Blossom Africa
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for Year End 31[st] March 2025
Registered charity name and number: Blossom Africa – 1161993 Principal address: 1 Station Approach, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1NJ
Blossom Africa Trustees (as of 31[st ] March 2025)
Aimee Parker (Chair) Yvonne Forsey (Treasurer) Clare Sage
Structure, governance and management
Blossom Africa is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), governed by a CIO constitution adopted on 10[th] January 2015 and registered at the charity commission on 3[rd] June 2015.
The charity is managed directly by its Board of Trustees, who make all decisions relating to the charity. The Board consists of four trustees as of 31[st] March 2023. The constitution states a minimum of three trustees and a maximum of 12 trustees.
Trustees are appointed following a formal recruitment process, including completion of an application form and undertaking an interview. The Board of Trustees agrees all new appointments and new trustees are formally appointed at the next Board meeting. All trustees are given a copy of the Constitution, the Trustee Handbook and Business Plan when they commence their role.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees of Blossom Africa confirm that they have complied with their duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have regard for the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the charity in the period up to and including 31[st] March 2023.
Objectives and activities
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To support communities in Uganda to adapt to climate change
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To understand the specific needs of communities in Uganda through community engagement and consultation
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To source and deliver training programmes specific to the needs of the community
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To support the communities to initiate and own a range of sustainable projects, which have wider community benefit and have been developed and implemented by the community themselves
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To develop a network of individuals and groups who share learning and support each other in their development
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To thoroughly monitor and evaluate Blossom Africa’s work and use the knowledge gained to influence the process of developing future projects and a sustainable funding base in the UK.
Overview of activities in 2024/2025
The community in Bunambutye continue to engage with the various Blossom Africa Programmes and work hard to ensure they continue and succeed. This is in the face of extreme weather which has made life challenging for the community. This year they have faced severe drought and flooding which has had a big impact on livelihoods and access to food.
Despite this, they have continued to save money and take loans and the 10 savings and loans groups continue to flourish.
This year we continued to develop our programme of vocational training in the community. The group of women who were trained in tailoring have continued to develop and sustain the project themselves. They have trained up more women in the community and fund the purchasing of materials and room rental through the sale of tailored goods..
The carpentry project is also ongoing and the group of carpenters now make and sell a range of products including beds, chairs, drawers etc.
This year we also supported a motorbike mechanics training which has trained young men and women in the community. This is another vocational skill which the young people can use to generate an income and support their families.
All groups continue to have access to the Bunambutye tree nursery which was developed in partnership with the Mbale Tree Planting Project. Through this
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project 120,000 trees are distributed annually in the community. These trees provide food, fodder, shade and firewood for the community
The goat project is still continuing with the first born kid of each goat given to another group member. This project therefore benefits the wider community and creates sustainability within the project.
We continue to receive monthly donations of over £200 from our regular supporters, which broadly covers our core project costs. We have a loyal supporter base, many of whom have supported Blossom Africa for many years. We are very grateful to these individuals who enable us to always pay our team in Uganda and support the community as needed.
Financial Statement – Year End 31[st] March 2025
Start of year balance £ 5537.09 INCOME Regular donations £3105 Fundraising activities £405 Gift Aid £1518.72 Total £5028,72
EXPENDITURE Website hosting £110.24 Project work in Uganda £7200.14 Total £7310.38 End of year balance £3255.43
Reserves Policy
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Blossom Africa will endeavour to maintain reserves of at least six months’ running costs.
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