Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ending 31[st] December 2020
VISION & VALUES
Novō’s vision is to bring glory to God, new life to individuals, peace to families, and hope to communities by creating transformational communities in developing nations. We serve those who are addicted, homeless, isolated, and unemployed.
Our work is guided by our core values – integrity, empowerment, respect, excellence, and community.
APPROACH
Novō builds on the work of Yeldall Manor, a UK charity that has been providing residential addiction treatment for over 40 years, in ways that fit the cultural, economic, and social realities of each local context.
Novō communities are founded on Christ, focus on the whole person, partner widely with local organizations, are characterized by grace and truth, and promote freedom and responsibility. We view addiction as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual problem that needs to be treated holistically. We believe that long-term recovery is possible, whatever a person’s story or circumstances.
We believe that the best foundation for true freedom from addiction is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ. However, we warmly invite people of all faiths and none to join our communities.
NOVŌ BOLIVIA
Our first community opened in 2016, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Bolivia is an incredible country, a place of breathtaking scenery, engaging people, and incredible natural and human diversity. It is also one of the poorest countries in Latin America and one of the most unequal countries in the world. Bolivia is also amongst the world’s largest growers of the coca leaf – the raw ingredient of cocaine and crack – and a centre for its production.
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Novō’s community in Santa Cruz has capacity for 22 men in recovery from addiction. After an initial orientation/interview phase, we offer two distinct programmes: a residential recovery programme lasting 6 months a residential transition programme lasting 3 months. We also offer a reduced-length programme to ex-residents who need support to learn and bounce back from a relapse. Each of these programmes involves therapeutic recovery groups, 1-1 counselling, opportunities to explore and grow in the Christian faith, a work/training programme within the context of a loving community.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Additionally, we also operate a property maintenance business, and Novō Adventures, a 4x4 and motorcycle tour/rental company. Both of these businesses operate independently from our charitable work and are registered as a limited company in Bolivia.
The primary focus of the maintenance business is the provision of a context for work training, skills formation, and the development of communication skills, character, self-esteem, and positive habits. The business offers its manpower free-of-charge to other charities and social organizations, giving our residents that opportunity to serve the wider community.
Novō Adventures’ purpose is to generate profit to support the work of Novō Communities. Once pandemic restrictions on international travel lift, we hope this creative approach to income generation will enable us to expand the scope of our work in Bolivia and reduce our dependence on charitable donations.
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Living and working in Bolivia is our CEO, Andy Partington, the former Director of Yeldall Manor. Andy and his family are self-supported financially, drawing no salary from Novō Communities.
REVIEW OF YEAR ENDING 31[st] December 2020
Novō Santa Cruz
A full coronavirus lockdown was in place from 22[nd] March - 1[st ] September 2020. As such our doors shut to new admissions for just over 6 months. Those men already with us continued to progress through the stages of the programme and we continued delivering 24/7 supervision and the core elements of our programme, greatly aided by the members of our team who live on-site and, of course, platforms such as Zoom and WhatsApp.
Recovery groups, church attendance, counselling, discipleship groups, and the fellowship/growth that comes from living in community, have all continued either virtually or in person. However, family visits and the trips-out designed to strengthen residents’ ability to function clean/sober in the community, and build relationships, had to cease for a time. Our work/skills programme also had to pause off-site activities, both the operation of the property/grounds maintenance business and the voluntary work placements completed by residents in the re-integration phase.
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Novō Tarija
Towards the end of 2019, we made the difficult decision to close our work in Tarija at the start of 2020. Valuable work had been on a 1-1 basis with those battling addictions, as well as depression, anxiety, and marital issues. Nevertheless, we had been conscious that, whilst counselling in the community is valuable work, Novō’s vision is the creation of transformational communities . Since the launch of Novō Tarija in 2017, we struggled to move beyond 1-1 work, with individuals pursuing recovery in the community (as opposed to entering a residential facility) seemingly reluctant to gather together to support one another in group settings. This appears to have been the result of an unforeseen cultural factor, relating to shame, and a valuable learning experience for our team. Additionally, we did not feel confident that funds would emerge, locally or internationally, to sustainably launch a residential community in Tarija in the foreseeable future.
Programmes
Despite our doors being shut for 6 months, 27 men joined our community during 2020. Our average occupancy was 13. During the year, a total of 5 men completed the recovery programme, 9 the transition programme (4 who complete the recovery programme in 2019), and 2 men completed our reduced-length programme for those who have relapsed. Our staff team delivered 172 hours of therapeutic groups, 387 hours of 1-1 counselling/key-working, alongside skills/work training, medical, practical, and personal support to our residents.
Budget Review
In May 2020, in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic, we completed a comprehensive budget review. This has resulted in a 30% reduction in planned spending in 2020/2021. We are confident that these economies will not undermine the quality of the work. In fact, we believe that the economies we are making will prove to make the work in Santa Cruz more efficient, sustainable, and replicable.
Fundraising
We are most grateful to the individuals, churches, and charitable trusts whose generosity makes our work possible. In July 2020, we launched the Padrino Project. Novō Padrinos (Godparents) support the work of Novō Bolivia by sponsoring a place on our programme through a recurring monthly donation. There are 5 levels of sponsorship available – Medical, Therapeutic, Practical, Recovery, Full. By the close of 2020, approximately 50% of our operational budget was covered by regular monthly giving, putting us on a much firmer foundation than has previously been the case.
Property
In Santa Cruz, we continue with a secure and reasonable rental contract (which now extends until May 2024) for Quinta Totaices, an ideal base for this work. Quinta Totaices is a sizeable property located on the edge of the city, meaning our staff can reach it on public transport, our residents can receive visits from family, and our income-generating businesses can operate within the bustling economy of the city. There is an agreement with the owner to purchase the property, as funds permit.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTS
UK Novo Communities is formed as a charitable trust. The 4 UK based trustees have met 4 times in 2019/20 and have included Andy Partington, our CEO based in Bolivia, via video link. Main UK trustee activities have been to manage donations, transferring funds to Bolivia, and acting as advisors in major decisions affecting the project. Also ensuring that Andy Partington and family are encouraged and cared for in their expatriate posting and providing expert resources and support in the area of publicity and media, finance, and connection to Yeldall skill base. There were no trustee visits to Bolivia in the 2019/20 financial year and in 2020 visits were postponed through the Covid epidemic.
The UK trustee team has been unchanged throughout this period. We are grateful for occasional local voluntary support to the trustees on specific subjects, including help with the setting up, detailed inputs, and gift aid management of the new Donorfy system.
The local management team in Bolivia is given the maximum freedom to develop the work within the broadly agreed objectives. The team has continued to mature and has remained stable. They meet weekly for prayer and study, and to overview and manage the Quinta Totaices. David Salazar, an experienced local Bolivian manager, is leading the day to day activities of Quinta Totaices, leaving Andy Partington to manage the longer term, its direction, and with Canadian volunteer Lewis to manage the changes needed in Novo Adventures as a result of the Covid crisis. The team have an experienced local lawyer on employment contracts and other staff issues.
Novo Communities Bolivia is registered as a ‘Foundation’ under Bolivian Law, broadly equivalent to a UK charity. It is registered with all local authorities and services, and is audited annually in accordance with Bolivian law. Trustees are Andy Partington, Warren McCaig and Walter Vaca (local businessman and church leader)
The trustees have had regard to the guidance from the Charity Commission on public benefit and confirm that the whole work is directed towards the Object of the charity, currently focussed on Bolivia as the pilot project.
Board of Trustees:
Mr Trevor Childs (Chair), Mr Ian Hudell (Treasurer), Mrs Sharon Klitgaard, Mr Jonathan Horne
Leadership Team (Bolivia):
Dr Andrew Partington CEO Mr David Salazar Project Coordinator
Andy Partington is funded personally by donations separate to Novo Communities.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Annual Accounts: NOVO COMMUNITIES for the year 16th November 2019 till 31 December 2020 (Registered Charity Number 1164421)
Opening Balance £13,903.59 Credit Income for the Year £94,546.80 Transfer from Reserves £3000.20 Expenditure for the Year £109,645.61 Closing Balance £1,804.98 Credit Income Breakdown - Impact Giving £9,300 Loan Received £1,000 - Direct Private donations £26,916 - From other bodies & Charities £20,381 - Stewardship Giving £34,564.75 - Giftaid £2,385.05 TOTAL £94,546.80
Expenditure Breakdown - Transfer to A Partington / Bolivia £106,369.08 UK Expenditure - Bank Fees & Charges £562.55 Drug Testing kits £117.60 - Loan repaid £1,000 - Donorfy Fees £1,548.40 - IT Fees £47.98 TOTAL £109,645.61 Reserves Starting Balance £3,000.07 Transfers from Reserve £3,000.20 Credit Interest £0.13 Transfers to Reserve nil Closing Balance nil
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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Name : Novo Communities Charity Registration Number: 1164421 Registered Office & Operational Address: 11 Emmets Nest Binfield Berkshire RG42 4HH
TRUSTEES DECLARATION AND REPORT OF THE EXTERNAL EXAMINER
The trustees declare they have approved the above annual trustees report
Signed:
Trevor Childs, chair of trustees.
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