Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 5[th] April 2024 To 4[th] April 2025
Charity name: Wind Empowerment
Charity registration number: 1165510
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Wind Empowerment (WE) supports the development of locally built wind turbines for sustainable rural electrification. This is achieved by strengthening the capacity of its members through: Building and sharing financial and human resource connections, performing joint technical research, sharing technical information and collaborating on key vendor relationships, Strengthening understanding of business and social models for effective implementation of small wind technology, Managing projects, offering consultancy services and developing/distributing products in line with the association’s guiding principles and in the interest of the members. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Wind Empowerment organises workshops, conferences and knowledge exchange events to disseminate knowledge relating to open source locally built wind turbine and rural electrification technologies. WE also conducts research and development activities to develop these technologies, and to understand how they might better serve the needs of rural communities globally. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Both the Board of Trustees and Executive Board of Wind Empowerment are assured that Wind Empowerment’s activities meet the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | This FY Wind Empowerment were able to run their biannual conference in Greece. Central to this was bringing together practitioners and experts from around the world to share knowledge, this was done in a hybrid manner but we also sponsored global south delegates to attend. We were also able to finalise projects around water pumping in argentina and peru, as well as support maintenance and construction of turbines across the regions our partners are active in. Our Conference galvanised groups across the world and particularly helped us create collaborative networks in Africa, including electing to the Board Josephy Aginya, who lives in Ghana, and has been able to influence our ways of working. |
| Financial Review | ||
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | As of the end of the financial period in question (April 2025) Wind Empowerment had sufficient funds to meet contracted obligations along with reserves |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Wind Empowerment held the policy of retaining reserves to the value of three months of operating costs for the Executive Board, in order to enable fundraising activities to launch new Wind Empowerment activities. Wind Empowerment operates exclusively on a grant/project basis. Most recently the Board have decided to take no salary so that reserves can reflect website and cloud maintenance, and maintain stability for years to come. No salaries are being paid until reserves are stronger. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £5,516 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the |
Para 1.23 | Due to unsuccessful fundraising efforts the board agreed to carrying out activities on a |
| charity continuing as a going concern |
||
|---|---|---|
| voluntary basis and forgo payment, which resulted in reduced outputs, reserves sufficient for several years according to current outputs. The board are maintaining this position until further stability can be realised. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s %trusts: |
N/A | |
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Wind Empowerment is governed on a legal basis by its constitution, and on a working basis by its charter. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | The charity is a CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are elected every two years during the Wind Empowerment Conference, at the same time as the election of the Executive Board. In the first instance, election is by consensus of all attendant Wind Empowerment members (as individuals - including those voting/nominating by correspondence). In the event that an election is contested or controversial, this triggers a formal voting process whereby only members of the Wind Empowerment Association with formal voting rights (defined in the charter as non-profit organisations) are eligible to vote. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Wind Empowerment |
| Other name the charity uses | Wind Empowerment Network, Wind Empowerment Association |
| Registered charity number | 1165510 |
| Charity’s principal address | Lawn Cottage Wyver Lane BELPER DE56 2EF |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
| Alfred Alsop | N/A | |||
| Jon Leary | N/A | |||
| Marco Ogno | N/A | |||
| Howard Cramer | N/A | |||
| Ben Campbell | N/A |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Full name(s)Alfred Alsop Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Trustee of the Board Date17/05/26 |
Alfred Alsop |
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Date Payment in/out Amount (£) Description General / Conference / Projects
18-Nov In 470 Reimbursing Conference Costs Conference
14-Nov Out 768.48 Caterer (Greece) Conference
24-Oct Out 1,882.90 Transport throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
21-Oct Out 78.16 Accommodation throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
21-Oct Out 1,695.52 Accommodation throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
21-Oct Out 1,695.51 Caterer (Greece) Conference
08-Oct In 466.27 Reimbursing Conference Costs Conference
03-Oct In 467.37 Reimbursing Conference Costs Conference
03-Oct In 480 Reimbursing Conference Costs Conference
02-Oct Out 148.5 Transport throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
30-Sep Out 324.85 Transport throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
30-Sep Out 224.38 Transport throughout Conference (Greece) Conference
17-Sep Out 1,624.97 Flights Sponsorship (Uganda) Conference
13-Sep Out 765.85 Flights Sponsorship (Kenya) Conference
11-Sep Out 1,812.42 Flights Sponsorship (Ghana) Conference
02-Sep Out 153.03 Insurance (Kenya) Conference
27-Aug Out 218.43 Insurance (Uganda) Conference
09-Aug Out 26.95 VISA [unsuccessful] (Nigeria) Conference
29-Jul Out 155.6 VISA [unsuccessful] (Nigeria) Conference
26-Jul Out 404.33 VISA (Kenya) Conference
22-Jul Out 410.5 VISA (Uganda) Conference
22-Jul Out 33.72 Flight reservation (Ghana) Conference
17-Jul Out 944.35 Project Costs for Wind Empowerment Partners in India Projects
16-Jul Out 931 Website maintenance and repair General
07-May In 4000 Donation General
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