Chifundo UK
(a Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Trustees Report and
Financial Statements
for the period
1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Registered charity: 1160791
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Table of Contents
Report of the Trustees ........................................................................................................ 3 Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts .............................................................. 7 Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024 .......................... 8 Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2024 ................................................. 9 Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 ..................... 10
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Report of the Trustees
The trustees of Chifundo UK present their annual report and accounts for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 and confirm that they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, Chifundo UK’s constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and the charities SORP 2005. The trustees also confirm that section 4 (the public benefit requirement) of the Charities Act 2011 has been complied with.
Legal and administrative information
Name Chifundo UK Charity number 1160791 Charity address Hayes Farm Stonham Road Cotton Stowmarket IP14 4RQ
Trustees
Trustees serving during this period and their positions held were as follows:
Lynn Walton, Treasurer Jean Gorman, Secretary Susan Flynn Gloria Morrison Derrie Lizi Princy Johnson Gill Phillips (from November 2024)
Independent Examiner
David Lewis F.C.A.
Structure, governance and management
Governing Documents
Chifundo UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a Constitution, founded on 20 November 2014. Chifundo UK was entered on the Register of Charities of England and Wales on 9 March 2015. The financial statements comply with the current statutory requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Trustee Recruitment, Induction and Training
Trustees are encouraged to attend external training events and to read the relevant literature provided by the Charity Commission.
Organisation
The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may, for that purpose, exercise all the powers of the CIO. The membership of the CIO is its trustees.
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During 2024 the trustees met six times virtually via ZOOM.
Aims and Activities
The aims of the CIO are:
- Chifundo and Chanasa both mean Compassion which is the basis and motivation for what we do as a charity, both here in the UK and in Malawi. Chanasa is the sister charity in Malawi with which Chifundo UK works. Together we reach out to women who need support and empowerment through education and income generation so that they can fulfil their potential and make a difference for their families, communities and country. It is women mutually helping each other.
To further these aims, the activities for the year 2024 were:
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Funding the employment of a part time coordinator and a part time support worker in Malawi to support and organise the six sewing groups.
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Funding the rent of premises for each group in which to work.
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Buying and maintaining sewing equipment e.g. sewing machines.
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Funding women to attend tailoring training courses in Malawi.
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Supporting the making of Lotus Packs of reusable sanitary pads and bags for girls in government funded schools in Malawi alongside training in Menstrual Health to enable the girls to attend school regularly. Mothers’ groups at the schools are also trained to make pads to start small businesses.
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Raising awareness of the situation in Malawi and raising money through sales of products, appeals and by providing information on the work of Chanasa in Malawi.
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Selling ethical products made by Chanasa in Malawi through events in the UK and online.
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Selling ethical goods made by sewing group volunteers in the UK through events and online.
Achievements and Performance
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from 2024 include:
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Two fashion shows were held during Fairtrade Fortnight in September 2024, one at St Columbas’ in Chester and the other at Parkgate and Neston URC. They were both well attended and takings, including the sale of products, totally nearly £1,200.
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A Craft Fair in November 2024 at Hoole URC Chester went well although not as many people attended as in previous years. Almost £800 was taken.
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A visit to Malawi by our Founder Susan Flynn to meet with Chanasa Trustees and Staff, to help organise a celebration for Chanasa’s 10[th] Anniversary and to run 6 workshops on making brooches. Susan visited Chizombezi School (one of the original Lotus Project Schools) and ran workshops with boys and girls, staff and mothers on the Lotus Project. She managed to get the Education department to provide some buckets and bowls for the girls' toilets plus meeting with parents. Susan also visited retail outlets in Blantyre for orders and brought back Chanasa products for sale in the UK.
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A meeting of Women Making a Difference in Chester in June 2024 to hear about Susan’s visit to Malawi and to see the new products was an enjoyable afternoon.
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Other events: a Coffee Morning at St David’s in Mold in March 2024. Stalls at events run at Wesley in Chester by Chester Fair-Trading and at the Chester Green Fair.
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Supporting, in Malawi, the sewing of pads and bags plus collation of and distribution of Lotus Packs with menstrual health training for girls, boys, staff and mothers. The total now reached is 4,670 girls helped at 18 schools.
SUPPORT FOR CHANASA MALAWI
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Six Chanasa women’s groups meet in four different locations in Blantyre’s poor suburbs. All groups have good rented premises to use. A total of 52 women are involved together with a part time Coordinator and a part time Support Worker. The number of women has stayed the same as last year although some have left and others joined.
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Six women were funded to attend tailoring training courses in Malawi in 2024.
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Chanasa, in Malawi, celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary in April 2024. While Susan was in Malawi, Chifundo UK funded a celebration in Blantyre for all the women, trustees and invited guests. Refreshments were served, a cake cut as well as speeches and singing. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and the women’s groups appreciated the event.
LOTUS PROJECT
This has continued this year and in total 4,670 girls at 18 schools have received Lotus Packs and menstrual health management training together with training for boys, mothers and staff which is a great achievement. There are six schools in an Action Plan for 2025, two in each term. Thank you to all supporters, both trusts and individuals, who make this important work possible. The Lotus Bags which include the purchase of a Lotus pack for a girl in Malawi and the Gift Certificates continue to sell well.
ASF School in Lilongwe requested that Chanasa return to train 58 schoolgirls in their final year how to make reusable sanitary pads. This was completed and in addition Chifundo UK funded two of the group leaders to travel to Lilongwe (a 4 hour coach journey away) for 3 days to train another group of 13 women to make Lotus pads, tote bags and children’s aprons.
SEWING GROUP
The UK sewing group members continue to make products for sale in the UK and worked particularly hard on embellished clothing for the fashion shows.
WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Women Making a Difference have been updated via email, a Whatsapp group and meeting up while running stalls and events together with a meeting with illustrated talk by Susan Flynn following her visit to Malawi in Spring 2024.
FUNDRAISING AND SALES IN THE UK
Chifundo UK continues to be a member of BAFTS (The British Association of Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers). Internet sales were very low but sales at the events listed above were good.
Financial review
Overview
Total income for this period was £16,458 (£14,640 in 2023). £5,659 (£5,695 in 2023) was raised for
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the Lotus Project including a grant of £5,000 from the Farthing Trust. £3,775 was received from Oak Vale URC Church in Liverpool to purchase industrial sewing machines for the women’s groups.
Total expenditure for the period was £11,503 (£15,249 in 2023). £2,228 of this was for the Lotus Project. There remains in the UK £5,845 of restricted funding for the Lotus Project.
The 52 women working for Chanasa in Malawi were each given a 45,000 Malawi Kwacha bonus at Christmas. The amount was raised considerably from 2023 due to high inflation in Malawi and devaluation of the Malawi currency.
Reserves Policy
Chifundo UK will hold reserves of at least £1,000 to act as a cushion against any shortfall in revenue and in order to continue to fulfil its charitable purposes.
Restricted Funds
Charities have an obligation to account to donors of funds and the public in general that they are using monies entrusted to then for the purpose for which they are given. Chifundo UK received in 2024 new restricted funds as detailed in Note 1 on page 10 below where the donor required that the money is spent on a particular purpose.
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Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts
I report on the accounts of the company for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024which are set out on pages 8 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that disclosed below)
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
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have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
aae , . Signed: Date: as ee 6eee
Name: David Lewis
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): F.C.A.
Address: 39 Earlsway, Chester, CH4 8AY, United Kingdom.
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Chifundo UK
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Incoming Resources Voluntary Income Donations with Gift Aid Donations without Gift Aid Lotus Project Donations with Gift Aid 1 Lotus Project Donations without Gift Aid 1 Cyclone Appeal with Gift Aid Cylone Appeal without Gift Aid Industrial Sewing Machines Small Donations with Gift Aid Income Tax recovered 2 Activities for Generating Funds Sales of Chanasa Products at Events Sales of Lotus Flower Bags/Certificates Sales of Chanasa Products to Shops Sales of Chifundo Products Internet Sales Craft Fair not including Product Sales Postage charged Other Fundraising Other Income Interest Total Income Resources Expended Cost of Generating Funds Chanasa Products Raw materials Table Fees Postage Equipment to send to Malawi Course Fees in Malawi Beehive Tailoring School Grants to Chanasa Equipment Grants Staff Salaries, Rent and Administration Other grants Cyclone Appeal Grants to Cyclone Appeal Equipment Industrial Sewing Machines Lotus Project Costs Lotus Project 1 Administration Website Monthly bank account fees Other Admin costs Cost of overseas payments Total Resources Expended Net incoming / (outgoing) resources Reconciliation of Funds Opening balance CAF account at 1 January 2024 Opening balance CAF Gold Savings Account at 1 January 2024 3 Opening balance PayPal account at 1 January 2024 Net incoming / (outgoing) resources Closing balance CAF Bank account at 31 December 2024 Closing balance CAF Gold Savings Account at 31 December 2024 Closing balance PayPal Account at 31 December 2024 |
2024 2024 Unrestricted Restricted 2,105 £ 2,254 £ - £ 5,310 £ - £ - £ 3,775 £ 145 £ 74 £ 775 £ 271 £ 275 £ 296 £ 30 £ 334 £ 600 £ 214 £ 300 £ 50 £ 20 £ 7 £ 2,610 £ 2,111 £ 3,775 £ 2,228 £ 139 £ 60 £ 153 £ 50 £ |
13,663 £ 2,581 £ 214 £ 16,458 £ 377 £ - £ 4,721 £ - £ 6,003 £ 402 £ 11,503 £ 4,955 £ 12,055 £ - £ 46 £ 4,955 £ 17,056 £ 1,860 £ 15,196 £ - £ 17,056 £ |
2023 2023 Unrestricted Restricted 1,730 £ 1,649 £ - £ 5,264 £ 513 £ 1,914 £ - £ 40 £ 18 £ 469 £ 132 £ 878 £ 262 £ 410 £ 73 £ 348 £ 103 £ 468 £ 3 £ 340 £ 26 £ 930 £ 38 £ 11 £ 200 £ 2,168 £ 1,754 £ 34 £ 2,554 £ 7,213 £ 139 £ 60 £ 48 £ 75 £ 25 £ |
11,729 £ 2,885 £ 26 £ 14,640 £ 979 £ 200 £ 3,922 £ 2,588 £ 7,213 £ 347 £ 15,249 £ 609 -£ 12,595 £ 115 £ 609 -£ 12,101 £ 12,055 £ 46 £ 12,101 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2024
| Notes Assets Current Assets Cash at CAF Bank Cash in CAF Gold Savings Account Cash at PayPal Creditors Amounts falling due within a year Liabilities All liabilities Net Assets Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds - Lotus Project Total Funds |
2024 1,860 £ 15,196 £ - £ - £ |
17,056 £ |
2023 12,055 £ 46 £ - £ |
12,101 £ - £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - £ |
- £ |
|||
| 11,211 £ 5,845 £ |
9,687 £ 2,414 £ |
|||
| 17,056 £ |
12,101 £ |
|||
| 17,056 £ |
12,101 £ |
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
Note 1
These Restricted Funds are for the Lotus Project
| Lotus Project Balance from 2023 Incoming Resources Donations with Gift Aid Donations without Gift Aid excluding Farthing Trust Farthing Trust Money from Lotus Flower Bags & Certificates Income tax recovered Outgoing Resources Grants to Lotus Project in Malawi Items purchased in UK for Lotus Project Shipping Costs Cost of overseas payments Net incoming / (outgoing) resources Balance carried forward |
2,414 £ - £ 384 £ 5,000 £ 275 £ - £ 192 £ 2,036 £ - £ - £ |
2,414 £ 5,659 £ 2,228 £ 3,431 £ 5,845 £ |
|---|---|---|
Note 2
Gift Aid claims for 2024 will be in the 2025 accounts
Note 3
CAF Gold savings account was opened in July 2024
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These accounts have been prepared using the Receipts and Payments method. As the gross income is below £25,000 there is no requirement from the Charity Commission to have the accounts independently examined or audited. However, the trustees have chosen to have the accounts independently examined.
Lynn Walton Treasurer Chifundo UK
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