**Trustees’ Report and Accounts** for the year ending 31 December 2020
Registered Charity No. 1162178
## **Introduction to a little bit of HOPE**
## _a little bit of HOPE_ ’s vision is to **nurture hope in the Butaleja District of Uganda by enabling people to overcome the hurdles that prevent them reaching their full potential.**
The objects of a little bit of HOPE are, for the public benefit:
- To provide grants to charities, other organisations and individuals in the Butaleja district of Uganda in fulfilment of the following charitable purposes:
- the advancement of education;
- the advancement of health and/or saving of lives; and
- the relief and/or prevention of poverty; and
- The advancement of education in the United Kingdom in particular as regard issues concerning the relief and/or prevention of poverty.
Money raised by _a little bit of HOPE_ in the UK was given to _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ , a registered NonGovernmental Organisation in Uganda, registration number 10219, to fund a wide range of grassroots development programmes in line with the objects of _a little bit of HOPE_ . Our key activities are to raise awareness and funds, and to ensure that money raised is spent effectively.
Our programmes are divided into four main areas:
- **Education:** including school farms, community library, reusable sanitary towels, and scholarships.
- **Health, water and sanitation:** including health education programmes, pit latrine and smokeless stove construction, and borehole fixing.
- **Business and innovation:** including apprenticeships, training, and saving and small loan schemes.
- **Vulnerable households:** including the support of vulnerable children, and working with widows.
In 2020, responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown was a key focus within each of these programme areas.
Our work is guide by a number of ‘approach statements’. They are:
- We focus our resources on the poorest of the poor
- We endeavour to promote sustainability, not dependency
- We only fund projects initiated and led by local people
- We take monitoring and evaluation seriously
- We account for every penny we spend
- We support people of all faiths, because our work is founded on Christian principles.
We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
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## **Highlights from 2020**
At the beginning of 2020, there were detailed plans for the year ahead. COVID-19 changed most of them! In 2020, the people of Butaleja were largely spared from the ravishes of the virus itself, however, the impact of lockdown were significant. However, what was evident through was resilience and innovation. Although our priorities shifted many of our core programmes continued - some like borehole fixing becoming more urgent than ever, others like the making of reusable sanitary pads saw were adapted so they continued to have impact.
## **Our COVID 19 Response**
Working closely with the District’s COVID-19 Taskforce, _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ , were at the heart of responding to the pandemic. This was made possible by our supporters in the UK donating £15,304 as part of our emergency appeal.
## **Prevent**
- Part of the taskforce’s education campaign which aims to inform people about COVID-19 and reduce the likelihood of it spreading. This reached approximately 180,500 people. Later, a similar campaign focused on educating the community about gender-based violence and violence against children – both of which rose dramatically as a result of lockdown. This effort reached 240,000 people.
- We stepped up our programme of fixing boreholes, repairing 16 boreholes during the year. This enabled 13,300 people to have easier access to safe water – essential for washing hands.
## **Prepare**
- We helped Busolwe Hosptial to prepare for an outbreak. We enabled them to establish a 10-bed isolation ward. We also supplied them Personal Protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, and an infrared thermometer.
## **Provide**
- With so many people relying on daily income to buy daily food, lockdown provided a serious challenge. We provided 2,240 households with food parcels, benefiting 11,700 people.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Repairing a borehole
Equipping an isolation ward
Delivering food parcels
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Education – a RUMPs production centre**
One of our headline projects is our RUMPs programme. We educate girls – in school, and women in the community, how to make ‘Reusable Menstrual Pads’. Too many girls miss school for several days each month, and as they get further behind, dropping out completely becomes more likely. With schools closed, we couldn’t run this programme in our usual way – but our team in Uganda recognised that RUMPs were more essential than ever – as sanitary products were increasingly hard to access.
Therefore, as restrictions began to ease, we created a ‘RUMPs Production Centre’ at the Busolwe Community Library!
We painted one of the spare rooms, connected electricity, provided furniture – including storage for materials and the finished pads, and purchased four sewing machines. By the end of the year, 1,537 pads have been made at the Centre and distributed to girls and women in the community. When the pads are given out, training is also provided, and where possible, we conduct follow up visits to ensure that pads are being used correctly, and provide further instruction were necessary.
Running the centre, is a volunteer named Geoffrey. He was part of our scholarship programme and studied tailoring at college. He’s using this an opportunity to improve his own skills in using a sewing machine and is
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enjoying training others to make RUMPs. It was surprising that a man volunteered for this task – but when asked about it, he explained that he was happy to make anything which enabled him to practise his tailoring skills. We are hoping that he is setting an example in the community and will make other men more comfortable with the subject of menstruation!
The centre serves as a central place for women and young people to learn how to make the pads, which is particularly important while schools are closed and woman can’t meet in larger groups. With more free time, many girls from local schools have been coming to the centre to use the sewing machines to make pads for their own use, and also to sell on at affordable prices to friends.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Geoffrey working
at the RUMPs
production centre
Repairing a borehole
**----- End of picture text -----**
During lockdown, there has been a significant increase in teenage pregnancies – the _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ team have been involved in a number of initiatives to provide education, and safety, to young girls. One of these initiatives is a ‘youth corner’ – a youth club style activity based at the local library. This has also increased the number of girls learning how to make RUMPs.
## **Health, water and sanitation – Focusing on four villages**
While giving so much of our attention to the health emergency facing the entire world and being part of the District-wide education efforts, we continued our commitment to the villages of Suni, Namadumwe, Madungha and Nabala B to work with the community to promote good hygiene and sanitation – with the aim of reducing the outbreak of disease. In the four villages, households with access to a latrine rose from 34.6% to 56%.
Fazira Mutambuli says, “I am a m _other of four children [and] also a member of the village health team in this village, overtime I have been hearing that [a] little bit of hope is implementing a sanitation program in Namahoho our neighboring village I have been admiring such a program to be implemented in my village to improve on the sanitation standard but am so happy that such a program will be in my village this year”_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Education sessions seek to
engage the whole community.
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Business and innovation – Apprenticeships**
The 2020 cohort were unable to be enrolled at the beginning of the year, but towards the end of the year, 20 young women did begin our apprenticeship programmes – either learning tailoring or hairdressing. This is Joseline’s story: _’I got pregnant in 2018 at the age of 18 years in primary Five (P.5) then dropped out of school and now am 21 years old, am staying with my mother because the boda boda man (motorcycle-taxi driver) that made me pregnant ran off! I have had many challenges in raising up my baby because I had no source of income but when such an opportunity by a little bit of HOPE came that could enable me learn a skill that would later earn me some money I was more than ready to take it up. Am already having some critical techniques in hair dressing through being attached to an experienced hair dressing trainer and I bright new future ahead’’_
## **Vulnerable households – enabling farming to generate income**
Much of our work with vulnerable women groups is to enable them to generate income through small scale farming efforts. We provide education, along with essential inputs (such as seeds, tools, chickens and goats). This is Maria’s story, _“I am so grateful for the support from a little bit of HOPE for the harvests from rice that I received. I planted 5kg of rice and I applied all the knowledge the staff of a little bit of HOPE advised me to do and to my surprise I harvested 300kg which I am sure I am going to see part of it to buy iron sheets to complete my house which has been pending since last year. I am equally thankful for the knowledge and skills I have received from the staff in savings, crafts and farming that has made me stand on my own now as a widow without begging, I as well sell vegetables, crafts and this partly increased my shares in my savings group and I bought a bull at 600,000UGX. I am happy for having mentored and nurtured by a little bit of HOPE’’_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Maria with her rice harvest.
**----- End of picture text -----**
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## **Reference and administrative details**
**Registered Charity (England and Wales) No.** 1162178 **Registered Office:** 100 Mile End Lane Stockport SK2 6BP **Trustees:** Malcolm Bebb David Elton (Treasurer) Isobel Elton Hannah Green (appointed 17/05/21) Phil Green (Chair) Rachel Mortimer (resigned 22/02/20) Eliza Reger (appointed 08/10/20) Amy Smyth Amy Spooner (resigned 08/10/20) **Bankers:** The Co-operative Bank P.O. Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP **Independent Examiners:** Stewardship 1 Lamb’s Passage London EC1Y 8AB
## **Structure, governance and management**
_a little bit of HOPE_ was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 12th June 2015*. Trustees are appointed by existing trustees. The day-to-day activities – for example, communications, fundraising, and administration are shared between the trustees. In 2020, our volunteer – who was managed by the trustees - retired. During 2020 our fundraising – from charitable trusts – was enhanced by the services of a fundraising consultant (we had received specific funding to pay for this).
One of the trustee's main responsibilities is to monitor how monies we grant to _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ is spent. The treasurer receives detailed monthly finance updates, the chair of trustees talks regularly both the director and chairperson of _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ , trustees each have one or two projects that they specifically oversee – including receiving quarterly reports. Phil Green visited in January 2020 – to see the impact of the projects first-hand, however since then no visit have been possible as a result of COVID-19.
* Previously _a little bit of HOPE_ was a registered trust (1147623) – following the transfer of assets, the trust has been closed and removed from the Charity Commission’s register of charities.
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## **Financial Review**
## **Reserves policy**
Our current policy is to retain a minimum of £4,000 in unrestricted reserves at all times. However, during 2018, in order to ensure _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ had sufficient cash to undertake its activities during the transfer process from the current charitable trust (Registered charity number 1147623) to this charity (Registered charity number 1162178), our reserves were drawn upon. With the transfer process completed in 2019, we successfully rebuilt this during the year. The charity ended 2020 with a cash balance of £17,680, of this £9,033 was restricted, leaving £4,647 in unrestricted free reserves and thus £4,000 of this designated as reserves.
## **Income**
Our total income in 2020 was £61,168. Income from individuals (including gift aid) and churches accounted was £55,396 while the remaining £5,772 was received from charitable trusts.
## **Expenditure**
97.6% of our expenditure went to fund the work of _a little bit of HOPE (Uganda)_ . This calculation excludes that expenditure restricted for fundraising - as a result of income we received in 2017 specifically to enable fundraising from trusts and foundations.
## **End of year balance**
Our total end of year cash balance was £17,680 (2019: £18,638).
## **Independent examination**
As our total charitable income exceeded the threshold of £25,000, our accounts are subject to an independent examination.
## **Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signatures DAVID ELTON PHILIP GREEN Full names David Elton Philip Green Position Trustee – treasurer Trustee – chairperson Date 22/09/2021 22/09/2021
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## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of _a little bit of HOPE_ ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2020 on pages 7 to 9 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- 2) the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
JAIMÉE YOUNG
Jaimée Young
For an on behalf of:
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: 13/10/2021
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## **Detailed summary of accounts**
## **Money brought forward from previous years**
|**Money brought forward from previous years**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2020**
**£**|**2019**
**£**|
|Reserves||4,000|-|
|Restricted funds||11,188|13,620|
|General funds||3,450|2,827|
|Total||**18,638**|**16,447**|
## **Income**
|**Income**||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2020**|||||**2019**|||
|||General
£|Restricted
£|**Total**
**£**|||General
£|Restricted
£|**Total**
**£**|
|Regular giving||21,310|7,052|**28,362**|||17,703|7,002|**24,705**|
|Single donations||7,924|16,441|**24,365**|||14,136|2,137|**16,272**|
|Trusts||-|5,772|**5,772**|||-|3,900|**3,900**|
|Gift aid||1,995|673|**2,668**|||4,308|48|**4,356**|
|**Total**||**31,230**|**29,938**|**61,168**|||**36,147**|**13,087**|**49,234**|
## **Expenditure**
|||**2020**|**2020**|**2020**|||**2019**|**2019**|**2019**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
£|Restricted
£|**Total**
**£**|||General
£|Restricted
£|**Total**
**£**|
|Grants given to a
little bit of HOPE
(Uganda)||28,617|28,814|**57,431**|||24,421|15,519|**39,939**|
|Professional fees||1,417|-|**1,417**|||688|-|**688**|
|Bank charges||-|-|**-**|||176|-|**176**|
|Fundraiser||-|3,279|**3,279**|||-|6,240|**6,240**|
|**Total**||**30,034**|**32,093**|**62,127**|||**25,284**|**21,759**|**47,042**|
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## **Summary of restricted funds**
|Covid-19 appeal
Education (general)
Education (school farms)
Education (RUMPs)
Health (general)
Vulnerable Households (general)
Vulnerable Households (OVCs)
Fundraiser
**Total**||**Brought**
**forward**
**£**|**Income**
**£**|**Allocated**
**expenditure**
**£**|**Carried**
**forward**
**£**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||-|15,304|(15,304)|-||
|||-|540|(540)|-||
|||-|5,720|(5,720)|-||
|||3,608|5,802|(4,678)|4,733||
|||-|210|(210)|-||
|||-|1,762|(1,762)|-||
|||-|600|(600)|-||
|||7,579|-|(3,279)|4,300||
|||**11,188**|**29,938**|**(32,093)**|**9,033**||
||**Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
**2020**
**£**
**2019**
**£**
**Cash funds**
Reserves
4,000
4,000
Restricted funds
9,033
11,188
General funds
4,647
3,450
**Total**
**17,680**
**18,638**
**Other monetary assets:**
Gift aid: unclaimed
856
497
**Total**
**856**
**497**
**Liabilities:**
Fee due for Independent examination
(540)
(540)
Fee due for fundraising support in December 2019
-
(720)
**Total**
**(540)**
**(1,260)**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
**2020**
**£**
**2019**
**£**
**Cash funds**
Reserves
4,000
4,000
Restricted funds
9,033
11,188
General funds
4,647
3,450
**Total**
**17,680**
**18,638**
**Other monetary assets:**
Gift aid: unclaimed
856
497
**Total**
**856**
**497**
**Liabilities:**
Fee due for Independent examination
(540)
(540)
Fee due for fundraising support in December 2019
-
(720)
**Total**
**(540)**
**(1,260)**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
**2020**
**£**
**2019**
**£**
**Cash funds**
Reserves
4,000
4,000
Restricted funds
9,033
11,188
General funds
4,647
3,450
**Total**
**17,680**
**18,638**
**Other monetary assets:**
Gift aid: unclaimed
856
497
**Total**
**856**
**497**
**Liabilities:**
Fee due for Independent examination
(540)
(540)
Fee due for fundraising support in December 2019
-
(720)
**Total**
**(540)**
**(1,260)**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
**2020**
**£**
**2019**
**£**
**Cash funds**
Reserves
4,000
4,000
Restricted funds
9,033
11,188
General funds
4,647
3,450
**Total**
**17,680**
**18,638**
**Other monetary assets:**
Gift aid: unclaimed
856
497
**Total**
**856**
**497**
**Liabilities:**
Fee due for Independent examination
(540)
(540)
Fee due for fundraising support in December 2019
-
(720)
**Total**
**(540)**
**(1,260)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Cash funds**||||
||Reserves||4,000|4,000|
||Restricted funds||9,033|11,188|
||General funds||4,647|3,450|
||**Total**||**17,680**|**18,638**|
||||||
||**Other monetary assets:**||||
||Gift aid: unclaimed||856|497|
||**Total**||**856**|**497**|
||||||
||**Liabilities:**||||
||Fee due for Independent examination||(540)|(540)|
||Fee due for fundraising support in December 2019||-|(720)|
||**Total**||**(540)**|**(1,260)**|
||||||
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## **Notes to the accounts:**
## **1. Basis of preparation of accounts**
- The accounts have been prepared under the receipts and payments method as permitted by s.133 Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with guidance from the Charity Commission.
## **2. Restricted funds**
Expenditure incurred by a little bit of HOPE (Uganda) from grants received in the year has been allocated to restricted funds using an average exchange rate of 1 GBP: 4,576 UGX.
## **3. Trustees’ remuneration**
No payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
## **4. Guarantees and debts outstanding**
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
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