2024-04-05-accounts - Mbedza Projects Support

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 6 April 2023 To: 5 April 2024

Charity name: Mbedza Projects Support

Charity registration number: 1162581

1. 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 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. Note that this reporting period saw the merger of the child sponsorship charity MOSES with Mbedza.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	In this reporting period the main activities of the charity were: • Further development of the Songani Centre and continuation of the HIV project and its associated youth and education activities. • Continued provision of fuel-efficient stoves. • Planting of new tree saplings and ongoing monitoring of trees planted in previous years. • Completion of the merger with child education sponsorship charity MOSES in September 2023.

		• Continued provision of nursery school provision at Chiyambi, Monkey Bay. • Continued support of the Heart of Mercy project working with families of children with special needs. • Ongoing financial monitoring of a maize mill for better understanding of its operation. • Continuation of a small-scale textiles/sewing project producing sanitary kits. • Media and communications support in the UK and Malawi. • Visit of 30 students from Manor Academy York in October 2023 • Visit of two UK gap students October – December 2023.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The activities outlined contribute to achieving the purposes of the charity as summarised above. 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 Deputy Director received £250/month from August 2023 in recognition of the work involved in managing the finances of the charity.

		Volunteers often organise and oversee fundraising events such as concerts, meetings, coffee mornings and sales of textiles. 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

2. 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	• Continued development of the Songani Centre with the building of a wall/fence to improve security and enable better use of the outside space. Continued expansion of the activities at the Centre: - HIV testing at the centre: 749 tests (499 last year and 657 the year before). - HIV testing in the community: 2030 tests (1809 last year, 1154 the year before). - Numbers of HIV positives found: 26 (16 last year and 16 the year before). - Distribution of 666 sanitary kits with associated health and sex education (514 last year and 540 the year before). - Distribution of 36,608 condoms (34,339 last year and 29,609 the year before). Continued development of activities for the school-age population in the area: youth club and HIV outreach, health information programme, improved library provision and educational opportunities, recreational activities, games and TV.

•	Stove-building programme.
	- Completion of 262 Esperanza
	stoves (591 last year and 402
	the year before).
	- Distribution of 140 Gamba
	Tinsmith stoves (300 last year).
	Each stove reduces the cost to a
	household of buying firewood or the
	time spent collecting it, as well as
	providing other economic, health,
	social and educational benefits.
•	Large upscale in trees planted:
	35,544 (5,100 last year and 11,920
	the year before).
	Trees are planted in village
	communities and schools. Tree-
	planting projects in village
	communities include 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 with reduced risk of soil
	erosion and flood damage. Tree-
	planting projects in schools provide
	learning and hands-on experience
	about raising saplings and caring
	for trees.
	Continued monitoring is an
	essential component of each
	project:
	- the fifth year of a community
	project in several local villages.
	- the fourth year of a school
	project based in Songani
	Primary School.
	- the third year of a community
	project (villages Malemusi I and
	II, Minyanga and Mikulumu).
	- the second year of a community
	project (Katete and
	Makanganya villages).
	The 35,544 trees this year were
	planted across 22 villages, Luwi
	Primary School and the Mbedza
	staff themselves.
•	This year saw the merger of
	sponsored education charity
	MOSES with Mbedza. Secondary
	education was provided for 100
	students this year (80 last year and
	the year before). These students

	have lost one or both parents and
	would be otherwise unable to afford
	to go to secondary school, forfeiting
	the benefits it brings. (Currently
	15% of Malawian children complete
	Secondary Education overall,
	though 10% for rural communities
	and only 2% for the poorest
	communities. The latter figure is
	likely to apply for the students we
	support).
•	Completion of the second year of
	improved nursery provision at
	Chiyambi, Monkey Bay, including
	the building of a new kitchen on the
	premises and piloting a garden
	project to grow vegetables.
	Education is a key route out of
	poverty and intervening in early
	years education is known to have
	benefits in later years.
•	Consolidation of the relationship
	with UK charity Accomplish
	Children’s Trust providing support
	for the Heart of Mercy project
	working with rural families of
	children with special needs. These
	families are particularly
	disadvantaged with the children
	being neglected in the community,
	and relatively small interventions
	can have large impacts.
•	Staff accommodation built at Jali
	maize mill to improve the working
	conditions of staff. Exploration of
	the reconceptualising of the
	purpose of the mill as a non-profit
	enterprise to reduce poverty in the
	local area.
•	The small-scale textiles/sewing
	project is now producing sanitary
	kits for schoolgirls who often lack
	suitable provision. (Previously the
	project produced textiles for sale in
	the UK, but markets based on
	supporters’ networks have tended
	to become saturated.)
•	Boosted communications support in
	Malawi to provide stories and
	images. Information and updates
	are important to retain the
	engagement of existing

	donors/supporters as well as raise
	awareness among others.
•	The successful visit of 30 students
	from Manor Academy York in
	October 2023 provided an
	unforgettable opportunity for these
	students to experience life and
	culture very different from their own.
	Fundraising for the stove project
	prior to the visit was an integral
	part, with ongoing opportunities for
	financial support to one or more
	projects after the visit.
•	The visit of two UK gap students
	October – December 2023 provided
	a longer-term opportunity to be
	immersed in Malawian life and
	culture. Fund-raising for the
	Chiyambi nursery prior to the visit
	was complemented by practical
	help with various activities during
	the visit.

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 £137,000 was exceeded with total income £173,642.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other

3. Financial Review

3. Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Brought forward 6/4/2023: £13,504 (£11,744 Mbedza and £1,730 MOSES) Income during the year: £173,642 (£169,172 Mbedza and £4,470 MOSES) Expenditure during the year: £168,656 (£162,586 Mbedza and £6,070 MOSES) Balance at 5/4/2024: £18,491 (£18,361 Mbedza and £130 MOSES)
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: £1,272 (£600 in the UK and £672 in Malawi) plus staffing reserves to cover salaries for at least 6 months (over £7,000, mostly in Malawi). Risk reserves: £1,023 (£800 in the UK and £223 in Malawi)
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 £150,141 (£145,671 Mbedza and £4,470 MOSES). Restricted income to Mbedza as follows: Monthly Donations £29,848 Other Donations £40,175 Fundraising Campaigns £32,588 Grants £24,722 Sales £2,381 Visit Income £15,959 Unrestricted income totalled £23,501 (£23,501 Mbedza, £0 MOSES). Unrestricted income to Mbedza as follows: Monthly Donations £1,453 Other Donations £3,312 Gift Aid/GASDS £13,736 Grants £5,000 (Farthing Trust)
Investment policy and objectives including any		No policy on investment/ethical investment.

social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The organisation’s risk register was reviewed in April 2024 with appropriate mitigating actions and costs identified. The largest risks with estimated cost are: • Long term sustainability of Mbedza. The board of trustees need to create a succession plan for continuing the work of key UK staff when they retire. £1,440. • Safeguarding. This is a challenge in Malawi, compounded by cultural complexities. £700 • Economic turbulence. National UK economics (raised interest rates) and international events (war in Ukraine) potentially strain donors and donor sustainability. Large cost increases in Malawi (especially food and fertiliser) require continual staff pay increases to keep pace. £600 • Extreme weather events eg cyclones. Malawi appears to be increasingly prone to severe weather events which cause widespread flooding and disruption. £400. • Critical illness of key staff. Despite new appointments some of our Malawian staff remain stretched and their absence eg through illness creates great strain. £350
Other		N/A

4. 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	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	No policies or procedures at present specific to induction although ongoing 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 voluntary team comprised of a Director, Deputy Director and several Associate Directors (one of whom is based in Brussels). In Malawi, where overwhelming our funds are spent (82.6% this year), 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	Following a strong relationship to sister charity MOSES (Malawi Orphan Sponsored Education Scheme) via a memorandum of understanding, MOSES merged with Mbedza in September 2023. Mbedza also has a memorandum of understanding with Accomplish Children’s Trust.
Other		N/A

5. 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

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
Anthony Wilson	Previously advisor		Trustee board
Catherine Greenaway			Trustee board
Simon Barber		From September 2022	Trustee board
Denise Ellis	Previously MOSES trustee	From September 2023	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

6. 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)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Senior Consultant June – Dec 2023	Geoffrey Dennis

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 Jessica Watson, Associate Director Sponsored Education

7. Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

8. Other optional information

9. 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) Michael Cook Position (eg Chair of Trustees Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 22 June 2024

	Charity Name Mbedza Projects Support	Charity Name Mbedza Projects Support	Charity Name Mbedza Projects Support	No (if any) 1162581	CC16a
	For the period from	Period start date 06-Apr-23	To	Period end date 05-Apr-24

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 4,765 13,736 5,000 23,501 - - - 23,501 9,450 5,771 8,245 1,495 24,961 - - - 24,961 - 1,460 - 3,632 2,172	Restricted funds to the nearest £ 70,022 32,588 - 24,722 2,381 15,959 145,671 - - - 145,671 124,785 - 8,960 3,879 137,624 - - - 137,624 8,047 - 8,142 16,189	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £ 74,787 32,588 13,736 29,722 2,381 15,959 169,172 - - - 169,172 134,235 5,771 17,205 3,879 1,495 162,586 - - -	Last year to the nearest £
Donations	4,765		- - - - - - -	74,787	58,129
Fundraising Campaigns				32,588	4,154
Gift Aid/GASDS	13,736			13,736	12,423
Grants	5,000			29,722	15,350
Sales				2,381	2,172
Income for Malawi Group Visit				15,959	12,176
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	23,501			169,172	104,404

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-		- - -	-
	-			-	-
*Sub total*	-			-	-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
			-	169,172	104,404

Malawi Costs(Projects and Group Visit)	9,450		- - - - - -	134,235	92,073
UK Core Costs	5,771			5,771	4,173
UK Consultancy	8,245			17,205	8,056
UK Costs for Group Visit				3,879	3,941
UK Costs for Director's Visit	1,495			1,495
**Sub total **	24,961			162,586	108,243

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*
			-	162,586	108,243
				6,587
	- 1,460	8,047	-	6,587	- 3,839
	-	-	- -	-	-
	3,632	8,142		11,774	-
	2,172	16,189	-	18,361	- 3,839

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £ 16,189 - - 16,189 OK	Endowment funds to nearest £
2,172 - -	16,189	-
	-	-
	-	-
2,172	16,189	-
OK		OK

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

08/10/2024

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	Details Ring making machine Songani Centre Building Songani Centre Equipment Details Chiyambi Building Chiyambi Equipment Details Details Signature	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 6,000 103,000 30,000 24,000 7,000 - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Michael Cook	Endowment funds to nearest £
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			Date of approval
		Michael Cook	22-Jun-24

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

08/10/2024

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Mbedza Projects Support On accounts for the year ended 5 AprÈl 2024 Charity no (if any) 1162581 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Charity {Xhe Trust") for the year ended L•) -lo*lSoty Responsibilities and As the charÈty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan with the requiremerrts of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe A). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confim) that no material matters have come to my attention { ") in connection wrth the examinats'on which gtves me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounts.ng records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no COnM$ 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. Please delete the s in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: RelevaTrt professional .Jsso c I kj-i Oh/ o I l fil qualification(sl or body (rfany): 16cltMicIIMg 6.mAA T) Address: IER October 2018