LONE BUFFALO
Trustees' annual report for the year ended 31 December 2022
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 2022 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.The charity is managed by the chief operating officer, who is based in Laos, with local staff and guidance from the charity’s trustees and other volunteer support. All trustees and volunteers give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits. In the event of a vacancy arising for a trustee, one will be sought from the present supporters of and donors to the charity.
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 2022 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. The charity intends to continue to pursue these objectives for 2023 and for the foreseeable future by raising funds and supporting the centre financially.
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 the Lao teachers do continue beginners classes through the summer for those students who can study in July and August.
Main achievements
The first quarter of the year continued to be affected by the pandemic and normal activities were not restored until the second quarter. However, Barrier Free Learning continued to be a massive positive as both teachers and students embraced the technology and new learning platforms, enhancing the whole learning experience. Attendence has been lower this year, post pandemic, with 169 students in the last quarter (55% female) between the ages of 11 and 18 being 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 1 and 2 classes completed courses with 76% of these students passing final assessments. 84% of the students who completed their final year at High School in 2022 have already started tertiary studies. The Student Coffee Co-operative continued to develop basic business skills and promote local produce with 15 students recruited to replace departing High School leavers. The Lone Buffalo Girls Football Club continued its development with female students/alumnae managing the coaching, management, promotion and accounts and up to 30% of female students participating. Lastly the second Develop Together life skills programme was completed in early 2022 with significant gains (confidence, dealing with stress, parent support etc) recorded in the pre/post project survey analysis. The third one is underway providing 20 life skills workshops for 82 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 19 July 2023
Page 1
LONE BUFFALO
Receipts and payments account for the year to 31 December 2022
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ Receipts Corporate donations 30,295 - Personal donations 23,280 - US Embassy - 8,813 NZ Embassy - - Gift Aid recovery 4,552 - 58,127 8,813 Payments Support for school 34,223 12,770 Cost of generating funds 216 - IT costs 2,485 - Bank charges 238 - 37,162 12,770 Net of receipts and payments 20,965 (3,957) Funds at 1 January 2022 25,368 12,770 Funds at 31 December 2022 £46,333 £8,813 Cash at bank £46,333 £8,813 Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December |
Total funds £ 30,295 23,280 8,813 - 4,552 66,940 46,993 216 2,485 238 49,932 17,008 38,138 £55,146 £55,146 2022 |
2021 Total funds £ 4,991 31,658 8,955 18,802 1,851 |
|---|---|---|
| 66,257 | ||
| 55,524 216 4,247 329 |
||
| 60,316 | ||
| 5,941 32,197 |
||
| £38,138 | ||
| £38,138 |
Approved by the Trustees on 19 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by
Jackie Thomas
Date 19 July 2023
Page 2
LONE BUFFALO
Trustees' annual report for the year ended 31 December 2022
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 2022 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.The charity is managed by the chief operating officer, who is based in Laos, with local staff and guidance from the charity’s trustees and other volunteer support. All trustees and volunteers give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits. In the event of a vacancy arising for a trustee, one will be sought from the present supporters of and donors to the charity.
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 2022 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. The charity intends to continue to pursue these objectives for 2023 and for the foreseeable future by raising funds and supporting the centre financially.
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 the Lao teachers do continue beginners classes through the summer for those students who can study in July and August.
Main achievements
The first quarter of the year continued to be affected by the pandemic and normal activities were not restored until the second quarter. However, Barrier Free Learning continued to be a massive positive as both teachers and students embraced the technology and new learning platforms, enhancing the whole learning experience. Attendence has been lower this year, post pandemic, with 169 students in the last quarter (55% female) between the ages of 11 and 18 being 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 1 and 2 classes completed courses with 76% of these students passing final assessments. 84% of the students who completed their final year at High School in 2022 have already started tertiary studies. The Student Coffee Co-operative continued to develop basic business skills and promote local produce with 15 students recruited to replace departing High School leavers. The Lone Buffalo Girls Football Club continued its development with female students/alumnae managing the coaching, management, promotion and accounts and up to 30% of female students participating. Lastly the second Develop Together life skills programme was completed in early 2022 with significant gains (confidence, dealing with stress, parent support etc) recorded in the pre/post project survey analysis. The third one is underway providing 20 life skills workshops for 82 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 19 July 2023
Page 1
LONE BUFFALO
Receipts and payments account for the year to 31 December 2022
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ Receipts Corporate donations 30,295 - Personal donations 23,280 - US Embassy - 8,813 NZ Embassy - - Gift Aid recovery 4,552 - 58,127 8,813 Payments Support for school 34,223 12,770 Cost of generating funds 216 - IT costs 2,485 - Bank charges 238 - 37,162 12,770 Net of receipts and payments 20,965 (3,957) Funds at 1 January 2022 25,368 12,770 Funds at 31 December 2022 £46,333 £8,813 Cash at bank £46,333 £8,813 Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December |
Total funds £ 30,295 23,280 8,813 - 4,552 66,940 46,993 216 2,485 238 49,932 17,008 38,138 £55,146 £55,146 2022 |
2021 Total funds £ 4,991 31,658 8,955 18,802 1,851 |
|---|---|---|
| 66,257 | ||
| 55,524 216 4,247 329 |
||
| 60,316 | ||
| 5,941 32,197 |
||
| £38,138 | ||
| £38,138 |
Approved by the Trustees on 19 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by
Jackie Thomas
Date 19 July 2023
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 2022.
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: 20th July 2023