## Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust **2023 / 2024**
## PONT Trustees Annual Report
Charity number: 1166910
partnerships tackling poverty together
The trustees present their report of the charity for the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. The
Financial Statements for the same period are also attached. Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1166910. It more commonly uses its working name of PONT.
The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in March 2005.
## SECTION A: ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
## **Trustees**
Kathryn Rickards BSc (Chair of Trustees) Dr Geoff Lloyd MRCP MRCGP, Coordinator Howard Smith CEng MIET Julian Martyn Newton Cllr Jayne Brencher Marga Quince Richard Griffiths John Maurice Comissiong Dr Gaynor Louise Penrose
## **Non Trustees**
Rebecca Westwood, Treasurer
## **Principal Office**
Cartref Pencerrig Street Graigwen Pontypridd CF37 2HS
## **Bank**
Lloyds Bank, Market Square, Pontypridd
## **Independent Financial Examiner**
Luke Silver Accountancy & Taxation Services 25 Ellicombe Close Minehead Somerset TA24 6DQ
Annual Report 2023/2024
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## SECTION B: STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust is a registered charity, number 1166910, and is constituted under a trust deed dated 2nd July 2008.
New trustees are appointed by existing trustees; there is no fixed term of service for a trustee. The trust deed requires that there shall be at least 3 trustees.
The trustees meet at least twice a year and agree policies and regulations to be used by the trust and its committees. They also perform strategic planning. All trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Kathryn Rickards serves as chair of the trustees.
The trustees have appointed a Management Team and several committees to oversee the projects, grants and activities of the trust. Each committee is required to fully report its activities and proceedings to the trustees within 2 months. It shall conform to any regulations and policies that have been put in place by the trustees.
The following committees have been adopted.
|**Name**|**Area of Operation**
**Chair**|**Area of Operation**
**Chair**|
|---|---|---|
|Health
Improvement of Health
Dr Gaynor Penrose|||
|Education
Linking Schools, supporting teachers and teaching
through sharingof expertise,awareness raising
Philip Rickards|||
|Livelihoods
Relief and Prevention of Poverty amongst children and
vulnerable families
Robert Hutt / Jayne Brencher
(joint chairs)|||
|Engineering
EngineeringProjects to assist communities
Howard Smith|||
|Churches
Overseeing links between Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT)
and Mbale churches and deliveringholistic mission.
Andrea Keay|||
|Environment
Promotion of sustainable living and prevention of
environmental degradation.
Marga Quince|||
|Wildlife Education Centre and
Eco-Lodge
Educational resource for the local schools and income
generation.
Dr Geoff Lloyd|||
|University
Mobilising the resources of Tertiary Educational
Institutions
Marga Quince|||
|Communications
To enable effective communication with the public on
the charity’s activities
John Comissiong|||
|Finance|Propose financial procedures and regulations to
trustees. Oversee the charity’s accounts.|Rebecca Westwood|
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The majority of these committees maintain a relationship with an equivalent committee in Mbale, Uganda. They have delegated responsibility for the allocation of one or more restricted or designated funds. They arrange for monitoring and evaluation of any projects that they fund.
The Management Team has been created to undertake agreed functions with the consent of the trustees. These include:
- Management of paid staff and contractors in UK
- Preparation of bids to UK and international donors with, or on behalf of PONT committees
- Development of policy documents
- Development of administrative functions
- Co-ordination with Mbale PONT regarding staffing, funding issues and the development of procedures.
The Management Team generally meets monthly and is chaired by Marga Quince. It invites others to attend from time to time for agreed purposes.
PONT works in partnership with a number of local organisations in Mbale, Uganda to pursue its objectives. To coordinate the work that we do with NGO partners, we asked them to create an umbrella organisation Mbale-PONT which is governed by a board which has representatives from each of the member NGOs. The majority of the running costs of Mbale PONT are met by a grant from PONT UK.
PONT has also encouraged the creation of a wider body in Mbale - the Mbale Coalition Against Poverty (Mbale-CAP). Mbale-CAP has charitable status in Uganda, receiving grants for Mbale-CAP running and project costs, including onward transmission of funds to support NGO partners in delivering and monitoring of projects. In addition to the NGO partners that make up Mbale-PONT this body includes representatives from the district governments of Mbale, Manafwa, Bududa, and Namisindwa and Mbale City. Mbale-CAP has also been able to secure funding from other organisations.
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## **PONT ORGANISATION STRUCTURE**
Annual Report 2022/2023
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## SECTION C: OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The relationship between the community of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) in South Wales and the community of Mbale District in eastern Uganda was started in 2005 as an initiative of the charity Pontypridd Christian Concern (PCC). PCC created a subsidiary organisation “Pontypridd Overseas Networking Trust” to foster this partnership. From the outset the aim was to add our weight to the efforts of our partners to eradicate poverty in the region. Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust was created as a separate charity in 2008 to continue this work.
The objects of the Trust are defined in section 4 of the Trust Deed as follows:-
_The objects of the trust are to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health (both physical, spiritual and social) by the provision of funds, goods, services of any kind, including through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of Uganda or the world as the trustees from time to time may think fit particularly but not so as to limit the generality of the foregoing by means of the exchange of people, resources and ideas between the community of the County of Rhondda Cynon Taf in South East Wales and the community of Mbale, Bududa, Manafwa and Namisindwa Districts of Eastern Uganda._
The Trustees have formulated the following Vision and Mission statements:
## VISION:
To eliminate absolute poverty throughout the Mbale region of Uganda.
## MISSION:
To encourage, empower and resource those helping people out of poverty in the Mbale region, Uganda through a network of personal and organisational relationships whilst learning from each other and enriching one another's lives.
The activities of PONT fall into 3 categories
1. Facilitating visits by individuals and committee representatives between our 2 communities.
2. Linking of institutions and professional groups.
3. Development and grant funding of projects which contribute to the charity’s aims.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The activities of PONT are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015) insofar as we possess the skills, experience and expertise to support our Ugandan partners. The relevant SDGs are noted below
|**Committee**|**Area of Operation**
**Sustainable**
**Development Goals**|**Area of Operation**
**Sustainable**
**Development Goals**|
|---|---|---|
|Health
Improvement of Health
1, 2, 3, 5, 6.|||
|Education
Wildlife Education Centre
(Schools – University)
Linking Schools, supporting teachers and teaching
through sharing of expertise; educational resource for
local schools; heritage wildlife now absent from the
local area.
1, 4, 5, 6, 8.|||
|University
Mobilisation of resources of tertiary educational
establishments for innovation and development.
2, 6.|||
|Livelihoods
Relief and prevention of poverty amongst children and
vulnerable families; income generation skills
development.
1, 2, 4, 6.|||
|Engineering & Appropriate t
Engineering projects to assist and develop
communities and train5, ing opportunities for young
people.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11.|||
|Environment|Promotion of sustainable living and prevention of
environmental degradation.|2.|
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
**VISITS** VISITS TO MBALE AND UK
During the year 2023/24 there were various visits to Mbale. Following positive experience of using video conferencing meetings during Covid restrictions, some committees have continued these on a regular basis, with the associated benefits of closer contact between visits.
The following visits to Mbale took place (numbers of visitors in brackets):
August 2023 Churches team (23); February 2024 Engineering/environment (4), Medical(9), Education (2), Livelihoods (3)
**LINKING**
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
Over 100 Welsh schools have been linked with Partner Schools in Mbale including Schools catering for pupils with disabilities.
- The main purpose of the partnerships is to create friendship links between schools and to:
- Extend pupils/staff’s views of the world, embracing the concept of global citizenship.
- Enable pupils to learn about and respect one another’s cultural differences by sharing of ideas and experiences.
- Enable intercultural dialogue, increased knowledge of one another’s societies and enhance the schools’ curriculums
## LIVELIHOODS
The PONT project set up to provide support for orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC), is currently being delivered through boosting the incomes (livelihoods) of poorer families. This is achieved by assisting with the formation of self-help/savings groups to provide loans for payment of school fees and materials as well as start-up funds for various income generating activities. Goat rearing is another significant part of the scheme. This is an income generating activity which can easily be managed by most families whilst also producing numerous side benefits such as milk and manure. To date over 1,000 goats have been distributed to poor families, many of which look after orphaned children of their relatives in addition to their own children.
Training for the self-help groups and goat beneficiaries and associated dedicated goat supervisors is undertaken with the aim of producing long term sustainable change. 5 local NGOs are supported to run and monitor these activities in conjunction with the Mbale CAP Livelihoods Coordinator.
## ENGINEERING
The Engineering team supports the work of a mechanical workshop in Mbale, with equipment originally supplied by Tata Steel. The workshop fabricates items such as beds and cots, peanut hullers and playground equipment, and machines shafts and other items to support machinery used by other local industries. It also provides vocational training in these skills. The aim is to raise the standard of fabrication and machining, technical specifications, financial forecasting, costing, management (including health and safety) and apprenticeships.
The team also installs solar electricity panels in PONT-linked primary schools in Mbale region, providing two light fittings and a double socket in each classroom, the head teacher’s room and storeroom, together with a laptop and technical support during the year if required. This facilitates administration in schools where 600+ students on the roll is the norm, as well as internet access for communication and to give access to up-to-date teaching techniques and materials. This work also provides employment for local suppliers and electricians. In the future it is planned to provide projectors to enable use of the laptop in teaching and for video conferencing with the school’s Welsh partner.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
The engineering team supports and services the work of the other parts of PONT in Mbale and the UK.
## CHURCHES
The PONT church committee connects local church congregations in the Pontypridd area with congregations which are part of an Mbale Pont association of churches. This enables joint projects in welfare and mission as well as regular visits for church leaders and members in both directions.
## WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE AND ECOLODGE
The WEC (Wildlife Education Centre) has been constructed on a small parcel of land overlooking Mbale. This contains a collection of local animals which is used to educate the PONT schools in the importance of preserving local wildlife through interactive sessions and hands on experiences. All schools in the region are invited to bring along classes to the centre free of charge.
An Ecolodge has also been opened on the site providing a restaurant, a bar and 8 double bed Bandas.
Members of the public can pay to visit the WEC and/pr use the Ecolodge.
## HEALTH
## PRIMARY CARE
PONT Primary Care Committee links with Mbale CAP Health Committee supporting Community Health Worker development and partner capacity building. GPs and other health staff contribute to training through exchange visits.
PONT-Mbale Primary Health Care aims to improve community health and uptake of preventive government health services by:
- training volunteers, forming a network of community health workers in Village Health Teams
- safeguarding sustainability by retention of volunteers’ commitment and skills through ongoing update training
## AMBULANCE
Ambulance staff volunteers from Wales Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) link with Mbale CAP Health committee and PONT PHC in delivering Emergency skills training and development of the Integrated Emergency Response Service
PONT Ambulance team aims to help save lives by:
- supporting volunteers training in lifesaving skills
- facilitating access to skilled health care through development of an integrated call-out transport service for maternity patients and people with emergency health needs
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
CWM TAF PONT HOSPITAL GROUP
The Royal Glamorgan Hospital in RCT is linked with the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (RRH). The link has been in existence since 2007. The linking committee includes staff from Radiology, Endoscopy, Midwifery and A&E.
PONT-Mbale Hospital team aims to support improved care and practice throughout hospital departments and disciplines of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) through:
- training and exchange visits
- service development
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## **PROJECTS**
In addition to being the catalyst for the creation of projects which result from school, community and church links, PONT develops and funds its own projects using the expertise and money available to it. We invite our community in Wales to donate to restricted funds that are created for each project. In addition, PONT accesses grant funding for these projects. The trustees have delegated responsibility for selecting, developing, and monitoring these projects to the relevant subject committee.
## EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
## **Developments/Projects**
Some school partnerships continue to remain strong with schools in regular contact using emails and WhatsApp, while some need revitalising. Members of the PONT Education team both in Wales and Mbale continue to keep in contact with all schools to provide help and encouragement, arranging school visits to speak with staff and pupils. Schools are being encouraged to work as clusters to help and support each other. The Newport cluster was fortunate to obtain Taith Funding in order to develop their curriculum links with schools in Mbale. They will visit Mbale in June 2024.
In Mbale the Examination Committee continued to prepare and distribute sample examination papers. The work with puils having disabilities continued as did the Special Educational Needs training for teachers. Other training sessions were held on Guidance and Counselling, Academic Training and Creating Strong Partnerships.
Two members of the PONT Education Committee visited Mbale in February 2024 when, as well as visiting schools, they attended and spoke at the Mbale PONT Education( AGM. A zoom link enabled members of the PONT Education teach in Wales to address the meeting direct, and the Mbale teachers were given a short guided tour around one of the schools in Wales.
During the visit, thanks to solar electric power having been installed by the PONT Engineering team, another school in Mbale was able to make contact directly by video link with their partner school in Wales. Children were able to see and talk with each other. This was a fantastic new experience for all involved.
Some schools in Wales helped support their partner school with items such as stationery, sports kit, etc.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## LIVELIHOODS
The Livelihoods team supports projects including self-help groups, savings groups, start-up business skills training and the goat project mainly through personal effort: fundraising activities have included selling Ugandan crafts at local markets, a sponsored walk “Plod 4 PONT!”, pub quiz, talks to interested outside organisations and the sale of PONTdesigned Christmas cards. Again this year, the financial target was exceeded allowing the projected 3-year plan of funding to continue.
The partners we work with are 5 local NGOs overseen by Mbale-CAP. Each NGO pinpoints a community to set up a self-help group, encouraging 30 individuals to attend. Once this is functioning well a savings scheme is introduced. Members are encouraged to save
weekly, however small the amount; they can then borrow money from this community basket to pay school fees, purchase household goods or set up a small business with the loan repaid at a low rate of interest. Once the self-help and savings groups are well established then goats are introduced.
Goat rearing is a significant part of the scheme. Within a community group, the members decide who will receive a goat; they are distributed to poor families, single mothers and widows, many of whom look after orphaned children of their relatives in addition to their own children. This is an income-generating activity which can easily be managed by most families whilst also producing numerous side benefits such as milk and manure. Owning a goat was shown, in quarterly reports, to empower women and significantly improve the self-esteem of group members. The quality of the goats provided and the goat management training provided are much appreciated.
Training for the self-help groups, goat beneficiaries and dedicated goat supervisors is undertaken with the aim of producing long term sustainable change. Five local NGOs are supported to run and monitor these activities in conjunction with the Mbale CAP Livelihoods Coordinator.
Reports from the NGOs are submitted quarterly, outlining training events, developments and case studies. This year training took place in
leadership, goat management, business skills and group dynamics. Use of community baskets enabled groups to develop new initiatives, which have been documented in the regular quarterly reports.
Three members of PONT Livelihoods in Wales visited Mbale to strengthen relationships, observe the projects and discuss aspects of development with our partners.
Profuse thanks must go to the MCAP Livelihoods team in Mbale for their considerable dedication and hard work in delivering our projects in sometimes difficult circumstances.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## CHURCHES
The PONT Churches committee has continued to encourage the 9 partnership links between churches in Mbale and South Wales. Representatives of the churches in Wales have continued to meet to share news and encourage each other, strengthening links across denominations. They have facilitated individual churches to financially support their partner church’s outreach to the most vulnerable in their Mbale communities.
In August 2023 a team of 11 adults and 3 teenagers went to Mbale, where several children’s activity sessions were completed by the team at the church attended each day by over 150 children attended. During visits, Churches and other team members – whether Wales to Uganda or Uganda to Wales – attend their partner churches to worship together.
The women’s prison was visited where the baby room walls were painted with the scene of Noah’s ark.
The team also had the privilege of being taken to different areas where we were able to talk and pray for some of the residents of the villages.
As a team money was raised by completing various fund-raising projects in Wales, and some of this money has been used to have a number of the sewing machines serviced and additional funding provided for a teacher to teach some of the local students sewing skills, and 18 students subsequently graduated.
Two schools were visited which are twinned with schools in Wales:
Bumbobi Primary School - Twinned with Gwaunmeisgyn Primary in Beddau
Joseph Musoto RC Primary School - Twinned with Maesybryn Primary in Llantwit Fardre.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
HEALTH - PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, AMBULANCES & SECONDARY CARE
## **Primary Health Care**
This year we trained an additional 240 community health workers (CHWs) using a generous grant from the Welsh Government. This means we have now trained a total of 1440 CHWs in the Mbale region. We worked with our eight partner NGOs to deliver the training over a seven month period. This means that 240 villages in Mbale region, hitherto devoid of primary health care, now have their own trained health worker. Each one is expected to reach out to a population of around 500 people meaning that 120,000 people are being impacted by these newly trained workers.
Training used the tried-and-tested Ugandan Government Community Health Promoter Curriculum. Training consisted of four weeks of in-person teaching, punctuated by at least two weeks of field work, where learners had practical sessions and were supported in tasks such as making village maps, cleaning water sources and doing a problem analysis of their communities with intervention plans. Trainers were provided by the district health office and the training was overseen by Mbale-CAP’s health co-ordinator.
Candidates were chosen by local village leaders, people who had already shown a concern for health and hygiene in their villages. Pre-training and post-training test results revealed that all participants gained in knowledge and reports from the NGOs demonstrated excellent engagement. Evaluation forms revealed a high level of satisfaction with the training.
Key objectives for CHWs are to reduce maternal mortality, to reduce child mortality in the under 5’s, to promote good hygiene and sanitation and to refer appropriately.
Training of community health workers
Monitoring was carried out during the medical team visit in February 2024, when we were able to meet some of PONT’s newly trained health workers. We witnessed them teaching about “the 14 points of a healthy home” and watched a demonstration of how to construct a simple but effective hand washing facility, a “tippy-tap”. We interviewed a number of CHWs and beneficiaries and were delighted to hear about the impact that the health workers are having and the confidence they bring to their communities.
## **Mental Health**
During our visit Welsh psychotherapists worked with Ugandan mental health professionals to deliver a “skilled helper" to 60 of our most senior community health workers, the OPLs (Operational Level Workers). Having focussed on the understanding and recognition of severe mental illness last year, this year’s skilled helper course addressed the vast majority of mental health problems on the less severe end of the spectrum.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
Extreme poverty, domestic violence, polygamy and early marriage are just some of the common issues faced by villagers in Mbale region. The course aimed to provide tools that village health teams could use to make people feel heard and to alleviate distress and stigma. There was a particular emphasis on active listening skills and simple Cognitive Behavioural Techniques were taught.
Training of Operational Level Workers
The first tuktuk ambulance constructed in the PONT Uganda workshop.
## **Motorbike ambulances**
This year we manufactured the first fully-registered and Government-certified Tuk-Tuk ambulance in Uganda, at the PONT engineering workshop in Mbale. This was made possible through a grant from Festival Medical Services (FMS). This prototype is undergoing further testing and modification before permanently joining our existing fleet of motorbike ambulances. The plan is to expand production over the coming months and years in order to provide lifesaving emergency transport to many more mothers and children. Local manufacture avoids the difficulties and costs of importing and will provide new employment opportunities.
Our motorbike ambulances made over 3,000 journeys during the year, a number lower than previously due to some of the ambulances needing major repairs. This has been rectified and all ambulances are now back on the road.
In February 2024 Welsh paramedics ran a brief update course for our 32 Motorbike Ambulance riders. We are hoping to deliver the full first responder course to all drivers, old and new, in February 2025.
## **Secondary care**
A large grant from Welsh Government for oxygen (initiated during the Covid pandemic) continued to benefit Mbale Regional Referral Hospital this year, having improved oxygen infrastructure. Unfortunately the planned oxygen manufacturing plant had still not materialised, being dependent on funding from other sources.
Sadly, the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital is still in need of new endoscopes. The original ones had been donated by PONT some years previously, but became worn out and were impossible to repair. We are hoping that funding for new endoscopes will be found.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE AND ECOLODGE
The Wildlife Centre continued fully operational throughout the year, and the number of school visits and general visitors continues to gradually increase. The average is now 300 each month.
All the animals at the wildlife centre continue to do well. They include Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys (all of which have had young this year), two Serval cats, two pythons, a crocodile, two crested cranes, two camels, a donkey, two Ugandan kobs, Gambian pouched rats and several small mammals.
New animals added this year include a Patas monkey rescued from the community and 4 new Guinea fowls.
This year another half acre of land was purchased to expand the safari compound ready to take more animals next year.
Two years ago an Eco-Tourist Lodge was opened on the site. This has been designed in typical African fashion with large conical thatched roofs. There is a new website for the lodge: www.cwmbaleecolodge.com
The main lodge has a restaurant to seat 64 people and a large lounge area. There are currently 8 Bandas which can accommodate 16 guests. A variety of walks and safaris are available from the centre. The centre can be used for PONT teams but can also be rented out to provide an income. All profits from the Lodge will be used to support PONT-CAP projects, especially primary healthcare and motorbike ambulances. Over the past year 4 thatch umbrellas have been added around the gardens, each of which seats 6 guests around a table.
The Lodge and Wildlife Centre between them have 29 staff.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
PONT ENGINEERING
During the period the group worked on various projects, the key ones of which are detailed below. The usual visit to Mbale took place in February/March, and again was 3 weeks to accommodate the amount of planned project work.
420 recorded hours of skilled professional time was contributed free of charge for the purposes of the group. Many hours of unrecorded time were also given.
## **1.Mechanical Engineering Workshop IGA Project**
The general business side of the workshop is still struggling to reach viability, with construction work on the adjacent Ministry of Agriculture building still hindering the workshop. In the meantime a level of local employment and apprentice training is continuing to be provided. Regular video conference meeting have been held, mainly with the manager, in order to provide monitoring and advice to support the business.
As part of the long term strategy identified by the medical team of PONT in collaboration with Mbale-CAP, there is a need to obtain more ambulances to explain the existing motorbike ambulance service across the whole region. During the year a major project was embarked upon to design our own ambulance based on a standard locally available tuktuk chassis. By the end of the period a fully functional prototype had been designed and built. Comprehensive testing will take place over the next year, and it is hoped to start production of the units to increase the PONT fleet and also for external customers for a competitive price.
The first PONT tuktuk ambulance produced at the PONT Uganda workshop
Musiye school lit up!
## **2.Solar power**
Stage 1 of the system for the primary school at Musiye was completed during the visit, providing electricity in 2 buildings. A laptop was also provided to the Head Teacher with basic training given in its use. It is planned to complete the project during the coming year, extending the system to the other buildings.
Schools previously provided with solar power systems were visited, and some minor repairs made and further advice on the use of the systems and the associated laptops.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## **PUBLIC BENEFIT GUIDANCE**
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
## SECTION D: RESERVES POLICY
The PONT trustees have adopted the following reserves policy
## **General Fund**
The annual budgets for the General Fund include the following expenditure
1. the core costs of the charity
2. the grants given to cover the core costs of Mbale PONT.
The General Fund will hold sufficient assets to cover between 6 and 9 months of these expenditures.
## **Designated Funds**
The PONT Management Team may from time to time designate funds to be used by a committee to cover future project expenditure. Such funds must be spent within 12 months of their designation unless a longer period has been specifically authorised by the trustees.
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
SECTION E: DECLARATION
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 1993, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees on by:
Kathryn Rickards Geoff Lloyd Trustee Coordinator
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
## Statement of Financial Activities
For the Period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
|Notes
**Incoming Resources**
Voluntary income
2
Investment Income
3
Activities for generating funds
4
**Total incoming resources**
**Resources expended**
**Cost of generating funds**
Fundraising costs
5
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
6
Governance costs
8
**Net incoming resources**
Transfers between funds
15
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**Reconciliation of Funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Year Ended
31.03.24
Total Funds
Year Ended
31.03.23
Total funds
£
£
£
£
85,781
207,043
**292,824**
361,741
765
-
**765**
365
390
1,168
**1,558**
3,516|
|---|---|
||86,936
208,211
**295,147**
365,622
-
-
**-**
372
25,034
243,560
**268,594**
386,122
400
-
**400**
400|
||25,434
243,560
**268,994**
386,884|
||61,502
(35,349)
**26,153**
(21,262)|
||(34,345)
34,345
**-**
-|
||27,157
(1,004)
**26,153**
(21,262)|
||13,993
72,921
**86,914**
108,176|
||**41,150**
**71,917**
**113,067**
**86,914**|
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Register Charity Number: 1166910
Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 March 2024
**Fixed Assets** Fixed Assets 11 **Current Assets** Debtors 12 Cash at bank
## **Current Liabilities**
Creditors: amounts failing due 13 withing one year
## **Net Current Assets**
## **Net Assets**
**Funds** 15 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds
|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£
£
-
-|Year Ended
31.03.24
Total Funds
£
-|
|---|---|
|-
-
13,349
40,971
30,902
28,427|-
54,320
59,329|
|(3,100)
2,518|(582)|
|41,151
71,916|113,067|
|||
|**41,151**
**71,916**|**113,067**|
||**41,151**
**71,916**|
||**113,067**|
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 22
Register Charity Number: 1166910
1. Accounting Policies **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
No material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern have been identified by the trustees.
Therefore the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Charities Act 1993 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
## **Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement**
Exemption has been taken from preparing a cash flow statement on the grounds that the charity qualifies as a small charity.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## **Resources expended**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Cost of generating funds**
Costs of generating funds comprise those costs directly attributable to raising funds through activities. **Other Fixed assets**
The trustees has determined to depreciate the cost of equipment at 25% of cost per annum.
## **Governance costs**
Governance costs include direct and related support costs relating to the governance infrastructure allowing the charity to generate information required for public accountability.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 23
|||||Register Charity Number: 1166910|Register Charity Number: 1166910|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2.|**Voluntary Income**|||Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||||31.03.24|31.03.23|
|||||£|£|
||Gifts & donations|||236,560|260,536|
||Bequest & Legacies|||-|7,875|
||Gift Aid|||42,108|57,330|
||Grants|||14,156|36,000|
|||||292,824|361,741|
||**Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:**|||Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||||31.03.24|31.03.23|
|||||£|£|
||WVCA|||6,356|19,921|
||Rotary Clubs|||-|1,079|
||Cabury Trust|||-|2,000|
||Forrester Family Trustee|||-|5,000|
||The Coles Medick|||-|7,000|
||FMS|||7,800|-|
||Other|||-|1,000|
|||||14,156|43,000|
|3.|**Activities for Generating Funds:**|||Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||||31.03.24|31.03.23|
|||||£|£|
||Fundraising events|||1,558|1,426|
|4.|**Investment Income**|||Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||||31.03.24|31.03.23|
|||||£|£|
||Interest|||765|365|
|5.|**Fundraising costs:**|||Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||||31.03.24|31.03.23|
||Fundraising costs|||-|372|
|6.|**Direct Costs of Charitable Activities**|Direct Costs|Grant|Year Ended|Year Ended|
|||(Note 6)|funding|31.03.24|31.03.23|
||||activities|||
|||£|£|£|£|
||Charitable|28,058|240,536|386,113|386,113|
||activities|||||
|||||£|£|
||Grants and program expenditure|||240,536|339,056|
||Travel expenses|||25,205|42,884|
||**Donations made**|||||
||Core Support Costs|||-|-|
||Core Overhead Costs|||2,853|4,72|
|||||268,594|386,112|
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 24
Register Charity Number: 1166910
|7.
**Grants Payable**
General activities
**Analysis of Grants and Program Expenditure by Expenditure Code**
Grants to individuals
Grants to NGO’s
Direct Program Expenditure
Mbale CAP
Other Parties
General Activities
Wildlife Education Centre
122,730
2,895
NGO Support
17,616
-
Landside Projects
-
-
Education Activities
School Link Funding
600
-
Education General
7,199
-
Education Covid Appeal
-
-
School Disability Project
372
-
ATEB Links
Butmatofi Solar Power Project
-
-
Workshop
3,995
1,311
Churches
First Baptist Church
3,000
-
Mooni Girls of Hope
988
-
Kaminkilo Community Project
5,218
-
Hope Ministries Namatala
202
-
Livelihoods
Goats Project
5,688
-
Healthcare Projects
AMB - Bikes
24,672
-
PHC – General
29,359
-
Caburys Trust
-
-
WVCA project
-
-
Mbale Regional Hospital – Oxygen
-
-
Expenditure under £2k
Other
-
-
221,239
4,206|Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
£
£
240,536
339,056
Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
£
£
1,288
1,016
101,938
58,086
137,310
279,957|
|---|---|
||240,536
339,056
Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
£
£
Total
Total
125,625
246,377
17,616
14,091
-
-
600
4,304
7,199
1,789
-
580
372
-
-
-
4,906
430
3,000
3,433
988
1,661
5,218
1,591
202
-
5,688
8,302
24,672
17,482
29,359
13,092
-
2,000
-
15,563
-
-
-
866|
||225,445
331,561|
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 25
Register Charity Number: 1166910
|8.|**Governance Costs**|Year Ended|Year Ended|
|---|---|---|---|
|||31.03.24|31.03.23|
|||£|£|
||Governance Costs|400|400|
9. **Trustees Remuneration and Benefits**
The trustees provide their services on a voluntary basis therefore there was no trustee’s remuneration or other benefits for the period ended 31 March 2024.
## **Trustee’s Expenese**
There were no staff costs for the period ended 31 March 2024
10. **Staff Costs**
There were no staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor the year ended 31 March 2023
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,0000
|12.
**Debtors: Amounts failing due within one Year**
Other Debtors
13.
**Creditors: Amounts failing due within one Year**
Creditors
14
**Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds**
Fixed Assets
Investments
Current Assets
Currents Liabilities|Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
£
£
54,320
56,853
Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
£
£
582
44,832
Year Ended
31.03.24
Year Ended
31.03.23
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
Total Funds
£
£
£
£
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
44,854
68,794
113,648
131,746
(3,100)
2,518
(582)
(44,832)|
|---|---|
||13,993
72,921
113,067
86,914|
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 26
|**Movement in Funds**
**Unrestricted Funds**
Unrestricted Funds
**Restricted Funds**
Carbon
Churches
Education
Engineering
Environmental
Healthcare
Livelihoods
Relief of Poverty
University
Wildlife Education Centre
**Total Funds**
**Unrestricted Funds**
Unrestricted Funds
**Restricted Funds**
Carbon
Churches
Education
Engineering
Environmental
Healthcare
Livelihoods
Relief of Poverty
University
Wildlife Education Centre
**Total Funds**|Register Charity Number: 1166910
At 31.03.23
Net
movements
in funds
Transfers
between
funds
At 31.03.24
£
£
£
£
13,994
61,502
(34,345)
41,152
10
-
-
10
13,271
(2,341)
1,141
12,071
126
(268)
1,100
958
4,260
(1,207)
-
3,053
1,906
-
-
1,906
42,801
217
-
43,018
9,244
349
-
9,593
23
(17,496)
17,500
27
1,278
-
-
1,278
-
(14,603)
14,604
1|
|---|---|
||72,919
(35,349)
34,345
71,915|
||86,914
26,153
-
113,067|
||Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Transfer
between
funds
Movement
in funds
£
£
£
£
86,936
(25,434)
(34,345)
27,157
-
-
-
-
8,386
(10,727)
1,141
(1,200)
7,927
(8,195)
1,100
832
18,791
(19,998)
-
(1,207)
-
-
-
-
54,249
(54,032)
-
217
6,049
(5,700)
-
349
120
(17,616)
17,500
4
-
-
-
-
112,688
(127,291)
14,604
1|
||208,210
(243,559)
34,345
(1,004)|
||295,146
(268,993)
-
26,153|
## 15 **Movement in Funds**
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 27
Register Charity Number: 1166910
|15|Movement in Funds – continued|
|---|---|
||**Carbon -**_Funds for use in setting up and running Carbon Offsetting projects_|
||This includes projects, visits, resources, support and associated expenditure|
||**Churches -**_Funds for use in the twinning of churches in Wales and Uganda_|
||This includes training, communications, projects, visits, development of communities, resources, mutual support and|
||associated expenditure.|
||**Education**–_Funds for use in the twinning of schools in Wales and Uganda_|
||This include training, communication, projects, visits, development of curricula, resources, mutual support and|
||associated expenditure.|
||**Engineering**_– Funds for use in environment technology, Engineering and Business Development projects_|
||This relates to agreed engineering and business projects, including feasibility, design, costing and implement of such|
||projects together with training, monitoring , communications, visits and associated expenditure.|
||**Environment**–_Funds for use in connection with environment projects_|
||This relates to agreed environment projects, including feasibility, design, costing and implementation of such projects|
||with training, monitoring, communications, visits and associated expenditure|
||**Healthcare –**_Funds for support of Ambulance, Primary and Secondary healthcare projects_|
||This relates to initial and ongoing training of community health workers, ambulance and hospital links, surveys,|
||collection and sharing of data, project planning, equipment, travel, operations, feasibility studies, monitoring and|
||associated expenditure.|
||**Livelihoods**_– Funds for use in the livelihoods and vulnerable children project_|
||This relates to the provision of goat(s) to families chosen to be part of the project, including the purchase, treatment,|
||transport, training, support and monitoring of this project and associated expenditure.|
||**Mooni Conference Centre**–_Funds for use in connection with the creation of a training and conference centre_|
||This follows suggestions from Mbale, initially for an eco centre to be followed by development of a visitor, training and|
||conference facilities|
||**Relief of Poverty**–_Funds for use in connection with the Relief of Poverty in Uganda_|
||This includes provision of funds to our local partners in connection with agreed projects to offset the effects of poverty,|
||including the practical work undertaken and the monitoring and administration of such projects|
||**University**-_Funds for the is connection with project led by the University of South Wales_|
||**Wildlife Education Centre**–_Funds for use in connection with the education centre_|
||Education resources for local schools|
## 16 Related Party Disclosure
Unincorporated charity, Partnership Overseas networking Trust (Charity Number 1125948)
Annual Report 2022/2023
Page 28