# **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022** ## **Charity name: Ihezie Foundation** Charity registration number: 1160562 **Reference and Administrative details** **Charity name** Ihezie Foundation **Other name the charity uses** **Registered charity number** Ihezie Foundation-Book Relief 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 **Independent** Garcha & Co **Examiner** 79A South Road Southall UB1 1SQ **Bank** Barclays Bank, Wembley & Park Royal 2 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **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** The Ihezie Foundation would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the 15 dedicated volunteers who generously donated their time each week to assist with sorting and distributing books for donation. Many of our volunteers are recovering from life-altering injuries, such as acquired brain injury, and have been referred to us through our ongoing partnership with the Occupational Therapy team at Buckinghamshire NHS Health Trust. Through their work with us in a supportive environment, guided by their occupational therapists, we are able to assist them in their rehabilitation journey. 3 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **Achievements and Performance** **Below is a summary of the Foundations’ achievements. The Foundation’s work has had a significant impact on the lives of its beneficiaries, as well as wide-ranging benefits for society as a whole.** ## **Our work in the UK** In the wake of the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, the Ihezie Foundation stepped up to support a growing number of London schools that were struggling to catch up with students who had been away from school for nearly two years. With many students falling behind in their literacy progress, our book donations became even more crucial. To kick off this fiscal year, the Ihezie Foundation embarked on a major project in partnership with the Heathrow Airport Community Trust. On April 23rd, 2021, Heathrow Airport generously sponsored the donation and distribution of 10,000 children's reading books to five partner schools located near the airport: 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 2021, 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. In November and December 2021, Ihezie Foundation donated 8,000 books to schools in Buckinghamshire. The recipient schools were: 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 February 2022, Ihezie Foundation entered into a partnership with The Children’s Book Project in Chelsea, London. We donated 6,000 children’s books to be distributed to low income families within the M25 area. In addition, Ihezie Foundation supported The Children’s Book Project’s work in correctional facilities with a further donation of 5,400 children’s books. The books were received at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottingham which had 70 prisoners signed up to and they each chose books to send to their families – this was viewed by Serco (who run the prisons) as a very important part of maintaining contact with the children and helping to build family relationships. The Children’s Book Project said “We are so grateful to Ihezie Foundation for their wonderful donation of books which will be replenishing our great Book Huts at Primary Schools across London both this term and next. Book donations are our lifeblood and without such great support, we would struggle to fulfil the amazing demand we have for books to gift to children who would otherwise have none – hence creating readers of the future.” Following this, Ihezie Foundation donated 6,000 children’s books to three primary schools in Nottingham. Brocklewood Primary School, Ambleside Primary School and Rosslyn Park Primary and Nursery School, with each school receiving 2,000 books for their libraries. 4 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **Achievements and Performance continued** Ihezie Foundation regularly gets inundated with requests from UK schools for book donations, and following numerous requests from schools in Ealing, North London and Tower Hamlet, Ihezie Foundation donated a total of 16,000 books to support reading initiatives in the Capital. In Ealing, book donations were received by Grange Primary School, Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School, Oaklands Primary School. While in North London; Leopold Primary School, Mitchell Brook Primary School and The Stonebridge Primary School, received 2,000 books each. This was followed by a donation of 4,000 books to St. Johns Primary School in Tower Hamlet. **In total Ihezie Foundation donated 65,600 books to UK primary schools and UK literacy charities, enabling thousands of children to enjoy reading books in their own schools, at home with their families and helping to bridge the gap in their learning due to the extended period of school closures over the past few years.** ## **Our work in Africa** Since its inception, the Ihezie Foundation has donated over 1.5 million books to schools in the UK and Africa. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time Ihezie Foundation was unable to ship book donations overseas, we were able to make a large donation of 80,000 textbooks to the Obioma Central School Education Foundation (OCSEF) based in Enugu, Nigeria. OCSEF was founded in 2021 by Prince Ike Chioke, a local philanthropist and Group Managing Director of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, with the goal of making a meaningful and impactful intervention in the education sector in Obioma town and Enugu State. We are thrilled to have partnered with Prince Ike Chioke and OCSEF to make this donation possible, and we are delighted to support the continued education and advancement of students through this book donation. Central School Obioma is the primary beneficiary of the books. However, through OCSEF, many other surrounding primary, secondary, and tertiary schools, in Enugu State and across Nigeria will also benefit from educational books for their libraries. On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Ihezie Foundation, we would like to thank Prince Ike Chioke for this crucial partnership to positively impact hundreds of thousands of students with an amazing gift of educational books. 5 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **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. With our services needed more than ever before, we will continue our focus on donating reading books to UK primary schools and textbook shipments to schools, libraries and tertiary centres in Africa. ## **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. ## **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. 6 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **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 incidents 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). When a safeguarding incident occurs within the UK, the Ihezie Foundation is responsible for investigating and addressing the matter. However, we acknowledge that, as some of our work is conducted abroad, we may receive safeguarding reports from other countries. In such cases, the lead safeguarding officer at the Ihezie Foundation will be responsible for reporting on local issues and conducting investigations to ensure that they are handled appropriately, and that any lessons learned are fully implemented. For serious and substantiated cases, the local law enforcement agencies and other NGOs will be notified. 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 zero-tolerance 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. 7 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 ## **Chief Executives’ Report** This year we have continued to deliver on our charity’s mission despite tough economic conditions with the cost of living crisis. We have particularly focussed our efforts on supporting UK children and schools, so we can play our role in helping children to recover from years of school closures. The gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has widened greatly and represents years of lost education. We forget that it was almost two years during which time many children did not have a ‘normal education’. And further to that, many more children did not have the luxury of being home educated during lockdowns, either because of their parent’s wellbeing, work situations, or access to resources. This past year, our key emphasis has been to donate and distribute 65,600 children’s literacy and reading books to UK primary schools to help them as they bridge the gaps in learning following school closures. We have also restarted our programme of shipping textbooks to schools, libraries and tertiary centres in Africa with a huge donation and shipment of 80,000 textbooks which were provided to Obioma Central School Education Foundation and the surrounding schools in Enugu State, Nigeria. 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. Despite the challenges we faced, which many other charities and organisations also faced with the cost of living crisis, we were able to donate a total of 145,600 books to schools in the UK and Africa. 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 and in turn, creates lifelong learners. Reading offers some normalcy in this uncertain world; an intellectual escape from the challenges around us, and an opportunity for children to discover their love of learning, 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. **Michael Bloedorn** Chief Executive 8 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 **Structure, Governance and Management** |**Type of governing document**|**Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation**| |---|---| |**UK Charity Number**|**1160562**| |**Trustee selection methods and**|The Board of Trustees is entitled to nominate any additional| |**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)** Amrit Rana Aloysius Ihezie **Position** Chair of Trustees Founding Trustee **Date** 30 .01.2023 30 .01.2023 9 Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTPJ¥TION NUMBER 1160562 3 3 BURNERS LANE KILN FARbl MILTON KEYNES HKII 3HA ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR FROM 31ST MARCH 2022 GARCHA & CO CHARTERED CER TIFIED ACCOUNTIINTS HEASLEIGH HOUSE 79A SOUTH ROAD SOUTHALL MIDDLESEX UBI ISQ TEL: 020 8843 1816 9010 FAX: 020 8813 8249 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTPATION NUMBER 1160562 FIANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 CONTENTS PAGE Independent Exarniner, s report statement of f inancial activites Balance Sheet Notes to the flnanclal 8tatements IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTFJ¥TION NUMBER 1160562 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YF.AR F.NnF,rJ 31ST MARCH 2022 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF IHEZIE FOUNDATION report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity Ithe trust) for the year ended 31st March 2022 Res onsibilities and basis 0£ re ort As the charlty, s trustees, you are responsible f or Lhe preparation ot the accounts in accordance with the requirement of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Act) report in respect ot my examination of the Trust, s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out Tny examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions glven by the Charity CoM￿lSsion under section 145151 Ibl of the Act. Inde endent examiner, s statement have cotnpleted my examination. I conf irm that no material matters have come to my atLentlon in connection wlth the exarftlnation which g&ve8 me cause to believe that in, any rnaterial respect: the accounting record8 were not kept accordance with Section 130 of the Charlties Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with he applicable requLrement8 concerning the forrA and content of accounts set out the Charities l Accounts and Report81 Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the account8 glve a true and fair vlew which Is not a matter considered as part of an independent exam&natlon. I have no concerns and have come across no other connection with the examiation to which attention drawn in order to enable a proper understandlng of the to be reached. matters should be accounts Mr. S.S. Garcha Garcha & Co Chartered Certif led Accountants & Senior Statutory Auditor Heasleigh House 79a South Road Southall, Middlesex UBI ISQ Date: 30/01 2023 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTR￿TIoN IILIMBER 1160562 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 DTOTES TOTAL TOTAL RESTRICTED UNRESTRITED FUNDS FUNDS 2022 2021 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOMING RESOURCRS Donations Other income 50,781 5,880 50,781 5,880 54,506 15,635 JRS TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 56,661 56,661 70,141 RESOURCES EXPENDED Dlrect expenditure Fundralslng and publicity Management and administration 0£ the charity 2,310 858 2,310 858 1,026 318 15,592 15,592 31,078 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 18,760 18,760 32,422 NET INCOMING I OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 37,901 37,901 37,719 Balance brought forward at l April 2021 34,313 13 4U71 BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 March 2022 72,214 34,312 All of the above results are derived from continuing actlvities. All gain8 and losses recognised in the year are included above. IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTPATION NUMBER 1160S62 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2022 2022 2021 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank 75,089 43,956 75,089 43,956 LIABILITIES: Amounts £alling due within one year 2,875 9,644 NET CURRENT ASSETS 72,214 34,312 NET ASSETS 72,214 34,312 FUDIDS Unrestricted fund8 Restrlcted funds 72,214 34,312 72,214 34,312 These account8 were approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on thelr behalf by CHAIRMAN DATED: 30 oi 2023 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTFATION NUMBER 1160562 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 ACCOUNTING FOLICIES These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, Charity SORP FRS102 The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost basis. Income Income Is Included gross, wlthout netting o£f any related expenditure. IncoTne is generally recognised when the charity become8 entitled to the resources, when receipt is probable and when the monetary amount can be measured with sufflcent reliabilty. speci£ic policie8 relating to the charity's particular income sources are as follows: Donations are included in the Statement of Financial ActLVltie8 ISOFAI gross of any related tax reclaim. editure Liabllltles are included once the charity is under a legal or constructive obligatlon to transf er economic resoures . Costs 0£ charitable activities Include those costs directly attributable to actlvlties undertaken In pursult of the charity, 8 objects, other expendlture includes governance costs which include all c03t3 relating to complying with legal and regulatory requirnents. Funds structure Unrestricted funds are those funds expendable at the dlscretion 0£ the Trustees in accordance with the charitable object8. Restricted £und8 may only be utilised in accordance with the wlshes 0£ the donor. Taxatlon As a registered charity, it is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax on its charitable activities, but not £rom VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included the cost 0£ those items to which it relates. Tru8tees' emoluments None of the trustees have received any remuneration, expenses ot benefits from the charity. Related art transactions There have been no related party transactions in Lhe reporting period that require disclosure. IHEZIE FOUIqDATION CILARITY REGISTPATION NUDqL4h'R 116 05 6 2 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 DONATIONS Ab]D GIFTS 2022 2021 Donations 50,781 54,506 50,781 54,506 RESOURCES EXPENDED RESTRICTED UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FtnNIDS TOTA 2022 TOTAL 2021 Dlrect charitable ex Donations Water rates and buslness tax Insurance Light and heat Repairs and malntenance Printing and stationary Transport and travelling endlture 159 159 196 2,151 2,151 830 2,310 2,310 1,026 FundraLsin Advertlsing and ublicit 858 858 318 858 858 318 Mana ement and Administration of the Charit Wages Pension Telephone and postage Prof essional £ees Legal fees Bank charges and overdra£t interest 13,631 156 446 1,260 13,631 156 446 1,260 28,148 426 432 1,500 99 99 572 15,592 15,592 31,078 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTPATION NUMBER 1160562 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 OTHER INCOME 2022 2021 Jrs grant 5,880 15,635 5,880 £ 15,635 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION 2022 2021 SLa££ costs: Wages and salarles other pension costs 13,631 156 28,148 426 13,787 28,574 The average weekly number of employees durlng the year wa8 made up as follows: No. No. Employees CREDITORS AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2022 2021 Trade credltors other Laxe8 and social securlty costs other creditors Accrual8 354 2,983 5,340 1,320 2,520 2,875 9,644 IHEZIE FOUNDATION CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1160562 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022 MOVEMENT ITrJ FUNDS 2022 Balance as at 1st April 2021 Unrestricted tunds Incoming Resources Resources Expended 34,313 50,781 118,7601 At 31st March 2022 72,214 Restricted fund8 TOTAL FUNDS 72,214