2025-03-31-accounts - African Village Support

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date
From	1	04	2024	To	31 03	2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name African Village Support

Other names charity is known by AVS Registered charity number (if any) 1164318 Charity's principal address AVS c/o Curzon Green Solicitors 114-116 Oxford Street, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire Postcode HP11 2DN

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Marie Cates
	Stephen Cates
	David Cates
	Naomi Lumutenga
	Patricia Lewis
	Robert Green
	Suzannah Fullagar
	Alex Steele
	Amina West

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

TAR

January 2026

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
Financial	Jean Carless	As before.
Financial	Simon Carless	As before.

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

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

The charity is governed by a constitution.

How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation. (eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods Recommended and elected by the Trustees. (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

AVS is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees who are responsible for the charity’s strategic direction, governance and financial oversight. The Trustees bring a range of skills and experience which support effective decision-making and the delivery of the charity’s objectives.

One Trustee was born in Uganda and the remaining Trustees have visited Eastern Uganda on a few occasions to work directly with the charity. This enables the Trustees to maintain a good understanding of the local context and to see first-hand the impact of funds raised in the UK. Day-to-day management of projects in Uganda is delegated to the AVS Uganda Executive Board, which works with local village representatives. AVS Uganda is registered locally as a Community Based Organisation (CBO).

Both the UK Trustees and the AVS Uganda Executive Board serve on a voluntary basis. The Trustees maintain oversight through regular communication and reporting, ensuring that activities remain aligned with the charity’s aims and objectives.

Section C Objectives and activities

The Trustees have set a fundraising objective for the UK of £30,000 for the year , to support the delivery of the charity’s aims and activities in Uganda.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

In furtherance of its charitable purposes, AVS seeks to achieve its mission through the following objectives:

to relieve poverty among vulnerable families and communities through capacity building, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood projects;
to promote safe motherhood and improve health outcomes within vulnerable communities;

TAR

January 2026

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	• to provide educational support to orphans and vulnerable children; • to establish and maintain a functional community centre to facilitate community-led development interventions; and • to nurture and promote talent among young people through vocational education and training courses. In setting these objectives, the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe that the activities undertaken during the year have provided clear public benefit to the communities served.
	During the year, the charity undertook the following activities in furtherance of its charitable objectives, for the benefit of the communities it supports: • Education supportwas provided through sponsorships for approximately 15 students at secondary and tertiary levels, enabling continued access to education for children and young people from vulnerable backgrounds. • Alibrary facilitywas maintained to provide students with a safe and supportive environment in which to complete homework, undertake research and engage in general study to support their educational attainment. • During the year, the Trustees resolved to lease the girls’hostelto St Peter Claver School, Mbale, the institution we primarily support for educational provision. This decision was taken to ensure the facilities were used effectively, remained well maintained, and continued to benefit our sponsored students. The hostel now provides safe accommodation for up to 20 female students and teaching staff, thereby supporting safeguarding, sustainability of the premises, and continued access to education. • The charity supported up to 10women’s groups, through financial assistance, training, livelihood development, and agricultural and animal-rearing projects. We currently support ten groups, each with between 12 and 40 members. With an average of five family members per household, this means we positively influence approximately 1,300 people each year. • TheCommunity Centrewas operated and made available for use by local residents and organisations. The centre serves as a focal point for community activity and provides a venue for the delivery of many of the charity’s programmes. • Health-related activities were delivered to improve living conditions, respond to health needs and enable access to medical treatment for themost vulnerableindividuals within the community. This year we have supported twelve families with various needs. • The charity distributed over this year we distributed over 2,000 Mama bags. Each bag provides basic items to help with hygiene during the birth and immediate aftercare for both mother and child to expectant mothers. This programme aims to encourage regular attendance at antenatal services (at least four visits during pregnancy), promote delivery in healthcare facilities by qualified midwives, and support routine childhood immunisation.

Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

•
to provide educational support to orphans and vulnerable
children;
•
to establish and maintain a functional community centre to
facilitate community-led development interventions; and
•
to nurture and promote talent among young people through
vocational education and training courses.
In setting these objectives, the Trustees have had due regard to the
Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe that the
activities undertaken during the year have provided clear public benefit to
the communities served.

During the year, the charity undertook the following activities in
furtherance of its charitable objectives, for the benefit of the communities
it supports:
•
Education supportwas provided through sponsorships for
approximately 15 students at secondary and tertiary levels,
enabling continued access to education for children and young
people from vulnerable backgrounds.
•
Alibrary facilitywas maintained to provide students with a safe
and supportive environment in which to complete homework,
undertake research and engage in general study to support their
educational attainment.
•
During the year, the Trustees resolved to lease the girls’hostelto
St Peter Claver School, Mbale, the institution we primarily support
for educational provision. This decision was taken to ensure the
facilities were used effectively, remained well maintained, and
continued to benefit our sponsored students. The hostel now
provides safe accommodation for up to 20 female students and
teaching staff, thereby supporting safeguarding, sustainability of
the premises, and continued access to education.
•
The charity supported up to 10women’s groups, through
financial assistance, training, livelihood development, and
agricultural and animal-rearing projects. We currently support ten
groups, each with between 12 and 40 members. With an average
of five family members per household, this means we positively
influence approximately 1,300 people each year.
•
TheCommunity Centrewas operated and made available for
use by local residents and organisations. The centre serves as a
focal point for community activity and provides a venue for the
delivery of many of the charity’s programmes.
•
Health-related activities were delivered to improve living
conditions, respond to health needs and enable access to medical
treatment for themost vulnerableindividuals within the
community. This year we have supported twelve families with
various needs.
•
The charity distributed over this year we distributed over 2,000
Mama bags. Each bag provides basic items to help with hygiene
during the birth and immediate aftercare for both mother and child
to expectant mothers. This programme aims to encourage regular
attendance at antenatal services (at least four visits during
pregnancy), promote delivery in healthcare facilities by qualified
midwives, and support routine childhood immunisation.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

TAR

January 2026

During the year, the charity’s income was generated from a combination of UK-based fundraising activities and locally generated revenue in Uganda.

Approximately £28,000 was raised through UK fundraising activities led by the UK Trustees and a significant contribution from individual sponsors and supporters.

Income from the hire of the Community Centre facilities, including hall hire, catering facilities and the use of office services such as internet access, photocopying and typing also generated income locally which was reinvested into the centre and used for maintenance, repairs and updating facilities.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

The Trustees are committed to ensuring that funds raised are applied efficiently in support of the charity’s objectives. During the year, 99% of total funds raised were expended on charitable activities and associated governance costs. Expenditure was allocated as follows:

Education: 49%
Women’s livelihood projects: 14%
Support for vulnerable individuals: 4%
Community centre and conference facilities: 2%
Local staff costs and governance: 30%
Other charges (UK service providers): 1%

The Trustees consider this allocation of resources to be appropriate and reflective of the charity’s priorities and ongoing commitment to maximising public benefit.

Expenditure during the year was primarily focused on education and staff and local delivery costs, with the remaining funds supporting women’s empowerment initiatives, maternal health, vulnerable individuals, community facilities and governance. 1% was allocated to UK financial service and online donor portal providers fees.

Section D Achievements and performance

TAR

January 2026

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main The communities supported by AVS in Uganda are predominantly achievements of the charity subsistence farming communities, living in very challenging conditions, during the year often without access to running water or electricity and reliant on seasonal harvests for survival. The needs within these communities are wide-ranging; however, there is a shared understanding that quality of life can be improved through projects that empower individuals and families to achieve greater personal and economic independence. AVS focuses on enabling this empowerment through: • access to education and skills development; • improved health and wellbeing; and • targeted support for the most vulnerable members of the community.

Despite ongoing challenges during the year, the charity was able to: • maintain staffing levels at similar costs to last year;
• continue operating the Community Centre;
• provide food support to the most vulnerable individuals and families;
deliver the Mama Bag programme for most of the year; and
• maintain communication with student sponsors, encouraging the continuation of education support.

TAR

January 2026

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

AVS maintains a general reserve based on the generated cash surplus to meet any fluctuations in fund raising or commitments. Subject to the box headed “Further financial review details (Optional information)” below, there are no restrictions on the reserves.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

There are no funds in deficit.

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

The charity is supported primarily by individual donors, many of whom contribute specifically towards the educational costs of sponsored students. Fundraising events are organised to supplement this income, and the charity is registered with several online fundraising platforms.

A small proportion of the charity’s funding is received from charitable trusts that support smaller registered charities. Funds received from trusts are applied strictly in accordance with the specific purposes for which they are awarded, ensuring that restricted income is used solely to meet the relevant charitable objectives. As these funds are restricted, they are not included within the charity’s free reserves.

Section F Other optional information

As the sustainability of the Community Centre continues to strengthen and its use grows across both the public and private sectors, the AVS Uganda Executive Board undertook research to assess the need for associated accommodation for visitors to the centre and the wider town of Muyembe.

As a result of this work, it is the charity’s intention to develop an accommodation block providing up to ten en-suite rooms on the same site as the community centre, keeping it separate from the girls hostel and therefore accessible by all visitors, to be operated on a small-scale hotel basis. The Trustees anticipate that approximately 80% of the cost of this development will be met through locally generated funds, with the remaining funding to be secured through other charitable income sources.

This development is intended to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the Community Centre, create local employment opportunities, and enable the AVS Uganda chapter to further develop programmes aligned with the charity’s mission.

Through this initiative, AVS aims to continue improving—through sustainable and sustained support—the quality of life of people living in the villages of Bulambuli District, Eastern Uganda.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

RJ Green

Amina West Full name(s) Robert James Green Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Trustee Trustee etc)

TAR

January 2026

Date 30 January 2026 TAR January 2026

African Village Support		1164318
Receipts and payments accounts				CC16a
01/04/2024 Period start date For the period from	To	31/03/2025 Period end date

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 22,124 - 4,234 3 - - - - 26,361 - - - 26,361 23,954 324 - - - - - - - 24,278 - - - 24,278 2,083 - 27,658 29,741	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £ 22,124 - 4,234 3 - - - - 26,361 - - - 26,361 23,954 324 - - - - - - - 24,278 - - - 24,278 2,083	Last year to the nearest £
Donations/grants	22,124		- - - - - - - - -		24,308
Income tax -gift aid	-
Fund-raisingevents	4,234				-
Sundryreceipts	3				2
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	26,361				24,310

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-		- - -
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
			-		24,310

Direct support forprojects in Uganda	23,954		- - - - - - - - - -		30,014
Indirect support costs	324				378
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
**Sub total **	24,278				30,392

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*
			-		30,392

	2,083		-		- 6,082
	-		- -	- 27,658	-
	27,658				33,740
	29,741		-	29,741	27,658

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

22/02/2026

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at	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 B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Details Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details RJ Green A West	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 27,658 - - - - - 27,658 - Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name A West R Green	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
	A West	A West	25/02/2026
	RJ Green	R Green	25/02/2026

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

22/02/2026