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2023-04-05-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 6 April 2022 To 5 April 2023

Charity name: Mbedza Projects Support

Charity registration number: 1162581

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The object of the charity was amended on
4thFeb 2023 in agreement with the
trustees.
Prior to 4thFeb 2023: The object of the
charity is the prevention or relief of poverty
in Malawi, in particular but not exclusively
by:
•
providing assistance to groups and
individuals suffering from hardship
•
providing resources to support HIV
education, testing and counselling
•
providing individuals and groups
with equipment, training and other
resources in order to live more
sustainably
•
provide resources such as stoves,
mosquito nets and boreholes in
order to improve the health and
wellbeing of Malawians
From 4thFeb 2023: The object of the charity
is the prevention or relief of poverty in
Malawi, in particular but not exclusively by:
•
providing assistance to groups and
individuals suffering from hardship
•
providing resources to support HIV
education, testing and counselling
•
Creating sustainable environments
through tree planting and other
projects.
•
Improving livelihoods through stove
building.
•
Providing more equitable access to
education.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 In this reporting period the main activities of
the charity were:
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 •
Continued provision of fuel-efficient
stoves which reduce the cost of
buying firewood or the time spent
collecting it, as well as providing
many other benefits.
•
Further development of the Songani
HIV project and its associated youth
and education activities (youth club,
sanitary project, library, games and
recreation).
•
Ongoing monitoring of tree-planting
projects, the oldest in several
community villages, a second in
Songani Primary School and the
newest in further community
villages.
•
Continued provision of nursery
school provision at Chiyambi,
following the completion of the
building of a new premises.
•
Support of two UK project workers
until their return in July 2022.
•
Media and communications support
in the UK and Malawi to provide
information and updates for donors
and supporters.
•
Small-scale help for repairs
following damage from cyclone
Freddie in February 2023.
•
Scrutiny of the operation of a maize
mill with improvement to its
profitability.
•
Re-direction of the efforts of a small-
scale textiles/sewing project from
producing hard-to-sell items to
sanitary kits.
•
Continued close working with child
education sponsorship charity
MOSES (via a memorandum of
understanding, prior to planned
merger in 2023-24).
•
Continued support of the Heart of
Mercy project working with families
of children with special needs.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance		 Para 1.18 The activities outlined contribute to
achieving the purposes of the charity as
summarised above.
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 In making decisions about the activities the
trustees declare that that they have
complied with their duty to have due regard
to the guidance on public benefit provided
by the Charity Commission.
It is understood that since the aims for the
charity are to prevent or relieve poverty, the
public benefit requirement is met by
satisfying the ‘benefit’ aspect only without
need to separately consider the ‘public’
aspect.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 where relevant about:
SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 MPS is not a grant making organisation.
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 No policy on social investment or
programme related investment.
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 UK staff (Director, Deputy Director,
Associate Directors) are volunteers.
The charity also benefits from short in-
country activity programmes undertaken by
volunteers (students and others).
Appropriate induction/training is given
which includes safeguarding, orientation
and first aid.
Other N/A

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 •
Completion of 591 Esperanza
stoves and 300 Gamba Tinsmith
stoves households in 17 villages
with associated well-attested
economic, health, social and
educational benefits.
•
Continued development of the
Songani Centre. HIV testing at the
centre (499/657 tests this/last year)
and in the community (1809/1154
tests this/last year). Distribution of
sanitary kits (514/540 this/last year)
with associated health and sex
education. Continued development
of activities for the school-age
population in the area: youth club,
health information programme,
improved library provision and
educational opportunities,
recreational activities, games and
TV.
• The fourth year of a community
tree-planting project which included
training, the establishing of tree
nurseries and woodlots, and the
distribution of trees to households.
In time the project will provide the
economic benefit of a sustainable
supply of firewood and the
environmental benefit of reversed
deforestation locally. The third year
of a school-based tree planting
project based in Songani Primary
School to provide learning and
hands-on experience about raising
saplings and caring for trees. The
second year of a new tree planting
project in Malemusi I and II,
Minyanga and Mikulumu villages.
The first year of tree planting in
Katete and Makanganya villages.
Trees planted 5100/11920 this/last
year.
• Completion of the first year of
improved nursery provision at
Chiyambi, Monkey Bay, following
the completion of a new building.
This builds on long-standing links
with the area. Education is a key
route out of poverty and intervening
in early years education is known to
have benefits in later years
(currently less than 10% of children
complete Secondary Education).
• Continued support of two UK project
workers until July 2022, who have
enabled staff training and the
development of the charity’s
activities and organisational
processes.
• Paid-for media and communications
support in the UK and Malawi. This
enables dissemination of
information and updates for existing
donors/supporters as well as
awareness-raising for others who
might wish to donate/support.
• Small-scale help for repairs
following damage from Cyclone
Freddie in February 2023. Extreme
weather events are becoming more
frequent and severe as changes to
the climate become more apparent,
with dire consequences for houses,
crops and even human lives.
• Scrutiny of the operation of a maize
mill with improvement to its
profitability. It is intended that
income-generating activities play a
part in enabling some aspects of the
work of Mbedza to become self-
sustaining.
• Re-direction of the efforts of a small-
scale textiles/sewing project. Up
until now the focus has been on
producing items for sale in the UK
but there is an unsold surplus. The
project is now producing sanitary
kits for schoolgirls who often lack
suitable provision.
• Continued close working with
sponsored education charity
MOSES, providing secondary
education for around 80 students.
These students have lost one or
both parents and would be
otherwise unable to afford to go to
secondary school.
• Continued support of the Heart of
Mercy project working with families
of children with special needs.
Such families tend to be particularly
in need and the children neglected
in the community.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 The notional income target of £85,000 was
exceeded with total income £104,404.
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41 N/A
Other
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 Brought forward 6/4/2022: £15,612.96
Income during the year: £104,404.11
Expenditure during the year: £108,242.95
Balance at 5/4/2023: £11,774.12
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The purpose of the risk reserves and cash
reserves policies is to ensure financial
stability and to have reserves to cover both
expected and unexpected eventualities.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Cash reserves: £1,192 (includes £600
Current Reserves)
Risk reserves: £1,890
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47 Restricted income totalled £91,981.
£72,478 of this was made up of donations
from organisations and supporters. Grants
were made as follows:
Staff Salaries:
Friends of Holy Trinity Brussels £1,523
Brussels Women’s Club £6,827
Stove building:
Big Give Christmas Challenge £4,153
Ashworth Trust £5,000
Songani Youth Club:
Manor CE Academy £2,000
Unrestricted income including Gift Aid
totalled £12,423.
Investment policy and
objectives including any		 Para 1.46 No policy on investment/ethical investment.
social investment policy
adopted
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 The organisation’s risk register was
reviewed in March 2023 with appropriate
mitigating actions and costs identified. The
principal risks with estimated cost are:
•
Visits programme. Short visits for
supporters have resumed and are
now organised by Mbedza. They
come with risks and the potential for
mishap. £600
•
Safeguarding. This is a challenge in
Malawi, compounded by cultural
complexities. £600
•
Economic Turbulence. National
economics (high inflation/interest
rates) and international events
(Ukraine, exchange rate falls, price
increases) potentially strain donors
and donor sustainability. Large cost
increases in Malawi (especially food
and fertiliser) require pay rises to
keep pace. £500
•
Extreme weather events eg
cyclones. Malawi appears to be
increasingly prone to severe
weather events which cause
widespread flooding and disruption.
£500
•
Long term sustainability of Mbedza.
The board of trustees will need to
work out a long-term plan for
continuing the work of key UK staff
when they retire. £400
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)
Para 1.25		 Trust Deed
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 Charitable Trust
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 Appointment. In accordance with the
Charitable Trust Deed 19 May 2015 Par
9(1) “There must be at least 3 trustees.
Apart from the first trustees, every trustee
must be appointed by a resolution of the
trustees passed at a special meeting called
under clause 15 of this deed”.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

No policies or procedures at present specific to induction although ongoing

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees		 Para 1.51 training for all trustees is sometimes
provided at meetings.
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51 Mbedza’s structure in the UK is that of a
team comprised of a volunteer Director,
Deputy Director and several Associate
Directors (one of whom is based in
Brussels). In Malawi, where overwhelming
the funds are spent, we have a salaried
Director, Deputy Directors and team of
staff. Contact is maintained informally with
other charities in the sector, both in the UK
and in Malawi.
Relationship with any
related parties		 Para 1.51 There is a strong relationship to sister
charity MOSES (Malawi Orphan Sponsored
Education Scheme) via a memorandum of
understanding. (The trustees agreed in
April 2023 that MOSES would merge with
Mbedza in 2023-34.)
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Mbedza Projects Support
Other name the charity uses Mbedza
Registered charity number 1162581
Charity’s principal address 11 Bayswater Square
Stafford
ST18 0YH

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Paul Grinstead First trustee
June Wilson First trustee
Nicola Davies Trustee board
Mike Cook Chair Trustee board
AnthonyWilson Previouslyadvisor Trustee board
Catherine
Greenaway		 Trustee board
Simon Barber From September 2022 Trustee Board

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Julian Watson, Director Martin Paisley, Deputy Director Finance Sue Bird, Associate Director Songani Centre Amanda Flashman, Associate Director Tree-Planting Dave & Diane Collett, Associate Directors Chiyambi Nursery

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

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)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date
Michael Cook

Chair of Trustees
15 July 2023
15 July 2023

Charity Name No (if any) Mbedza Projects Support 1162581 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 06-Apr-22 05-Apr-23

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
71.51
-
-
-
600.00
6,209.85
3,871.39
1,451.07
219.46
12,423.28
-
-
-
12,423.28
-
-
221.51
-
-
600.00
80.00
3,871.39
3,401.07
5,169.46
-
13,343.43
-
-
-
13,343
- 920
2,920
1,633
3,632.36		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
25,437.97
1,523.10
6,826.78
4,320.28
2,000.00
11,161.90
4,153.76
5,000.00
3,339.56
1,204.82
4,346.18
12,175.76
302.00
2,585.95
5,430.54
2,172.23
91,980.83
-
-
-
91,980.83
29,790.00
21,304.03
6,184.49
4,590.00
1,290.00
7,630.00
11,583.56
302.00
4,654.90
5,400.54
2,170.00
-
94,899.52
-
-
-
94,900
- 2,919
- 2,920
13,980
8,141.76		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
to the nearest £
25,437.97
1,523.10
6,826.78
4,391.79
2,000.00
11,161.90
4,153.76
5,000.00
3,339.56
1,204.82
4,946.18
12,175.76
6,209.85
4,173.39
4,037.02
5,650.00
2,172.23
104,404.11
-
-
-
104,404.11
29,790.00
21,304.03
6,406.00
4,590.00
1,290.00
8,230.00
11,663.56
4,173.39
8,055.97
10,570.00
2,170.00
-
108,242.95
-
-
-
108,243
- 3,839		 Total funds
to the nearest £
25,437.97
1,523.10
6,826.78
4,391.79
2,000.00
11,161.90
4,153.76
5,000.00
3,339.56
1,204.82
4,946.18
12,175.76
6,209.85
4,173.39
4,037.02
5,650.00
2,172.23
104,404.11
-
-
-
104,404.11
29,790.00
21,304.03
6,406.00
4,590.00
1,290.00
8,230.00
11,663.56
4,173.39
8,055.97
10,570.00
2,170.00
-
108,242.95
-
-
-
108,243
- 3,839		 Last year
to the nearest £
Salaries - Donations - 18,856
Salaries - HolyTrinityBrussels - 1,336
Salaries - Brussels Womens Club -
Songani Activities(Sanitary,Library,Misc) 71.51
Songani Youth Club - Manor CE Academy
Stoves - Donations - 7,384
Stoves - BigGive Christmas Challenge - 8,481
Stoves - Ashworth Trust - -
Tree Planting 12,476
MOSES
Chiyambi Nursery 600.00 17,035
Gap/Visits 1,364
Unrestricted(Reserves) 6,209.85 7,650
UK Admin 3,871.39 4,380
UK Consultancy 1,451.07
Miscellaneous 219.46 7,176
Textile Sales 937
Songani Youth Club - York Corinthians 1,200
Songani - Brussels RotaryGrant 1,448
Songani - Femmes d'Europe Grant 2,439
Stoves - FCDO Grant 2 2,541
Stoves - Souter Trust 2,500
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 12,423.28 97,202
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
- -
Sub total - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
97,202

Salaries		 - 16,843
Stoves - 18,263
Songani Activities 221.51 4,998
Tree Planting - 10,154
MOSES - 1,507
Chiyambi Nursery 600.00 13,530
Gap/Visits 80.00 -
UK Admin 3,871.39 5,200
UK Consultancy 3,401.07
Miscellaneous Malawi Costs 5,169.46 14,790
Textiles 1,210
Stoves FCDO Grant 2,930
Payment to NPG(Easyz Ltd) - 3,500
**Sub total ** 13,343.43 92,925
A4 Asset and investment
purchases (see table)
, -
-
**Sub total ** - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
92,925
- 920 - 2,919 - - 3,839 4,276
2,920 - 2,920 - - -
1,633 13,980 - 15,613 -
3,632.36 8,141.76 - 11,774 4,276

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

31/10/2023

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the trustees
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B1 Cash funds		 Details
Details
Ring making machine
Songani Centre Building
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details
Details
Songani Centre Equipment
Chiyambi Building
Chiyambi Equipment
Signature		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
3,632
8,142
-
-
-
-
3,632
8,142
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
5,000
86,000
25,000
20,000
6,000
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Michael Cook		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
Michael Cook 15-Jul-23

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

31/10/2023

2

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner'$ Report Report to the truste￿1 members of Mbedza Propcls SupFK)rt On accounts for the year endod 5 April 2023 Charity no (rf anyl 1162581 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my exarnination of the accounts of the atove chanty {Ihe Trusf) for the year ended o¥1 0419DZ3 Responstbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 fthe Acn. I rewrt in resF*Ct of my eXaMinat￿n of the Trust's account5 carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the appluble Directions gNen by the Charty Commission under section 145(5}Ib) of the Ad. I have completed my examinats'on. I cnnfimi that no material matters have come to my attentM)n ') in connection with the examination which gNes me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting recofds were not kept in accordance with seth'on 130 of the Act or the accounts Ilo not ￿1rd with the accounting records Independent examinerfs ststsment I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the eXaMinat￿n lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete th wonls in the btsckets rfthey do not apply. Date: Slgned: Namo: -0 Relevant professional qualifi¢ation(s} or body (rf any): oj trSgU(i A-TIO VTI fScllLiicIA¢ C MRA T) Address: IER October 2018