2025-03-31-accounts - Grandmother Clara's Dream

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From

Period start date Period end date 01ST APRIL 2024 31ST MARCH 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name GRANDMOTHER CLARA’S DREAM

Other names charity is known by n/a

	Registered charity number (if any) 1158148 Charity's principal address ARNIMEAN BARRHILL SOUTH AYRSHIRE Postcode KA26 0RF ~~ee~~	Registered charity number (if any) 1158148 Charity's principal address ARNIMEAN BARRHILL SOUTH AYRSHIRE Postcode KA26 0RF ~~ee~~	Registered charity number (if any) 1158148 Charity's principal address ARNIMEAN BARRHILL SOUTH AYRSHIRE Postcode KA26 0RF ~~ee~~	Registered charity number (if any) 1158148 Charity's principal address ARNIMEAN BARRHILL SOUTH AYRSHIRE Postcode KA26 0RF ~~ee~~
	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
1	Emma Astles	Chairperson		Trustees themselves
2	Val Astles			Trustees themselves
3	Paul Astles			Trustees themselves
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5
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7
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12
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17
18
19
20	~~===~~
	Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
	Name		Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Emma Astles (Chairperson)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution

(eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Association How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Appointed by a properly convened meeting of trustees Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Trustees of Grandmother Clara’s Dream are responsible for fundraising to You may choose to include support the work of the Educandário Creche Comunitária Sonho da Vovó additional information, where Clara (ECCSVC). ECCSVC is a not for profit community school offering relevant, about: free of charge education and childcare to the community of Mata Escura in  policies and procedures Salvador, Brazil. adopted for the induction and training of trustees; ECCSVC is a registered charity in Brazil. There are 3 existing trustees of Grandmother Clara’s Dream. Any new trustees must be appointed by a  the charity’s organisational properly convened meeting of the existing trustees. New trustees are structure and any wider appointed for a term of 3 years after which time they may put themselves network with which the charity forward for reappointment at a properly convened meeting of trustees. works;

relationship with any related The constitution allows for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12 trustees. All charity trustees give their time freely and no remuneration was paid
parties; during the year. Trustees are entitled to be reimbursed from Grandmother
 trustees’ consideration of Clara’s Dream for reasonable expenses incurred when acting on behalf of major risks and the system the charity, however no expenses have been claimed for the financial year and procedures to manage 2024/25 them.

None of the trustees receive any personal benefit as a result of carrying out the charity’s purpose –we do not receive any gifts or enhance our business/personal reputations in any way via our work for Grandmother Clara’s Dream.Charity trustees must declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect which he or she has in any proposed transaction or arrangement entered into by Grandmother Clara’s Dream that has not been previously declared. Charity trustees must also absent themselves from any conversations of trustees in which it is possible that a conflict of interest will arise between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of Grandmother Clara’s Dream.

The ECCSVC school project is supported by the fundraising work of Grandmother Clara’s Dream. Trustee and Chairperson Emma Astles

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established ECCSVC in its current form in 2010. Emma Astles aims to remain in regular contact with the ECCSVC staff via email conversations to ensure that the school is being effectively and safely managed and that funds are being spent correctly. Emma Astles reports the details of her conversations with ECCSVC management to the other Grandmother Clara’s Dream Trustees and any questions or problems which arise are discussed, with decisions taken at properly convened trustee meetings.

Section C Objectives and activities

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Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	To advance the education, relieve poverty and promote the good health of the pupils at the Educandário Creche Comunitária Sonho da Vovó Clara (ECCSVC) Community School in the poverty stricken favela of Mata Escura in Salvador, Brazil, in particular but not exclusively by the provision of grants for teaching staff, food and materials at the school. To create sustainable local employment in the community of Mata Escura, Salvador, Brazil.
	The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives of Grandmother Clara’s Dream and in planning future activities and setting policy for the year. Grandmother Clara’s Dream benefits children aged 2-16 years in the favela of Mata Escura on the outskirts of the city Salvador in Northern Brazil by fundraising to support to the work of Educandário Creche Comunitária Sonho da Vovó Clara (ECCSVC). ECCSVC is an independent community school, which operates without religious or political bias and offers free of charge education and child care to underprivileged children aged 2-16 years. The community of Mata Escura is deeply affected by violent crime, illiteracy, unemployment and a lack of quality housing and amenities. Many families are torn apart by drug trafficking and abuse. There are 2 state schools in the favela, which accept children from age 7 upwards. However, lessons at these schools are regularly cancelled due to a lack of teaching staff and when they are operating children attend for 3 hour ‘’half day’’ sessions only. Owing to the short school sessions, children are often fending for themselves for the majority of the day – and this can put them at risk Another major issue faced by the inhabitants of Salvador’s favelas is poor public health, nutrition and sanitation. Studies carried out in 2010 revealed that 10.72% of the city’s babies are classified as seriously underweight at birth and 10.21% of children aged 6 and under are suffering from the effects of malnutrition. So, how does ECCSVC benefit the local public in Mata Escura? ECCSVC offers a safe, caring, educational environment for the children of this community. It provides a place where local children can play, develop and learn. Students receive first time teaching in literacy, numeracy, social sciences, natural sciences, arts and crafts. ECCSVC also provides reinforcement classes to older children and teenagers – helping them with their homework and providing teaching on the regular occasions when lessons at the local state school are cancelled and, perhaps most importantly, keeping them off the streets in a positive environment, away from the gangs. All teaching is conducted in Portuguese and all the school’s services are offered free of charge and free from religious and political bias. ECCSVC also strives to combat malnutrition by providing daily fruit, breakfast and 2 hot meals for the children. This helps to improve their vitamin intake and reduce their susceptibility to illness. Whenever possible ECCSVC also provides weekend and holiday food packages to help ensure the children are fed whilst not at school.

Summary of the objects of the
charity set out in its
governing document
Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

To advance the education, relieve poverty and promote the good
health of the pupils at the Educandário Creche Comunitária
Sonho da Vovó Clara (ECCSVC) Community School in the poverty
stricken favela of Mata Escura in Salvador, Brazil, in particular
but not exclusively by the provision of grants for teaching staff,
food and materials at the school.
To create sustainable local employment in the community of
Mata Escura, Salvador, Brazil.

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in
the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when
reviewing the aims and objectives of Grandmother Clara’s Dream and in
planning future activities and setting policy for the year. Grandmother
Clara’s Dream benefits children aged 2-16 years in the favela of Mata
Escura on the outskirts of the city Salvador in Northern Brazil by
fundraising to support to the work of Educandário Creche Comunitária
Sonho da Vovó Clara (ECCSVC).
ECCSVC is an independent community school, which operates without
religious or political bias and offers free of charge education and child
care to underprivileged children aged 2-16 years. The community of Mata
Escura is deeply affected by violent crime, illiteracy, unemployment and a
lack of quality housing and amenities. Many families are torn apart by
drug trafficking and abuse.
There are 2 state schools in the favela, which accept children from age 7
upwards. However, lessons at these schools are regularly cancelled due
to a lack of teaching staff and when they are operating children attend for
3 hour ‘’half day’’ sessions only. Owing to the short school sessions,
children are often fending for themselves for the majority of the day – and
this can put them at risk
Another major issue faced by the inhabitants of Salvador’s favelas is poor
public health, nutrition and sanitation. Studies carried out in 2010
revealed that 10.72% of the city’s babies are classified as seriously
underweight at birth and 10.21% of children aged 6 and under are
suffering from the effects of malnutrition.
So, how does ECCSVC benefit the local public in Mata Escura?
ECCSVC offers a safe, caring, educational environment for the children
of this community. It provides a place where local children can play,
develop and learn. Students receive first time teaching in literacy,
numeracy, social sciences, natural sciences, arts and crafts. ECCSVC
also provides reinforcement classes to older children and teenagers –
helping them with their homework and providing teaching on the regular
occasions when lessons at the local state school are cancelled and,
perhaps most importantly, keeping them off the streets in a positive
environment, away from the gangs. All teaching is conducted in
Portuguese and all the school’s services are offered free of charge and
free from religious and political bias.
ECCSVC also strives to combat malnutrition by providing daily fruit,
breakfast and 2 hot meals for the children. This helps to improve their
vitamin intake and reduce their susceptibility to illness. Whenever
possible ECCSVC also provides weekend and holiday food packages to
help ensure the children are fed whilst not at school.

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So, how does this relate to the activities of our charity, Grandmother Clara’s Dream? ECCSVC as described above is supported with donations of funds raised by Grandmother Clara’s Dream to assist them in their work in the community of Mata Escura.

ECCSVC is a registered charity in Brazil. The funds Grandmother Clara’s Dream raises are used to support the continued operation of ECCSVC.

Grandmother Clara’s Dream raises funds through donations from family, friends and former volunteers at ECCSVC, who have seen the work first hand.

With the funds we raise, Grandmother Clara’s Dream previously sent a bi-monthly bank transfer to ECCSVC in Brazil. This transfer contributed to salaries for the school staff. This transfer also helped to cover food and fresh fruit for the students, teaching supplies and an agreed contingency for maintenance of the school buildings and petty cash. Grandmother Clara’s Dream Chairperson Emma Astles discussed the transfer amount with the ECCSVC staff prior to sending the funds and if any adjustments were required these were discussed and approved by all trustees. We are very careful to ensure that ECCSVC does not have a shortage or an unmanageable excess each month.

In July 2023 Grandmother Clara’s Dream ceased accepting donations and transfers to ECCSVC were paused indefinitely. The school director, sadly passed away following a long battle with cancer. The director owned the land upon which the school was built and was responsible for all the school’s financial management – including the complex process of visiting the bank every 2 months to confirm receipt and withdraw the funds we sent. In early 2023 we started to receive notification that our bimonthly transfers were being returned to the charity bank account by the banking system – it became clear that the transfer procedure we had been using for the previous 8 years was no longer functioning and nobody from ECCSVC was claiming the funds on the Brazilian side. We reached out to the school, but communications became increasingly irregular and the situation unclear. We immediately informed a regular donor to cease his monthly contribution and we have paused transfers to the school indefinitely whilst we try to establish what is happening.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Grantmaking Policy - Grandmother Clara's Dream was established to support the work of the Educandário Creche Comunitária Sonho da Vovó Clara (ECCSVC) community school – this is the sole purpose of Grandmother Clara’s Dream. Grandmother Clara’s Dream only makes grants to ECCSVC and does not support any other individuals, groups or projects. Currently we do not intend to expand our purpose to include support for other individuals, groups or projects.

No activity took place in 2024/25 – neither fundraising or grantmaking. The intention is to wind up Grandmother Clara’s Dream in the near future. A bereavement at the ECCSVC and a number of staff changes have meant that we no longer have close lines of communication with the school and following the death of the school’s director they currently do not have a bank account to which we can transfer funds. We are currently working on a solution to this banking issue to enable us to send the remaning funds in the charity account prior to winding up. We still support the school’s aims and purpose, but we no longer see a role for Grandmother Clara’s Dream and have recognised that it is time to wind things up in absence of connections to the team on the ground in Brasil.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

During the financial year 2024/25 Grandmother Clara’s Dream was on hiatus

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Section E Financial review

It has always been Grandmother Clara’s Dream policy to maintain a Brief statement of the balance on unrestricted funds which equates to at least 2 months charity’s policy on reserves unrestricted payments – to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. However, we are currently reviewing this policy and the role of our charity moving forward. In recent years ECCSVC had success in securing local funding in Brazil and our role has become a less critical one - we have switched to playing a supporting role - providing additional funds - no longer critical to the school's continuing operation. In addition, the school's long time director very sadly passed away, leaving the future operation on pause whilst new administrative structures were put in place at the school. As a result of this upheaval bank transfers have been uncollected and have been returned to our charity account. It has also been increasingly difficult to maintain regular contact with the school. We know that the school is still in operation and we still remain hopeful that lines of communication will be restored, but we have been careful to ensure that no new donations are accepted and we have begun to discuss the possibility of closing down the charity.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

none

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Grandmother Clara’s Dream is entirely dependent on donations from the
You may choose to include public, family and friends to operate.
additional information, where relevant about: We ceased accepting donations from July 2023 onwards.
the charity’s principal sources of funds (including Adding bank balances brought forward at the beginning of the financial any fundraising); year and returned bank transfer, the balance carried forward at 31[st]
how expenditure has March 2025 totalled £1147.41 . This amount will shortly be transferred in full to ECCSVC and Grandmother Clara’s Dream will be wound up once
supported the key objectives that has been arranged.
of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Emma Astles Full name(s) Emma Astles Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chairperson etc) Date 27/01/2026

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Charity Name|No (if any)| |Grandmother Clara's Dream|1158148| |Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a| |For the period|Period start date|Period end date| |To| |from|01-Apr-24|31-Mar-25| |es|es||| |Section A Receipts and payments| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment| |Total funds|Last year| |funds|funds|funds| |to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £| |A1 Receipts| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|(Gross income for| |AR)|[ - ]|-|-|-|-| |A2 Asset and investment sales,| |(see table).| |-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|-|-|-|-|-| |Total receipts|-|-|-|-|-| |———|=—| |A3 Payments| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-| |A4 Asset and investment| |purchases, (see table)| |-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-| |Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-| |Total payments|———|-|-|-|-|=|=|-| |Net of receipts/(payments)|-|-|-|-|-| |A5 Transfers between funds|-|- -|-|-| |A6 Cash funds last year end|1,148|- -|1,148|-| |Cash funds this year end|1,148|-|- 1,148|-|

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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

27/01/2026

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds	Details None Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) None in current account at 31/03/25 Details Details None Details None Signature Emma Astles	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 1,148 - - - - - 1,148 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Emma Astles	Endowment funds to nearest £ - - -
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 27/01/2026

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

27/01/2026