2024-12-31-accounts - Brighter Futures Zambia

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01 January 2024 To 31 December 2024

Charity name: Brighter Futures Zambia

Charity registration number: 1162851

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	Brighter Futures Zambia’s charitable objects are: 1. Prevention or Relief of Poverty for the Public Beneft The prevention or relief of poverty of orphaned and/or otherwise vulnerable children in Zambia (especially those affected by HIV/AIDS) by providing or assisting in the provision of education and training. 2.Advancement of Education For the public benefit to promote the education (including social and physical training) of orphaned and/or otherwise vulnerable children in Zambia (especially those affected by HIV/AIDS) in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, including by: i.awarding to such persons scholarships, maintenance allowances or grants tenable at any institution of education; and ii.providing education (including social and physical training and pastoral support) to children not yet accessing primary education through assistance to community pre-schools. 3. Relief of Those in Need iii.To relieve the mental sickness of orphaned and/or otherwise vulnerable children in Zambia

		(especially those affected by HIV/AIDS) and/or their carers suffering from bereavement or loss, by the provision of counselling and support for such persons. iv.To assist in the provision of education and training and/or relevant support with a view to enabling these children and their carers to generate sustainable incomes.
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	BFZ achieved their charitable objects through the following main programme areas: -School sponsorship (including provision of school fees (where required), uniform and equipment. -Higher Education sponsorship (including provision of university/college fees, equipment and grants towards living costs. -Vocational skills training programme (including course fees and equipment). -Wellbeing programme for children (including weekly sessions and standalone workshops for children). -Provision of menstrual health training and reusable pads for girls. -Pre-school education and meals. -Community building initiatives (including skills/knowledge training in children’s rights, gender-based violence, entrepreneurship, sustainability training and climate change mitigation) -Income generating programmes for caregivers (including the Good Goat, tailoring and village banking initiatives.)
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	BFZ trustees have had regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit as they carried out the work of the charity and provided governance for this work.

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

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related

investment
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	BFZ’s UK operations are delivered by volunteers, whose contribution allows us to meet our charitable objectives and ensures our programmes achieve maximum impact. In addition to our nine trustees BFZ benefits from the support of regular volunteers who support with bookkeeping, GiftAid claims, website development and management and fundraising initiatives. We are grateful to all our volunteers for donating their time, energy and expertise in pursuit of our charitable goals.
Other

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	Enabling orphaned and vulnerable children to fully access education remains the core of the charity’s work. BFZ provided school fees (where applicable), equipment and uniform grants enabling 72 children to attend primary or secondary school in 2024. Tuition was provided for pupils in grades 7, 9 and 12 to support them with exam preparation. Support was provided for a small number of pupils who needed to resit some grade 12 subjects. BFZ also delivered a two-day Youth Day in which children prepared presentations and performances, played games, listened to motivational speakers, received prizes and enjoyed meals together. The aim of the day was to encourage and reward the children’s engagement with education. BFZ offered a further 4 young people grants enabling them to attend higher education, including two students at universities studying medicine and finance and two students at Nursing college. The four students will continue to pursue their studies in 2025 with BFZ support. BFZ’s Wellbeing programme continued to run across seven community groups. Up to thirteen children in each group attend weekly wellbeing sessions. Wellbeing sessions continue to educate children with knowledge on children’s rights, early marriage, sexual health, the importance of education and to promote resilience and

positive coping strategies. Wellbeing sessions provide a space for 1:1 counselling and monitoring by caregivers trained in child counselling. Children are provided with a hot, protein rich meal at each session and leaders organise games and activities such as sports, tug of war, singing, dancing, drama, chess and other games. Recent alumni and those sponsored in Higher Education by BFZ volunteer at Wellbeing sessions to pass on their positive experience and support leaders. Caregivers report a great sense of community amongst the children and young people within the groups, with younger children looking up to, and being mentored by older youth. This sense of belonging supports vulnerable young people to make positive choices and maintain healthy habits. Caregivers report that children’s behaviour, attitude and engagement with education increases through regular attendance at the Wellbeing sessions. Furthermore, session leaders have been able to identify additional needs from contact with children at Wellbeing sessions and support children and their families with additional support, signposting or reporting to relevant authorities as appropriate. In 2023 BFZ appointed a ‘Wellbeing Champion’ from among the group leaders, who excels in working with young people’s wellbeing. The BFZ Wellbeing Champion continued to visit each of the seven groups throughout 2024 to share effective practice and support excellent leadership of the Wellbeing groups. BFZ commissioned trainers from a local CBO (Zambia Women and Girls) and from an ex Primary Head Teacher, trained in child counselling, to facilitate a three-day training for 28 caregivers. The training was designed to equip caregivers with knowledge and skills required to support the weekly Wellbeing Sessions. Training focused on effective communication with children and young people, gender-based violence, children’s rights, sexual health and mental health and wellbeing. Engagement in the training was excellent, and caregivers reported high levels of confidence to deliver Wellbeing sessions. The BFZ Coordinator conducted weekly monitoring visits to Wellbeing sessions to monitor delivery and impact and to support group leaders.

BFZ once again commissioned trainers from the Zambian Ministry of Health and the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia to deliver workshops at each of the seven Wellbeing groups. The workshops imparted expert knowledge and guidance on sexual health, early marriage, abuse, gender-based violence and substance misuse. The training educated children on develop healthy habits and how to recognise and report abuse. Children and caregivers report that they feel confident identifying and understanding how to report abuse and how to stay healthy and safe. BFZ commissioned a trained veterinary consultant, who is also an alumnus of BFZ’s educational sponsorship programme to lead a community training in goat husbandry. This training was held as part of the BFZ Good Goat income generation scheme, which provides income and sustenance for low-income families across seven vulnerable communities. Families receive goats via the scheme according to a ’pass it down’ methodology, in which kids born through the scheme are passed on to new households identified. The training was held to support new households in their ability to care for and maximise the impact of goats they receive through the scheme. The training lasted for two days and was attended by 92 community members. The training covered all aspects of goat husbandry, including nutrition, disease prevention and management. In 2022, BFZ organised and funded training for caregivers from seven community groups in Village Banking- a community saving scheme, which allows members to draw down funds for emergencies, or to kick-start a business. BFZ provided ongoing monitoring and support for the scheme throughout 2024. Many members reported that they needed to use funds saved through the scheme for emergency food supplies during the drought, however, they hope to save again in 2025 to enable business loans to be paid out once again. BFZ continued to support community caregivers through a handicraft and tailoring programme in which women make and sell handmade star decorations and school uniforms. Women report that funds from these initiatives are critical in helping them meet the basic needs of their families, especially during the drought.

BFZ’s Makangala pre-school continued to deliver education for 90 children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old in 2023. BFZ provided funding for 2 pre-school teachers, caretakers and night watchmen. In May 2024, after inspecting the school and confirming that it meets government standards, the Zambian government assigned a government teacher to head the school. This enabled the school to open a grade one class to accommodate local demand. BFZ continue to provide two teachers to teach the pre-school children. BFZ still provide funding for stationery and travel for the teachers to attend training meetings. However, a small government budget has been promised, which we await. The school committee have a rota of volunteers who clean, cook and assist the teachers. BFZ provide educational supplies such as drawing and writing equipment, books, toys and play equipment. BFZ provide free breakfast and lunch every school day to all pupils. The fruit trees and edible plants that were planted with funding from BFZ bear fruit, which supplements the children’s diets. The school is full, and attendance is excellent, aided by the pre-school meal programme. The BFZ Programme Manager continues to monitor the teachers at the school and reports that the children are learning well, and families are very grateful for the feeding programme in addition to the learning that children receive. In December 2024 BFZ funded a two-week catch-up programme of lessons for children at the school. School meals were provided during the catch-up classes. This initiative was taken to support learning lost during the closure forced by the cholera epidemic at the start of the year and to provide vital nutrition during the drought period. In December 2024 BFZ provided emergency drought relief to 86 households of children registered with BFZ programmes. BFZ took this decision owing to the severity of the drought and the devastating impact on children registered to the programme. The food provided aimed to support households to mitigate

food insecurity until the next harvest.

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
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	We started the year with a total balance in our current accounts of £13,319.87 and ended the year with a balance of £22,784.65. We spent £31,208.91 during 2024 on projects that furthered our charitable objectives and on essential running costs. Meaning that we had a surplus of £9,464.78 over 2024.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	BFZ has a policy of holding reserves which would cover our essential programme running costs for one school term (4 months).
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£4050
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	A surplus occurred in 2024 as trustees decided to continue to use some of the sitting balance in our accounts to fund some one-off additional training programmes, and drought relief interventions which support our charitable objects. Trustees will monitor our financial position and ensure that future additional projects are funded in line with our financial position. We increased our fundraising efforts in 2024 to support the future position of the charity, which led to an increased income.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	There are currently no uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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	In 2024 we raised a total of £39,423.69 through regular and one-off donations, Gift Aid and community fundraising. For example, we launched and ran ‘The Big BFZ Trustee Challenge’, where our trustees set themselves sponsored challenges. We also ran a highly successful quiz night.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46

A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Trust deed dated 29 July 2012 as amended from time to time.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	BFZ is a Trust, with individual trustees.
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	Trustees are appointed by a resolution of the existing trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment, the Trustees have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity and the Charity Commission requirements on the selection of fit and proper persons as trustees.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	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	The BFZ Chairperson and Secretary conduct a full induction and training for new trustees to make clear their statutory obligations and requirements in the role of trustee and to support their understanding of the mission and work of BFZ and the context and culture within which we work.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	BFZ continued to benefit in 2024 from pro- bono services from Travers Smith LLP, who support BFZ on legal and administrative matters and provide office space for our meetings. BFZ also benefitted from support from the Ninety Niners agency, who supported us with brand guidance and marketing. We thank them for their support.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Brighter Futures Zambia
Other name the charity uses
Registered charitynumber	1162851

Charity’s principal address 21 Hawthorn Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3PQ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Katie Lavender	Chairperson
Jennie Smith
AnthonyHopper
Christopher Widdison
Ciara Devlin
Alice Watson
Kevin Chadelle
Kathryn Langham		31.12.23- 01.10.24
Thomas Lavender
Tosan Tuoyo	Secretary	20.02.2024 onwards

– 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 held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for 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)

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) Katie Anne Lavender Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 23.07.25