OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← I AM Somebody's Child Soldier

2024-03-31-accounts

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR END 31 MARCH 2024

1

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CONTENTS Page
Legal and administrative information 3
Trustees' report 4 - 9
Statement of financial activities 10
Balance sheet 11
Notes to the financial statements 12 - 13

2

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Office address: 48 West World
West Gate
London, W5 1DT
Co-Founder / Co-Director: Shirah Mansaray
Co-Founder / Co-Director James Mansaray
Trustees who served during the year Mr James Mansaray, BA Youth Justice
Ms Shirah Mansaray, LLB
Appointed January 2021 Leigh Esterhuizen
Appointed January 2021 Nanette Onu
Appointed January 2021 John Teixeira
Bankers Barclays Bank Plc
1 Churchill Place
London
E14 5HP
The Co-operative Bank
Po box 250 Skelmersdale
WN8 6WT

3

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements of I am Somebody's Child Soldier for the year. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' (revised 2005).

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Constitution and governing document

I am Somebody's Child Soldier is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered at the Charity Commission on 08 July 2014, and is governed by its constitution.

Method of appointment or election of Board of Trustees

Trustees are elected and co-opted under the terms of the constitution. Regular reviews are held to identify any expertise gaps within the Board of Trustees and appointments are made where required to strengthen the Board of Trustees, subject to all trustees’ approval.

When it is necessary to appoint new trustees, due to either a trustee stepping down or a gap of expertise in the board is identified, recruitment will initially begin through the networks of the board and management team. Advertisements will then be placed online on recruitment sites and charity notice boards.

Trustees will review applications, and successful applicants will be invited to attend a telephone interview with the managing trustee. Following on from the telephone interview, the successful applicant will be asked to write a proposal outlining key tasks and projects they wish to implement during their tenure as a trustee. The managing trustee will then feed back to the board of trustees both the proposal and comments from the telephone interview. Following this, on the provision that the board is satisfied, and the applicant still wishes to join the trustee board, they will be appointed.

The Trustees who served during the period are shown on page 3.

Policies adopted for the induction and training of Board of Trustees

The charity arranges for an information pack of important documents to be sent to the new trustee.

These include:

The charity works to provide an induction program that is suitable for the new trustee and one that takes into account the small size and nature of our charity. The main objective of the induction process is to equip the new trustee with the information they need to properly govern the charity and fulfil on their trustee responsibilities.

The new trustee will be invited to a trustee meeting where they will have the opportunity to take part in discussions with existing trustees and learn everything, they need to know initially in order to make an effective contribution to the management of the charity.

4

The new trustee will also be encouraged to speak with key people within the charity in order to gain a clear understanding of how the charity operates on a day-to-day basis.

As the charity hopes to grow and expand its workforce, a more structured induction program will be adopted to help new trustees better understand the work of the charity.

This induction will include:

Organisational structure and decision-making

The governance of the charitable company is the responsibility of the Trustees. Day to day management is by the Director of Fundraising, who draws on the support and expertise of the highly experienced Board of Trustees as needed.

Related party relationships

The Charity has considered the disclosure requirements of the SORP for related party relationships, and believes that there are no related party relationships and transactions, other than the Trustees and their close connections.

Risk Management

The Board of Trustees fully accepts its responsibilities for ensuring that the major risks to which the Charity is exposed are identified, and that there are systems and procedures in place to mitigate those risks.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Principle objects

1 – To empower former child soldiers, victims of war, women returnees and children born in captivity through economic development initiatives and educational programmes.

2 – To rehabilitate and reintegrate former child soldiers and victims of war into their communities.

3 – The relief of sickness and promotion of good health through provision of psychotherapy for rescued child soldiers still suffering from post-war trauma in Northern Uganda and to build rehabilitation centres for the continued provision of on-going psychotherapy given to rescued child soldiers and victims of war.

4 – To enhance and advance education for the public benefit by raising awareness about the impact of mental illness in Africa.

Public benefit

The Board of Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

In completing our Trustee Annual Return, we hope that it assists the public in making economic decisions in relation to supporting or donating to the charity. We also hope that the report assists the public in assessing the charity’s progress against our objectives and that the public understands our plans in relation to our purposes.

5

The trustees of I am Somebody’s Child Soldier (IASCS) are proud to note that this year has been one of exceptional progress, reflecting our commitment to advancing mental health and providing meaningful support to vulnerable people in Uganda. Through impactful academic contributions, participation in international conferences, and strategic collaborations, we have strengthened our ability to address the needs of those affected by conflict and trauma.

Charitable Activities

IASCS’s core mission is to provide tailored mental health support, amplify the voices of vulnerable individuals, and ensure their stories inspire change on a systemic level. For 2023–2024, our primary activities included:

1. Advancing Mental Health Research

Achievements and Performance

1. Academic Contributions : IASCS’s team collaborated with researchers from world-leading institutions to author three academic papers. These papers explored:

2. Conference Engagement : We actively participated in international conferences, including:

Participation in conference engagements positioned IASCS as a thought leader and opened avenues for deeper advocacy.

3. Strategic Collaborations : This year, we strengthened collaborations with the following organisations:

Plans for 2024–2025

Building on the momentum of 2023–2024, IASCS plans to:

6

• Develop a mentorship program to empower vulnerable students in Uganda as advocates and leaders.

Performance against Charitable Objectives

As far as practicable, the trustees have provided information in the report about the resources spent on particular activities that furthered the charity objectives.

The projects detailed above by the charity executives illustrate our commitment to address issues affecting children and surrounding local communities. Our main focus following the setbacks caused by Covid-19 global pandemic has been aligning the charity with its core objectives and increasing the funds available for planned activities.

Although the global Covid-19 pandemic significantly affected the charity’s operations and finances, it brought in the opportunity to revisit the charity’s business model, policies and fundraising strategy, while fine-tuning programmatic priorities around Covid-proof access to education and ICT-centered community development.

Fundraising Costs Review

The public should note that our fundraising costs each year are not entirely to facilitate funds being raised but are also to help us meet our charity objective of "enhancing public awareness of the impact of mental illness on the lives of child soldiers and child victims of war in Africa". The amount the charity paid in respect of fundraisers' commission and fees was split reasonably between paying fundraisers to raise awareness about mental health and its impact on victims of war, including rescued child soldiers and also paying our fundraisers to raise crucial funds needed to further our charitable objectives. In the notes to Accounts section, there is a note reflecting this as a percentage estimate of 10% of fundraisers commission and fees as spent on raising public awareness of mental illness amongst victims of war and rescued child soldiers.

The trustees are aware of the significant costs involved in raising charitable funds in the current financial climate, and to caveat the significant fundraising costs the trustees engaged fundraisers with the task of awareness raising and campaigning that we build into all of our fundraising efforts and campaigns. Furthermore, for the past several years, the trustees have initiated a significant scaling back of the charity’s street fundraising campaign in order to focus our efforts on field research initiatives and to align our program development strategically with our amended charity objectives.

EDUCATION

Access to safe, quality education for children affected by armed conflict has an important role in reintegration, as well as providing a route to a better future. Schools can often protect these highly vulnerable children. Education also contributes to a safer and more prosperous world and reduces conflict and increases stability. This is why the charity focused its projects on educational objectives and outputs during this financial year.

CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS DURING 2023-2024

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

University College London (UCL) has entered into a triple pronged partnership with I am Somebody’s Child Soldier (IAMSCS). The University’s Computer Science Department facilitated a collaboration between a handful of students and IAMSCS through an ‘Industry Exchange’ Project, whereby the students provided their expertise to the development and enrichment of IAMSCS’s digital presence, as well as worked on research projects. In addition, IAMSCS continues to provide fellowship opportunities to UCL students to give students work experience outside of their studies.

7

The purpose of the partnership between I am Somebody’s Child Soldier and UCL is to support IAMSCS’s educational projects and campaigns. The students, in turn, are able to apply the knowledge they acquire in their taught modules to a legitimate and established organisation whose ethos and aims have far-reaching benefits.

IAMSCS PUBLIC COMMITMENTS

To support safe, innovative, and economically sustainable societies in the Global South with concerted efforts directed at programs that promote mental wellbeing for war affected children and communities. IAMSCS continues to work with

community-based organisations, local government and policy makers to empower war affected individuals and community members through protection of human rights, mental wellbeing and technological innovation.

IAMSCS Programs are:

Research-led – our projects and programs are developed in conjunction with local partners’ field research, beneficiary participation, and academic research. This ensures that IAMSCS programs deliver the most effective impact within limited resource settings. Additionally, a research-led approach affirms the correlation of our programs with the reality of the field through needs assessment, data collection and monitoring and evaluation tools.

Beneficiary-driven – IAMSCS is accountable to our beneficiaries and through our programs ensure a strong focus on empowering the most vulnerable individuals in war affected communities. Through participatory intervention approaches, which involve beneficiaries and their guardians in our program development, our programs reportedly deliver greater impact. Additionally, beneficiary feedback mechanisms are implemented throughout the project cycle in the form of post-delivery project questionnaires and beneficiary representatives in the project steering Committee.

IAMSCS is grateful to all our supports, donors and beneficiaries who have ensured that the charity continues to ‘change the narrative, change the conversation, change the perception’ of former child soldiers and war affected communities in Gulu, Uganda.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Charity achieved a surplus for the year of £761 Total incoming resources for the year amounted to £2,578 and total expenditure amounted to £1,817 Full details of the income and expenditure are given in the attached Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and notes to the accounts.

The trustees consider the results and financial state of the charity as at the year-end to be satisfactory.

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details with regard to the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.

Reserves Policy

The Charity has no reserves policy at this stage. However, the Trustees have set aside a 'reserve account' with the aim that this will grow to cushion the charity against shortages in income in the future.

8

Principle funding sources

The trustees are grateful for the generosity of the general public who contributed nearly all of the income of the charity through street bucket collections.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees on 24 January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

.......................................... Shirah Mansaray Trustee

9

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2024

CURRENT ASSETS
Notes
CREDITORS: due within one year
Accrual
Cash at bank and in hand
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Designated fund
5
General fund		 2024
£
992
8,555
9,547
-9,547
-9,547
-9,547
-
-9,547		 2023
£
992
9,287
10,279
-10,279
-10,279
-10,279
-
-10,279

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" published in 2005, applicable accounting standards and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), and authorised for issue, by the Trustees on 30 December 2024 and signed on its behalf by:-

Shirah Mansaray, Trustee

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

10

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" published in 2005, applicable accounting standards and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The effect of events relating to the year ended 31 March 2024 which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 31 March 2024 and the results for the year ended on that date.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Grants which have a restriction as to timing are recognised over the period for which they are given.

The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in the accounts.

Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Statutory grants which are given as contributions towards the Charity's core services are treated as unrestricted.

Designated funds are those set aside by management for future use on specific purposes. Fixed assets designated funds represent the value of assets tied up in fixed assets.

Resources expended

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis. All expenditure is accounted for gross, and when incurred.

11

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
Notes
INCOMING RESOURCES
Public collections
2,578
Other small grants and donations
-
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
2,578
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Bank Charges
856
Fundraisers commission
50
General office expenses
216
Insurance
50
Grants to Partner Organisations
-
Advert
97
Professional Fees
-
Project Costs
-
Stationary expenses
-
Travel expenses
-
Other Expenses
548
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
1,817
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources
761
Accumulated brought forward
-10,126
TOTAL FUNDS AT 31 MARCH 2024
-9,365		 Total Funds
2024
£
2,578
-
2,578
856
50
216
50
-
97
-
-
-
-
548
1,817
761
-10,126
-9,365		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
19,897
-
19,897
1,632
-
555
185
7,679
1,134
500
5,383
10
100
2,657
20,229
-332
-9,794
-10,126		 Total Funds
2023
£
19,897
-
19,897
1,632
393
555
185
7,679
1,134
500
5,383
10
100
2,657
20,229
-332
-9,794
-10,126

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

12

I AM SOMEBODY'S CHILD SOLDIER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2 ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED

ECExpenditure on Charitable Activies
OEOther Expenditure
3 STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS
Wages and salaries		 2024
2023
£
£
-
7,679
1,817
12,550
1,817
20,229
2024
2023
£
£
-
5,383
-
5,383

4 DIRECTORS / TRUSTEES EMOLUMENTS

The directors or key management personnel received no emoluments (2023: £nil) in respect of their services to the Charity.

5 STATEMENT OF FUNDS

Unrestricted fund
Total funds		 Brought
Forward
£
-10,308
-10,308		 Incoming
Resource
£
2,578
2,578		 Resources
Expended
£
-1,817
-1,817		 Transfers
Carried
Forward
£
£
-
-9,547
-
-9,547

6 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Net current assets
Creditors due within one year		 Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
-
-		 Unrestric
ted Funds
2024
£
-8,555
-992
-9,547		 Designated
Funds
2024
£
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
Total Funds
2024
2023
£
£
-8,555
-9,287
-992
-992
-9,547
-10,279

7 ORGANISATION

I am Somebody's Child Soldier is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered on 08 Jul 2014.

The above results are derived entirely from continuing activities.

13