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2022-12-31-accounts

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

This Report is laid out according to Charity Commission Guidelines

Governing Document

Peace Partners is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO): “A type of Charity with Corporate Status and Limited Liability but governed solely by Charitable Law (Thus giving many of the advantages of a Charitable Company but without being subject to Company Law)”. The Governing Document also referred to as the CIO is presented in full (23 pages) on the Peace Partners website, but as a useful introduction the Objects of the CIO Peace Partners are printed in full below:

Names of Charity Trustees at date of approval

Jemma Couchman, Christine Waite, David Hughes, Christopher Pease

Names of Trustees who served in 2022

Those listed above plus: Pauline Cook, Phillipa Lyons, Barbara Andre

Public Benefit

As a charity Peace Partners is required by the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 to produce an annual report which makes clear the Public Benefit arising from its activities in 2022. This report was discussed and signed by the Trustees, having given due consideration of “Public Benefit” as laid out in the above regulations in their Annual Report meeting of 12th June 2023. This report lays out how the Charity met its Objectives for Public Benefit (as laid out in the CIO above) in 2022.

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Introduction

This account should be read in association with the Accounts, and particularly the Notes to accompany them (SOFA). A full financial breakdown of the following narrative will be found there. Peace Partners performs its functions through a group of unpaid volunteers who collaborate on specific projects such as Promotions, Fundraising Events, and individual Peace Education Programs. Meetings, organisation, and communication are conducted through the internet.

Underpinning this is the website which lays out what the Charity does and lists the volunteers with their duties, profile, and photo. There is an accessible archive containing important documents such as this one, News updates and Donation Portals for the various appeals that the Charity conducts.

Collaboration with Partners

The Charity seeks to achieve its objectives through partnerships with like-minded organisations whenever possible, primarily through co-operating with the Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) as described in the CIO above. This particular Partnership is mainly in the form of fundraising which is conducted through the website, as well as continued support of the Peace Education Program in the UK.

The Partnerships team have also worked alongside several other partners over the year, including events with PeaceCast.tv, a presentation for the Mayors for Peace Initiative, fundraising for Centrepoint and Trussell Trust, a peace garden and the signatory of the Peace Pledge UN Declaration with The Soroptimists (Croydon), and collaborated with Invest in Peace on some initiatives. This is not an exhaustive list, and we are very grateful for all the collaboration and fundraising opportunities which support our substantial Partnership network.

We are continuing to update our website and social media to reflect all the many Partnerships that Peace Partners have nurtured.

Peace Partners began their co-operation with Celebrate Life CIC (Music, Film, and Performance Events in London) through the screening of their film “Power to Change” to promote the Peace Education Program. This is covered in more detail in ‘Promotions’ below.

The Prem Rawat Foundation

The public benefit of TPRF is international; founded in 2001, it seeks to advance Peace, Dignity and Prosperity by addressing fundamental human needs. It does this through the flagship schemes of the Peace Education Program and Food for People, as well as cooperating with other agencies on Humanitarian Appeals such as the effects of the War in Ukraine.

A 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organisation based in the US, The Prem Rawat Foundation is funded by donors from more than 50 Countries. GuideStar and Charity Navigator give TPRF the highest ratings for transparency, fiscal responsibility, results, and management. Annual audits and reports can be found using this link: https://tprf.org/about-prem-rawat-foundation.

Although many individuals in the UK make direct donations to TPRF in the USA, there are a number who choose to do this via Peace Partners. This includes eligible taxpayers who can claim Gift Aid to fully realise the value of their contribution. By combining all these small donors into a number of large donations in response to each Appeal, Peace Partners becomes eligible as a large donor for TPRF Matching Schemes, where much bigger donors are able to Match our donations, thereby doubling them up to an agreed limit. In 2022 Peace Partners transferred £14,192 to TPRF.

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Activities in the UK

The Peace Education Program

An innovative series of video-based workshops; it helps people discover their own inner strength, and personal peace.

“The program gives participants the opportunity to focus and reflect on their own humanity, and their inner resources such as choice, hope, and dignity. Rather than describing or defining personal peace, the program empowers individuals to reach their own understanding. Everyone can benefit. The program has proven effective in a variety of settings including community centres, youth groups, schools, adult education programs, veterans’ groups, healthcare settings, senior centres, homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation facilities, and correctional facilities. The Prem Rawat Foundation provides access to the course materials to organisations and volunteers free of charge, making the Peace Education Program readily available to diverse populations in more than 80 countries and in 40 Languages.”

Peace Partners promotes, funds, assists, and runs Peace Education Programs (PEPs) in the UK.

Grants

In 2022 we provided a grant of £250 to the Peace Education Project at HMP Leeds, primarily for the printing of the materials used by participants in their workshops (all PEP workshops must be free with voluntary attendance). The Program is also used in several other prisons. We also funded DBS checks (via Devon County Council) for volunteers working with vulnerable groups. The Funds for these came from the Lottery fund awarded in 2019.

In response to a letter from TPRF: from our General Fund we assisted Dr M.R. Desai by paying a part of his expenses when he presented papers at the International Conference of the American Probation and Parole Association in Chicago (July), and later as the UK presenter at the International Association of Youth Mental Health Conference, Copenhagen (Sept/October) on work that is being undertaken in the UK, along with participation in seminars. The aim of this was not only to learn from what was happening, and promote the Program and network internationally, but also to the raise the profile of work in the UK regarding the Peace Education Program.

Promotions

In collaboration with Celebrate Life CIC and local communities the Film Celebrate Life was screened on the Isle of Wight and in Truro, Cornwall. This film tells the story of several individuals who suffered trauma. “In a time where youth violence is on the rise across the country, and with the poverty gap only increasing, Power to Change is a unique film that looks at the simplest solution: the innate goodness of a human being, who will make the right choices given the tools and encouragement to do so”. This was used to introduce audiences to the Peace Education Program, resulting in the creation and take up of Programs in those areas.

As an expansion of Peace Education Projects already in existence at two Colleges, Peace Partners volunteers set up and manned stalls at the Freshers Fairs of Coulsdon and Croydon Colleges. The Charity funded banners, leaflets, and freebies for the students (bags, badges, sweets, promotional materials stall and banner), to a total cost of £764.

Approx. 65 students signed their interest, plus there was a lot of interest from tutors. In October there were meetings with the college Student Experience Officers to further plan the delivery of a Peace Education Program adapted for use in educational settings, followed by Taster Sessions for Students.

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Activities

Throughout the year, the Charity worked with TPRF and others to continue the development of the Peace Education Program, including training, and support of volunteers. This included arranging and funding DBS checks. Another two laptops, along with sound bars, were purchased for use in Programs, bringing the total available to three. Peace Education Program Courses at Coulsdon already running were completed: one for Staff and one for Students.

The money for the promotions, support and activity described above came from a Lottery Fund award (2019) of £9,900 and the UK Projects and Peace Education Fund, which is financed by our donors. As the former diminishes, currently at £1,518 we will be able to draw on the latter, currently at £5881 while new grant applications are considered.

Organisation and Governance

Following the departure of the CEO Juli Hammersley in 2021, the Trustees continued to run the charity without filling her position in 2022.

In the spring, David Hughes joined the board of Trustees, and in July Nidhi Chouhan joined as as administrator. At the end of July, Pauline Cook left Peace Partners after inducting the current Treasurer into the role. Phillipa Lyons left at the same time. At the end of the year Barbara Andre also departed. At the time of writing neither has been replaced, although the posts have been advertised. Every one of the departing Trustees received a gift of flowers as a token of our appreciation.

Towards the end of the year the Trustees began the process of greater emphasis on Trusteeship rather than management of the charity. Volunteers were encouraged to take the lead more often.

Regarding Peace Education Program initiatives, Ronnie Cray was appointed in the summer to lead this area of activity. His experience in the Program and enthusiasm has begun to produce results. The Area Leads meet regularly producing a set of objectives for 2023. Another appointment to bear fruit was that of Promise Nwoko, Volunteer Coordinator and assistant John Littlewood. They have been active in recruitment using existing recruitment platforms, as well as some new ones, and assisting David Hughes and other Trustees in selection and induction.

At the time the new Treasurer took over from Pauline Cook the Trustee board had agreed to produce an annual report to R&P standard. However, with encouragement from the new Treasurer the Board agreed to return to the higher accrual SORP standard in which individual funds are identified as reserved or not. This was considered the best way to learn how to administer the finances of an active Charity, which by necessity needs to break money down into different funds to ensure that it goes where intended.

In the process problems with both QuickBooks (designed for a small business not a Charity) and Donation Manager (see Notes section b), and the full extent of the workload also became apparent. Thus, this report comes with the recommendation that the assistance of professional Charity software is considered.

Summary

2022 was a year of change, development, initiatives, and sound finances, which should bear fruit in 2023. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of all the Volunteers and Trustees, plus the generosity and patience of our loyal donors.

This report is dedicated to all of us.

Christopher Pease, Finance Trustee

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Peace Partners Annual accounts, Year Ending 2022

Statement of Financial Activities 1st Jan 2022 of Financial Activities 1st Jan 2022 to 31st December 2022
01/01/22 - 31/12/22 01/01/21 - 31/12/21
Unrestricted funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2022 All Funds 2021
Incoming Resources
Donations & Gift Aid 7940.865 12182.25 20123.11 17,682.20
(Received in Bank & PayPal)
Outgoings
Unrestricted Restricted Lottery Fund
Administration (Insurance) 145.6 145.6 145.6
Bank charges(HSBC) 199.83 171.09 188.97
Charity Checkout & PayPal fees
138.9
138.9 (Charity Checkout only) 13.84
Event costs 562.82 562.82 213.05
Learning Materials 376.7 376.7 299.71
Office/ general admin 41.99
Publicity and Communication 940.09 (Inc 3yrs Website adv Subscription) 940.09 233.32
Subscriptions 53
Training costs 55
Transfer to TPRF Partner 14,192.83 14,192.83 13,022.88
Grants 1,495.5 1,495.5 6,500.00
Other costs 83.9 83.9 19.52
TOTAL OUTGOINGS 3,003.82 14,192.83 939.52 18,136.17 20,786.88
20,786.88

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

ASSET PURCHASES Teaching Equipment 705.58 713.98 Total Spending 3,003.82 14,192.83 2,584.62 19,781.27 21,500.86 Balance unspent 341.84 Total 20,123.11

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Balance Sheet as of 31st December 2022
Assets and Liabilities 31/12/2022 31/12/21
Fixed Assets
Laptops minus depreciation@25% 1,241.7 713.98
Current Assets
Debtors
Weebly (Web Site) Advance Rental 391.03 0
Cash at Hand
HSBC 13,323.23 13,233.21
PayPal 1,583.43 392.08
Total Cash at Hand 14,906.66 13,625.29
Current Liabilities
Creditors due within 1 year 0 0
Independent Examiners Fee to be arranged 0
Net Current Assets 15,297.69 13,625.29
Total Assets less Current Liabilities 16,539.39 14,339.27
NET ASSETS 16,539.39 14,339.27
Represented by Funds
Capital Expenditure 705.58 713.98
General Fund (unrestricted) 8,471.12 9,824.16
Lottery Fund (restricted) 1,518.63 3,281.92
UK projects & Peace Education Program Fund(restricted) 5,881.62 5,281.62
TPRF Fund 0 0

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Accompanying notes, Peace Partners Annual Accounts year ending 2022. (Agreed 12/6/22)

These notes, although separate from the tabulated accounts, form part of the whole. They are ordered as specified in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 update and although not fully adhered to (being beyond the resources currently available), should reflect their spirit:

a ) Adjustments to last year’s figures

None to date

b ) Accounting policies and estimation techniques

In 2021 the Trustees agreed to present accounts on a Receipts and Pay-outs basis (R&P) rather than the accrual/SORP recommended by the Charity Commission. This was due to the resource implications arising from the departure of two key Trustees in that year.

Although resource issues remain, the decision was made to bring this report towards full adoption of the Charity Commission principles. Although not yet a requirement as our turnover remains below the threshold, the Trustees have agreed the need to strive for best practice.

All accounts are produced using the Excel spreadsheet. Income and expenditure are derived solely from the bank statement.

Dividing income into reserved and unreserved funds has been straightforward with regard to standing orders, online shopping funds such as Amazon Smile and any payment that originates via PayPal, whose statement, unlike other platforms, links all payments directly with their identified source.

Other online income is not so straightforward where the links (such as those in PayPal) are not so easily identified. At present all such income is collated on the “Donation Manager” platform which lists donations and donor identification. However, the money, when it comes into the bank from payment sites such as “Total Giving” and “Stripe“, does so in cumulative chunks. It is not linked to a donor.

Although we can match donors and donation at payment source via “Donation Manager”, it has not been possible so far to match the actual money received in the bank with the donor. This can lead to a mismatch, as we recently found when a recurring donation which had ceased several months before was still appearing on Donation Manager as being paid. This only came to light when the donor asked to be unsubscribed from our online bulletin.

This is likely to be the explanation for the initial £278.66 difference between donations identified in “Donation Manager” and actually received in the bank, i.e., there is less money paid into the bank than identified on the online platform. When the books were adjusted for the cancellation, the discrepancy was reduced to £98.76, so there is probably another unknown cancellation unaccounted for. At the time of writing money has been allocated to funds using reliable sources of information first of all, and then using the ratio between different funds collected so far to bridge any differences. A one-off mailing to donors to identify cancelled subscriptions is being considered.

The adoption of specialist Charity accounting software will be considered as another way to address the above problem, and also maximise our resources.

c) Material changes to accounting policies and techniques.

Previous years accounts were tabulated using Google Sheets. We have changed to Excel because of its more general usage and the “Save As” command which Google Sheets lacks.

d) Nature and Purpose of each Fund - Activities tabulated in Section (y)

Capital Expenditure As the Charity is mainly an online organisation there is little need for capital expenditure.

The exception is the two laptops and a tablet purchased over the last couple of years so for use in the various Peace Education Program projects.

General Fund This is the only unrestricted fund that the Charity uses. It is the repository for the Gift Aid

recovered from HMRC and is also used as a buffer to allow flexibility in passing on donations earmarked for The Prem Rawat Foundation with an amount equivalent to the gift aid due, added before it has been claimed. Funds that are collected on our website under the banner “Peace Partners – Where the Need is Greatest,” go into the General Fund. Payments for the running of the Charity such as to Zoom and Weebly website host, insurance etc. are paid from the general fund.

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Lottery Fund £9,900 was awarded to this Charity in February 2019 by the Lottery Fund for use in Peace Education Program projects in the UK. This restricted fund, now down to £1,518.63 has been used to buy the laptops and a tablet for example, and this year also to fund the stall as the Freshers Fair in a South London College. It has also been issued as grants to organisations running Peace Education Programs to cover their expenses, so that the courses remain free as specified by the Prem Rawat Foundation

UK projects & Peace Education Program Fund This Fund is similar in intent and use as the above and differs in respect of funding. This fund comes from Donations specified for this purpose received via the bank and PayPal. Although no payments were made in 2022, at the time of writing a major grant has been made in 2023 to the HMP Leeds Peace Education Programme Course.

TPRF fund This reserved fund contains donations received specifically for The Prem Rawat Foundation, often in response to specific appeals made by TPRF (the Charity’s purpose in partnering with this organisation is laid out in the CIO). Generally, the year ends with all of this money having been transferred with gift aid equivalent added, and generally topped up in addition from our unrestricted General Fund. Tabulated in Section (y)

i ) Details of Interfund transfers affecting restricted funds, with explanations

As described above the TPRF fund is topped up by additions from the General Fund. This year it amounted to £3,117.82 (full details in Section (y): TPRF fund). Donors’ wishes are honoured through the use of the phrase “Where the Need is Greatest” used on the appeal from which this money is sourced. There has been an implicit understanding that most of this would go to our main partner, TPRF since the formation of the Charity.

o) Grants Made

£1,245.50 was paid from our General Fund to fund some of the expenses of Dr M R Desai to attend an international conference of the American Probation and Parole Association in Chicago to present work that is being undertaken in the UK and participate in seminars. The aim of this was not only to learn from what was happening in the USA but also the raise the profile of work in the UK with regard to the Peace Education Program. Paid from General Fund.

£250 was paid from the Lottery Fund to C Kean head of the Peace Education Programs at HMP Leeds. This was for the printing of the leaflets and reading materials to be used on the various courses. There were also numerous small grants for Peace Education Programs such as CRB checks, leaflets, etc.

Grants to TPRF our main partner organisation: Over the whole year £14,192.83 was transferred to the Prem Rawat Foundation in respect of the following appeals: Where the Need is Greatest on 23/2/2022, £,3387.20; Ukrainian Relief Appeal, 4/4/2022, £5,299.25; Extending Kindness Appeal, 29/6/2022, £2,097.40; Awakening Dignity Appeal, 28/11/2022, £3,408.98. These appeals were topped up with recurring donations for the following appeals: Where the Need is Greatest, Peace Education Program International, and Food for People. The Charity received £11,141 in Donations earmarked for TPRF in 2022. Tabulated in Section (y).

p) Ex Gratia Payments

Flowers for retiring Trustees (2) totalling £73.90, via reimbursement of C Waite who purchased them on behalf of the Trustees.

q) Charitable Activities

Cost of work undertaken directly by the Charity itself

  1. Running Virtual Peace Education Programs on Zoom. No additional expenses were incurred in these activities.

  2. Peace Education Programs at Croydon and Coulsdon Colleges

  3. Funds were used to promote the courses at the respective Freshers Fairs. This included the printing and purchase of the necessary leaflets and promotional materials such as give away bags with the Peace Education Program logo etc.

C Waite was re-reimbursed £527.13 for the purchase of the promotional materials (the new Treasurer has not yet received a bank card at that point), and the printer invoice of £237.70 was paid by bank transfer. These expenses were paid from the Lottery Fund. The printing costs show up in “Learning Materials” on the balance sheet and promotional costs in “Event Costs”.

  1. CRB checks for Peace Education Program Volunteers

  2. The Charity pays Devon County Council to do these checks at £19.80 a time. Only one of these checks was paid for in 2022.

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Grant Making Activity See paragraph o) above

Support Costs

The Charity has no physical office; all administration is done online with no extra cost. Public liability insurance is £145.60 Zoom subscription £258.84 Weebly website subscription (see Debtors) £681.25; total £940.09 for online services.

Bank Charges of £199.83 include the costs of international transfers to TPRF.

s) Analysis of balance sheet figures for fixed assets

Debtors

The Weebly Website Host is a debtor. To get the best rate, the Web site Host was paid advance fees to October 2025, At the end of 2022, £391.03 was in credit.

Creditors : None

t) Fixed asset values

A depreciation rate of 25% was applied to the laptop purchased the previous year.

y) Any other information needed to give a true and fair view to assist the user to understand the Accounts

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

Major Peace Partner Funds in Tabular Form

General Fund

Description In Out Balance
Opening Balance 4542.54
Unreserved Donations 7940.87
Gift Aid from HMRC 1830.83
Admin etc Costs 1479.8
Transfer to TPRF Fund 3117.82
Grant to Dr Desai 1245.5
Closing Balance 8471.12

TPRF Fund

Category In Out Gift Aid Total+GA
Opening Balance 0
TPRF Where the need is Greatest 3901 519.05 4420.05
Awakening Dignity Appeal TPRF 588.78 177.5 766.28
TPRF Ukraine Relief Appeal 6291.51 707.5 6999.01
TPRF Extending Kindness Appeal 360 63.75 423.75
Transfer to TPRF Where the need is greatest 3387.2
Transfer to TPRF Ukraine Relief 5299.25
Transfer to TPRF Awakening Dignity 3408.98
Transfer to TPRF Extending Kindness 2097.4
Online Charges at source, made up via the General
Fund
66.28
Transfer from General Fund (of which £1830, was
reimbursed by HMRC and £1467.11 will be claimed
as Gift Aid)
3051.52
Totals 14259.11 14259.11 1467.8 12609.09
Closing Balance 0

Lottery Fund

Date Item In
Out Balance
1/1/22 Opening Balance 3413.73 3413.73

Trustees Annual Report 2022 Peace Partners

Peace Partners, 23 Hilltop Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, CR3 0DE. Charity Number 1166456

15/2/22 PEP Leaflets (publicity) 10.3
30/3/22 C Kean Grant (HMP Leeds) Materials 250
I/6/22 A Goodyear Printing 28
9/6/22 Mr J Griffiths (Laptop for use in courses) 705.58
23/8/22 Devon C.C (CRB Checks) 19.8
30/8/22 A Goodyear Printing (Freshers Fair) 75
20/9/22 C Waite sundries (Freshers Fair) 527.13
2/12/22 A Goodyear Printing (Freshers Fair) 237.7
27/12/22 J Griffiths Cable 5.59
31/12/22 Closing Balance 1518.63

UK Projects and Peace Education Fund

Opening Balance 5281.62
Donations 600
Closing Balance 5881.62

The CIO (Objectives) of the Charity:

To advance the education of the public in the subject of Personal Peace through the Message of Peace and the Peace Education Program, based upon the teachings of Prem Rawat, throughout the UK, and also across the world.

To support production of various promotional, multi-media! Teaching materials and support to help facilitate structured curriculum courses through the Peace Education Program courses which are held in education institutions, community groups, Prisons, veteran groups, and other interested parties throughout the UK, and also across the world.

For the public benefit, to help with relief and assistance of people who need food and access to safe clean water, by supporting and partnering with international charity organisations, in particular The Prem Rawat Foundation – www.tprf.org – and other similar charitable organisations across the world. Advancing health or the public benefit through supporting the teaching of basic hygiene skills and agriculture techniques, in the communities where the Food For People facilities are operational (currently India, Nepal and Ghana), to improve the health and hygiene standards in that community.

Nothing in this constitution shall authorize an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not chartable in accordance with section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and section 2 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.