ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
THE FREEDOM FUND UK
Registered Company number - 08926428 (England and Wales) Registered Charity number – 1158838 (England and Wales)
The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Reference & administrative details
Registered office Lighterman House 30 Wharfdale Road London N1 9RY
Trustees
Mr. A A Doust Ms. M S Gochman Ms. F J Gooding Mr. A J McCormick Mr. M Pandey Mr. P Sion Ms. G Forrest Ms. N Dolby Ms. D Miller (resigned 23[rd] February 2021) Dr. Gaurav Arya (resigned 2[nd] December 2021)
Company Secretary Ms. Z Marshall
Key management personnel
Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nick Grono Managing Director of Programs Mr. Dan Vexler Director of Programs Ms. Audrey Guichon (resigned 18[th] April 2021) Director of Programs Ms. Havovi Wadia (appointed 1[st] October 2021) Managing Director Development, Partnerships Ms. Margaret Gardner Managing Director of Finance and Administration Ms. Zoe Marshall
Auditors
Crowe U.K. LLP 55 Ludgate Hill London, EC4M 7JW
Principal bankers Metro Bank 1 Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA
Solicitors Bates, Wells and Braithwaite, 10 Queen St Pl, London EC4R 1BE
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Trustees’ report
Structure, governance & management
The Freedom Fund UK is a part of the Freedom Fund charities. It is a company limited by guarantee (company number 08926428), registered in England and Wales. It is also registered in the UK with the Charity Commission (charity number 1158838) and governed by a Memorandum and Article of Association.
The other entity in this group is the Freedom Fund, a United States registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN number 30-0805768). The Freedom Fund is the sole member of the Freedom Fund UK, making the Freedom Fund UK a wholly owned subsidiary of the Freedom Fund, which also holds the power to appoint trustees to the board of directors.
The Freedom Fund UK has no fundraising activity requiring disclosure under S162A of the Charities Act 2011.
The trustees are committed to maintaining high standards of governance and are satisfied that the charity applies the principles of the Charity Governance Code within its current governance arrangements. The Freedom Fund UK’s compliance with the Code will be reviewed on an annual basis.
One third of directors are retired on an annual basis, although they may be eligible for re-election. Trustees are inducted by the CEO and Chair of the charity as well as being provided with a pack of useful governance documents. Board meetings are organised so as to provide further opportunities for trustees to gain a deeper understanding of The Freedom Fund's work - for example by being timed to coincide with convenings that bring together sector experts, representatives of our partner organisations overseas, and other funders. Several trustees also visit the overseas work of the organisation during the course of normal year.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees have considered the issue of public benefit and are confident that the breadth and scope of work undertaken, as disclosed in this report, complies with Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 and has due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. The trustees consider FFUK’s work as part of the Freedom Fund Group to address human trafficking clearly meets the Commission’s public benefit test.
Objects & activities
The objects of the Freedom Fund UK, which further the charity’s purposes for public benefit, are to promote human rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations) throughout the world by all or any of the following means:
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the reduction and eradication of human trafficking in all its forms, including the adoption of means by which to combat modern slavery;
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the prevention and relief of suffering of the victims of human trafficking and other modern forms of slavery by providing medical, psychological, educational, social and other support services to such persons;
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the relief of financial and other hardship of the victims of human trafficking and modern slavery and the dissemination of the useful results of such research; and
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the advancement of the education of the public in the causes, manifestations and consequences of human trafficking and other modern forms of slavery and the provision of related advice and support to government bodies, police forces, border and immigration agencies and other enforcement organisations.
Achievements & performance
During this period, the Freedom Fund UK provided programme management, financial and administrative support to the Freedom Fund (US) in pursuant of its charitable objectives, which are identical to that of the Freedom Fund UK.
Plans for the future
The Freedom Fund UK has been leveraging the work carried out by the Freedom Fund (US), the other entity in the group, with whom it shares identical aims and objectives, to seek funding from UK and European donors.
The Freedom Fund UK continues to look for other opportunities to attract income in support of the Group’s mission. In the meantime, the Freedom Fund UK will continue to employ staff and provide services to the Group.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Remuneration policy
The Freedom Fund UK aims to pay salaries which are fair, competitive within the charity sector and proportionate to the complexity of each role. Salaries are benchmarked on a regular basis against comparable organisations in the sector and this includes the review of key management personnel.
Grants policy
The majority of our charitable work is carried out by making grants to our partners organisations. Grants are only made within our agreed strategies. Project proposals are subject to a formal approval process before individual grants are approved. All projects are systematically monitored for the duration of their existence.
Financial Review
During the year, the charity received income of $3,609,036 (2020: $3,422,014) which mostly represents management recharges to Freedom Fund, the sole member of the Freedom Fund UK for program management, fundraising and administrative support provided.
Expenditure was $3,633,379 in the year, leaving a net deficit, after gains and losses of $24k.
Principle Risks and Uncertainty
The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the organisation operates an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise, to provide reasonable assurance that:
-
The charity is operating efficiently and effectively
-
Proper records are maintained and financial information, used within the charity or for publication, is reliable
-
The charity complies with relevant laws and regulations.
This is achieved through systems of financial control, risk management and compliance. Any significant findings or identified risks are examined so that appropriate action can be taken, including take account of emerging risks and new areas of business.
The principle risk facing the organisation at the time of writing is the threat to continuity of staffing arising from COVID-19. A COVID-19 Task Force has been established in 2020 to oversee the organisational response to the virus including the development of plans to mitigate associated risks.
Reserves
Reserves at the end of the year were $145k, which were all unrestricted.
As the organisation currently provides programme management, financial management and administrative support to the Freedom Fund (US), it is felt prudent that reserves should be in the region of 3-6 months of expenditure after recharges to Freedom Fund (US), in order to cover the cashflow requirements of providing these services. The trustees consider that this level of reserves is sufficient given the availability of support available from The Freedom Fund. Fixed assets are not currently included in the calculation for free reserves as 90% of the depreciation is being recharged to Freedom Fund US entity. This target is currently exceeded as no grants were reported in Freedom Fund (UK) during the year, but trustees have agreed that a de minimis amount of cash should be held in Freedom Fund (UK) of between $100k and $200k in order to fund working capital requirements.
Going Concern
The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that there are adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties in relation to the charity’s ability to continue operating as a going concern. The accounts have therefore been prepared on the basis that the charity is a going concern.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Trustees’ report (cont’d)
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees, who are also the directors under company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities SORP (FRS 102), Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the profit or loss of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Statement to auditors
Insofar as each of the trustees of the company at the date of approval of this report is aware:
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there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the company’s auditor in connection with preparing the audit report) of which the company’s auditor is unaware.
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Each trustee has taken all the steps that they should have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.
Approved by order of the board of trustees 03[rd] May 2022.
Ms. F J Gooding - Treasurer
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of The Freedom Fund UK
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Freedom Fund UK ‘the charitable company’ for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise of the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Cash flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
� give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2021 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
� have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of The Freedom Fund UK (cont.)
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit
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the information given in the trustees’ report, which includes the directors’ report and the strategic report
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prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
� the strategic report and the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 5, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, are set out below.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of The Freedom Fund UK (cont.)
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charitable company operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006 together with the Charities SORP (FRS102) 2019. We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charitable company’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charitable company for fraud. The laws and regulations we considered in this context for the UK operations were General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption legislation, Taxation legislation and Employment legislation
Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within the timing of recognition of income and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management, about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing noncompliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Tim Redwood Senior Statutory Auditor For and on behalf of Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor
London
25 May 2022
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Notes Income from Donations 2 Charitable activities 3 Investment income Total income Expenditure on Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 5 Total expenditure Net (expenditure)/ income Loss on foreign exchange Net movement on funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2021 Total $ $ $ 2,224 - 2,224 3,606,801 - 3,606,801 11 - 11 3,609,036 - 3,609,036 5,408 - 5,408 3,627,971 - 3,627,971 3,633,379 - 3,633,379 (24,343) - (24,343) - - - (24,343) - (24,343) 169,343 - 169,343 145,000 - 145,000 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2020 Total $ $ $ 36,292 - 36,292 3,060,453 325,178 3,385,631 91 - 91 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,096,836 325,178 3,422,014 |
||
| 4,832 - 4,832 3,106,502 325,178 3,431,680 |
||
| 3,111,334 325,178 3,436,512 |
||
| (14,498) - (14,498) |
||
| - - - |
||
| (14,498) - (14,498) |
||
| 183,841 - 183,841 |
||
| 169,343 - 169,343 |
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form a part of these financial statements.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 7 Total fixed assets Current assets Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets Liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets Funds Restricted income funds 11 Unrestricted income funds Total funds |
2021 2020 $ $ 55,582 97,470 |
|---|---|
| 55,582 97,470 |
|
| 177,646 149,520 143,887 482,330 |
|
| 321,533 631,850 |
|
| (232,115) (559,977) |
|
| 89,418 71,873 |
|
| 145,000 169,343 |
|
| 145,000 169,343 |
|
| - - 145,000 169,343 |
|
| 145,000 169,343 |
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provision of the small companies regime and in accordance with the provisions of FRS 102 Section 1A – small entities.
Approved and authorised for issue by the trustees on 03[rd] May 2022 and signed on their behalf by Ms. F J Gooding on 03[rd] May 2022
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form a part of these financial statements.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Cashflow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Cashflow from operating activities (see note A): Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Interest income Purchase of property, plant and equipment Net (Decrease)/ increase in cash Cash flows from financing activities Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Change in cash and cash equivalents in reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period A - Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities Net expenditure Depreciation charges Loss on disposal of fixed assets Interest income Foreign exchange gain/(loss) (Increase) / decrease in debtors (Decrease) / increase in creditors falling due within one year Net cash (used in) / provided by operating activities |
2021 2020 $ $ (338,432) 403,884 (11) (92) - (31,475) |
|---|---|
| (338,443) 372,317 |
|
| 482,330 110,012 (338,443) 372,318 |
|
| 143,887 482,330 |
|
| 2021 2020 $ $ (24,343) (14,498) 41,889 41,156 - - 11 92 - - (28,127) 70,131 (327,862) 307,003 |
|
| (338,432) 403,884 |
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form a part of these financial statements.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
1. Accounting policies
Charitable company background
The objects of the Freedom Fund UK, which further the charity’s purposes for public benefit, are to promote human rights, working towards the eradication of modern slavery. Further details are provided within the Trustees' Report.
The Freedom Fund UK is a company limited by guarantee (company number 08926428), registered in England and Wales. It is also registered in the UK with the Charity Commission (charity number 1158838). It is also a wholly owned subsidiary of The Freedom Fund, a United States registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN number 30-0805768).
Basis of accounting
The Freedom Fund is a public benefit entity as defined under Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS102). The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS102) (August 2014) and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102. The Trustees have also taken due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
The Trustees have considered the impact of Covid-19 on the charity and its funds and have considered the support available from The Freedom Fund. The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that there are adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties in relation to the charity’s ability to continue operating as a going concern. The accounts have therefore been prepared on the basis that the charity is a going concern.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
The functional currency of Freedom Fund UK is considered to be US Dollars because that is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the charity operates.
Income
All incoming resources accruing to the charity during the year are recognised in the statement of financial activities when there is entitlement to the income, receipt is probable and can be measured with reliability.
Income from charitable activities consists of grant income and management recharges. A proportion of costs incurred in the support activities are recharged as a service to the Freedom Fund at arms-length in accordance with the service level agreement between both entities and recognised to the extent costs have been incurred and so the service delivered during the year. The basis of this proportion is reviewed periodically on the level of activity.
Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of resources.
The majority of overheads have been apportioned on the basis of estimated time spent because that is the main driver of costs in the charity. Expenditure is stated in line with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
Support costs, which include finance, IT, head office functions and facilities are allocated across the categories of charitable expenditure, governance and raising funds. These support costs are included within charitable activities and a proportion recharged to the Freedom Fund as noted in the income recognition policy. The basis of the cost allocation is explained in note 5. Governance costs, separately identified, relate to the general running of the charity as opposed to the costs of fundraising or charitable activity. Included within this category are costs associated with the strategic as opposed to day to day management of the charity’s activities.
Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities or costs of negotiating contracts for the
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
provision of services. Grants are charged to the Statement of Financial Activity when a constructive obligation exists. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost to the Statement of Financial Activity.
Tangible assets and depreciation
Assets with a cost in excess of $1,000 intended to be of ongoing use are capitalised as fixed assets. Fixed assets are included at cost. Depreciation is charged, on a straight-line basis, as follows:
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Furniture and fittings - 4 years
-
Computer and office equipment - 4 years
Fixed assets are subject to a review for impairment where there is an indication of a reduction in their carrying value.
Any permanent impairment is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which it occurs.
Fund accounting
Due to the constraints of law and donor-imposed restrictions, the charity segregates its funds between those that are restricted and those that are unrestricted. General funds represent the accumulated surplus on income and expenditure and are available for use at the discretion of the Board in pursuing the general charitable objectives of the charity (see Report of the Trustees).
Where funds are received under contracts to provide services they are classified as restricted, this is on the basis that the contracts specify the service to be performed by the charity. The treatment of these contracts as restricted enables monitoring of performance and outcomes against the contractual agreement.
Restricted funds represent income received where the donor or the nature of the appeal generating the income has imposed restrictions as to how the monies shall be used. The nature and purpose of the restricted funds are also set out in note 11 to the financial statements. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.
Pension costs
Contributions to the employee's defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are payable to the scheme.
Financial instruments
The Freedom Fund UK has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at the present value of future cash flows (amortised cost).
Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at bank and in hand, and the charity’s debtors excluding prepayments and accrued income. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise the charity’s short- and long-term creditors excluding deferred income and accrued expenditure. No discounting has been applied to these financial instruments on the basis that the periods over which amounts will be settled are such that any discounting would be immaterial.
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty policy
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, which are described above in note 1, Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates, assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Support costs incurred by The Freedom Fund UK, which are made up of payroll costs, fundraising, and governance, are shared with The Freedom Fund (US entity) in accordance with the services agreement between both entities dated 24 May 2016. The allocation is a judgement made by management and the share of costs is calculated and reviewed regularly to reflect the time spent by staff on The Freedom Fund and activities of both entities.
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects the current and future periods.
In the view of the Trustees, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.
2. Income from donations
| Other Grants |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Total 2021 2021 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ 691 - 691 751 1,533 - 1,533 35,541 |
|---|---|
| 2,224 - 2,224 36,292 |
3. Income from charitable activities
| DFID Management recharge |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Total 2021 2021 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ - - - 325,178 3,606,801 - 3,606,801 3,060,453 |
|---|---|
| 3,606,801 - 3,606,801 3,385,631 |
4. Expenditure on raising funds
| Donations Charitable activities |
Direct costs Support costs Total Total 2021 2021 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ - 2,704 2,704 2,416 - 2,704 2,704 2,416 |
|---|---|
| - 5,408 5,408 4,832 |
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
5. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Grants payable Staff costs recharges Office costs Foreign exchange losses Finance and governance costs |
Grants payable to institutions Direct costs Support costs Total Total 2021 2021 2021 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ $ - - - - 325,178 - 2,467,434 772,384 3,239,818 2,633,917 - - 285,757 285,757 309,227 - - 83,415 83,415 155,233 - - 18,981 18,981 8,125 |
|---|---|
| - 2,467,434 1,160,537 3,627,971 3,431,680 |
Costs have been apportioned to various activity on the basis of time spent by staff. Charitable activities include the management recharges.
Included within finance and governance costs above are fees payable to the charity's auditors of $18,900 (2020: $8,001), in GBP £14,000 (2020: £5,900)
6. Staff costs
The key management personnel of the charity comprises of Trustees (who receive no remuneration) and directors. The total remuneration and benefits received by the directors during the year was $919,822 (2020: $901,225).
Staff costs of $3,239,818 (2020: $2,633,917) were recharged to the Freedom Fund for program management, fundraising and administrative support provided.
No trustee expenses were paid in the year (2020: $nil)
| Wages & salaries (including life and health insurance) Social security costs Pension costs |
2021 2020 $ $ 2,651,129 2,177,698 307,266 252,542 283,810 205,784 |
|---|---|
| 3,242,205 2,636,024 |
The average number of staff employed by the Freedom Fund UK in the year was 36 (2020: 30).
The average full-time equivalent number of employees who received emoluments (excluding pensions) in the following ranges were:
| $80,999 - $94,497 (£60,000 - £69,999) $94,498 - $107,997 (£70,000 - £79,999) $107,998 - $121,496 (£80,000 - £89,999) $121,497 - $134,996 (£90,000-$99,999) $296,995 - $310,493 (£220,000 - £229,999) |
2021 No. 2020 No. |
|---|---|
| 2 2 2 2 0 2 3 0 1 1 |
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
7. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 January 2021 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2021 Depreciation At 1 January 2021 Charge for the year Disposals At 31 December 2021 Net book value At 31 December 2021 At 31 December 2020 |
Computer and office equipment Furniture & Fittings Total 2021 2021 2021 $ $ $ 92,372 112,068 204,440 - - - - - - |
|---|---|
| 92,372 112,068 204,440 |
|
| 50,581 56,389 106,970 14,188 27,701 41,889 - - - |
|
| 64,769 84,090 148,859 |
|
| 27,603 27,978 **55,582 ** |
|
| 41,791 55,679 97,470 |
8. Debtors
| btors | |
|---|---|
| Amounts due from other group entities Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income |
Total Total 2021 2020 $ $ 7,050 - 76,744 76,491 93,852 73,029 |
| 177,646 149,520 |
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Amount owed to other group entities Other creditors Taxation and social security Accruals atement of restricted funds Restricted funds name |
Total Total 2021 2020 $ $ - 322,482 10,816 40,035 88,659 75,997 132,640 121,463 232,115 559,977 Balance 1 Jan 2021 Income Expenditure Balance 31 Dec 2021 $ $ $ $ - - - - - - - - |
Total Total 2021 2020 $ $ - 322,482 10,816 40,035 88,659 75,997 132,640 121,463 |
|---|---|---|
| 232,115 559,977 |
10. Statement of restricted funds
| Restricted funds name DFID |
Balance 1 Jan 2020 Income Expenditure Balance 31 Dec 2020 $ $ $ $ - 325,178 325,178 - |
|---|---|
| - 325,178 325,178 - |
DFID fund was an emergency Covid-19 response fund grant to offer critical small-scale funding to some frontline partners working with vulnerable communities in India and Ethiopia.
11. Analysis of net assets between funds
Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are represented by:
| Fixed assets Net current assets |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2021 Total $ $ $ 55,582 - 55,582 89,418 - 89,418 |
|---|---|
| 145,000 - 145,000 |
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The Freedom Fund UK Trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Fund balances at 31 December 2020 are represented by:
| Fixed assets Net current assets |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2020 Total $ $ $ 97,470 - 97,470 71,873 - 71,873 |
|---|---|
| 169,343 - 169,343 |
12. Operating lease commitments
As at 31 December 2021, the total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are:
| Operating leases which expire: Within 1 Year Between 2 and 5 Years |
Land and Buildings Other 2021 2020 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ 224,863 198,039 - 431 197,140 - - - |
|---|---|
| 422,003 198,039 - 431 |
13. Controlling party and related party transactions
The Freedom Fund UK, a registered UK charity (registration number 1158838) is a part of the Freedom Fund charities. The other entity in this group is the Freedom Fund, a United States registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN number 30-0805768). The Freedom Fund is the sole member of the Freedom Fund UK and thus holds the power to appoint trustees to the board of directors, making the Freedom Fund UK a wholly owned subsidiary of the Freedom Fund.
The Freedom Fund is the ultimate parent of the Freedom Fund UK and the registered office address of the Freedom Fund is 315 Flatbush Avenue, #406 Brooklyn, NY 11217 USA.
The Freedom Fund UK was set up to facilitate the operations of the Freedom Fund in the UK, Europe and internationally. At 31 December 2021, $112,924 was owed by The Freedom Fund to The Freedom Fund UK (2020: $216,608 was owed by the Freedom Fund UK to The Freedom Fund and $105,874 was owed by the Freedom Fund UK to The Freedom Fund Ethiopia.)
A total of $3,606,801 (2020: $3,095,994) was re-charged to the Freedom Fund by the Freedom Fund UK for program management, fundraising and administrative services provided.
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