Trustees' Annual Report for the period
From
To
Period start date Period end date 01 04 2020 31 03 2021
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Communities and Nature International
Other names charity is known by CAN International
1166983 Charity's principal address 5 Forbes Drive Peterborough Cambridgeshire Postcode PE7 0ND ~~—~~
Registered charity number (if any) 1166983
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) year to appoint trustee (if any) 1 Govind Belbase Chair Whole year 2 Pushpa D Upreti Member Whole year 3 Balram Dhakal Member Whole year 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~~Oe~~ Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) Name Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A
TAR
Dec 2020
1
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| N/A | ||
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution
Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) CIO How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by members of the Committee/Trustees Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
CAN International has a supportive policy towards the development of the capacity of trustees, mainly through their participation in training and development activities. Trustees meet formally usually once in a month (via Zoom this year because of COVID-19 restrictions) and are in email and phone contact regularly. Trustees were informed about the training and development opportunities available during this reporting period and encouraged to participate in the available opportunities.
The board of the trustees manages the charity. The board oversees overall charity governance and organisation’s activities including recruitment of staff, contracts, and partnerships.
CAN International team has developed a good working relationship with the partners and stakeholders including ethnic minority communities (e.g., Gurkha veteran/Nepali communities), other charities and local Councils. The projects and initiatives aimed at helping the people in need were delivered successfully in collaboration with these partners and stakeholders.
Trustees give their time for free and receive no financial benefit while managing the charity. Trustees are aware of their roles and responsibilities in our charity structure. They assess the charity works including any risks during their periodical meetings (or via emails/phone contacts) and take appropriate actions to manage them following charity’s guidelines and policies.
TAR
Dec 2020
2
Section C Objectives and activities
| Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
The principal objective of CAN International is to support the communities, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised communities, to relieve poverty and improve the conditions of lives, and conserve the nature and natural resources on which they depend. In specific terms, the objects of CAN International are: (i) to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by: • the relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in socially and economically disadvantaged communities; • the conservation and the protection of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources; and (ii)to advance the education of the public in subjects related to sustainable development and the protection and conservation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects. |
|---|---|
| This year has been incredibly challenging to our team and the communities we support. The demand for our services increased significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we were able to support the vulnerable and disadvantaged community members, particularly elderly members of ethnic minority communities and Gurkha veterans and families across different parts of England, mainly in Hampshire, Kent, Midland and London. Our programmes were focussed on supporting the communities who were facing significant challenges such as social isolation and loneliness due to COVID-19, using a number of approaches such as telephone/online helpline, organising community networks, organising wellness (yoga) sessions remotely and distributing COVID-19 essential packages (e.g. masks, sanitisers). Project grants is the main source of funding of our charity activities. We were able to secure grants from some of the key funding organisations including The Armed Forces Covenant Fund, Charities Aid Foundation and the Big Lottery Fund to support our project activities. We are thankful to them for this crucial support in these incredibly challenging times. The trustees have high regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
CAN International does not provide grants, rather implement initiatives working with different stakeholders.
You may choose to include further statements, where Investment policy: N/A. relevant, about:
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Volunteers contributed to the effective delivery of our project initiatives
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• policy on grantmaking; mainly through community awareness and mobilisation. They also
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• helped the vulnerable members of the community and elderly Gurkha policy programme related investment; veterans with interpretation, GP appointments, documentation and liaison with the public agencies for support and services. They also
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• contribution made by support our team to distribute COVID-19 essential packages such as volunteers. masks, sanitisers and groceries to the elderly members of the communities.
TAR
Dec 2020
3
Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
This year has been very challenging to the communities, particularly to the elderly vulnerable members of ethnic minority communities that we support. During these challenging times, we were able to support key vulnerable members of the ethnic minority communities, particularly Gurkha veteran communities across different areas in England. The beneficiaries were able to develop networks, receive support from our team and the volunteers, improve their social connections, reduce isolation and loneliness and improve their overall wellbeing.
In order to deliver our project activities and support the communities effectively, we were able to develop the network of community volunteers. We were able to recruit and train 24 community volunteers and mobilise them to support the vulnerable members of the communities that we supported.
TAR
Dec 2020
4
Section E Financial review CAN International has a small amount of reserve. In order to use the Brief statement of the reserves, the trustee(s) will submit a request to the Board of Trustees, charity’s policy on reserves explaining the rationale and plan of use along with the plans for replenishment. The organisation’s goal is to replenish the funds used within 12 months to restore the Reserve fund to the target minimum amount. If it takes more than 12 months to replenish, the request(s) will be scrutinised more carefully. The board of trustees will approve or modify the request and authorise the transfer of the fund. Details of any funds materially None. in deficit ~~oo~~ Further financial review details (Optional information) The principal sources of our charity’s funds are project grants. We secure You may choose to include the grants by submitting the relevant project proposals for funding to the additional information, where UK-based funding organisations. The contribution from individual relevant about: donation was minimal this year. We are aiming to diversify our sources of • the charity’s principal funds in the future. sources of funds (including any fundraising); We use the secured funds to implement the charitable activities including • how expenditure has hiring venue for workshops and training, purchasing materials and items to distribute to communities and travel and staff/volunteers’ expenses. supported the key objectives of the charity; Investment policy: N/A • investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. ~~|~~ Section F Other optional information ~~_~~ N/A Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Balram Dhakal Full name(s) Balram Dhakal Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Secretary/Trustee etc) Date 30/04/2021 ~~=——~~ TAR 5 Dec 2020
Dec 2020
5
Charity No. 1166983
Communities and Nature International
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021
GNS Associates Limited Chartered Certificed Accountants Boundary House Cricket Field Road Uxbridge UB8 1QG
Communities and Nature International Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Information | 1 |
| Approval statement | 2 |
| Accountants' report | 3 |
| Receipts and payments accounts | 4 |
| Balance sheet | 5 |
Communities and Nature International Business Information
Trustees
Mr Govind Belbase, Chair Dr Balram Dhakal, Trustee
Dr Pushpa Datta Upreti, Trustee
Accountants
GNS Associates Limited Boundary House Cricket Field Road Uxbridge UB8 1QG
Bankers
Lloyds Bank PLC
Business address:
5 Forbes Drive Peterborough PE7 0ND
1
Communities and Nature International
Approval statement
I approve these accounts which comprise the Receipts and Payments Accounts, Balance Sheet and related notes. I acknowledge my responsibility for the accounts, including the appropriateness of the accounting basis as set out in note 1, and for providing all the information and explanations necessary for their compilation.
Govinda Belbase, Chair
2
Communities and Nature International
Accountants' report on the unaudited accounts to Communities and Nature International
You have approved the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Receipts and Payments Accounts, Balance Sheet and related notes. In accordance with your instructions, we have compiled these unaudited accounts from the accounting records and information and explanations supplied to us.
L N Ghimire Chartered Certified Accountants GNS Associates Limited Boundary House Cricket Field Road Uxbridge UB8 1QG
3 June 2021
3
Communities and Nature International Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021
| Receipts: Grant received - Restricted Donation received Total Payments: Programs and events Rent and rates Donation paid Logistics and supplies Legal and professional fees Salaries & wages Travelling Publications, printing, postage and stationery Communication expenses Total |
£ 102,955.00 995.43 |
|---|---|
| 103,950.43 | |
| 27,308.37 4,274.05 425.00 4,115.52 9,834.00 21,682.00 3,949.10 2,342.00 1,778.88 |
|
| 75,708.92 |
4
Communities and Nature International Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2021
| Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Notes Current assets Bank and cash balances Current liabilities Accountancy fee accrued Net Current Assets Net Assets Capital account Balance b/f from previous year Surplus / (deficit) for this year |
34,139.89 | £ 33,719.89 33,719.89 5,478.38 28,241.51 33,719.89 - |
| 34,139.89 420.00 |
||
| 420.00 | ||
5
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ members of
Communities and Nature International (CAN International)
On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2021 Charity no 1166983 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2020.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 02/11/2021 Signed: ~~—_~~
Oct 2018
1
IER
Name: Aravind Gautam
Relevant professional MA in Human Resource Management qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address: 2 Camwood Gardens Ipswich IP3 8HY
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Oct 2018
2
IER
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
3
IER