Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust 2024 / 2025
PONT Trustees Annual Report
Charity number: 1166910
partnerships tackling poverty together
The trustees present their report of the charity for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.
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
Dr Geoff Lloyd Howard Smith CEng MIET Julian Martyn Newton Cllr Jayne Brencher Marga Quince Richard Griffiths John Maurice Comissiong (Chair of Trustees) 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
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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. Geoff Lloyd 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health | Improvement of Health | Dr Gaynor Penrose |
| Education | Linking Schools, supporting teachers and teaching | Jayne Brencher (acting) |
| through sharingof expertise,awareness raising | ||
| Livelihoods | Relief and Prevention of Poverty amongst children and | Judith Richards (acting) |
| vulnerable families | ||
| Engineering | EngineeringProjects to assist communities | Howard Smith |
| Churches | Overseeing links between Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) | Andrea Keay |
| and Mbale churches and deliveringholistic mission. | ||
| Environment | Promotion of sustainable living and prevention of | Marga Quince |
| environmental degradation. | ||
| Wildlife Education Centre and Eco-Lodge |
Educational resource for the local schools and income | Dr Geoff Lloyd |
| generation. | ||
| University | Mobilising the resources of Tertiary Educational | Marga Quince |
| Institutions | ||
| Communications | To enable effective communication with the public on | John Comissiong |
| the charity’s activities | ||
| 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:
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Management of paid staff and contractors in UK
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Preparation of bids to UK and international donors with, or on behalf of PONT committees
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Development of policy documents
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Development of administrative functions
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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, Namisindwa, Bulambuli, Sironko and Mbale City. Mbale-CAP has also been able to secure funding from other organisations.
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PONT ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
----- Start of picture text -----
Board of Trustees
Chair: John Comissiong
Management Team
Chair: Marga Quince
Education Healthcare
Chair: Jayne Brencher (acting) Chair: Dr Gaynor Penrose
Engineering Finance
Chair: Howard Smith Chair: Rebecca Westwood
University Livelihoods
Chair: MargaQuince Chair: Judith Richards (acting)
Pubicity Wildlife Education Centre and
Chair: JohnComissiong Eco Lodge
----- End of picture text -----
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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, Namisindwa, Bulambuli and Sironko 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
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Facilitating visits by individuals and committee representatives between our 2 communities.
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Linking of institutions and professional groups.
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Development and grant funding of projects which contribute to the charity’s aims.
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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 | ||
| Health | Improvement of Health | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. |
| Education Wildlife Education Centre (Schools – University) |
Linking Schools, supporting teachers and teaching | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8. |
| through sharing of expertise; educational resource for | ||
| local schools; heritage wildlife now absent from the | ||
| local area. | ||
| University | Mobilisation of resources of educational | 2, 6. |
| establishments for innovation and development. | ||
| Livelihoods | Relief and prevention of poverty amongst children and | 1, 2, 4, 6. |
| vulnerable families; income generation skills | ||
| development. | ||
| Engineering & Appropriate Technology |
Engineering projects to assist and develop | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11. |
| communities and training opportunities for young | ||
| people. | ||
| Environment | Promotion of sustainable living and prevention of | 2. |
| environmental degradation. |
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VISITS TO MBALE AND UK
VISITS
During the year 2024/25 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):
February 2025 Engineering/environment (4), Medical/Mental Health(9), Education (2), Livelihoods (3)
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LINKING
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
Over 100 Welsh schools have been linked with Partner Schools in Mbale including Schools catering for pupils with disabilities. During Covid, with many schools in both countries closed, many links became more tenuous and work is continuing to reestablish these and plan for future developments.
The main purpose of the partnerships is to create friendship links between schools and to:
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Extend pupils/staff’s views of the world, embracing the concept of global citizenship.
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Enable pupils to learn about and respect one another’s cultural differences by sharing of ideas and experiences.
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Enable intercultural dialogue, increased knowledge of one another’s societies and enhance the schools’ curricula.
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Enable professional development opportunities and resources
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 selfhelp/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 whom 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 supports the other areas of PONT’s work. 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 workshop supports the medical work through the construction, maintenance and repair of motorbike ambulances and other hospital equipment.
The team also installs solar electricity panels in PONT-linked primary schools in Mbale region, providing two light fittings and a socket in each classroom, the head teacher’s room and storeroom, together with a laptop and technical support during the year if required and usually a face-to-face meeting during a PONT visit. 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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The engineering team supports and services the work of the other parts of PONT in Mbale and the UK as the opportunity arises.
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 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/or 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:
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training volunteers, forming a network of community health workers in Village Health Teams
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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:
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supporting volunteers training in lifesaving skills
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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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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:
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training and exchange visits
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service development
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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.
The following Committee reports are based on visits to Uganda in February and March 2025, reflecting the most up-to-date information on developments with our partners.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
This visit was particularly poignant for those of us who have been with PONT/Mbale CAP for 20 years and a time for reflection and celebration. Eleanor Hanyiga, our Education head, passed away in December 2024 and we were able to pay tribute to her extraordinary contribution.
Visits to a number of schools were made where solar panels had previously been installed by the PONT Engineering team. These schools all have a partner school in Wales and during one visit a video link was set up joining final year primary pupils in Musiye Primary School and Coedylan Primary School in Pontypridd – an emotional moment.
Bubutu Secondary School - the first partnership and a school that had many orphans due to HIV, and poor results - has been transformed into a school of almost 2000 students and achieved much improved exam results due in part, they suggest, to compulsory school lunches. The school is part of the curriculum review for Uganda.
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The girls’ hostel at Bubutu built by students from Pontypridd High/Ysgol Bro Taf has 200 girls completing 6th form safely. The PONT women spoke to a group of the older girls on their own pathways to a career and the fact that much can happen along the way but that no learning is ever lost.
LIVELIHOODS
The Livelihoods team works with six of our coalition partners in Mbale to improve the lives of people in often remote villages where small scale farming and poor access to markets leave many families in dire poverty. Presently there are 47 village groups, a number of which were visited by team members during this visit. Initially the (mainly) women meet every week as a Self-help Group, discussing the many challenges of their lives and setting up a savings group which allows them to save an amount, however small, against which they can then borrow to pay for household goods, school equipment or setting up a small business. A goat project helps the most vulnerable families, providing milk, fertiliser and the possibility of selling (goat) kids to raise money. Group members are very enthusiastic to learn new skills:
“The income-generating activities have empowered us”
“There is less violence in the home”
“The children are no longer hungry”
Team members heard and saw the evidence of success stories of women who had developed new income-generating skills including bakery, crafts and goat husbandry. Sessions were run in two villages on making Welsh cakes, which would be sold in the local trading centre or school, along with mandazi (doughnuts) and chapatti.
(A first encounter with Welsh cakes)
In a new development, keyhole gardens are being trialled both in Mbale and RCT, Wales. This is a circular raised garden with a central composting basket which will allow a family to grow vegetables all year round including in the dry season when grey household water can be used. This will particularly benefit the elderly and disabled who have difficulty bending, pregnant women and children who often suffer from malnutrition when all other agricultural produce has to be sold just to make ends
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meet. The first keyhole garden was constructed during the visit and we are now experimenting using materials which are cheap/free and readily available in Uganda.
(The first keyhole garden ready to be filled with topsoil and planted with vegetables and fruit.)
This lady is 65 years old and is HIV+. She is so appreciative of the self-help group as she no longer feels alone. Through the savings group she can borrow money to pay for her medication. The goat droppings provide fertiliser for growing pineapples, her small business.
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Through the goat project this man was able to save and buy a motor cycle which is the normal form of “taxi”, together with delivering goods. Part of his income is repaying the loan and he has been encouragedto replace his goat to keep the goat project going. The Self-help groups are an excellent way of disseminating information and new skills for development in areas where there is no radio or TV.
CHURCHES
There was no churches visit this year, but the existing projects are on going. It is anticipated that there will be a visit in 2026.
HEALTH - PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, AMBULANCES & SECONDARY CARE
Primary Healthcare
Headlines from the visit are that PONT’s model of training village health workers, backed up by motorbike ambulances is making a real difference. We were greatly encouraged to hear from Dr Jonathan, District Health Officer for Mbale District, that the Mbale region now has the lowest child and maternal mortality rates in the whole of Uganda! On visits to Bududa and Wanale we witnessed first-hand the sterling work of a few of our 1200 volunteer village health workers. They educated families about “the ideal home,” including hygienic kitchens, bathrooms and pit latrines, the use of mosquito nets and handwashing facilities. Immunisation records were scrutinised to ensure children were fully protected and pregnant mothers were educated on healthy diets, need for ante-natal care and preparation for labour.
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Meetings with our partner NGOs and District Health Officers were extremely encouraging. There was a pride in what we, as a coalition, are achieving, and a real sense of working towards a common goal. Plans were made to expand the primary health care work (by training more health workers) and ambulance fleet (by manufacturing further Tuk-Tuk Ambulances) as we obtain further funding. The growth that we have seen in the Ambulance provision over the past 15 years looks set to continue well into the future.
Mental Health
Having taught on mental health during our previous two visits, we decided to have a different focus this time. We wanted to go with the aim to understand the local communities better, both their strengths and resources, and also any areas where they might need our support in the future. We were privileged to meet with several different groups of people: we saw many families in their own homes, groups of religious and community leaders, and groups of women. We also met with two groups of operational leaders who had attended our training last year, and heard from them about their successes.
Last year’s operational leaders had applied principles of listening, confidentiality and follow up in many situations. They told stories of community members they had been able to help, and then shared and helped each other with some tricky cases. We were particularly delighted to find out that they are in frequent contact with each other and are using each other to help to problem solve when they come across difficulties.
Being welcomed into family homes was amazing. We felt so privileged to be there, and were amazed at the openness with which so many shared their stories, their struggles and their opinions. The communities are close, neighbours know one other very well and almost universally value education and health care. Many people mentioned savings groups both as a means of financial and social support. Faith is of central importance in most families, both in Christian and Muslim communities. Many see witch doctors but feel ashamed of this and hide the fact that they do so. We learned that male circumcision (of adolescents) remains important in all communities, and polygamy is a common practise regardless of which faith the family adheres to. We were surprised to find that these communities and some of their leaders including religious leader still considered epilepsy to be contagious disease. We feel that there is need to give further education in this area to dispel this myth.
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We were particularly impacted by the loving support we found in two of the women’s groups. A group of women living with HIV were fiercely supportive of one another, had their own savings group. They help each other in practical and emotional ways. As a result many women in the group were radiating confidence and confronting the stigma they all face wherever they find it. Similarly, in the women’s prison the group of women were singing, dancing, supporting each other and creating their own loving community. In the women’s prison we were able to return and teach some basic counselling skills to support them in helping each other. They even attempted to teach us to dance (and found our stiff Western dance moves cause for much hilarity!
This year’s visit has given us some ideas for the work we will be able to do in the future. We concluded that providing education on mental health for religious leaders and community leaders will have a widespread impact due to their powerful influence in the communities. We also feel that savings groups could be a very effective way to get simple messages to the communities. We would also be delighted to provide some basic counselling training to groups who want to support each other better, such as in the women’s prison and the group of women living with HIV. We hope that one day there will be a similar group of men, and we will support the NGOs who want to work on that.
Ambulances
Our team included Paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, South Central Ambulance Service and another Paramedic who works within the Private sector. We delivered a training course to 34 ambulance drivers, some of these were new drivers and some were existing drivers who were having refresher training. As always, the training was a great success, with all the trainees thoroughly enjoying gaining knowledge and skills they can use to benefit their own communities.
Our training included many different topics including: Haemorrhage control, Treatment of fractures, Care of the Unconscious patient, Burns, Choking, Dehydration and Treatment of Snake bites. Sister Jennifer, Mbale CAP’s new health coordinator (an experienced midwife and district trainer) educated the riders about pregnancy, normal labour and delivery complications. We discovered that the majority of our riders had delivered at least one baby in their motorbike ambulance.
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All the trainees passed with flying colours and were each awarded a certificate in recognition of their hard work during the course. We were also thrilled to present our first ever 'Best Ambulance Driver of The Year' award to Andrew Omunyini. This was in recognition of his commitment to his role and the professionalism he displays every day.
During the trip, we also worked with our PONT engineering colleagues to help develop the exciting new TukTuk ambulances. This marks a move away from motorbike ambulances to a more robust TukTuk vehicle which we anticipate will serve the communities for many years to come. PONT’s new Tuk-Tuk ambulances have been well-received and are busy saving lives. Last month heralded the first newborn delivery in one of the Tuk-Tuks. The ambulance was nearing the health centre but the baby couldn’t wait! The mother was able to deliver in the privacy of an enclosed ambulance and was quickly transferred to the care of midwives at the health centre, who were alerted by the Tuk-Tuk’s siren. The parents were extremely grateful and rewarded our driver with bananas and a duck!
We also travelled to Bududa to visit our wonderful female ambulance driver Norah. In a male dominated country, it is so important that we encourage and promote the role 'Ambulance Driver' to more women and Norah is a shining example of what can be achieved. While spending time with Norah, we had a good look at her ambulance and found it to be in excellent condition and very well looked after, she is a credit to her community and serves them remarkably well.
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PONT ENGINEERING
One of our main achievements was completing the 2nd and final stage of the installation of a solar power system at Musiye Primary School. They now have electric lights and a power socket in all of the classrooms, which will be of great benefit to them. We also took the opportunity to facilitate another on line video meeting with their partner school in Pontypridd – Coed-y-Lan Primary School. The children and teachers on both sides enjoyed the experience. We surveyed Sikulu Primary School in order to be able to put together a budget for fundraising to hopefully install the 1st stage of a solar power system there on next year’s visit. Additionally, we visited one of the schools where we previously installed solar power.
Our second achievement was further work at the PONT Uganda Ltd mechanical workshop social enterprise, particularly on the new TTAs (tuk-tuk ambulances) that we jointly designed, and that they are building. We were able to work on improvements to the design, and the production process. Slightly less interesting (but just as important!) we were able to commence improvements in the business management and accounting systems to better handle the increased activity that the TTAs are leading to.
PONT is not just about projects and ‘aid’. It is a partnership between our communities, and the building of long term trusted relationships with those we work with and through on both sides.
We had the sad experience on this visit of paying our respects to the wife and young children of Abudu al Rasul, who died since our visit last year. He had been our taxi driver in Mbale for years, taking the smaller groups like us out to all the projects, keeping us safe, giving us valuable advice, and even helping out in the projects themselves. He had become a muchloved friend.
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WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE AND ECOLODGE
The centre continues to grow both in size, and popularity. The existing animal residents are getting increasingly tame. The Ostriches love company, and come right up to you for a cwtch when you enter their compound! The Ugandan Kobs have given birth to a baby, which is growing rapidly and after 2 weeks can run to keep up with its mum! We have had two new crocodiles, which enjoy going for a walk down to the river each day (on a leash!). The number of schools coming to visit has dramatically increased, so on this visit we gave updates to all our keepers on how to give engaging talks about their animals.
Cwmbale lodge
We have just opened up another wing of the lodge as a conference centre/ functions room. This can hold 200 attendees seated in rows, or 120 seated around tables. This will greatly increase both our capacity and our versatility. We have now staked out the ground for 2 new VIP Bandas (that will hold 4 guests in each.) These are facing into the safari compound, so in the mornings you can open the curtains and see the animals in front of you. Then whilst you sit at the patio enjoying your breakfast, you will be given a bucket of feed to allow the animals to eat on the other side of the fence.
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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
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the core costs of the charity
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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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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
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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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 28/1/2026 by:
Marga Quince Howard Smith Trustee and main committee chair Trustee
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Statment of Financial Activities
For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025
| Notes Incoming Resources Voluntary income 2 Investment income Activities for generating funds 3 Total incoming resources Resocurces Expended Cost of generating funds Fundraising costs 4 Charitable activities Charitable activities 5 Governance costs 7 Net Incoming Resources RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 51,456 - 55 |
Restricted funds £ 266,792 2,863 269,655 143 238,547 - |
Year Ended 31.03.25 Total funds Year Ended 31.03.24 Total funds £ 318,248 292,824 - 765 2,918 1,558 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51,511 - 27,247 400 |
321,166 295,147 143 - 265,794 268,594 400 400 |
||
| 27,647 | 238,690 | 266,337 268,994 |
|
| 23,864 27,467 - |
30,965 27,467 |
54,829 26,153 - - |
|
| 3,603 - 41,151 |
58,432 71,916 |
54,829 26,153 113,067 86,914 |
|
| 37,548 | 130,348 | 167,896 113,067 |
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Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025
| Notes Fixed Assets 11 Current Assets Debtors 12 Cash at bank Current Liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 13 Net Current Assets Net Assets Funds 15 General fund Designated funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
Unrestricted funds £ - |
Restricted funds £ - |
Year Ended 31.03.24 Total funds £ - |
|---|---|---|---|
| - 21,941 18,707 |
- 77,260 50,570 127,830 2,518 |
- 99,201 69,277 |
|
| 40,648 (3,100) |
168,478 (582) |
||
| 37,548 | 130,348 | 167,896 | |
| 37,548 | 130,348 | 167,896 | |
| 36,363 1,185 37,548 130,348 |
|||
| 167,896 |
Annual Report 2024/2025
Page 24
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of preparing the financial statments
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 statments 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 Statment of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Expentiure is accounted for on an accurals 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 particalur 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 statments.
Annual Report 2024/2025
Page 25
| 2. Voluntary Income Gifts and donations Bequests & Legacies Gift aid Grants Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: WVCA FMS Waterloo Trust Festival Medical Other 3. Activities for Generating Funds Fundraising events 4. Investment Income Interest 5. Fundraising Costs 6. Direct Costs of Charitable Activites Direct Costs (see note 6) Grant funding activity £ Charitable activities 23,927 241,867 Grants and program expendiute Travel expenses Donations made Core Support Costs Core Overhead Costs |
Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ 232,114 236,560 - - 41,634 42,108 44,500 14,156 318,248 292,824 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ - 6,356 7,800 25,000 - 19,500 - - - 44,500 14,156 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ 2,918 1,426 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 - 765 - 765 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ 143 372 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 Totals Totals £ £ 265,794 268,594 £ £ 241,867 240,536 20,353 25,205 - - - - 3,574 2,853 265,794.00 268,594.00 |
|---|---|
Annual Report 2024/2025
Page 26
| Annual Report 2024/2025 Page 27 7. Grants Payable General activities Analysis of Grants and Program Expenditure by Expenditure Code Grants to individuals Grants to NGO's Direct Program Expenditure Analysis of Grants and Program Expenditure by Activtity Mbale CAP Other Parties General Activities Wildlife Education Centre 125,275 6,538 Landslide Appeal 1,840 - NGO Support 22,407 - Covid Training - - Landslide Projects - - Education Activities School Link Funding 135 - Education General 3,492 - Education Covid Appeal - - School Disability Project 670 - ATEB Links Butmatofu Solar Power Porject - - Partner Support 1,900 - Workshop 7,890 - Engineering Projects 1,989 - Churches Bulatse Catholic Church - - Bukhumwa Christian Church 150 - First Baptist Church 3,000 - Mooni Girls of Hope 516 - Kaminkilo Community Proj 11,678 - Hope Ministries Namatala - - Orphan Supprt Goats Project 5,560 - Health Care Projects AMB - Bikes 19,616 - PHC - General 15,947 - SHC - Projects 6,140 5,515 Expenditure under £2k other activities 1,610 - Total - 229,815 12,053 For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025 Notes to the Financial Statments - continued |
Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 Totals Totals £ £ 241,868.00 339,056.00 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ 4,371 1,288 63,867 101,938 173,630 137,310 241,868 240,536 Year Ended 31.03.24 Year Ended 31.03.21 £ £ Total Total 131,813 125,625 1,840 - 22,407 17,616 - - - - 135 600 3,492 7,199 - - 670 372 - - 1,900 - 7,890 - 1,989 - - - 150 - 3,000 3,000 516 988 11,678 5,218 - 202 5,560 5,688 19,616 24,672 15,947 29,359 11,655 - 1,610 - 241,868 220,539 |
|---|---|
Year Ended Year Ended 31.03.25 31.03.24 £ £ 400 400
8. Governance Costs
9. Trustee's Remuneration and Benefits
The trustees provide their services on a voluntary basis therefore there was no trustee's remuneration or other benefits for the priod ended 31 March 2021.
Trustees' Expenses
There were no staff costs for the period ended 31 March 2021.
Notes to the Financial Statments - continued
For the Period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
10. Staff Costs
There were no staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2020 nor for the year ended 31 March 2021
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
Notes to the Financial Statments - continued For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025
12. Debtors: Amounts falling Due within one Year
Year Ended Year Ended 31.03.25 31.03.24 £ £
Recoverable Gift Aid Just Giving CAF Mbale Uganda
Other Debtors
| er Debtors itors: Amounts falling Due within one Year er creditors rred Grant Income s repayable ysis of Net Assets Between Funds Fixed assets Investments Current Assets Current Liabilities |
Unrestricted funds £ 1.00 - 68,115.00 3,100.00 - |
Restricted funds £ - - 100,362.00 2,518.00 |
99,201 54,320 Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 £ £ 582 582 - - - - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 582 582 |
|||
| Year Ended 31.03.25 Year Ended 31.03.24 Total Funds Total Funds £ £ 1.00 1.00 - - 168,477.00 131,746.00 582.00 - 44,832.00 - 167,896.00 86,915.00 |
|||
| 65,016.00 | 102,880.00 |
13. Creditors: Amounts falling Due within one Year
Other creditors
Deferred Grant Income
Loans repayable
14. Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds
Annual Report 2024/2025
Page 28
| 15. Movement in Funds At 31.03.24 £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 32,976 Designated fund 8,176 41,152 Restricted funds Carbon 10 Churches 12,071 Education 958 Engineering 3,053 Environmental 1,906 Healthcare 43,018 Livelihoods 9,593 Relief of Poverty 27 University 1,278 Wildlife Education Centre 1 71,915 Total Funds 113,067 15. Movement in Funds - continued Incoming resources Resources expended Transfer between funds £ £ £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 30,674 7,394 - 19,892 - Designated fund 20,838 20,253 - 7,576 - 51,512 27,647 - 27,468 - Restricted funds Carbon - - - ATEB 13,753 11,779 - - Environmental - - - Churches 15,643 15,344 - 1,713 Education 3,849 4,299 - 181 Health 97,583 47,220 - 3,188 orphan 7,020 5,827 - - Relief of Poverty 120 22,407 - 22,260 University - - - Wildlife Education Center 131,688 131,814 - 126 269,656 238,690 - 27,468 Total Funds 321,168 266,337 - - Notes to the Financial Statments - continued For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025 |
15. Movement in Funds At 31.03.24 £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 32,976 Designated fund 8,176 41,152 Restricted funds Carbon 10 Churches 12,071 Education 958 Engineering 3,053 Environmental 1,906 Healthcare 43,018 Livelihoods 9,593 Relief of Poverty 27 University 1,278 Wildlife Education Centre 1 71,915 Total Funds 113,067 15. Movement in Funds - continued Incoming resources Resources expended Transfer between funds £ £ £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 30,674 7,394 - 19,892 - Designated fund 20,838 20,253 - 7,576 - 51,512 27,647 - 27,468 - Restricted funds Carbon - - - ATEB 13,753 11,779 - - Environmental - - - Churches 15,643 15,344 - 1,713 Education 3,849 4,299 - 181 Health 97,583 47,220 - 3,188 orphan 7,020 5,827 - - Relief of Poverty 120 22,407 - 22,260 University - - - Wildlife Education Center 131,688 131,814 - 126 269,656 238,690 - 27,468 Total Funds 321,168 266,337 - - Notes to the Financial Statments - continued For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025 |
15. Movement in Funds At 31.03.24 £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 32,976 Designated fund 8,176 41,152 Restricted funds Carbon 10 Churches 12,071 Education 958 Engineering 3,053 Environmental 1,906 Healthcare 43,018 Livelihoods 9,593 Relief of Poverty 27 University 1,278 Wildlife Education Centre 1 71,915 Total Funds 113,067 15. Movement in Funds - continued Incoming resources Resources expended Transfer between funds £ £ £ Unrestricted Funds General fund 30,674 7,394 - 19,892 - Designated fund 20,838 20,253 - 7,576 - 51,512 27,647 - 27,468 - Restricted funds Carbon - - - ATEB 13,753 11,779 - - Environmental - - - Churches 15,643 15,344 - 1,713 Education 3,849 4,299 - 181 Health 97,583 47,220 - 3,188 orphan 7,020 5,827 - - Relief of Poverty 120 22,407 - 22,260 University - - - Wildlife Education Center 131,688 131,814 - 126 269,656 238,690 - 27,468 Total Funds 321,168 266,337 - - Notes to the Financial Statments - continued For the Period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025 |
At 31.03.24 £ 32,976 8,176 |
Net movement in funds £ 23,280 585 |
Transfers between funds At 31.03.25 £ £ 19,892 - 36,364 7,576 - 1,185 27,468 - 37,549 - 10 - 14,045 1,713 2,970 - 3,053 181 1,637 3,188 96,569 - 9,593 22,260 - - 1,278 - 1,194 27,468 130,349 - 167,898 Movement in funds £ 3,388 6,991 - 3,603 - - 1,974 - 2,012 269 - 53,551 1,193 27 - - - 58,434 54,831 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41,152 10 12,071 958 3,053 1,906 43,018 9,593 27 1,278 1 |
23,865 - 1,974 299 - 450 - 50,363 - 22,287 - - 1,193 |
||||
| 71,915 | 30,966 | ||||
| 113,067 | 54,831 | ||||
| Transfer to New Charity £ - - |
|||||
| 51,512 - 13,753 - 15,643 3,849 97,583 7,020 120 - 131,688 |
27,647 - - 11,779 - - 15,344 - 4,299 - 47,220 - 5,827 - 22,407 - - 131,814 - |
27,468 - - - - 1,713 181 3,188 - 22,260 - 126 |
- - - - - - - - - - - |
||
| 269,656 | 238,690 - |
27,468 | - | ||
| 321,168 | 266,337 - |
- | - |
Annual Report 2024/2025
Page 29
15 Movement in Fund5- continued rbon - Fundsfor use in Setting up and running CartxM Cyf5etting projects This includes projects, visits. resources. suppffl and 3ssociate(l expenditufe Churthe5- Fund5foru5e in the twinninq olchurche5 in Wole5 ond U9ondo This includes traini communi(3tions, woietts. visits. qlevek)wnent of communities, reSr(e5, rnutual sUPPOrt and associated expenditure. Education- Fund5for use in t1 twinninq 015choots in Woles ond Ugondu This include trainin& communTrtion, Pfoiects, visits, develofmnent of curricula. resrCeS, mutua¢ support and assoc5ated exwditure. Englneerlry- Fund5fvr use in environment technology, Enqineering and 8usine55 Oe¥rlopment wojects This relates to agreed engineering and busirss projects. including teasibility, des4n. c05ting and implennt of such projerts together With training. Mltori . communications, vigts arKI a550ciated expenditure. En¥tronment- Fund5fv use in connection with environment pnycts Thi5 relates to agreed environrnent projects. irKlwJing feasibility. design. c05ting implementation of Such prolects with trainin& nKJn¢iorin& cofflmunications. visits ènd associated expenditure Healthcare- Fundsfor sUPWrt of AmbUnCe. Primory andSe(ondory heofthcorewDiects This relates to initial and 801Th& trainiryx of c(Mnmunity health wer5. ombjlance and hospltal links, suryeys. collection a1 shaf ing of data. project plann1 equipment, travel. operations feasibility stlieS, monitoring and assoctated trApenditure. Lfvelthood5- Fundsfvr use In the Mvelihood5 ond vulnernble chikyren proiert This felates to prtrlision of Eoatls) to families chosen to be part of the projffj iludIng the purchas¢ treatment. transport, training. support and nnItOring of th15 projett and 35sociated expenditure. Mowl Conference Centre- Fund5for use in connettion with the creation ol o troininq ond (ference centre This follows suggestions from Mbale, initfially for an eco centre to b2 followed lry de¥elownent of a ¥15itor, trainlng and conference facilFt*s Relief of Poverty- Funds fvr use in connettion ¥th the ReSef of Poverty in Ugonda This includes pr(y4ision of funds to our local partners in cneCtion with agreed projects to offset the efferts of p(Nertv, including the wactical work undertaken and the monitoring and adrninistration of such Pfoie(ts Uni¥efsIty - Fundsfor the is Connettn with pfojert led ty rhe University of South Woles Wlldllfe £ducatlon CentrÈ- Fundsfor use in connedion wrth the ediKotion cefttre Education resources for local schools 16 Related Pa Dtsc105ure Unincorporated charity. Partwship Overseas networking Trust Icharity Number 11259481 Annual Report 202412025 Page 30