LONE BUFFALO
Trustees' annual report for the period ended 31 December 2021
Registered charity number 1169163; registered on 13 September 2016 Principal address 7 Mount Harry Road SEVENOAKS TN13 3JH
Trustees during the period to 31 December 2021 were
Jackie Thomas Andrew March Jeremy Richens Richard Johns
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and its constitution was adopted on 23 June 2016. Trustees and volunteers provide support and advice from the UK to the Lone Buffalo English Development Centre in Phonsavan, Laos as well as managing fund raising internationally. The backgrounds of the trustees and volunteers include education, child protection, web design, fund raising and finance. In the past, trustees and volunteers have been recruited by personal contacts and from the supporters of the charity. This policy will be followed if there are vacancies in the future. All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits.
Objectives
Each year the charity reviews its objectives with reference to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The charity's objectives for 2021 were to advance the education and improve the life chances of the young people in and around Phonsavan, Laos through the provision, maintenance and support of the .Lone Buffalo English Development Centre in Phonsavan, Laos.
Activities
The objectives are achieved by providing to students in Phonsavan:
-
(a) English language education and training;
-
(b) Sport and leisure activities to promote health and social wellbeing;
-
(c) Activities and other opportunities to develop skills, capabilities and resilience of young people, so they can participate in society as mature and responsible individuals;
-
(d) Presentations and field trips to inform young people about their local community and country; and
-
(e) Assistance with volunteer placements in local services and further education opportunities.
The main term runs for ten months from September to June although our Lao teachers do continue beginners classes through the summer for those students who can study in July and August.
Main achievements
Activities in 2021 continued to be disrupted by the Covid pandemic with a second lockdown halting activities between October and December, with only online teaching possible. Nevertheless, when it was possible up to 205 boy and girl students between the ages of 11 and 18 were provided with up to 6 hours per week of structured English language lessons taught by qualified teaching professionals together with the opportunity to participate in team sports, mainly soccer, and individual exercise in the school gymnasium. Level 2, 3 and 4 classes completed courses with 85% of these students passing final assessments. 27 Lone Buffalo students completed their final year at High School in 2021. 22 have already started tertiary studies. The Student Coffee Co-operative continued to develop basic business skills and promote local produce. The significant achievement in 2021 was the launch of the 'Barrier Free Learning' programme with students in the four senior classes being provided with tablets to improve the online teaching experience, and to bring technology into the classroom, now we are back to face to face learning. The Lone Buffalo Girls Football Club was launched in 2021, with female students/alumnae managing the coaching, management, promotion and accounts. Lastly the first Develop Together life skills programme was completed, which delivered 16 workshops for 106 senior male and female students.
Financial review
The charity receives donations from individuals and corporate bodies and sponsorship from the US and UK and other embassies in Vientiane, Laos, and others, towards the cost of specific activities. All funds received, except for some minor costs of governance, are used to support the school.
The charity maintains a cash reserve within unrestricted funds which is sufficient to cover at least six months regular support for the school. However because donations and sponsorship, especially from corporate bodies and embassies, are not received on a regular basis during the year and remittances to support the school are made only when needed by the school, the level of the reserves will from time to time exceed this minimum level.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Jackie Thomas
Date…… 28 July 2022 ………
Page 1
LONE BUFFALO
Receipts and payments account for the year to 31 December 2021
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ Receipts Corporate donations 4,991 - 4,991 Personal donations 31,658 - 31,658 US Embassy 1,170 7,785 8,955 UK Embassy - - - NZ Embassy - 18,802 18,802 Gift Aid recovery 1,851 - 1,851 39,670 26,587 66,257 Payments Support for school 37,011 18,617 55,628 Cost of generating funds 216 - 216 IT costs 4,247 - 4,247 Bank charges 225 - 225 41,699 18,617 60,316 Net of receipts and payments (2,029) 7,970 5,941 Funds at 1 January 2021 27,397 4,800 32,197 Funds at 31 December 2021 £25,368 £12,770 £38,138 Cash at bank £25,368 £12,770 £38,138 Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2021 |
2020 Total funds £ 4,252 22,844 7,662 1,460 11,800 1,716 |
|---|---|
| 49,734 | |
| 50,601 216 1,646 225 |
|
| 52,688 | |
| (2,954) 35,151 |
|
| £32,197 | |
| £32,197 |
Approved by the Trustees on 27 July 2022 and signed on their behalf by
Jackie Thomas
Date…… 28 July 2022 ………
Page 2
LONE BUFFALO
Trustees' annual report for the period ended 31 December 2021
Registered charity number 1169163; registered on 13 September 2016 Principal address 7 Mount Harry Road SEVENOAKS TN13 3JH
Trustees during the period to 31 December 2021 were
Jackie Thomas Andrew March Jeremy Richens Richard Johns
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and its constitution was adopted on 23 June 2016. Trustees and volunteers provide support and advice from the UK to the Lone Buffalo English Development Centre in Phonsavan, Laos as well as managing fund raising internationally. The backgrounds of the trustees and volunteers include education, child protection, web design, fund raising and finance. In the past, trustees and volunteers have been recruited by personal contacts and from the supporters of the charity. This policy will be followed if there are vacancies in the future. All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits.
Objectives
Each year the charity reviews its objectives with reference to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The charity's objectives for 2021 were to advance the education and improve the life chances of the young people in and around Phonsavan, Laos through the provision, maintenance and support of the .Lone Buffalo English Development Centre in Phonsavan, Laos.
Activities
The objectives are achieved by providing to students in Phonsavan:
-
(a) English language education and training;
-
(b) Sport and leisure activities to promote health and social wellbeing;
-
(c) Activities and other opportunities to develop skills, capabilities and resilience of young people, so they can participate in society as mature and responsible individuals;
-
(d) Presentations and field trips to inform young people about their local community and country; and
-
(e) Assistance with volunteer placements in local services and further education opportunities.
The main term runs for ten months from September to June although our Lao teachers do continue beginners classes through the summer for those students who can study in July and August.
Main achievements
Activities in 2021 continued to be disrupted by the Covid pandemic with a second lockdown halting activities between October and December, with only online teaching possible. Nevertheless, when it was possible up to 205 boy and girl students between the ages of 11 and 18 were provided with up to 6 hours per week of structured English language lessons taught by qualified teaching professionals together with the opportunity to participate in team sports, mainly soccer, and individual exercise in the school gymnasium. Level 2, 3 and 4 classes completed courses with 85% of these students passing final assessments. 27 Lone Buffalo students completed their final year at High School in 2021. 22 have already started tertiary studies. The Student Coffee Co-operative continued to develop basic business skills and promote local produce. The significant achievement in 2021 was the launch of the 'Barrier Free Learning' programme with students in the four senior classes being provided with tablets to improve the online teaching experience, and to bring technology into the classroom, now we are back to face to face learning. The Lone Buffalo Girls Football Club was launched in 2021, with female students/alumnae managing the coaching, management, promotion and accounts. Lastly the first Develop Together life skills programme was completed, which delivered 16 workshops for 106 senior male and female students.
Financial review
The charity receives donations from individuals and corporate bodies and sponsorship from the US and UK and other embassies in Vientiane, Laos, and others, towards the cost of specific activities. All funds received, except for some minor costs of governance, are used to support the school.
The charity maintains a cash reserve within unrestricted funds which is sufficient to cover at least six months regular support for the school. However because donations and sponsorship, especially from corporate bodies and embassies, are not received on a regular basis during the year and remittances to support the school are made only when needed by the school, the level of the reserves will from time to time exceed this minimum level.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Jackie Thomas
Date…… 28 July 2022 ………
Page 1
LONE BUFFALO
Receipts and payments account for the year to 31 December 2021
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ Receipts Corporate donations 4,991 - 4,991 Personal donations 31,658 - 31,658 US Embassy 1,170 7,785 8,955 UK Embassy - - - NZ Embassy - 18,802 18,802 Gift Aid recovery 1,851 - 1,851 39,670 26,587 66,257 Payments Support for school 37,011 18,617 55,628 Cost of generating funds 216 - 216 IT costs 4,247 - 4,247 Bank charges 225 - 225 41,699 18,617 60,316 Net of receipts and payments (2,029) 7,970 5,941 Funds at 1 January 2021 27,397 4,800 32,197 Funds at 31 December 2021 £25,368 £12,770 £38,138 Cash at bank £25,368 £12,770 £38,138 Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2021 |
2020 Total funds £ 4,252 22,844 7,662 1,460 11,800 1,716 |
|---|---|
| 49,734 | |
| 50,601 216 1,646 225 |
|
| 52,688 | |
| (2,954) 35,151 |
|
| £32,197 | |
| £32,197 |
Approved by the Trustees on 27 July 2022 and signed on their behalf by
Jackie Thomas
Date…… 28 July 2022 ………
Page 2
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Lone Buffalo
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Lone Buffalo Charitable Incorporated Organisation (the CIO) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’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 examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed:
Name: Anthony S Weston Smith Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales Address: 132 Oakhill Road, Sevenoaks TN13 1NX Date: 29th July 2022