECT
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
| Incorporating income and expenditure account Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and Legacies 3a Trading Activities 3b Other Income 3c TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES EXPENDITURE ON: Raising Funds 4a Charitable Activities 4b TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING) RESOURCES |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ 98,878 11,512 110,389 110,209 0 0 0 -90 1,441 0 1,441 1,291 |
|---|---|
| 100,319 11,512 111,830 111,410 |
|
| 0 0 0 234 94,260 19,000 113,350 96,381 |
|
| 94,260 19,000 113,350 96,615 |
|
| 6,059 (7,488) (1,519) 14,795 |
|
| Balances Brought Forward | 93,764 0 93,764 78,969 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | |
| 99,823 (7,488) 92,245 93,764 |
Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the organisation's operations are classed as continuing.
The notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements.
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THE Dvsf PROJEcr {A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) BALANCE SHEEr AS AT 31sr DECEMBER 2021 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted 2021 Funds Funds Totsl 2020 Tot•1 Tanglble assets Debto sh at bank and In hand 100.825 (7,488} 93.337 94.584 337 94 S84 •mwnts falllng due wlihln one ywr 1,092 1.092 820 99.733 {7.488) 92.245 93,764 99.733 (7W•) 92,24S •3,764 Genernl Funds 99,733 99.733 (7,488) {7,488) 93.764 th• pwWJd 31# 2021 the company was enijtled trj exepuon Ilom audlt under s•ctlon 477{2} rf th• C41mpanks Act 2006 rdattn9 to small compankn. The membery have not r•qulr•d th• C4)mpany to obtaln an audlt In a¢cvthnL wth sectkn 476 01 the Companl•s 2006. Th• dlr#cbJw5 JcknowlJg• th•lr re5pons1b1l for CoMy1ng wlth Ihe requlrerrents of the Comwnlos Act 2006 wlth rewt trj •cc£wJntlng records and for the prepafaljon of accounts. These accounts have t pYpar*l In accorn1•e th• ptr4ts1ons aPkl)le ty comnI•S sub to the small companoes, r•9lme. ShJn•J on behall rf the Board by Sarnh Chlsnall. DlreLtsrlCompany S•cz•tary
THE DUST PROJECT (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Incoming Resources
Recognition of Incoming Resources
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when:
▪the charity becomes entitled to the resources; ▪the Directors are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and ▪the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
Incoming Resources with related expenditure
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resource and related expenditure are reported gross in the SOFA.
Grants and Donations
Grants and Donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Tax reclaims on Donations and Gifts
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants
This is only included in the SOFA once the related goods or services has been delivered.
Gifts in Kind
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable.
Donated Services and Facilities
These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.
Volunteer Help
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Directors' annual report.
Investment Income
This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Investment gains and losses
This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
Expenditure and liabilities
Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance Costs
Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the Directors' meetings and cost of any legal advice to Directors on governance or constitutional matters.
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THE DUST PROJECT (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
Grants with performance conditions
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
Grants payable without performance conditions
These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity.
Support Costs
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of the resources, eg allocating property cots by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
Assets
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity:
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £2,500. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt. The Charity at present holds no assets which cost above this figure.
No depreciation is charged to freehold property as the property is maintained to such a standard that the estimated residual value is not less than cost.
Investments
Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at Directors' best estimate of market value.
Basis of preparation:
The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis convention (as modified to include the revaluation of investments) in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (SORP 2015), applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006. The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The Charity has claimed exemptions available in Section 1a of FRS 102 not to prepare a cash flow statement since it is a small charity.
2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
The Company owns no fixed assets
There are no obligations under hire purchase contracts or leases.
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THE DUST PROJECT
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
| Notes a) Donations and Legacies Donations Virgin Giving Home Building Project 5 Child Sponsorship Tax Recoverable b) Trading Activities Profit from Fund Raising Events c) Other Income Stewardship 4. EXPENDITURE ON: a) Raising Funds Virgin Giving Fees b) Charitable Activities Sponsorship Home Building Project 5 Paalam Project Paalam School New Living Support for Child Sponsorship Computing, Software, and Web Site Gifts Bank Charges Printing Office Stationery Shipping and Carriage Licenses/ Subsriptions etc. Miscellaneous Accountancy Independent Examination Fees Other Governance Costs 3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS & ENDOWMENTS |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ 49,323 49,323 49,323 13,085 13,085 13,085 11,512 11,512 0 24,637 24,637 24,637 11,833 11,833 11,833 |
|---|---|
| 98,878 11,512 110,389 98,878 |
|
| 0 0 0 -90 |
|
| 1,441 0 1,441 1,291 |
|
| 0 0 0 234 |
|
| 0 19,000 19,000 0 77,688 77,688 75,843 0 0 4,350 7,390 7,390 8,751 6,225 6,225 4,050 228 228 658 100 100 200 528 528 463 56 56 0 0 0 0 473 473 373 0 0 0 428 428 10 375 375 950 810 810 720 48 48 13 |
|
| 94,350 19,000 113,350 96,381 |
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THE DUST PROJECT
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
5. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| 5. RESTRICTED FUNDS | |
|---|---|
| Home Building Project | Balance Balance 01-Jan-21 Income Expenditure Transfers 31-Dec-21 £ £ £ £ £ 0 11,512 19,000 0 (7,488) |
| 0 11,512 19,000 0 (7,488) |
Home Building Project - relates to money given towards the costs of resources to build homes, wells and community centres, orphanages and schools for the vulnerable
| 6. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND Current Account Petty Cash |
Funds Funds 2021 2020 Total Total £ £ £ £ 100,825 (7,488) 93,337 94,584 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 100,825 (7,488) 93,337 94,584 |
7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Credit Card Independent Examination Fees 8. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS Credit Card |
Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020 Funds Funds Total Total £ £ £ £ 282 0 282 100 810 0 810 720 |
|---|---|
| 1,092 0 1,092 820 |
|
| Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020 Funds Funds Total Total £ £ £ £ 0 0 0 0 |
|
| 0 0 0 0 |
9. STAFF COSTS, DIRECTORS AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES
No payments were made to directors or any persons connected with them during this financial period, other than reimbursements. No material transaction took place between the organisation and a director or any person connected with them.
A total of £7,050 was donated to the charity by the directors and related parties during 2021.
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THE DUST PROJECT (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021
10. RISK ASSESSMENT
The directors actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The directors have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
11. RESERVES POLICY
The directors have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. The directors aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The directors will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.
12. PUBLIC BENEFIT
The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
13. SHARE CAPITAL
The Charitable Company is limited by guarantee with each of its members liable to contribute one pound sterling in the event of it being wound up.
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
Report to the Directors/Members of the The Dust Project for the period ended 31st December 2021 set out on pages 7 to 13.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's 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 43(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), as amended by s.28 of the Charities Act 2006) 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 an independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act, as amended),
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, as amended), and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the organisation 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.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustees requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 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.
Keith Richards Independent Examiners Ltd 2 Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham West Sussex PO18 8NF
Date: 26 September 2022
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