## **HOOKE COURT in MALAWI Chairman’s Report 2025** **2025 has been another successful year in the support given to the primary schools in Malawi. Continual contact has been made throughout the year with the schools and the PEAs thanks to the work of secretary Fiona Boggis and treasurer Sarah McConnell. For this we are very grateful.** **Regular donations have been received which has enabled us to purchase equipment for the schools in the two zones.** **Achievement and Performance 2025 Summer Project 2025 Four Trustees and a representative from Prodigal Bikes volunteers took part in the summer programme.** **All 8 schools in the Bandawe Zone were visited by three trustees. The Headteachers were present and were welcoming. It was good to see some of the classroom displays provided in previous years still being used and to see that the Malawian teachers had added their own resources to the classrooms. Many classrooms remain without desks and doors and are in a poor state of repair.** **The new classroom at Mkundi School, funded by The Mercers’ Livery Company, was officially opened; representatives from the Nkatabay Education Office came for the ceremony and the two local Chiefs gave speeches of thanks. All receipts for the building work were seen and checked by the trustees.** **Kapesca’s new classroom, funded by St Marys’s Primary School, Swindon, was also opened, again another celebration was had with the entire community present.** **Eight out of ten Chintheche schools were visited, the new PEA accompanied the team on their travels. Many of the schools are at a distance from Chintheche which brings difficulties for both staff and pupils. The most rural schools have poor structures and lack sufficient staff; this can lead to a worrying drop out rate of pupils.** **All Head teachers said how much they appreciated the** ## **support of HCiM, particularly the provision of bicycles and resources.** ## **Sponsored Pupils** **Pupils who are being sponsored by a sponsor in the UK were seen. Gifts from the UK were handed out and thank you letters from the children for their sponsors were written. Six of the pupils have finished secondary school this year; three have gained enough points in their final exams to earn a place at a Government University, one at an independent University, and one of the boys with Hearing Impairment is working as an apprentice with Prodigal Bikes. Edwin and Timothy, two boys who were sponsored previously, both reported in; Timothy has completed his university degree and said that he had a placement with the government office in Nkhatabay for six months. We also met with the Head Teachers of Bandawe Secondary and Bandawe Girls’ to make sure all was well with our sponsored children and to ensure links were maintained. The PEA at Bandawe identified six children in need of sponsorship at secondary school; sponsors from the UK have been found for these children.** ## **Educational Resources** **The PEA of Bandawe together with the PEA of Chintheche provided a wish list of resources for their schools: exercise books, pens, pencils, flip charts, chalk and markers for all 18 schools have been provided.** ## **Bikes** **Nearly all the bikes provided through Prodigal Bikes were accounted for. Peter Bradish Ellames, Prodigal Bikes (PB) representative and Pete Cooper, helped by the PB team in Bandawe – Christopher, Simon and Louis – repaired many of the bikes. Simon has worked as an apprentice for the past 12 months; Louis will be joining him in this role. Four wheel chairs were repaired.** **A bike and tools were provided for Frank, another past pupil at HI, who lives away from Bandawe and was identified as being capable of setting up a small bike repair business. All bikes are greatly appreciated as they make life easier for those teachers who have to travel long distances to school.** ## **Sanitary Kits** **100 sustainable sanitary kits donated by Dignity by Design, Yeovil, and 300 pairs of girl’s underwear were distributed; material was bought for pupils at HI to make their own kits. Patience, at Mkundi, has made 40 kits during the year.** ## **School in a Bag** **Fifty ‘School in a Bags’ were given to pupils in the Bandawe Zone; the Head Teachers reported that the bags had a positive impact on the attendance and performance of the pupils.** **Knitting and associated resources** **Local ladies made fourteen blankets out of the knitted squares taken out from the UK; ten blankets were given to the Hearing Impaired school and four to the Special Needs room.** **Uniform donated by William Perkin’s School was distributed to schools in the Bandawe Zone.** **School for the Hearing Impaired The money from the Swedish family was given to the school for food.** **The playground built last year, summer 2024, has been well used and was in need of repair; this was achieved and extra swings were added.** ## **Sponsorship** **At present we have links with four UK schools who in contact with each other via whatsapp messaging and fundraise for their partner school.** **East Allington for Munkhokwe St George’s, Weston Super Mare for Chivumu St Mary’s Swindon for Kapesca Rydon for Mkundi** ## **Container** **£200 was donated to Prodigal Bikes who “bought” space in a container being transported to Malawi by** _**Changing Stars Malawi.**_ **Bikes, sewing machines, carpentry equipment and sundry other items were delivered to Bandawe and distributed amongst the various schools.** ## **Fund Raising** **The application to The Mercers’ Livery Company for funding for a classroom at Mkundi was successful and the project has been completed. An 80’s disco raised much needed funds. Generous donations from Dylan Cooper’s birthday celebration were received.** **Future Plans and Challenges** **Summer Volunteer Project August 2026 The PEAs and teachers have requested more teacher training and Management training for Head Teachers. The classrooms need general maintenance, repair of doors, floors and the blackboards need painting. Many schools say that they need new classrooms. We plan to continue to build strong relationship with the two PEAs and encourage shared working practices.** **I wish to thank all the Trustees for their continuing support for the work we are undertaking supporting the schools in Malawi and also Prodigal Bikes, Dignity by Design and School in a Bag.** **We look forward to continuing our work making a difference to so many children through the support given to their schools in Malawi.** **Alan Vian October 2025** CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to tt)è noarnst R951rictgd funds to the nearest £ Endowment fund5 to the nearest£ Total funds Last year to the nearest £ to the nearest£ A1 Receipts Summer Progr3mm& Gerberal donatsons school sponsorship sanitary produds School In a Bag Pupil spTrnsor$hip prodigal bikes GIR Aid Fund Raising 3,372 3,372 3,243 11.426 300 996 8,194 503 1,725 6,944 2,361 11.202 11,426 300 700 6,127 475 4.265 507 8,194 503 1.725 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 4968 24,791 29,759 32,5aO set an Isee table). Investment Sa es, to Total receipts 4.968 24,7 29,759 ,580 A3Pa ents summer progr8mm8 3,265 3.26s 1d,017 21.D12 5,483 2,843 school spDnosrship sanitary prooucls schoo. In a ba 12,726 486 346 3,609 568 12,726 486 346 3,609 568 64 136 24,044 4,373 prodigal bikes bank charges 136 3,043 Sub total 21,001 44,885 A4 A55et and Investment Sub total Total payments 3,043 21,001 24,044 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 1.925 224 3.791 224 6,730 14.012 20,742 15,026 CCXX R1 acwunts ISSI 0310612026 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to neaiest£ Endowment fund5 to neargSt £ B1 Cash funds bank 6,729 14,012 peliy cash Total cash funds 6,729 14.012 lagr99 bala[￿s￿￿h r￿aiptS￿r￿ pSY￿￿￿t￿ Unrestricted funds to nearest£ R95tricted funds to nearest £ Endowment fund5 to nearest£ Fund to whlch as591 bglon Current valuo Dpt311 Co$t lopttonall Fund to whlch assét b•lon Cost loptlonall Currpnt val Details B4 Assots rotained for thg charitys own use Fund to whlch relates Amount du tlonal When due lon B5 Liabilities Sign8d by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 0310612026 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Hooke Court in Malawi On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charity no (if any) 1167089 Set out on pages I report to Ihe trustees on my examination of Ihe accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3110812025. Responslbilities and basis of report As the d)aritVs trustees. you are responsible for the preparabon of the accounls in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe A¢r). I report in respect of my examInat￿n of the Twst's accounts carried out under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5Mb) of the Acl. Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have examiner's statement come lo my attention in connecb'on wrth the examination (other than thal disclosed below ") whi¢h gives me cause to believe that in. any material. respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not ac￿r￿ with the accounting records", or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in Ihe Charities (Accounts and Reports) RegulatK)ns 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view whiGh is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matt8rs in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to bè reached. ' Please delete the words in the traGkets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2£1oS Iiolb, Name.. Claire Heplinslall Relevant professlonal qualificationls) or body {if any): ACCA (the Association of Chartered Cerlified Accountants) Address.. 8 Home Fam) Close. Uploders. Bridport. Dorset. DT6 4RS IER Oct 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern15ee CC32, Independent eXaMinat￿n of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve horè brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. Testing Approach The examination has been ogrried out on a sample basi5,' all transactions have reviewe(J. Basls of Accounllng The aecounts have been prepared on a cash receipts and paymenls ba￿s, wh￿h is accepiable under the applicable framework for small charities. Openlng Balancos Opening balan¢e5. In￿l￿Ing th8 split between restricted and unrestrrcled fuThJ5. have ￿t been r reviewed and 8re assumed lo be correct based on prior year r8VièWS. Closlng BalarKe5 Closing ba18r￿S have been agreed lo bank statements and records on a sample basis ?nd are appropriately split between rèstricted and urKeslricled funds. Cash Income A proportion of the tharity's income arises trom fundrai5rng aclivtties where cash is collected. While a sample of banking records has been reviewed and reconciled lo supporting documentali¢)n. there remains an inherent risk Ih8t not all cash received is fvlly recorded and deposited. Twslees should remain mindful that cash handlirwj presents a heightened risk of error or omisston. To miligale this. robust contrds shtyjd be maintsined. iThJud4ng 5egregalion ol duties where pr8cticable, prompt banking of rerripts. and the usè of iThYependenl reconciliations of monies ¢(AlectwJ to arnounts banke(J. Periodic spol checks further strengthen assurance in this area. In country expondfture I Wty cash: A significant propothon of expenditure is In￿rr8d Ir￿¢￿Trty in local currerffji. which is consstent with the tharity's activities. I note that. during Ihe year, certain payment5 have been facilitated through the personal bank accounts ol ts Treasurer and Secrelary. primarily,to minimise for￿gn ￿[renCY transaction costs. WhiLg supporting documenlation such as receipts and bank statements has been provided lo subslanlFale sampled transacb'ons. th"s approach presents inherenl weaknesses in tho aL￿￿t Irall and financial Control environment. In parbcular.. The use of personal accounts redu￿ transparency and Ihe segregab'on bets¥een personal and charity funds_ T￿re is an increased reliarKe on iThYividuJs to maintain txjmplele and accurate records. It Is therefrwe wsllive to note that Ihe Trustees intend to explore the establishrnent of a dedicated charity bank account that mniimises fcKeign eJJtrerw charges. Implementation of such an arrangement should significantly improve matters noted above going forwards. In the meantime, mib'gatiTh3 contrd5 are in placE, Ir￿l￿dir￿j dual authorisationlinitialling of expenditure and retrosp8Ctive review of yJpwting evidence. Ovèrall C¢)mm•n¢ Given the charity's size and limited resources, the Trustees have demonstrated a strong eommilmenl lo maintaining appropriate financial oversight. Praclieal conlrols. including dual authorisatiDn of expenditure and Ihe provision of 5UPPOrting documenlalKJn, are in place and operating as effectively as can reasonabty be expected in the circumstances. While there are inherenl risks, particularly around cash harKJling and the lernporary use ol personal accounts, th8 proactive steps being crK6idergd-such as opening a suitable bank a￿oUn￿ore positive and should further sirengthen transp8￿r￿ arKI control going forward. IER Oct2018