## **Novō Communities Annual Report and Financial Statements Year end 31 December 2022** ## WHO ARE WE? ## **VISION, VALUES & APPROACH** Novō’s vision is to bring freedom to individuals, peace to families, and hope to communities gripped by addiction. How do we do that? By empowering God’s people in developing nations to create transformational communities that offer healing, wholeness, and hope. Five core values shape what we do: integrity, empowerment, respect, excellence, and community. We view addiction as a whole-person (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) problem requiring 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 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** ## **TRANSFORMED LIVES** Addiction is complex. It's more than a simple 'problem'. Recovery is exceedingly hard. The journey to freedom is rarely smooth. In November 2016, Novō’s community in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, opened its doors to help men find healing, wholeness, and hope. Today, the work runs effectively under local leadership and has a measurable impact. 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. 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. Today, 65% of our graduates are in recovery. Each one is a son, brother, or father whose recovery has an impact that runs deep, far, and wide. Just as importantly, many more men have taken steps forward in recovery and experienced God’s love, expressed in word and deed, through our team. Half our residents come to us directly from sleeping rough on the streets. Since 2021, Novō has developed a relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) in Bolivia. Having assessed our work against international standards of addiction care, the UN considers Novō a centre of excellence and a model programme. ## **SOCIAL ENTERPRISE** ## **NOVO SERVICES & NOVŌ ADVENTURES** Quinta Totaices is also home to two businesses. Both these independent social enterprises donate 100% of their profits to Novō Communities and are registered under 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. ## **MULTIPLYING IMPACT** ## **EMPOWERING & EQUIPPING** Addiction is a global epidemic. With our work in Bolivia now well established, Novō is actively seeking to empower local teams elsewhere to develop effective and sustainable recovery communities. Rather than start new works under the ownership of Novō, our aim is to come alongside those called to serve those gripped by addiction, supporting them as they pursue their vision for creating a recovery community with mentoring, training, the Novō recovery programme, project evaluations, and broader sense of community and prayer support. Our long-term goal is to create a community of communities whose heart and approach are a model of compassionate addiction care in the developing world. In the coming years, Novō’s community in Bolivia will operate as both a rehabilitation centre and a context for equipping recovery workers from elsewhere in the world. As our capacity develops, we hope to be able to make financial grants that will enhance the effectiveness of our partners’ work. ## **REVIEW OF YEAR ENDING 31[st] December 2022** ## **BOLIVIA** With the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, we had hoped that 2022 would be a relatively uncomplicated year. Instead, political tensions in Bolivia led to a 60-day civic strike, called in protest against delays to a national census that has significant implications for the democratic health of the country. During this time, most roads were blocked, making travel in the city exceedingly difficult, businesses were closed, and supplies of food and fuel were disrupted. Rehab is challenging at the best of times. However, our work was made harder still because of staff struggling to get to work and residents being unable to leave the premises. We were able to adapt our work somewhat (e.g. conducting counselling sessions via Zoom), but the situation was far from ideal, and we saw the impact of the strike, particularly on the percentage of residents who were able to complete our programme. During 2022: - 23 men joined our community - 4 completed the 6-month therapeutic programme - 3 completed the 3-month transition programme - 2 completed our reduced-length programme for those who have relapsed - Our team delivered: - 167 hours of therapeutic groups - 541 hours of 1-1 support (counselling/key-working) - Daily practical work/training - Medical care, opportunities for sports and recreation, food, shelter and security - 43 visits to local churches ## **STAFFING** Throughout the year, the work in Bolivia was sustained by a stable, experienced team of staff and volunteers under the leadership of our National Director, David Salazar. During the year, our CEO, Andy Partington, and his family relocated to Managua, Nicaragua. 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. Additionally, he will focus on developing new partnerships through which Novō can multiply its impact in the coming years. Andy and his family are self-supported financially, drawing no salary from Novō Communities. ## **FINANCE** During 2022 regular giving to the charity dropped slightly to 50% of monthly expenditure. As we seek to expand our work beyond Bolivia, our budgeted expenditure will increase in 2023. As such, we will to need to raise in the region of £5,750/month in addition to regular monthly giving. We’re incredibly grateful to all those individuals, churches, and trusts whose compassion and generosity enable us to fulfil our mission. ## **PROPERTY** 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 soon funds permit. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTS** UK Novo Communities is formed as a charitable trust. The 4 UK based trustees have met 3 times in the 2022 accounting period and have included Andy Partington, our CEO based in Bolivia, via video link. In addition there have been frequent 1-1 discussions between trustees and Andy Partington, Facebook and Web site updates and a regular monthly update to a supporter group of up to 20 individuals meeting via Zoom to encourage and to pray. As previously, main UK trustee activities have been to manage donations, transferring funds to Bolivia, and acting as advisors in major decisions affecting the project. The Partingtons returned to the UK in early Summer prior to their relocating in Nicaragua in August. This enabled a number of face-to-face discussions with trustees and supporters. There were no trustee visits to Bolivia during the year. The local management team in Bolivia have fully risen to the challenge of the departure of Andy Partington, continuing to develop the work and taking new initiatives, but maintaining the systems and processes now well established. There are regular on-line meetings with Andy Partington. Canadian volunteer Lewis continues to manage the Novo Adventures operation which operates completely separately from the charitable work, and which has the help of a UK retired experienced commercial banker for additional longer-term guidance. 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. ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **Annual Accounts: NOVO Communities for the year 1[st] January 2021 to 31[st] December 2022** (Registered Charity Number 1164421) |Opening Balance|£4,498.96| |---|---| |Income for the Year|£102,855.32| |Transfers from Reserves|£14,572.50| |Transfers to Reserves|£6,700.00| |Expenditure for the year|£111,021.24| |Closing Balance|£4,205.54| |INCOME BREAKDOWN|| |-From Regular individual Giving|£41,944.00| |-From Corporate Entities
|£36,139.82| |-Through Stewardship
|£23,082.33| |-Through Stripe
|£1,689.17| |Total
|£102,855.32| |EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN|| |-Donorfy system
|£1,332.00| |-A Partington operational expenses
|£6,838.14| |-Bank Transfer fees
|£200.00| |-Funds Transferred to Bolivia
|£99,500.00| |-Bank Charges in UK
|£247.10| |-Cube Creative – Website Design
|£1,080.00| |-C Klitgaard – Website Fees
|£1,824.00| |Total|£111,021.24| |Reserves (as at 31/12/22)|| |Designated Property Fund|£700.35| |Designated Growth Fund
|£15,015.79| |General Reserve
|£1,421.98| ## **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 Independent ¢Mmfintr's report to the trllstees of Novo Communltles I rew)rt to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Novo Communities for the period end¢d 31 December 2022. Respon$ibi]ities and basfis of report As the charity trustees you are responsible for the PTq)aration of the accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of ihe Charities accounts carried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my ex&mindlion I have followed all the applicable Directions 8iv¢n by the ChaTity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. Independent esamlner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confum thal no Jnaterial matters have come to my attention in connectii)rt with the examination giving me cause to believe that in 8ny material respect: . acwunlin8 records were noi kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the A¢¢ or 2. the a¢¢ounts do not accord with those records. 3. the ￿COunts did not comply with th¢ applicable requxrements concerning the forni and contents of the accounts. set oul tn the Charities (Accounts alld Reports) Re8ulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view wbi¢h is not a matter CODsÈdeTed as part of an independellt examination. I have no concerns and have wme #cross no other matt¢rs in connection with the exan￿tIOn to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Si8ned: Helen Dodwell ACA 4 Hampshire Rise Warfield Berkshire RG42 3JW Date: 7 August 2023