CHARITY NUMBER 1163681
NAMIBIA PROJECT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30[TH] JUNE 2024
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Page No. | |
|---|---|
| 3 | Legal and Administrative Information |
| 5 | Report of the Trustees |
| 12 | Statement of Financial Activities |
| 13 | Balance Sheet |
| 14 | Notes to the Financial Statements |
2
NAMIBIA PROJECT TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1ST JULY 2023 TO 30TH JUNE 2024
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Our Mission
“Creating Life Chances”
The Namibia Project works to reverse the adverse impact that poverty has on children’s lives and future. Through sponsorship, access to education and by meeting the basic welfare needs the Namibia Project improves the lives and opportunities of orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia.
Reference and Administration Details
Charity Name: NAMIBIA PROJECT
Registered charity number: 1163681 Charity’s principal address: Carvossa, Bowden Rise, Seaford East Sussex BN25 2HZ
Names of the charity trustees who managed the charity for the transitional period: January - June 2024.
Trustee Name
Mrs Ilaria Regondi Chair. Mr Vadim Nikitin Co Chair/Media and Communications. Ms Wendy Brandse Treasurer Mr Rijn Brandse Non-Executive Treasurer. Ms Jessica Kort Secretary. Dr Andreas Elombo Scholarship Student Mentor. Mrs Ann Brandse Non-Executive Compliance Officer. Ms Issy Adamopoulos Fundraising and Events. Mr Samuel Phillipson Fundraising Campaign Manager. Mrs Sue Lowe Fundraising Team Support.
3
Advisor Name Address Local Business Bank Manager Ms Beki Bolton Metro Bank 70, Arndale Centre Terminus Rd Eastbourne BN21 3NW Independent Examiner Mr Robert Scrivins BA(Hons) Clark Brownscombe FCA CTA DChA TE St Andrews Place Southover Road Lewes. East Sussex BN7 1UP Solicitor Mrs Lucy Robinson FCILEx Charity Law Department. Lawson Lewis Blakers 11 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4PP
4
The trustees present herewith their report and the Trust’s financial statements for the year ended 30th June 2024.
The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, and the Statement Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102).
The Namibia Project works to reverse the adverse impact that poverty has on children’s lives and future. Through sponsorship, access to education and by meeting the basic welfare needs the Namibia Project improves the lives and opportunities of orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia.
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of Governing Document
Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees.
Date of the Constitution (last amended) 7th January 2016
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102)
Trustee selection methods.
Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in March. However the reappointment of trustees in 2024 will be deferred until an Annual General Meeting in August after decisions about the future direction of the Namibia Project Partnership with ACS International School Cobham. It has been necessary to survey the trustees about changes which need to be made following the postponement of the ACS students’ summer trips to Namibia, due to the impact of the Covid 19 restrictions. The student trip to Namibia will be reinstated in the summer of 2024. Upon election, each new trustee receives an induction pack including a range of key organisational policies and documents plus William MacAskill’s book “Doing Good Better.”
Additional Governance issues.
There is a child protection policy in place.
Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out before the commencement of trusteeship. These checks are carried out again every three years in line with statutory requirements. Safety Net, a National Registered Umbrella Body for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will provide DBS checks for the trustees in February 2025. (DBS checks were deferred during the academic year due to Covid 19 as all meetings continue to take place by Zoom)
OVERVIEW of the Namibia Project.
The Namibia Project started at ACS International School Cobham in 1998 to provide a student learning experience for 20 students and two teachers. Fundraising events were held throughout the year, and during the summer the student team went on an expedition to Namibia, for four weeks to visit and work on the Projects at our partner schools in Namibia.
In September 2015 the Namibia Project CIO was registered with the Charity Commission. The trustees were elected from a diverse group of people who have a real understanding of the needs to be met as they had either worked at ACS or gone to Namibia as part of the Project.
Since 1998, the Namibia Project has been indelibly affiliated with ACS Cobham International School. Under the stewardship of Ann and Rijn Brandse, 433 students made the annual trip to Namibia, fuelling a vibrant cultural exchange and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for struggling rural schools. We are profoundly grateful to the whole ACS community for helping to sustain this partnership, including after the Namibia Project spun out to become an independent registered charity in 2015.
In January 2024 Ann and Rijn Brandse verbally resigned from the Namibia Project board of trustees and gave an undertaking that they would support the Namibia Project charity by staying in post until the transitional Namibia Project Trustee board was in place at the end of June 2024.
5
Trustees’ consideration of significant risks and the system and procedures to manage the risks, protect the assets (reputation) and people.
The Risk Register Framework includes safeguards to prevent fraud and to reduce the risk of misuse of personal data (GDPR) plus a child protection policy.
The trustees are satisfied that these and all other risks in the register are adequately assessed and that appropriate steps are taken to mitigate risk.
Fundraising Policy
Section 162a of the Charities Act 2011 requires charities to make a statement regarding fundraising activities. Although we do not undertake to fundraise from the general public, the legislation defines fundraising as ‘soliciting or otherwise procuring money or other property for charitable purposes. Such amounts receivable is presented in our accounts as ‘voluntary income’ and include legacies and grants. Concerning the above, we confirm that all solicitations are managed internally, without the involvement of commercial participators or professional fundraisers or third parties.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits except for travel expenses to further the purposes of the CIO charity.
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document.
The objects of the CIO (“Objects”) for the public benefit are to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve goods or services of any kind in Namibia as the trustees may from time to time think fit.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit concerning these objects:
The Namibia Project Charity works in partnership with llKhuta!hoas Primary School, near Berseba, Kharas Region, in the South of Namibia and Dr Alpo Mauno Mbamba Junior Secondary School, at Rundu, in the North of Namibia.
In October 2020 the Namibia Project and ACS International School Cobham were linked. At the heart of this partnership our strategy was to focus on students and their learning outcomes. The goal was to work in Partnership on fund-raising campaigns to make a tangible difference to the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia.
The annual four-week ‘service learning’ student expedition to Namibia has been postponed from 2020 - 2023. The lockdowns at ACS International School Cobham affected the charity’s ability to fundraise on the campus. Fortunately the charity had ringfenced enough funds to continue the goal of feeding the orphans and vulnerable children at llKhuta!hoas Primary School and funding the two university scholarship students from Dr Alpo Mauno Mbamba JS School who were attending universities in Windhoek.
6
Summary of the main accomplishments of the charity during the transition year 2023-2024.
The new trustee board takes the Namibia Project into the future . Though no longer directly linked to ACS, the mission remains unchanged – to improve the lives and opportunities of orphans and vulnerable children at llKhuta!hoas Primary School and beyond.
SDG 2. Zero Hunger and Food Security, SDG 3 . Good Health and Well Being, SDG 4. Quality Education.
PRIORITISING KEY OUTCOMES for the Partnership with IIKHUTA!HOAS PRIMARY SCHOOL. KEY OUTCOMES - WHAT WE DID and WHY WE DID IT. WHAT WE DID: We improved the Food Security at llKhuta!hoas Primary School by purchasing protein-rich foods for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children, in the hostel. In 2022 - 2024. We have developed a sustainable school garden by providing shade cover, raised beds, improved irrigation and the purchase of high yield drought-resistant seeds. WHAT WE DID: Supplied Blankets for the hostel. WHAT WE DID: Educational Supplies and Support. We purchased stationery and office supplies
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
7
THE NAMIBIA PROJECT’S UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME - January 2019 - April 2024
The Namibia Project trustees can be justifiably proud that the charity was able to ring-fence enough funds in 2019 to enable two young people to attend university for four years; graduate; secure full-time employment in 2024 and change their lives.
The culmination of Oliver and Irmgard’s Journey from the Village of Rundu, to University in Windhoek and into the World of Work.
In April 2023 Oliver graduated from the Namibia University of Science and Technology and summarised his experience by saying, “I am who I am today, a final year student studying for a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Power, who is about to graduate on the 28th of April 2023, all because of the Namibia Project.”
Oliver completed his internship and was accepted on to a Graduate Training Program in Windhoek and now has a permanent contract with Windhoek Consulting Engineers.
In September 2023 Irmgard graduated from the University of Namibia (UNAM) with a degree in Secondary Education, Majoring in Accounting and Economics and summarised her experience by saying, “It has been a great and very beautiful journey. I don't even know what words to use to express my gratitude to the Namibia Project. I feel like “Thank you” is an understatement but it is all I have. Please continue with the exceptional work of changing lives!
Irmgard completed her teacher-training and has secured a full-time teaching position at Dr Alpo Mauno Mbamba JS School in Rundu.
In January 2023 Glen’s tuition for the final two years of study for a Bachelor of Science Degree at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) was funded by Namibia Students’ Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) He was unable to fund his accommodation, food and living costs. Thanks to the sponsorship from retired trustees and Namibia Project Alumni, Glen will now be able to complete his degree in December 2024.
Many Thanks to Tasha, Peter, Lolly, Lainey, Georgie, Paulee and Issy for making a difference!
Dr Andreas Elombo, the Namibia Project Trustee and Student Mentor will continue to meet regularly with our scholarship graduates to check on their progress and offer moral support when needed.
The contribution made by volunteers
Our trustees and volunteers had to resort to virtual fundraising in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the school lockdowns..
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
Financial Review
The financial objectives of the charity remain to raise sufficient income each year to cover the grants and expenditure for the year.
The trustees wish to retain a level of reserves to cover costs and grants in the event of a shortfall in income.
The trustees are of the view that the trust is a going concern
8
NAMIBIA PROJECT AGM and the CHAIR’S REPORT 2023 - 2024
We had guidance from the Charity Commission about remotely holding the AGM and confirming the trustee board for 2023 – 2024.
Chair Report for the Namibia Project Annual General Meeting on 19th August 2024
9
(arity in 2015. ourlw. Asth¢ Brar96¥f lhrbuSh lawrofa intothe fulure TtKJJgh nokxwthr bey. country Asa srrdlctsrtyopwabng (Jiry fv b09gSt cost cl Imfo Crtsts In w1 to do rmrewrfth . LLkity. OLr Thtrl&s3[a thgrfal CttNity, ytsthul gnwgy, th t wwgirwj rrokè•ach POJnd gofurthwthan O%W. HÉrèiStOa fthv. hrJ trw CA N8VtcaLÉ8l PrIAtTrItstÈQ Boa ¢W 2023. 20241 Etands8119991 Vaolm Niknin AwJpndi OBE) Suè L(Mè12W9, 2022, 2014, 2016) t.ArKgaS 16> Saf(NAI PhIllipX POI8 lartKTrpDuk)s120191 Jessth Kort (X)241
FiinJRE PLANS G0veM¢•.. In 21J20 the ch•rNy adopted the Chaflty Go¥ernBnce Code and Jssessment lernpL4t•to help the trustees to develop hlgh standard$ ol govemare. The woce55 was delerred trnnsmlon ol the partner5hlp th ACS cvJld be relnslated kn November 2024 Th•14Atlonal Coundl forVol•(trganlsIonS accepted the Naffllbla tharltyas a member. {NCVO) The trustees wlll have access tothe KMWI4 NoTrryofft slte and a oftools. model documents and guldance on compllan¢e. Sust11nab D0pment Goals 2023- 2024. The financlal Yloblllty ond SU3[nabl1YOI the Namlbla Projttt charity 11 berestored (¥Ke restrlthions have been Ilfted and thetharlty compfèted thetrttkn negotlatl¢Ms withiheACS Intematlonal Sd1 Cobham Partnershlp. NnlblA l¥oJttt N4wsktttt- NO¥Bffl 2023 Dttl•rnflon The iruee$ deClareth theyhwe aFvoNd thetrustees. rewt abob SIgrd on behdf of the Chart$ tnwtee$ SfgnAture.' Full Name.. Ilarfa Regu Posltlon.. Chalr Treasurerfs report on the Bccounts Report to thetsusteesthntserS ofthe Niffdblg Wei On accourfs theyear ended 301h June 2024. li
Statement of Flnancial Actlvlty for the Year Ended 30th June 2024 INCOME Dall¢ 1IJO8 13AY29 15m5 Totaftr 31388 fwds 31388 •V52 I328 11958 ISJ17 14.917 74.977 14.917 1.766 14.917 12
NAMIBIA PROJECT BALANCE SHEET AS AT 3DTH JUNE 2024 Mot• 2023 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at trankar ui haThl AlThnts due withwi one year TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILMES 1294 14.917 RESERVES P4vu1 ty the Inlee$ On 1Sh Augu 2024 and swjned on Iheir behatt FuUNm I 13
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Receipts and payment methods. This is because the Namibia Project charity has a gross income of less than £250,000. It consists of an account summarising all money received and paid out by the charity in the year ending June 30th 2024 giving a statement detailing the Namibia Project's assets and liabilities.
Income
Income for the year comprises donations and income from fundraising.
Expenditure
Expenses are stated in the statement of financial activities inclusive of VAT which cannot be recovered.
The main categories of expenditure are:
-
Charitable activity expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.
-
Costs of raising funds and fundraising costs.
-
Support costs are allocated over the above categories as appropriate.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted Funds: these are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
2. EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
| Charitable activities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 £ |
2023 £ |
2022 £ |
|
| Namibia school expenses | 3,287 | 9,394 | 28,926 |
| Scholarship Students | 6,201 | 15,336 | - |
| Volunteer expenses | - | - | - |
| Bank Charges | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| Postage and stationery | 105 | 73 | 189 |
| Sundry expenses | - | 26 | 15 |
| Media costs | - | 110 | - |
| Accountancy fees | - | - | 1,758 |
| 9,593 | 25,439 | 31,388 |
14
3. TAXATION
The Namibia Project falls below the tax threshold.
4. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
£971.09 of expenses were reimbursed to trustees in the year, no remuneration was paid to any of the trustees during the year.
5. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accruals | - | - | - |
6. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Balance at 1st July 2023 £ |
Incoming resources £ |
Outgoing resources £ |
Balance 30th June 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | 1,294 | 11,308 | 9,736 | 2,865 |
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS (Prior Year)
| Balance at 1st July 2022 £ |
Incoming resources £ |
Outgoing resources £ |
Balance 30th June 2023 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | 14,917 | 12,257 | 25,880 | 1,294 |
15