OpenCharities

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

2025-07-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1159983

Alma Mater Education

Unaudited Financial Statements

31 July 2025

HARRISON HOLT

Chartered Accountants High Park Farm Kirkbymoorside York YO62 7HS

Alma Mater Education

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 July 2025

Page
Trustees' annual report 1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees 10
Statement of financial activities 11
Statement of financial position 12
Notes to the financial statements 13

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 July 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.

Chair's Introduction

This reporting period has been one of consolidation, operational strengthening, and strategic development for Alma Mater Education. The Trustees have focused on strengthening governance, improving financial systems, and enhancing operational oversight across both the UK and Ghana. Key developments included improved financial controls, streamlined banking processes, and strengthened reporting and accountability.

At the school level, operations have remained strong, with continued growth in student numbers to over 420 pupils and consistent academic performance. The Board has placed increased emphasis on safeguarding, staff performance management, and formalising organisational systems.

A key challenge during the period has been the continued delay in engagement and funding from the Ghana Education Service (GES), despite sustained efforts at multiple levels.

The period concluded with the development of a three-year strategic plan (July 2025), providing a clear framework for future growth, sustainability, and impact.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name

Charity registration number Principal office

Alma Mater Education

1159983 256 Latimer Road London W10 6QY

The trustees

Constance Agyeman Francis Ahene-Affoh (Appointed 24 October 2025) Christopher Bielenberg Katharina Bielenberg Tom Cronin (Resigned 4 May 2026) Charles Easmon (Resigned 31 May 2025) John Paterson (Appointed 24 October 2025)

1

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Patron Arabella Huddart Chief Executive Officer Jenny Harris (Appointed May 2024, retired May 2025) Caroline Loden (Appointed April 2025) School Wioso Senior High School Off Wioso-Domeabra Road Wioso Ghana School Head Gordon Asante Sarpong Operations Director Dennis Akomeah Web site www.almamatereducation.org Bankers HSBC Bank plc 16 King Street Covent Garden London, WC2E 8JF Republic Bank Ghana Limited 35 Sixth Avenue North Ridge PO Box CT 4603 Cantonments Accra Ghana Ahafo Ano Premier Rural Bank Ltd Wioso Branch PO Box 1 Wioso Ashanti Ghana Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd Kunsu Branch PO Box PMB Kunsu Ghana Independent examiner Philip J H Holt FCA FCIE High Park Farm Kirkbymoorside York YO62 7HS

2

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Structure, governance and management

History

Alma Mater Education ("the Charity") was constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with the Charity Commission on 16 January 2015.

Governing document

The Charity is governed by a foundation model constitution adopted on 16 January 2015.

The members of the CIO are its charity trustees and the only persons eligible to be members of the CIO are its charity trustees. Membership of the CIO cannot be transferred to anyone else.

Recruitment, Appointment and Training of trustees

The Trustees of the charity serve for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed for further terms with all voting powers held by the board.

Trustees are recruited via online platforms and personal referrals to fill the needs of the charity - which are defined by a skills and experience needs requirement audit as recommended by Charity Excellence. Each potential Trustee is asked to submit a covering letter and CV and undertake an informal interview with a Trustee. We also acknowledge the support of our advisors and volunteers who have contributed immensely to our progress this year.

Training for new trustees includes a "Welcome Pack" which includes a copy of the Trust Deed and background information on the Charity and a copy of the relevant Charity Commission guidance: "CC3 - The Essential Trustee".

Organisation

The Board of Trustees meet regularly to administer the Charity. They are supported by the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), contracted on a part-time consultancy basis, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the Charity.

Financial Management and Controls

The organisation strengthened its financial systems during the reporting period, including:

The Trustees continue to prioritise financial transparency and are working towards establishing an appropriate level of reserves.

3

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Risk Management

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the operations of the charity and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks facing the charity. The Trustees have also put into place mechanisms to frequently review potential risks and the measures in place to mitigate those risks.

Operations and Organisation

Staff

The organisation continues to operate with a combination of UK-based support (one part-time role) and volunteers, along with the dedicated team in Ghana. The interim CEO was replaced in April 2025 by our current CEO who brings experience of running a similar educational charity in Burkina Faso for eight years, and strong governance and management skills.

During the reporting period, focus was placed on clarifying roles and responsibilities, developing job descriptions, and strengthening performance management systems.

Digital and Organisational Systems

During the reporting period, Slack was introduced as a communication platform, alongside improvements to shared systems and financial tracking through QuickBooks.

Governance, Structure and Management

Alma Mater Education is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a Board of Trustees. During the reporting period, the Board completed a SWOT analysis, identified the need to expand trustee expertise, strengthened governance oversight, and progressed plans for a local advisory board.

GES and External Engagement

The organisation continued engagement with the Ghana Education Service (GES), although delays in contracts, funding and engagement persisted.

This remains a key priority moving forward.

4

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Objectives and activities

Purpose

Our Vision

During the reporting period, the Board formalised the organisation's long-term direction through the development of a three-year strategic plan and written vision as follows:

A future where all young people in Ghana, especially those in rural areas, have equal access to quality education and the opportunity to create lasting community change.

Charitable objects

The charitable objects of Alma Mater Education are for the public benefit:

The Trustees note that the objects no longer fully describe the work of the charity and have set about a review to be assessed by the Charity Commission in 2025-26.

Activities

The Charity's first school, WIOSO Senior High School, is situated in a very rural location about 1½ hours from the city of Kumasi, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Established in 2015, the school provides comprehensive secondary education for up to 550 students across three year groups, with the capacity for more than 400 living full-time in on-site boarding facilities.

During the reporting period, activities focused on:

5

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Achievements and performance

Impact

During the August 2024 to July 2025 reporting period:

The organisation began implementing a structured impact framework to support future reporting.

Pupils

The school population grew to over 365 students during the reporting period.

The Board discussed managing future growth sustainably, including a potential cap at approximately 600 students.

Academic Achievement

Academic performance remained strong.

The school achieved a 98.4% WASSCE pass rate, placing it among the top-performing schools in the region.

Students progressed into a range of post-secondary pathways, including:

Relationships were developed with training institutions and employers to support future pathways.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular provision remained consistent with the previous reporting period.

Students participated in a range of clubs and activities, including Cadets, Girls' Club, Writers' and Debaters' Club, Science Club, Geography Students Association, and sports including football, basketball, volleyball, and athletics.

6

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Achievements and performance (continued)

Infrastructure

The school continues to benefit from recent infrastructure investment, including dormitory expansion and improved dining facilities.

The Board reviewed future priorities including classroom expansion, accommodation, and sports facilities. Some maintenance challenges remain, particularly in sanitation and ICT provision.

Farm

The farm remains a central component of Alma Mater Education's model. Its primary role is as a nutrition hub, contributing directly to student wellbeing, attendance and learning through food provision to the school.

During the reporting period, the farm made progress in restoring production for the school kitchen, despite weather-related challenges including drought and rainfall disruption. Produce supplied to the school included cassava and okra, with 264kg of okra harvested for the kitchen at an estimated market value of GHS7,924.

The farm also had maize, cassava, carrots, turmeric and cocoa under cultivation or review during the year. New equipment, including a manual seeder, motorised mist blower and electric sprayer, improved production efficiency, with the manual seeder significantly reducing planting time.

The farm continued to support student learning through agricultural activities and preparation for the Student Agricultural Sustainability Project.

The Board reaffirmed that the farm's first priority is to support student nutrition, with market activity and educational use as important secondary objectives.

Fundraising, Volunteering & Partnerships

Fundraising remained a critical priority.

Key donations received during the reporting period included:

Planning began for the November 2025 10-year anniversary fundraising campaign.

The organisation continued its partnership with key organisations including:

7

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Financial review

During the period, the Charity received donations amounting to £237,692 (2024 - £299,141) and income from charitable activities amounting to £381 (2024 - £5,963).

The total expenditure on charitable activities amounted to £205,126 (2024 - £185,066) with governance and other resources expensed totalling £5,240 (2024 - £5,219) during the year.

The total reserves at the year end stand at £420,323 (2024 - £391,751). The total fixed assets of the charity amounted to £441,455 (2024 - £446,395).

The Trustees continue to monitor income and expenditure closely to ensure financial sustainability.

Reserves Policy

The funds are necessary to enable the charity to fulfil its objectives, to meet existing commitments and to enable the charity to meet its day to day working capital requirements.

The trustees seek to maintain a level of free reserves (that is funds not tied up in fixed assets and restricted funds) that will enable the Charity to sustain its operation over a period when the income generation may be curtailed temporarily or permanently.

The Trustees are in the process of approving a new Reserves Policy to ensure that the Charity retains sufficient resources to continue normal activity in the event of a cessation of funding (equivalent to six months of running costs) plus sufficient resources to wind the Charity up in a proper fashion, should Trustees so decide. In financial terms this now equates to around £103,000 (2024: £93,000). The Trustees intend to adopt a six-month Reserves Policy once fundraising allows.

At the year end, the net current liabilities were £21,132 (2024 - £54,654) however, included in liabilities were loans from the Founding Trustee of £29,218 (2024: £64,218) which are unlikely to be called within the near future and therefore the unrestricted free reserve amounts to £8,086 (2024: £9,564) which represents less than 1 month (2024 - just less than 1 month) of total running costs for the year. The Trustees are examining activities and operations to increase the free reserves to the required level.

Staff Plans

The year saw the departure of the previous CEO, an interim CEO to support whilst recruiting a longer term position and we're happy to report that a new CEO (with many years of experience in Burkina Faso and in International development) was recruited in May 2025 and became permanent in the next financial year. This has created much stability as we enter an exciting period of growth and development.

We have a total of 23 teaching staff and 17 non-teaching staff (including 8 farm staff). Our target teacher-to-student ratio is 1:15, which after recruiting an additional 8-10 teachers with GES support we have achieved.

8

Alma Mater Education

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

Plans for future periods

At the end of the reporting period, the organisation developed a three-year strategic plan (August 2025 - July 2028).

Key priorities include strengthening governance, achieving financial sustainability, expanding fundraising, improving infrastructure, enhancing academic outcomes, developing the farm as a nutrition model, strengthening partnerships, and implementing robust impact measurement.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 31 May 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Christopher Bielenberg

Christopher Bielenberg (May 31, 2026 16:06:18 GMT+1)

Christopher Bielenberg Trustee

9

Alma Mater Education

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Alma Mater Education

Year ended 31 July 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Alma Mater Education ('the charity') for the year ended 31 July 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Philip Holt Philip Holt (May 31, 2026 17:35:22 GMT+1)

Philip J H Holt FCA FCIE Independent Examiner

High Park Farm Kirkbymoorside York YO62 7HS

31/05/26

10

Alma Mater Education

Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 July 2025

Period from
1 Feb 23 to
Year to 31 Jul 25 31 Jul 24
Unrestricted Restricted
funds fundsTotal funds Total funds
Note £ £ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies 4 180,927 57,623 238,550 299,141
Charitable activities 5 381 – 381 5,963
Investment income 6 7 – 7 10
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total income 181,315 57,623 238,938 305,114
================================ ============================ ================================ ================================
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities 7,8 146,972 63,394 210,366 190,285
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total expenditure 146,972 63,394 210,366 190,285
================================ ============================ ================================ ================================
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net income 34,343 (5,771) 28,572 114,829
================================ ============================ ================================ ================================
Transfers between funds (5,771) 5,771 – –
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net movement in funds 28,572 – 28,572 114,829
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 381,529 10,222 391,751 276,922
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total funds carried forward 410,101 10,222 420,323 391,751
================================ ============================ ================================ ================================

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 13 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

11

Alma Mater Education

Statement of Financial Position

31 July 2025

2025 2024
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 16 441,455 446,395
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand 13,086 22,494
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 17 (34,218) (77,138)
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Net current liabilities (21,132) (54,644)
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total assets less current liabilities 420,323 391,751
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net assets 420,323 391,751
================================ ================================
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds 10,222 10,222
Unrestricted funds 410,101 381,529
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total charity funds 18 420,323
================================		 391,751
================================

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 31 May 26, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Christopher Bielenberg (May 31, 2026 16:06:18 GMT+1) Christopher Bielenberg

Katharina Bielenberg (May 31, 2026 18:22:11 GMT+2)

Christopher Bielenberg Trustee

Katharina Bielenberg Trustee

The notes on pages 13 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

12

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 July 2025

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 256 Latimer Road, London, W10 6QY.

2. Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Alma Mater Education constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity, and rounded to the nearest £1.

Going concern

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the Charity is able to continue as a going concern which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to future income generated during 2025/26 and onwards. The Trustees have prepared budgets and forecasts for the periods to July 2026 and July 2027 and are confident that, with their own support from Trustees and their Related Parties and the involvement of the Ghana Education Service, there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

Comparative period

The current accounting the period 12-month period to 31 July 2025. The previous accounting period was extended, to 31 July 2024, in order to align with the academic school year in Ghana. Accordingly, the comparative period was an 18-month period to 31 July 2024.

Disclosure exemptions

The charity does not include a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is applying the Charities SORP (FRS 102) for smaller charities.

13

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The Charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, within the next financial year, are the levels of future funding and expenditure on charitable activities.

Income tax

As a charity, Alma Mater Education is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within the available tax exemptions to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

Foreign currencies

Foreign currency transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency, by applying the spot exchange rate as at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the reporting date, with any gains or losses being taken to the statement of financial activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

14

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

15

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Freehold property - 5% straight line Plant and machinery - Straight line from 5 years to 20 years

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

Financial instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments.

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

16

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

4. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Donations
Income from donations 10,000 – 10,000
Bielenberg Family Foundation 95,000 – 95,000
Hamburg-Bergedorf Rotary Club – – –
The Toni Garrn Foundation – 55,123 55,123
Christopher Bielenberg 35,000 – 35,000
Caroline and Georges Müller 21,103 – 21,103
The Quin Charitable Trust 10,000 – 10,000
Sandbrook House – – –
Hunza G Limited 4,000 – 4,000
MyOwnFoundation – – –
Moynitrust – – –
Other societies and organisations – – –
Donations from individuals, £2,500 and less 4,966 2,500 7,466
Grants
Grants receivable non-UK 858 – 858
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
180,927 57,623 238,550
================================ ============================ ================================
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Donations
Income from donations – – –
Bielenberg Family Foundation 61,600 – 61,600
Hamburg-Bergedorf Rotary Club 10,459 12,840 23,300
The Toni Garrn Foundation – 139,576 139,576
Christopher Bielenberg – – –
Caroline and Georges Müller 34,820 – 34,820
The Quin Charitable Trust 3,000 – 3,000
Sandbrook House 531 – 531
Hunza G Limited 9,882 – 9,882
MyOwnFoundation 7,868 – 7,868
Moynitrust 5,000 – 5,000
Other societies and organisations 1,000 – 1,000
Donations from individuals, £2,500 and less 12,564 – 12,564
Grants
Grants receivable non-UK – – –
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
146,724 152,416 299,141
================================ ================================ ================================

17

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

5. Charitable activities

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Income from school feeding – – 5,793 5,793
Income from farm 381 381 170 170
-------------- -------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
381 381 5,963 5,963
============== ============== ======================= =======================
6. Investment income
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Bank interest receivable 7 7 10 10
============== ============== ============== ==============
7. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Advance education 109,591 63,394 172,985
Support costs 37,381 – 37,381
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
146,972 63,394 210,366
================================ ============================ ================================
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Advance education 161,058 5,544 166,603
Support costs 23,682 – 23,682
-------------------------------- ----------------------- --------------------------------
184,740 5,544 190,285
================================ ======================= ================================

18

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

8. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

Activities
undertaken
Grant funding		 Support Total funds Total fund
directly
of activities		 costs 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Advance education 112,091
60,894		 32,141 205,126 185,066
Governance costs –
–		 5,240 5,240 5,219
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
112,091
60,894		 37,381 210,366 190,285
================================ ============================ ============================ ================================ ================================

In the current and previous period, the activities undertaken directly were as follows:

2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries in Ghana 29,201 46,559
Social Security in Ghana 3,716 6,044
Depreciation 30,165 21,591
School feeding costs 12,941 26,815
School farm costs 8,856 3,792
School equipment & general running costs 7,467 44,902
UK freelance costs and fees 19,745 16,900
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
112,091 166,603
================================ ================================

9. Analysis of support costs

Advance Governance
education costs Total 2025 Total 2024
£ £ £ £
General office 16,621 – 16,621 1,318
Finance costs 525 – 525 729
Governance costs – 5,240 5,240 5,219
Travel and subsistence 5,057 – 5,057 8,176
Support costs - Other costs type 8 5,724 – 5,724 –
UK freelance costs and fees – – – 6,750
Foreign exchange differences 4,214 – 4,214 1,490
---------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
32,141 5,240 37,381 23,682
============================ ======================= ============================ ============================

In the current and previous period, the support costs included governance costs as follows:

2025 2024
£ £
Independent Examiner's fees 5,000 5,000
Legal and other professional fees 240 219
----------------------- -----------------------
5,240 5,219
======================= =======================

19

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

10. Analysis of grants

Period from
Year to 1 Feb 23 to
31 Jul 25 31 Jul 24
£ £
Grants to institutions
Little Alma Mater – Basic school 60,894 –
---------------------------- --------------
Total grants 60,894 –
============================ ==============
11. Net income
Net income is stated after charging/(crediting):
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 30,165 21,591
Foreign exchange differences 4,214 1,490
============================ ============================
12. Independent examination fees
Period from
Year to 1 Feb 23 to
31 Jul 25 31 Jul 24
£ £
Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements 1,250 1,500
Other financial services 3,750 3,500
----------------------- -----------------------
5,000 5,000
======================= =======================

13. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

Period from
Year to 1 Feb 23 to
31 Jul 25 31 Jul 24
£ £
Wages and salaries 29,201 46,559
Social security costs 3,716 6,044
---------------------------- ----------------------------
32,917 52,603
============================ ============================

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the period. All the employees of the Charity are based in Ghana.

The key management personnel of the Charity are deemed to be the trustees and the CEO. The CEO was paid fees of £19,745 (2024 - £23,650).

20

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

13. Staff costs (continued)

The average head count of employees during the year was 44 (2024: 42). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:

2025 2024
No. No.
Teaching 19 18
Non-teaching 9 9
Farm 9 8
-------------- --------------
37 35
============== ==============

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).

14. Trustee remuneration and expenses

None of the Trustees received any emoluments or honoraria, during the current or previous period.

During the period, none of the Trustees were reimbursed expenses amounting (2024 2 trustees were reimbursed expenses - £1,219).

15. Transfers between funds

During the period, £5,771 was transferred to the restricted Little Alma Mater Fund to clear the deficit on this fund which arose as a result of foreign exchange differences between the funds arriving and the funds being sent.

16. Tangible fixed assets

Freehold Plant and
property machinery Total
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 August 2024 491,342 65,358 556,700
Additions 6,869 18,356 25,225
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
At 31 July 2025 498,211 83,714 581,925
================================ ============================ ================================
Depreciation
At 1 August 2024 100,970 9,335 110,305
Charge for the year 24,241 5,924 30,165
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
At 31 July 2025 125,211 15,259 140,470
================================ ============================ ================================
Carrying amount
At 31 July 2025 373,000 68,455 441,455
================================ ============================ ================================
At 31 July 2024 390,372 56,023 446,395
================================ ============================ ================================

21

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

17. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors – 6,750
Accruals and deferred income 5,000 5,000
Amounts due to related parties 29,218 64,218
Other creditors – 1,170
---------------------------- ----------------------------
34,218 77,138
============================ ============================

18. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

At 1 August At 31 July
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 381,529 181,315 (146,972) (5,771) 410,101
================================ ================================ ================================ ======================= ================================
At
1 February At 31 July
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 276,922 152,697 (184,740) 136,650 381,529
================================ ================================ ================================ ================================ ================================

22

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

18. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Restricted funds

Restricted funds
At 1 August At 31 July
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Girls Dormitory Fund – – – – –
Solar Fund – – – – –
Scholarship Fund 9,796 – – – 9,796
Emergency Fund – – – – –
MHD Fund – – – – –
Prize Fund 426 – – – 426
Little Alma Mater Fund – 55,123 (60,894) 5,771 –
Midwifery scholarships – 2,500 (2,500) – –
---------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------------
10,222 57,623 (63,394) 5,771 10,222
============================ ============================ ============================ ======================= ============================
At
1 February At 31 July
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Girls Dormitory Fund – 118,009 (2,317) (115,692) –
Solar Fund – 20,958 – (20,958) –
Scholarship Fund – 9,796 – – 9,796
Emergency Fund – 1,840 (1,840) – –
MHD Fund – 1,387 (1,387) – –
Prize Fund – 426 – – 426
Little Alma Mater Fund – – – – –
Midwifery scholarships – – – – –
-------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
– 152,416 (5,544) (136,650) 10,222
============== ================================ ======================= ================================ ============================

23

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

18. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Girls Dormitory Fund - relates to a number of donations from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to construct a dormitory to accommodation boarding facilities for girls at the School.

Solar Fund - relates to a number of donations from various donors to upgrade and add new solar panels to the School for the dormitory and for other facilities on the site.

Scholarship Fund - relates to a donation from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to provide Scholarships to students at the School and at university.

Emergency Fund - relates to a donation from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to provide wheelchairs, water treatment and laptops.

MHD Fund - relates to a donation from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to provide funding for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024.

Prize Fund - relates to a donation from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to provide an award for the "Best Teacher" at the School.

Little Alma Mater Fund - relates to a donation from the Toni Garrn Foundation to used to provide a new school near the existing site.

Midwifery scholarships Fund - relates to a donation from a number of individual donors to used to provide a scholarship award for Midwifery at the School.

19. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 441,455 – 441,455
Current assets 2,864 10,222 13,086
Creditors less than 1 year (34,218) – (34,218)
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
Net assets 410,101 10,222 420,323
================================ ============================ ================================
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 446,395 – 446,395
Current assets 12,272 10,222 22,494
Creditors less than 1 year (77,138) – (77,138)
-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
Net assets 381,529 10,222 391,751
================================ ============================ ================================

24

Alma Mater Education

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 July 2025

20. Related parties

During the period, donations of £95,000 were received from the Bielenberg Family Foundation (2024: £61,000) The Foundation was settled by Christopher Bielenberg, a trustee of the Charity, and is run by the family of Katharina Bielenberg, a trustee of the Charity.

During the period, one other party related to the Trustees donated £4,000 (2024: two parties donated £10,413) to the Charity.

During the current year, Christopher Bielenberg donated £35,000 (previous year, he loaned £64,218 to the Charity. The loan was interest free and repayable on demand). During the year, the Charity repaid £35,000. There were no movements on this loan during the previous period and the balance due to Christopher Bielenberg was £29,218 (2024: £64,218).

25

256 Latimer Road London W10 6QY

Harrison Holt, Chartered Accountants High Park Farm Kirkbymoorside York YO62 7HS

Sunday, 31 May 2026

Dear Sirs

We confirm that the following representations are made on the basis of enquiries of management and staff with relevant knowledge and experience (and, where appropriate, of inspection of supporting documentation) sufficient to satisfy ourselves that we can properly make each of the following representations to you in connection with your independent examination of the charity's financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025.

1 GENERAL

256 LATIMER ROAD • LONDON • W10 6QY •UK CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1159983

assessment that the financial statements may be misstated as a result of fraud. There have been no irregularities (or allegations of irregularities) involving management, employees who have a significant role in internal control or others that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds
At 1 August At 31 July
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Girls Dormitory Fund – – – – –
Solar Fund – – – – –
Scholarship Fund 9,796 – – – 9,796
Emergency Fund – – – – –
MHD Fund – – – – –
Prize Fund 426 – – – 426
Little Alma Mater Fund – 55,123 (60,894) 5,771 –
Midwifery scholarships – 2,500 (2,500) – –
---------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------------
10,222 57,623 (63,394) 5,771 10,222
============================ ============================ ============================ ======================= ============================

5 ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

256 LATIMER ROAD • LONDON • W10 6QY •UK CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1159983

6 BANK ACCOUNTS

7 LOANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

8 LEGAL CLAIMS

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

10

PUBLIC BENEFIT

11 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

256 LATIMER ROAD • LONDON • W10 6QY •UK CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1159983

12 POST-BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

13 GOING CONCERN

Yours faithfully

Katharina Bielenberg (May 31, 2026 18:22:11 GMT+2) Christopher Bielenberg (May 31, 2026 16:06:18 GMT+1) Christopher Bielenberg Christopher Bielenberg Katharina Bielenberg Chair and Trustee Trustee

ALM001 - AME - Financial statements for the YE 31 July 2025 + LoR - to trustees for signature

Final Audit Report

2026-05-31

Created: 2026-05-31 By: Philip Holt (philipholt@harrisonholt.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAE__6gEmloDzWHDB0PZn-gjKgbbugWxyV

"ALM001 - AME - Financial statements for the YE 31 July 2025 + LoR - to trustees for signature" History

Document created by Philip Holt (philipholt@harrisonholt.co.uk)

2026-05-31 - 1:45:25 PM GMT- IP address: 145.224.65.118

Document emailed to Christopher Bielenberg (christopher@sandbrook.ie) for signature 2026-05-31 - 1:45:30 PM GMT

Email viewed by Christopher Bielenberg (christopher@sandbrook.ie) 2026-05-31 - 2:29:06 PM GMT- IP address: 104.28.42.60

Document e-signed by Christopher Bielenberg (christopher@sandbrook.ie)

Signature Date: 2026-05-31 - 3:06:18 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 172.224.226.115 - Signature Appearance Selected: TYPE

Document emailed to Katharina Bielenberg (katharina@almamatereducation.org) for signature 2026-05-31 - 3:06:20 PM GMT

Email viewed by Katharina Bielenberg (katharina@almamatereducation.org) 2026-05-31 - 4:13:37 PM GMT- IP address: 104.28.40.147

Document e-signed by Katharina Bielenberg (katharina@almamatereducation.org)

Signature Date: 2026-05-31 - 4:22:11 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 148.252.144.220 - Signature Appearance Selected: MOBILE_DRAW

Document emailed to Philip Holt (philipholt@harrisonholt.co.uk) for signature 2026-05-31 - 4:22:13 PM GMT

Email viewed by Philip Holt (philipholt@harrisonholt.co.uk)

2026-05-31 - 4:34:58 PM GMT- IP address: 145.224.65.118

Document e-signed by Philip Holt (philipholt@harrisonholt.co.uk) Signature Date: 2026-05-31 - 4:35:22 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 145.224.65.118 - Signature Appearance Selected: TYPE

Agreement completed.

2026-05-31 - 4:35:22 PM GMT