Olive Harvest Trust - Chair’s Report 2021 AGM
My thanks to all supporters, many of whom had donated very generous amounts. The effect of the Covid 19 Pandemic has seriously hampered our efforts to give support in 2020 as we have been unable to visit the West Bank villages and see prospective projects. However, in spite of that we have helped Urif School with security on their gate and other items; we have funded PPE equipment, continued to support Burin agricultural project and helped with Brukin playground. We have been forced into Zoom meetings but it has had the advantage of cutting out travel to London and facilitating direct contact with our friends in the villages.
Thanks to the Trustees, especially Maggie, without whom the OHT would not exist. Thanks to Stuart for managing the accounts and to Mel for liaising with supporters. Thanks to Fiona for managing the website and Facebook page.
Andrew Eastaugh, Chair OHT
Treasurer’s Report
Stuart Sweeney submitted the Statement of Accounts from 1[st] January 2020 to 31[st] December 2020, which have been positively reviewed by Neil Irving and the Treasurer’s report on cash movements since 15[th] January 2021. This showed a healthy balance of £ 15384 to date.
An exceptional year for fund-raising with over £19.000.00 in donations including an amazing sum of £8,000.00 from Susanne Bjork for which our grateful thanks.
Despite not being able to visit, through liaising with our friends in the villages our total expenditure was £9,000.00 which is the largest sum of any year to date.
At the year end there was £18,800.00 in the accounts. Gift Aid of another £2,000.00 should follow shortly.
Thanks to Neil Irving for reviewing the accounts.
Accepted unanimously.
Reports by local representatives from the Villages where we operate
Urif School
Ayed Qot, the Headmaster, reported that the equipment such as laptops, curtains and heaters gave the students a better environment to work in. The repair of the roof had been completed successfully.
Maggie Foyer, Vice-Chair, asked Ayed if he had any suggestions for future projects which the OHT could help with.
- Painting of old wing of the school.
Now the asphalt roof had been repaired it was possible to re-decorate the old wing
and paint was needed.
- Balconies were very poor. Aluminium-framed windows were needed.
Maggie asked for costings.
Burin Community School
Nadel Awaad, Headmaster of Burin Schoool reported that there was an attack on the school by settlers who prevented a concrete foundation for a cattle house being laid. Nadel. He stressed the importance of this housing for large animals such as cows and goats as they won’t get complete status as an agricultural college without it. Burin people had been very supportive of the project and are insisting that the work is completed. It was hoped that they could work in the early morning to complete the concrete base.
Progress report on the agricultural project:
Greenhouses were in excellent condition. Sale of produce raised $2000.00. Much importance is stressed on the students in the agricultural stream learning to be selfsufficient in fruit and vegetable growing and animal husbandry.
The chickens donated by the OHT were in good health and producing 62 eggs a day.
The 8 female and 2 male rabbits grew to 27. A better breed with more resistance to disease will be purchased.
Maggie asked for ideas for future projects.
Nadel stressed that the work on the concrete base will be done bit by bit. 10.000 shekels will be raised by the villagers for this.
To complete the large animal shed there will need to be a 2 metre concrete and brick wall with an iron topping. The estimate for this work is 60,000 shekels.
Once completed, the name of the school will be changed to Burin Agricultural School.
Brukin playground
M aggie asked Murad Samara and Abdelkarim to report on Brukin.
Murad said that the education situation was the same in the whole of the West Bank. Those who had access to the internet were having lessons on Zoom and online. University teaching was also online only. Emergency Covid 19 regulations were still in place. The third wave was very bad and they were in lockdown for a further 4 weeks. 105,000 vaccines had been received by Medical staff, the over-75’s and those working with Israelis in industrial zones. They were awaiting vaccines from Russia and China.
Maggie asked if there were further plans for the garden. Murad replied that Covid restrictions had closed the playground but once re-opened there will be a need to renew some of the games.
The Olive Harvest Trust
Statement of Accounts 1[st] January 2020 to 31[st] December 2020
All amounts are in £
| Opening balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CAF Bank | 8829.87 | ||
| Cash (£, ILS) | 113.15 | ||
| Total | 8943.02 | ||
| Income | Expenditure | ||
| Total donations net of charges (2) |
18979.92 (1) |
Burin agricultural equipment | 2446.01 |
| FX Payment (Burin) | 20 | ||
| Urif roof repair, 2 computers | 4015.31 | ||
| Broqeen playground equipment | 1876.17 | ||
| FX Payment (Broqeen) | 20 | ||
| Business cards | 87.49 | ||
| Urif PPE | 480 | ||
| Jack Segal web hosting | 35.88 | ||
| Jack Segal OHT email | 107.57 | ||
| CAF monthly a/c fees | 60.00 | ||
| Total Income | 18979.92 | Total expenditure | 9148.43 |
| Surplus for the year | 9831.49 | ||
| Closing balance | |||
| CAF Bank | 18661.36 | ||
| Cash in hand | 113.15 | ||
| Total | 18774.51 |
| Notes | |
|---|---|
| 1. Major donations (gross) | |
| Mercer’s | 1722 |
| Susanne Bjork | 8085 |
| Andrew Eastaugh | 1460 |
| Helen Wheeler | 307 |
| Glyn Robbins | 1250 |
| Joseph Chrol-Cannon | 1250 |
| Kath Brown | 680 |
| William Watson - marathon | 870 |
| Rebecca Aoude - brunches | 1075 |
-
Some of the income figures are the net amount after Stripe (our payment company) has taken their fee: 1.4% +0.20p.
-
Despite several attempts to rectify the problem, our Gift Aid collection has not been working since the second half 2019. Stuart finally received a response from TotalDonate solving part of the problem. However, despite registering Stuart’s details with HMRC, the registration for GiftAid failed several times.
Stuart is now exchanging emails with a helpful HMRC representative who has pointed out the additional changes from Jane Attfield’s time that are needed and the new submissions have now been made and we await a response. The outstanding GiftAid at 31[st] December 2020 was £2060.
Prepared by OHT Treasurer, Stuart Sweeney, March 2021
I have reviewed the accounts of the Olive Harvest Trust covering the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 and the supporting evidence provided including copies of bank statements, copies of receipts and invoices for expenditure, and copies of records of income received. This review was not an audit but no matters have been identified which would give me cause to believe that in any material respect that the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.