## **Novō Communities** ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements Year end 31 December 2021** ## **VISION & VALUES** Novo’s vision is to bring new life to individuals, peace to families, and hope to communities ravaged by addiction. We do that by empowering God’s people in developing to create transformational communities that offer healing, wholeness, and hope. Five core values guide who we are and what we do – integrity, empowerment, respect, excellence, and community. ## **APPROACH** Established in 2015, Novō builds on the work of Yeldall Manor, a UK charity which has been providing residential addiction treatment for over 40 years, in ways which fit the cultural, economic, and social realities of the local context. Our communities centre on Christ, focus on the whole person, express grace & truth, promote freedom & responsibility, partner with a variety of local churches and organizations. We view addiction as a whole person problem (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) that requires a whole person solution. We believe that long-term recovery is achievable, whatever a person’s story or circumstance, and that the best foundation for true freedom from addiction is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ. However, we will never impose our viewpoint upon anyone, recognising freedom of choice in faith, as in other areas. We welcome and value applications from men from all walks of life, background, ethnicity, culture, and faith. ## **NOVŌ BOLIVIA** ## **Transformative Community** Our first residential community opened in November 2016 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, at the heart of South America. 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. Quinta Totaices, our home in Santa Cruz, is a sizeable colonial-style property on the edge of the city, the Quinta is an ideal location for delivering our two treatment programmes. We have space for up to 22 men in recovery. 1 On our 24-week Therapeutic programme residents address the past and prepare for the future, staying for the most part within the security of the Novō community of staff and residents. On our 12-week Transition programme, the focus is on ‘putting into practice’ learning and growth from the recovery programme and establishing relationships in the community. Both programmes involve 1-1 counselling, recovery groups, opportunities to explore and grow in the Christian faith, vocational work and training, as well as the wider benefits of life in community. In recovery groups, residents share their autobiographies, relapse prevention plans, and other individual projects and explore a whole range of subjects, such as triggers to relapse, communication, and ‘triggers’ to relapse. ## **Social Enterprise** Quinta Totaices is also home to two businesses. Both these independent social enterprises donate 100% of their profits to Novō Communities and are registered as a limited company in Bolivia. Novō Services is a property and garden maintenance business. The primary focus of the business is the provision of a context for work training, skills formation, and the development of communication skills, character, self-esteem, and positive habits. We offer our manpower free-of-charge to other charities and social organizations, giving our residents that opportunity to serve the wider community. Novō Adventures is a motorcycle tour company, catering primarily to international customers. ## **NOVŌ NICARAGUA** The need for ‘cities of refuge’, where the hurting and broken can receive the restorative embrace of God and His people, is growing year by year. As such, our strategic focus is on empowering national leaders to launch recovery communities that are effective, sustainable, and model best practice in addiction care. To this end, our CEO, Andy Partington, and his family will be moving to Managua (Nicaragua) during the summer of 2022 to begin a learning and networking process that we hope will lead to the launch of a residential Novō community in Nicaragua during 2024. Andy will continue to oversee the work in Bolivia, connecting with the Novō Communities and Novo Adventures teams virtually and through twice-yearly in-person visits. Andy and his family are self-supported financially, drawing no salary from Novō Communities. ## **REVIEW OF YEAR ENDING 31[st] December 2021** Inevitably, 2021 hasn’t been an easy year. However, day by day, God has strengthened us and helped us, upholding us with his righteous right hand, and we have never felt his presence more clearly. Despite a range of COVID measures, we have been able to keep our doors open to new admissions throughout 2021. Unfortunately, until just a few weeks ago new arrivals have had to isolate on site 2 for a 7-day period. This has deterred some applicants and made integrating into the community difficult for those who have joined us. Other aspects of the programme (such as voluntary work for latter stage residents and family visits) have also been disrupted. Despite these challenges, 8 men graduate this year and, of course, many others made important steps forward in faith and recovery. A total of 33 men have now completed our programme, 60% of them continuing in recovery. This year, we also had the joy of seeing five of our residents being baptised. At the end of March, we were visited by the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) Representative in Bolivia, Thierry Rostan, and his team. The UNODC is sponsoring the introduction of international standards for addiction care in Bolivia and made their visit in that context. The feedback we received was a great encouragement to the whole team, highlighting the fact that we are considered to be a model programme and centre of excellence. The relationship with the UNODC will continue in the year ahead. During the Spring, we also had the opportunity to deliver a 12-week addiction/recovery training course to six members of one of the larger local churches. Our hope is the run a similar course each year onsite at Novō. We’ve made some important changes to the programme during the year. We have increased the time residents spend in recovery groups. During these times, residents share their autobiographies, relapse prevention plans, and other individual projects with one another, and explore a whole range of subjects, such as emotions, triggers to relapse, prayer, taking personal moral inventory, and setting goals. We have also divided our residential programme into two distinct programmes, rather than seeing it as one programme with two stages. The first programme is a 6-month THERAPEUTIC programme, during which residents address the past and prepare for the future, staying for the most part within the security of the Novō community of staff and residents. The second programme is a 3-month TRANSITION programme, during which the focus is on ‘putting into practice’ learning and growth from the recovery programme and establishing relationships in the community. Our purpose in making these adjustments is to recognize that whilst most men will benefit from the TRANSITION programme, some have good support in the community (close family, a supportive church, employment) and can graduate with their heads held high, with a celebration, not feeling like they left prematurely Financially, we have been encouraged to see regular giving to the charity increase to 60% of monthly expenditure. We continue to need to raise £3,100/month to cover a budget made up almost exclusively of fixed expenses such as rent, salaries, utilities, and food. We’re grateful to all those individuals, churches and trusts whose compassion and generosity enables us to fulfil our mission. In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, we continue with a secure and reasonable rental contract 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. 3 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTS** UK Novo Communities is formed as a charitable trust. The 4 UK based trustees have met 4 times in the 2021 accounting period 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. The largest issue has been the planning of the intended move of the Partingtons to Nicaragua and their prior period in the UK. Also checking that the work in Bolivia will continue to be well managed and governed by local staff. The ongoing Covid situation has meant that there were no trustee visits to Bolivia during the year. 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. They meet weekly for prayer and study, and to overview and manage Quinta Totaices. David Salazar, an experienced local Bolivian manager, is effectively 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. 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. 4 ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _Please note the financial year has been changed from starting on 16 Nov to starting on 1 January to simplify accountancy, and for this report is given in 2 parts_ **Annual Accounts: NOVO COMMUNITIES for the year 15th November 2019 to 31[st] 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 5 ## **Annual Accounts: NOVO COMMUNITIES for the year 1[st] January 2021 to 31[st] December 2021** (Registered Charity Number 1164421) |Opening Balance|£1,804.98 Credit| |---|---| |Income for the Year|£108,827.92| |Net Transfer To Reserves|£25,001.43| |Expenditure for the Year|£81,132.51| |Closing Balance|£4,498.96 Credit| |Income Breakdown|| |- Impact Giving|£13,200| |- Credit Interest|£1.47| |- Direct Private donations|£45,004| |- From other bodies & Charities|£14,260| |- Stewardship Giving|£27,030.56| |- Giftaid|£5881.89| |- Cheques & other gifts|£3450| |TOTAL £108,827.92|| |Expenditure Breakdown|| |- Transfer to A Partington exp|£5,530.43| |-Transfers to Bolivia|£72,712.48| |UK Expenditure|| |- Bank Fees & Charges|£313.25| |Drug Testing kits|£214.75| |Website costs|£1080| |- Donorfy Fees|£1281.60| |TOTAL £81,132.51|| |Reserves|| |Starting Balance|Nil| |Transfers from Reserve|£5,000| |Credit Interest|£1.47| |Transfers to Reserve|£29,999.96| |Closing Balance|£25,001.43| 6 ## **ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **Charity Name** : Novo Communities **Charity Registration Number:** 1164421 **Registered Office & Operational Address:** April House 3 Eastcourt Burbage Wiltshire SN8 3AG ## **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. 7 l ￿pOrt to the trustees on my examÈn3tion of the xrnunts of Novo Communities for the period ended 31 December 2021. Respon4bllltlesand basis of Yeport As the charitytrusrees you afe responsible for the preparation of the a(tounts in ac¢ordance with the requirements of the Charttie5 Act 20111.the ACVI. l ￿pOrt in respect of my examTrnation ofthe Charities accounts camed out undersertion 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out myexamination I have followed all the applicable th"reciion5gNen by the Charltycommi55ion undef sedion 14515Hbl of the kL I have completed my examination. I conffimi that no material matter5 have come to my attention in connection with the eyamination gr¥inB me cause to belie¥e that in any material respect.. l. accounting records We￿ not kept in respectofthe charrryas required by sertion 130 of the Act.. or 2. the accounts do acc(Yd wlth record 3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable reqU1￿ments concerning the fomi and ￿ntents of the accounts. set out in the Charibes IAccounts and Reportsl Re8ulztions 2(Th other than any requirement that the accourts give a'true and frdirf view which is not a rnatter Cor￿lde￿ as partof an independent examtnation. I have no toncefll5 and have come acro55 no other matte15 in connection with the examination to whth attention should be drawn in this ￿port in orderto enable a proper understanding ofthe attounts to be read￿d. SIBned- Helen Dodwell ACA 4 Hampshiie Rise Watheld Berkshire RG42 3JW Date.. 28 July 2022