Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2023
Nurturing hope in the Butaleja District of Uganda by enabling people to overcome the hurdles that prevent them reaching their full potential.
Registered charity no. 1162178
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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:
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To provide grants to charities, other organisations and individuals in the Butaleja district of Uganda in fulfilment of the following charitable purposes:
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the advancement of education;
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the advancement of health and/or saving of lives; and
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the relief and/or prevention of poverty; and
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The advancement of education in the United Kingdom in particular as regard to 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.
In 2023, it was decided by the staff team and board of a little bit of HOPE (Uganda), in partnership with the UK board, to further streamline our work into two project areas: Education and Livelihoods. The decision was also made to bring more focus to the geographical area we operate, within Butaleja District. We now work specifically with ten schools and the three sub-counties they are a part of. All of our projects (as listed below) take place within these ten schools and villages, in three sub-counties within Butaleja District. The main reasons for this re-focus were a reduced budget (due to fundraising context in UK and cost of living increase in the UK and Uganda), and the opportunity it presents to have a longer-lasting impact on the people we work with in Butaleja.
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Education: including school farms, re-usable menstrual pad programme, and community library.
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Livelihoods: including apprenticeships, agricultural training, and group savings.
Our work is guided by a number of ‘approach' statements. They are:
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We focus our resources on the poorest of the poor
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We endeavour to promote sustainability, not dependency
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We only fund projects initiated and led by local people
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We take monitoring and evaluation seriously
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We account for every penny we spend
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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 2023
In the UK, our Development Manager returned from a period of maternity leave in October 2023. We were able to deliver a successful Christmas fundraising appeal, with donations going towards the apprenticeship scheme, one of our Livelihoods programmes. Here are some of the achievements from our projects in 2023:
Education
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1,200 pupils schools took part in a literacy outreach programme through our new mobile library that was launched this year.
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448 pupils, teachers and parents were trained in good agronomic practices.
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700kg of maize seeds were given to the ten partner schools and linked families.
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20 parents at each school were provided with agronomy training and seeds for their gardens at home. These parents formed groups to support and contribute towards the success of their children’s school farm.
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1,008 pupils were equipped with the skill of knowing how to make reusable menstrual pads so they don’t have to skip school when they’re on their periods.
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104 parents were also taught how to make these pads. This has increased their awareness on the importance of menstrual hygiene management and enabled them to support their daughters with making and using pads.
Mr Dibba James, Headteacher at Bubuhe Primary School, thanked a little bit of HOPE for equipping them to set up a farm on their school land. He explained that the seeds, fertiliser and equipment they were given enabled them to plant an acre of maize which provided food for their pupils at lunchtime.
Livelihoods
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35 young adults graduated from our apprenticeship programme in December. They received start-up toolkits to help them start earning a living with their new skills in tailoring, hairdressing and mechanics.
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16 members of vulnerable households received 10kgs each of maize seeds, alongside training on sustainable planting methods.
Rachel is 23 years old and was part of our apprenticeship programme in 2023. Her education was cut short after she became a mother while still at school, like many girls her age. Without an education, Rachel didn't know how she was going to provide for herself and her children. But after being partnered with an experienced tailor and learning how to repair and make clothes, Rachel was given a sewing machine and is now able to earn an income and provide for herself and her family.
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Reference and administrative details
Registered Charity (England and Wales) No. 1162178 Registered Office: 57 Tuddenham Road Ipswich Suffolk IP4 2SU Trustees: Malcolm Bebb Noah Birumi (appointed 12/03/24) David Elton (resigned 23/11/23) Hannah Green Phil Green (Chair) Kathryn Lifford (appointed 13/01/24) Temitope Olusi (appointed 12/03/24) Eliza Reger (resigned 16/07/24) Amy Smyth Amy Spooner 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 have been shared between the trustees.
In October 2023 our UK Development Manager returned to her position after 12 months of maternity leave. The role has continued on a part-time basis, at two days per week. The main responsibilities of the Development Manager are to manage the day-to-day activities of the charity, with a focus on fundraising and communications.
One of the trustees' 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 with both the programme manager and chairperson of a little bit of HOPE (Uganda), and the UK Development Manager meets weekly with the Ugandan staff team.
a little bit of HOPE has a Safeguarding Committee to ensure our safeguarding policies and procedures are of a high standard. The Committee regularly reviews the safeguarding policies and procedures of a little bit of HOPE (Uganda). We are members of Thirtyone:eight – an independent safeguarding charity which helps individuals and organisations protect vulnerable people from abuse. Both a little bit of HOPE and a little bit of HOPE (Uganda) use their international safeguarding audit tool to review all procedures relating to safeguarding and develop action plans to ensure continual learning and improvement.
*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 reserves policy is to retain a minimum of £4,000 in unrestricted reserves at all times. The charity ended 2023 with a cash balance of £13,952. Of this, £0 was restricted, leaving £9,952 in unrestricted free reserves and thus £4,000 designated as reserves.
Income
Our total income in 2023 was £38,600. The majority of our income comes from individuals and churches. During 2023 we also received income from trusts and foundations that we had applied to for funding.
Expenditure
Our total expenditure in 2023 was £33,187. 85.2% of this went to fund the work of a little bit of HOPE (Uganda).
End of year balance
Our total end of year cash balance was £13,952. (2022: £8,539)
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: P. GREEN M. BEBB Full names: Philip Green Malcolm Bebb Position: Trustee – Chairperson Trustee Date: 16/09/2024 16/09/2024
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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 2023 on pages 1 to 5 and 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
- 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
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date:
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Detailed summary of accounts
Money brought forward from previous years
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Reserves | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Restricted funds | - | 3,209 |
| General funds | 4,539 | 10,554 |
| Total | 8,539 | 17,763 |
Income
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Restricted | Total | General | Restricted | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Regular giving | 17,973 | 2,468 | 20,441 | 17,556 | 4,332 | 21,888 |
| Single donations | 12,163 | 91 | 12,253 | 13,960 | 635 | 14,595 |
| Trusts | 1,000 | 4,905 | 5,905 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 4,500 |
| Gift aid | - | - | - | 4,750 | 351 | 5,101 |
| Total | 31,136 | 7,464 | 38,600 | 37,765 | 8,318 | 46,083 |
Expenditure
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Restricted | Total | General | Restricted | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Grants given to a | ||||||
| little bit of HOPE | 20,802 | 7,464 | 28,266 | 35,932 | 8,586 | 44,518 |
| (Uganda) | ||||||
| Professional fees | 2,100 | - | 2,100 | 2,191 | - | 2,191 |
| Fundraiser | - | - | - | 281 | 1,115 | 1,396 |
| Employment | 2,821 | - | 2,821 | 5,376 | 1,825 | 7,201 |
| Total | 25,723 | 7,464 | 33,187 | 43,780 | 11,527 | 55,307 |
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Summary of restricted funds
| Brought forward £ |
Income £ |
Allocated Expenditure £ |
Carried forward £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education (general) | - | 840 | 840 | - |
| Education (school farms) | - | 5,755 | 5,755 | - |
| Education (RUMPS) | - | 24 | 24 | - |
| Livelihoods (general) | - | 845 | 845 | - |
| Total | - | 7,464 | 7,464 | - |
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash funds | ||
| Reserves | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Restricted funds | - | - |
| General funds | 9,952 | 4,539 |
| Total | 13,952 | 8,539 |
| Other monetary assets | ||
| Gift aid: claimed, not received | 2,023 | - |
| Gift aid: unclaimed | 479 | 711 |
| Total | 2,502 | 711 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Fee due for Independent Examination | 600 | 600 |
| Employment costs due | 208 | - |
| Total | 808 | 600 |
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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: 4,362 UGX.
3. Trustees’ remuneration
A relation of trustee David Elton was paid £2,821 (2022: £7,201), as well as being owed £208 (2022: nil), in their role as UK Development Manager; these payments are permitted by the charity’s governing document.
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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