2023-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/04/2022 To 31/03/2023

Charity name: Communities and Nature International (CAN International) Charity registration number: 1166983 (Scotland SC047810)

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The principal objective of our charity 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.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	During this reporting period, we were able to support the ethnic minority communities, particularly the disadvantaged members and Gurkha veterans and families across different parts of England, mainly in Hampshire, London and East Midland. We were able to support the members of the communities who were facing significant challenges including social isolation and loneliness, using a number of approaches including telephone/online helpline, organising community networks, morning/afternoon clubs and organising wellness sessions. We organised a seaside trip to the elderly Gurkha veterans who did not have the opportunity to visit the seaside

		recently as part of our initiatives to tackle social isolation and loneliness and improve their overall wellbeing. We also supported communities in Aldershot to organise community garden as part of our initiatives towards for improved social connections, well-being and addressing climate change.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have high regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A. We do not provide grants, rather implement initiatives working with different stakeholders.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Volunteers contributed to the delivery of the project initiatives mainly through community awareness and mobilisation. They also helped the isolated, vulnerable members of the community and elderly Gurkha veterans with interpretation, GP appointments, documentation and liaison with the public agencies for support and services. They also supported to lunch the programmes aimed at addressing loneliness and social isolation and overall social wellbeing among elderly Gurkha veterans and communities.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	We were able to support, particularly the elderly, vulnerable members of ethnic minority communities and Gurkha veterans and their families across different areas in England to develop networks, improve their social connections, reduce isolation and loneliness and improve their overall wellbeing. Because of their language and cultural barriers, these communities were struggling to access the available public resources and support and were isolated – that was affecting their wellbeing immensely. As a result of our support, the beneficiary disadvantaged members of the community were not only able to improve their health and wellbeing, but also managed to integrate into the wider society. We are really proud that we were able to help these people in need. We were also able to contribute towards addressing climate change through implementation of community gardening in Aldershot. We were also able to develop local capacity to support needy community members through development of volunteers.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	We were able to meet our targeted objectives.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	For a small team like ours, the overall performance of fundraising was good. However, we are interested to invest more resources in coming years to implement diverse fundraising activities.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other		N/A

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	We are a small charity – overall, our financial position of our charity is good. In addition to continuous assessment of our expenses, we review our financial progress periodically, especially during trustees’ meetings. Our contracted Certified Chartered Accountants oversight our accounts and prepare the annual Receipts and Payments Accounts. We also get our accounts reviewed by an independent examiner.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Our charity has a small amount of reserve. In order to use the reserves, the trustee(s) will submit a request to the Board of Trustees, 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.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£9,034 (included in total balance in Accounts Report)
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The principal sources of our charity’s funds are project grants. We secure the grants by submitting the relevant project proposals for funding to the UK-based funding organisations. The contribution from individual donation was minimal this year. We are aiming to diversify our sources of funds in the future.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The principal risk that we are facing is the sustained income. Due to lack of resources, particularly human resources, we are struggling to put enough efforts towards fund raising, resulting lack of funding available to implement the critical programmes that we wanted to deliver to support needy communities.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Appointed by members of the Committee/Trustees

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	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 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 charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	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.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	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.
Other		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.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Communities and Nature International
Other name the charity uses	CAN International
Registered charity number	1166983
Charity’s principal address	42 Wilton Drive Peterborough PE7 8 RU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Govind Belbase	Chair	Wholeyear
	Dr Pushpa D Upreti	Member	Wholeyear
	Dr Balram Dhakal	Member	Wholeyear

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	**Dates acted if not for whole year **
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
N/A
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

None

Other optional information

None

Declarations

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, etc)[Trustee ] Date 28/10/2023

Charity No. 1166983

Communities and Nature International

Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 2023 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

10 October 2023

3

Communities and Nature International Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2023

£

Income:

Grant received - Restricted Donation received Miscellaneous receipts Total Expenditure: Insurance Accountancy fee Administration expenses Advertising and communication Donation Printing, postage and stationery Project Expenses Rent and rates Travel Website Communicaing Expenses Depreciation Sundry expenses Total Surplus / (Deficit)	17,881.00 5.00
	17,886.00
	1,500.00
	600 600 1275 280 669.84 38173.38 2412
	2,937.90
	600.00 120.00 150.00 180.00
	49,498.12
	31,612.12 -

4

Communities and Nature International Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2023

Notes Current assets Bank and cash balances Net Current Assets Fiexed assets Computer Creditors Accountsncy fees accoured Net Assets Capital account Balance b/f from previous year Surplus / (deficit) for this year	£ 20,506.00
	20,506.00 600.00 600.00 -
	20,506.00
	52,118.00 31,612.12 -
	20,505.88

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