2021-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of

1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021

Charity name: Ihezie Foundation

Children from a UK primary school receiving our book donation.

Charity registration number: 1160562

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Ihezie Foundation
Other name the charity uses	**Ihezie Foundation-Book Relief **
Registered charity number	1160562
Charity’s principal address	Ihezie Foundation 33 Burners Lane Kiln Farm Milton Keynes MK11 3HA **United Kingdom **

Names of the charity trustees No trustees resigned or were appointed within the financial year.

Amrit Rana	Chair
Aloysius Ihezie	Founding Trustee
James Phipson	Trustee
Jaimin Chandarana	Trustee
Craig Ihezie	Trustee

Chief Executive Michael Bloedorn

Bank Barclays Bank, Wembley & Park Royal

Independent Garcha & Co Examiner 79A South Road Southall UB1 1SQ

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

Ihezie Foundation exists to advance literacy and educational opportunities for students in the UK and Africa through the provision of educational textbooks, children’s books and other resource materials to schools.

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit.

In any country or community, one of humankind’s greatest gifts to the next generation is to provide the means whereby students can receive a good education. Helping to achieve that amazing objective are books that inspire students to learn, to gain a skill or just to enjoy. Helping to make that dream come true is the mission of Ihezie Foundation.

The trustees are satisfied that Ihezie Foundation has passed the public benefit test in relation to furthering the charity’s objectives by delivering the following activities.

UK Projects:

Ihezie Foundation works to provide much needed literacy and children’s books to primary schools in the UK. Our vision is for every UK primary school to have pride in their school library and sufficient books for every child to be able to borrow a book and continue their reading at home.

Projects in Africa:

Ihezie Foundation provides educational aid and assistance through the donation of educational books and textbooks to schools, universities and libraries throughout Africa.

Our work is inspired by the power of education to change lives. We believe that a sound education will provide students with the best possible start in life and in turn play a vital role in enabling them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to identify and maximise social, medical and economic opportunities, empowering them individually and as a nation.

Contribution of volunteers:

Ihezie Foundation would particularly like to thank each and every one of the charity’s 25 volunteers who gave up their time weekly to help sort and allocate the books for donation. Many of our volunteers are recovering from life changing injuries such as acquired brain injury and are placed with us through an ongoing relationship with the Occupational Therapy team at the Buckinghamshire NHS Health Trust.

Achievements and Performance:

Below is a summary of the Foundations’ achievements. The Foundation’s work has had a real impact to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and far reaching wider benefits to society as a whole.

COVID -19 and its impact on our work:

With the COVID-19 pandemic dominating much of 2020 and part of 2021, Ihezie Foundation had to adjust its activities in response to the changed working environment and the long periods when schools were closed. During the periods of lockdown, Ihezie Foundation had to close and many of our volunteers had to go into shielding. We have resumed our volunteering programme in partnership with the NHS this year, and we are continuing to help volunteers rehabilitate by working with us in a supported environment with their occupational therapists.

The Foundation adapted its operations as schools closed and children were forced to stay in their homes. With libraries closed, the Foundation supplied much needed books to disadvantaged families.

The Foundation was well positioned to increase the number of books being donated to help and support vulnerable children, book supplies were increased to food banks and women and children’s refuges. As schools slowly re-opened, the Foundation quickly expanded the book donation programme, supplying increased numbers of books to primary schools and supporting teachers who were working hard to make up for missed learning opportunities.

Our work in the UK:

Throughout the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, Ihezie Foundation worked with the Food Cupboard MK, Leos Food Parcels, Food Larder, Youth Booth Hemel and Morrisons Library Westcroft, donating over 5,000 children’s books which were then delivered with the weekly food parcels to vulnerable families.

Ihezie Foundation also donated books to the Gilbert Colvin School, Atam Academy, South Hill Primary School, Childville Pre School, Downshall Primary School, Two Mile Ash School, Isleworth Town Primary and Nursery School, Belmont Primary School, Holne Chase Primary School and Heston Primary School with children’s books included in the free school lunch parcels that were distributed throughout the school closures.

In October 2020, the Foundation worked closely with councillors and teachers in the London Borough of Lewisham and donated thousands of books to set up a book lending service for children without access to books at home. In all over 20,000 reading books were donated to 10 primary schools in the Lewisham area.

In early 2021, Ihezie Foundation partnered with Heathrow Airport Community Trust and donated 10,000 children’s books to five Heathrow Airport Partner Schools.

The recipient schools were: Colnbrook Primary School, Harmondsworth Primary School, Heathrow Primary School, Pippins Primary School, and William Byrd Primary Academy.

During the school holiday terms of summer and Christmas, Ihezie Foundation partnered with Surrey Council to donate and distribute 8,000 books to vulnerable families in Surrey who received books inside the food parcels distributed by the Council.

Ihezie Foundation donated 8,000 books to Two Mile Ash School, St Michael's CE Combined School, Whitchurch Combined School, Winslow Church of England School.

Ihezie Foundation also donated 6,000 books to schools in Hemel Hempstead with the following schools receiving 2,000 books each; Brockswood Primary School, Holtsmere End Infant and Primary School, Tudor Primary School.

In total Ihezie Foundation donated 57,000 books to food banks and UK schools enabling thousands of children to read and enjoy books in their own homes.

Our work in Africa:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on our work in Africa, making it very difficult to secure the funding needed for our overseas book project. Many of our funding applications were rejected as grant making bodies diverted all funds to COVID-19 relief. Our bid to the Department for International Development was discontinued when funding to smaller charities was stopped. While we struggled to raise funds for our work in Africa, we have focused our resources to place renewed emphasis on providing books to UK primary schools.

We remain committed to our Nigeria 500,000 books campaign which forms one part of our plan to provide books to schools and universities throughout Africa. This important part of our operation means we will, in due course, continue to work with strong local institutions with the means to support less privileged children in their surrounding areas. Where appropriate we will work with state and local governments able to ensure the efficient distribution of our book donations. And throughout this period, here in the UK, we have continued with our preparations to send 80,000 books to the University of Nigeria Nsukka and anticipate that these books will be despatched once funding is secured.

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period:

The charity ends the financial year having received support from Choice Textile Ltd. and its associated organisations, both financially and in-kind book donations.

A description of the principal risks facing the charity:

The charity trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. We have reviewed our funding strategy and business plan in light of COVID -19 and with our services needed more than ever before, we will continue our focus on donating reading books to UK primary schools. Funding shortfalls have greatly impacted our ability to carry out our work in Africa. The trustees will be reviewing the funding strategies the charity can take to continue our work in Africa, over the coming year.

Managing health and safety during book deliveries and receiving books:

We ensure all of our staff and volunteers have adequate health and safety training and are satisfied that the warehouse is managed with the wellbeing of staff at the forefront of all activities. Suitably qualified and trained staffs are using Personal Protective equipment at all times, and all health and safety matters are managed in line with national Health and Safety Executive standards.

Managing Impact and Evaluation policies:

We have also identified the further need to establish robust systems of impact evaluation in our work in Africa. Thanks to the thorough personal oversight of the delivery of books, we are satisfied that all donations thus far, have been received at the intended schools and universities.

Fundraising Statement:

We report to our Trustees on fundraising and compliance matters on a bi-annual basis to ensure that they have oversight of our fundraising activities and can exercise their duties as per the Charity Commission’s Fundraising Guidance (CC20).

Supporter data:

We have a legal obligation to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation (PECR), but we also believe in a strong duty of care above that required by law. Our processes are designed around our “Every donor matter” philosophy, which embeds the principle of fairness.

In early 2020 we reviewed our GDPR policies and have now put in place data protection policies and data management policies.

We have extended our Privacy Policy to outline our practice in greater detail to ensure that our supporters and potential supporters are duly informed as to how we use their personal data.

While we will regularly review our practices to ensure we act in the best interest of our supporters, we will continue, as appropriate, to contact supporters by post on the understanding that they can opt out of any such communication at any time.

Protecting people in vulnerable circumstances:

Supporting Ihezie Foundation should be a positive experience for all existing and potential supporters, and we strive to ensure that any interaction is conducted with respect, dignity and fairness. As we develop future campaigns, policies will be developed in accordance with Fundraising Regulator guidance.

Fundraising complaints:

No fundraising complaints were received in the previous year. As our fundraising activities increase, we will develop a more appropriate complaints policy relative to the size of our operation.

Safeguarding:

As an organisation whose purpose is to distribute books to schools, we take safeguarding and child protection very seriously. We minimise the risk of any incidences occurring by ensuring:

• 1) That all school site visits by staff to deliver books are supervised by the teaching staff from the time of arrival to the time of departure from the school

• 2) That when books are donated to countries outside the UK, local education ministers take responsibility for book distribution.

• 3) That vulnerable adults who volunteer in our warehouses are accompanied by occupational therapists who work alongside them.

We regularly review our safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they are robust, fit for purpose and reflect best and current practice and are proportionate to our role in schools (which is to conduct large scale book deliveries).

Where a safeguarding incident occurs in the UK, it is for Ihezie Foundation to investigate and handle the matter, although we recognise that, because some of our work is undertaken overseas, it could be in other countries that safeguarding reports are received. Where this is the case, it would be the responsibility of the lead safeguarding officer in Ihezie Foundation to report on local issues and conduct investigations to ensure that these are handled properly and that lessons learned are fully implemented. In cases that are serious and substantiated, local law enforcement agencies will be notified as well as other NGO’s.

Ihezie Foundation Trustees are under a moral and legal duty to ensure that we do not cause harm to those we seek to support, employ or work with. This means assuring themselves that there is a zerotolerance approach to safeguarding violations wherever UK funds are being spent overseas. To enable the Board to maintain oversight of safeguarding matters both in the UK and overseas, trustees receive an “as it happens” report on all cases where UK funding is involved. If trustees have concerns about the way that safeguarding standards are being implemented in the organisation, they are aware of reporting procedures to both local law enforcement agencies and safeguarding bodies.

The Trustees of Ihezie Foundation maintain ultimate oversight of safeguarding across all work carried out around the world using funds raised in the UK; they undertake at all times to fulfil their responsibility to protect those we seek to support through our programmes and those who have committed to work for us.

Chief Executives’ report:

This year we have continued to deliver on our charity’s mission despite tough economic conditions. We have particularly focussed our efforts on supporting UK children and schools, so we can play our role in supporting children to recover from the Covid-19 related deprivations. The gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has widened greatly during Covid-19 and represents years of lost education for poorer children. We forget that it is now almost two years during which time many children have not had a ‘normal education’. And further to that, many more children have not had the luxury of being home educated during lockdowns,

either because of their parent’s wellbeing, work situations, or access to resources.

Our key emphasis throughout successive lockdowns was to donate books to food banks and other charities and, through schools, to provide books so that children had access to good reading material while confined to their homes.

We have continued to enjoy a wonderful relationship with our corporate partners and their staff, and would like to thank all those who have supported the charity to ensure we have an excellent supply of books. We look forward to continuing these working relationships as we build on the successes of previous years.

We conducted a major review of how we would operate under COVID -19 and we were able to donate 57,000 books despite the challenges. There will always be a place for books in children’s lives and an even greater need for support as many students struggle to bridge the gaps in their learning due to school closures.

There is no doubt that our work reaches millions of children who otherwise would struggle to get access to books.

Reading continues to play a critical role in developing autodidactic learners (self-proficiency in learning) and in turn, creates lifelong learners. We cannot give up on this generation of children who are not only suffering from the effects of two years of isolation from education, but also of missed time with loved ones, the loss of relatives, and missed friendships.

Reading offers some normalcy in this uncertain world right now; an intellectual escape from the tragedies of what has happened around us, and an opportunity for children to rediscover their childhoods, through giving children the opportunity to learn from playful stories for pleasure, to academic books that will grow their intellectual curiosity about the world; and nurture our future doctors, scientists, journalists, teachers, and educators.

Inside the subdued jacket of a book can be a child’s heroine or hero, an opportunity to visualise their futures outside of the confines of their family’s expectations.

Children can dare to imagine independently, going beyond cultural, religious and gender expectations, but also learn about qualities such as courage, self-esteem and how to achieve the unimaginable. Helping children to read is not only a duty, but also a moral imperative if our children are to have the same opportunities to tackle the global challenges we face today.

Books contain the wisdom of our collective knowledge, and therefore remain our best opportunity to give children a proper education and the chance to succeed. Please join us on our mission, to help every child to become a reader.

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Michael Bloedorn
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Chief Executive

Structure, Governance and Management

Type of governing document	Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
UK Charity Number	1160562
Trustee selection methods	The Board of Trustees is entitled to nominate any additional
and induction, training and	number of trustees.
support.
	Trustees can be elected during a scheduled board meeting by a
	majority vote of trustees with minutes taken of the decision.
	Trustees are inducted by the Chair of Trustees and the Chief
	Executive offers ongoing sector wide training to trustees. We
	offer training for all new trustees and a charity induction.

The charity’s organisational structure:

Ihezie Foundation is not affiliated to other charities and is an independent charity. In countries outside of the UK, we partner with local ministries of education and universities.

Relationships with any related parties:

Choice Textile Limited remains a committed donor to the charity. Conflicts of interest arising from any future changes to this relationship would be managed within the charity’s conflicts of interest policy. There is no material or financial benefit to Choice Textile relationship with Ihezie Foundation, which is purely philanthropic (therefore Ihezie Foundation benefits enormously from the relationship).

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Amrit Rana	Aloysius Ihezie
	Chair of Trustees	Founding Trustee
	31 January 2022
	31 January 2022

IHEZIE FOUNDATION
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562
33 BURNERS LANE
KILN FARM
MILTON KEYNES MKll 3HA

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR FROM
31ST MARCH 2021

GARCHA & CO CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS HEASLEIGH HOUSE 79A SOUTH ROAD SOUTHALL MIDDLESEX UBl lSQ TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

1

IHEZIE FOUNDATION

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562
FIANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2021

CONTENTS

Independent Examiner's report

Statement of financial  activities

PAGE
2
3

Balance sheet

4

Notes to the financial statements 5 - 8

2

IHEZIE FOUNDATION
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2021

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

IHEZIE FOUNDATION

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of
the above charity (the trust) for the year ended 31st March 2021

Responsibilitiesand basis of report

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the
preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirement
of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts
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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any
material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with
section 130 of the Charities Act: or

the accounts did not accord with the accounting records: or
the accounts did not comply with he 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 examiation to which attention should be
drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts
to be reached.

Mr. S.S. Garcha Garcha & Co Chartered Certified Accountants & Senior Statutory Auditor Heasleigh House 79a South Road Southall, Middlesex, UBl lSQ Date: 27/01/2022

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IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOMING RESOURCES NOTES RESTRICTED UNRESTRITED FUNDS FUNDS £ £ Donations 2 54,506 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 70,141 RESOURCES EXPENDED Direct expenditure 3 Fundraising and publicity 3 Management and administration 1,452 318 of the charity 3 30,652 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 32,422 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 37,719 Balance brought forward at 1 April 2020 BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 March 2021

TOTAL 2021 £ TOTAL 2020 £ 54,506 22,625 54,506 22,625 1,452 2,231 318 337 30,652 20,113 32,422 22,681 37,719 (56) (3,407) (3,351) 34,312 (3,407)

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. All gains
and losses recognised in the year are included above.

IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2021 CURRENT ASSETS 2021 Cash at bank 43,956 3,229 43,956 3,229 LIABILITIES: Amounts falling within one year due 6 9,644 6,636 NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 34,312 NET ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 34,312 FUNDS Unrestricted funds 7 34,312 Restricted funds 34,312	4 2020 (3,407) (3,407) (3,407) (3,407)

These accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on their
behalf by:

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CHAIRMAN
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DATED: 27/01/2022

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1.ACCOUNTING POLICIES

IHEZIE FOUNDATION
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2021

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act
2011, Charity SORP FRS102 . The accounts have been prepared under
the historicalcost basis.

Income

Income is included gross, without netting off any related expenditure.
Income is generally recognised when the charity becomes entitled to the
resources, when receipt is probable and when the monetary amount can be
measured with sufficent reliabilty. Specific policies relating to the
charity's particular income sources are as follows:

Donations are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA)
gross of any related tax reclaim.

Expediture

Liabilities are included once the charity is under a legal or
constructive obligation to transfer economic resoures.
Costs of charitable activities include those costs directly
attributable to activities undertaken in pursuit of the charity's
objects.
Other expenditure includes governance costs which include all costs
relating to complying with legal and regulatory requirments.

Funds structure

Unrestricted funds are those funds expendable at the discretion of the
Trustees in accordance with the charitable objects.

Restricted funds may only be utilised in accordance with the wishes of
the donor.

Taxation

As a registered charity, it is generally exempt from income tax and
capital gains tax on its charitable activities, but not from VAT.
Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it
relates.

Trustees' emoluments

None of the trustees have received any remuneration, expenses or
benefits from the charity.

Related party transactions

There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period
that require disclosure.

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IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

2. DONATIONS AND GIFTS

2021 Donations 54,506 54,506 ====;:;;;===	2020 22,625
	22,625 =======

3. RESOURCES EXPENDED

RESTRICTED UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FUNDS £ £ Direct charitable expenditure Educational expenses 426 Donations 196 Water rates and business tax Insurance Light and heat 830 Repairs and maintenance Printing and stationary Transport and travelling 1,452 Fundraising and publicity Advertising 318 318 Management and Administration of the Charity Wages 28,148 Pension Telephone and postage 432 Professional fees 1,500 Legal fees Bank charges and overdraft interest 572 30,652		TOTAL 2021 £ 426 196 830 1,452 318 318 28,148 432 1,500 572 30,652	TOTAL 2020 £ 54 532 1,366 89 30 160 2,231 337 337 18,181 265 452 1,140 75
			20,113

4. 5• 5.1 5.2 6.

IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021 OTHER OPERATING INCOME Jrs grant 2021 £ 15,635 7 2020 £ £15,635£ ======== ======== EMPLOYEE INFORMATION 2021 £ 2020 £ Staff costs: Wages and salaries Other pension costs 28,148 18,181 265 28,148 18,446 The average weekly number of employees during the year was made up as follows: Employees No. 2 2 No. 2 1 CREDITORS- AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2020 £ Trade creditors 1 Other taxes and social security costs 2,983 1,445 Other creditors 5,340 4,080 Accruals 1,320 1,111 9,644 6,636 ==::::::::::::;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;::;;:::;::::::::

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IHEZIE FOUNDATION
CHARITYREGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2021

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 2021 £ Balance as at 1st April 2020 (3,407) Unrestricted funds Incoming Resources 54,506 Resources Expended (32,422) Transfers: Fixed Asset At 31st March 2021 34,312

1. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Restricted funds

TOTAL FUNDS34,312