2021-10-31-accounts

Rory’s Well Annual Report 31 October 2021

Rory’s Well is a life-giving charity working sensitively and co-operatively within rural Sierra Leone, empowering local people and transferring skills for future independence ...‘helping those in need to help themselves in a truly sustainable way’

This was our 6th year as a registered charity and our first year without co-founder Tony Evans, the driving force behind many of our initiatives but particularly the introduction of Agroforestry (inga Alley Cropping). However, his loss only made our commitment to Rory’s Well stronger and, although we were still impacted by Covid in regards to travel and fund raising, we managed to focus instead on supporting our partner PAD-SL in extending our village regeneration initiatives and improving our technology to operate within Sierra Leone, as noted below.

As we were not able to visit, we were cautious with spend and deferred starting large capital projects like building the Inga Training Centre until later in the year when we benefitted from funds promised in 2020 (LUSH). This late input of funds has left us with a slightly higher than normal reserve/carried forward balance but, with the prospect of another potentially hard year ahead in 2022, this means we should be able to honour all of our commitments to the communities we support and continue to work within the values we hold dear.

Rory’s Well 2021 Summary:

Inga Alley Cropping

The first crops planted in the alleys at Masarala were maize, planted at the start of the rains and harvested in August 2021. The results in our trial plots were impressive and showed that the maize harvest in the mature alleys was ten times that of the normal farming plot.

New Training Centre at Marsarala

Thanks to generous donors we have now started work to build the new Training Centre at Masarala. This will provide a focus for the Inga community training courses, research and development.

Community Women’s Farms

During Oct ’20-’21 we set up women’s farms with Inga agroforestry, and IVS rice farms with grain stores in Jewoma, Nongowa and Ngeyawamei. We also planted Inga alleys at Taninahun and Masarala, and Inga orchards at Masarala and Komende. On the demonstration farm we planted maize in the mature alleys, new orchard and normal farming plot and harvested yield in the ratio 10:5:1. The tree nursery grew 6,000 Inga trees and 600 native timber trees.

Bee Farming

Since the original project began in 2017, over 120 bee-farmers have been trained and, of these, 73 have been able to sell the honey produced. A total honey harvest in excess of 1,300 pounds was produced in two harvests in 2021. During the year, 88 bee-farmers from 18 Gola forest fringe villages were also given initial training. It takes at least two years for bee-hives to become meaningfully productive so we anticipate significant increases in volume in the coming years. We are monitoring and supporting bee-farmers with advice, so that they can increase their hive productivity.

Swamp Rice Farming

Five new villages entered the programme in 2021. In February a grain store and drying floor were built at each village. The next stage was to clear the land and dig the swamp drainage ditches and sluice systems. The harvest in December looked set to be a bumper one!

Water and Wells

Training: as with most charities, our objective is to make ourselves redundant. For that to happen we must train the villagers in how to maintain and service their own water pumps. Following a pilot of four courses in 2020, we have trained an additional 20 people from 7 villages this year.

Pumps: a total of 48 wells have had parts replaced and brought back to full working order. Since we received help from Arcadia Reach in manufacturing expensive Kardia parts we have been able to repair pumps installed by Oxfam and Wateraid 15-20 years ago which, unsurprisingly, are now needing repairs. By shipping spares from the UK, we have saved over £8000 and at the last count, Rory’s Well has 129 wells on its books, used by over 17,000 people.

*A more detailed summary of Rory’s Well 2021 Highlights is on the following pages...

Clean Water . Sustainable Farming . Livelihood . Training & Education . Bee Framing . Carbon Life Balancing

Details and impact of our programme in over 50 villages in South East Sierra Leone can be found on: www.roryswell.org

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Highlights from Rory’s Well 2021

Despite no visits from the UK being possible in 2021 Steven and PAD-SL have risen to all the challenges and achieved great things in 2021. Your support is helping change lives and agriculture in Barri. We’d like to share a few highlights with you:

Inga Alley Cropping

The first crops planted in the alleys at Masarala were maize, planted at the start of the rains and harvested in August 2021. The results in our trial plots were impressive and showed that the maize harvest in the mature alleys was ten times that of the normal farming plot.

----- Start of picture text -----
Traditional farming plot Rock phosphate only Mature Inga alleys
Maize: 8 weeks 3ft 6ins Maize: 8 weeks 4ft 7ins Maize: 8 weeks 6ft 7ins
Yield: 1 bag maize Yield: 5 bags maize Yield: 10 bags maize
----- End of picture text -----

New Training Centre at Marsarala

Thanks to generous donors we have now started work to build the new Training Centre at Masarala. This will provide a focus for the Inga community training courses, research and development.

Roll out of Inga to Community Women’s Farms

We have rolled out the Inga programme to five women’s farms this year and have funding to do the same for another five in 2022. We also have funding for three villages for the full farming package including women’s farms. If all goes well we will therefore have Inga in 13 women’s farms by the end of 2022.

Bee Farming

During 2021 the number of villagers trained to keep bees and build hives has increased and a follow up project with the RSPB/Gola Forest is training 88 men and women from 18 villages, on the margins of the Gola Rainforest.

Support from PAD-SL’s specialist team of bee trainers continues after the basic training with support in processing, packaging and marketing honey and wax products such as body lotions and creams.

Classes at Taninahun under the three year old Inga (left)

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Swamp Rice Farming

Five new villages entered the programme in 2021. In February a grain store and drying floor were built at each village. The next stage was to clear the land and dig the swamp drainage ditches and sluice systems. The harvest in December looks set to be a bumper one!

Grain store and drying floor (left) Preparing the swamp (lower left) Rice harvest in December at Ngeyawamei (below)

Water and Wells

TRAININ g – As with most charities, our objective is to make ourselves redundant. For that to happen we must train the villagers in how to maintain and service their own water pumps. Following a pilot of four courses in 2020, we have trained an additional 20 people from 7 villages this year.

PUMPS – A total of 48 wells have had parts replaced and brought back to full working order. Since we received help from Arcadia Reach in manufacturing expensive Kardia parts we have been able to repair pumps installed by Oxfam and Wateraid fifteen to twenty years ago which, unsurprisingly, are now needing repairs. By shipping spares from the UK Rorys Well has saved over £8000!

At the last count, Rory’s Well has 129 wells on its books, used by over 17,000 people!

We are especially delighted that generous individual donations enabled us to complete and commission the well at Turayla 2. This was a particularly urgent project as villagers were drinking cholera infected water and getting very sick as a result.

... and finally, after many years of confusion arising from different spelling of villages names, almost all the pumps are numbered enabling us to pinpoint overused or poorly used pumps. This has required our team on the ground to visit and identify each and every pump. None of this would have been possible without you, our generous sponsors and supporters.

Other exciting news ...

Clinic: Check out the story of how Rory’s Well helped the first baby to be delivered in the local clinic under solar lights after a scary pitch black delivery the week before... www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEatg-2lBqA

Jewoma Primary School: 60 children are now proudly sporting new uniform (made locally), shoes and bags. They are learning at desks under a safe, insulated roof, thanks to the magnificent efforts of Ashley Primary School, Walton-on-Thames.

Thank you and Happy New Year! From Rorys Well, PAD-SL and the villagers of Barri

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Rory’s Well The Keepers, Symn Lane Wotton-UnderEdge , Gloucestershire UK , GL12 7BD

Receipts and payments accounts for Rory’s Well for the tax year: 1/11/ 20 - 31/10/2 1

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Rory’s Well

Receipts and payments accounts for Rory’s Well for the tax year: 1/11/ 20 - 31/10/2 1

The Keepers, Symn Lane Wotton-Under-Edge Gloucestershire UK GL12 7BD

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Rory’s Well The Keepers, Symn Lane Wotton-Under-Edge Gloucestershire UK GL12 7BD

Receipts and payments accounts for Rory’s Well for the tax year: 1/11/ 20 - 31/10/2 1

For more information about Rory’s Well visit: www.roryswell.org or contact Karen Binns on: 07970 549443 email: [e-mail] Rory’s Well is a Registered Charity no:1165664

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Rory’s Well

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31st October 2021 on pages 1 to 2.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is required.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act

• to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention:

• (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect,

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charity (accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Miss Andrena Miles FMAAT AMM Bookkeeping & Accountancy 2nd Floor 11 High Street Fairford Gloucestershire GL7 4AD

Date: 12[th] June 2023