United Kingdom Jarra Association
Annual Report 2020 to 2021
Charity Number: 1173058
www.ukja.org
Registered address: 35 Golden Eagle Gardens Birmingham B23 5GY
Introduction
The United Kingdom Jarra Association (UKJA) was formed and inaugurated in August 2015 in Reading, in the United Kingdom (UK) by a group of Gambians of Jarra origin resident in the UK aimed fostering unity amongst indigenes of Jarra living in the UK. They also committed to support development initiatives in Jarra, a region found in the Lower River Region of The Gambia.
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The association identified three core areas of intervention: education, health, and poverty relief. These areas were carefully selected based on the outcome of a thorough needs assessment conducted by the association in consultation with local leaders in the UK and in The Gambia.
Ever since, the Association has grown to become reputable in both the UK and The Gambia. To ensure that it is sustainable, effective, and legal, it was transformed into a charitable entity and registered into the UK charity register May 2017.
This report presents the status of the Charity, including its achievements and constraints covering the period August 2019 to August 2020 and our way forward. We begin with education, to be followed by health and poverty relief.
Educate Jarra
1. Science and IT lab facilities
During the period under review, the charity received information that the IT technician it was supporting Soma Secondary school has left his position. The charity made no commitment to further this support as it is believed that the education authority can take this forward. This is demonstrative of the fact that improved student performance in WASSCE exams continued to be registered in the school. The UKJA continued exploring ways of completing the Bureng project which has now completed waiting to be handed over to the community.
2. Scholarship:
This scheme remains in progress and no further addition to the three (3) outstanding students reported last year due to limited funding. At the last reported, 3 benefited from the UKJA scholarship worth £100.00 per student. This covers exercise books, textbooks, and other learning materials. These students who are all majoring in science will be sponsored through their secondary and university education.
3. Construction of a multipurpose IT and Science laboratory at Bureng Upper Senior Secondary School in The Gambia:
The construction work has now completed. We believe that this project will increase the uptake of STEM related subjects by students in Bureng and surrounding communities to 25% by 2024. It will also provide all the students in the school the opportunity to acquire basic IT skills crucial to learning and future job opportunities especially in the increasingly ICT world we live in.
The science lab will also enable students to conduct practical science experiments at the school. The project will fundamentally increase student retention from 60% to 90% by end of 2024 thus reducing the number of students migrating to urban areas in pursuit of secondary education by 30%.
Another expected outcome is increase in the number of students that will achieve university entry requirements to pursue relevant courses in science and technology. Full details on the status of the Centre can be accessed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6EGLvdSqYU
4. Basic IT training:
During the period under review, the charity did not deliver capacity building sessions as per last year due to Covid restrictions. However, it instead donated IT equipment to community
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groups in Jarra as listed in Annex 1 with the hope of enhancing capability of the communities they serve.
The benefits of these facilities include the improvement of basic understanding basic computer terminology, functions, styles, and parts; turning a computer on and off, using a keyboard and mouse; operating system elements (desktop, icons, start menu, working with windows) and the creation and editing basic document in word; save organise and retrieve a document.
It is imperative to note that one of the key objectives of the Educate Jarra project is to empower children in poor and deprived rural communities with essential digital skills that will help increase their employability in the increasing digital world we live in.
Health for Jarra Achievements
The expansion of the labor ward of Soma Regional Hospital which is the only referral hospital in the Lower River Region of The Gambia serving a population of 82,000 people and conducting 112 deliveries on average every month (1344 per annum). This intervention has led to a 100% increase in the bed capacity of the labor ward from 3 to 6 beds and also improve the condition of the ward to a modern standard with additional facilities such as a nursing station, 2 toilet facilities, wash hand basins for each bed, staff changing area, lockers for the staff and privacy screens for each delivery bed. The old structure was also fully renovated - the ceiling replaced, windows changed, new ceiling fans and air conditioning unit installed and, the floor tiles replaced. These interventions have made it possible for all deliveries to be attended on time - there is now a zero-waiting time for women in labor as compared to before when during peak periods some are delivered on mattresses on the floor or had to wait in pain for a bed to become available.
During the period under review, the charity continued to work with the health facility to sustain the success gained over the years. It also delivered materials to health facilities across the region that it received from Lymington hospital pre-covid-19. Items included high quality medical equipment and supplies such as delivery beds, wall mounted blood pressure machines, fetal Dopplers, fetal stethoscopes, drug storage refrigerator, drug storage units, autoclave, radiant baby warmer, surgical instruments, delivery kits, hospital beds, baby weighing scale, oxygen concentration machine, and some other items are also provided. These equipment and supplies made it possible for Soma to manage most complicated delivery cases thus leading to reduction in referrals to other hospitals; makes it possible to monitor the health of pregnant mothers and their unborn babies; reduce cross infection; provide privacy and dignity to the women during labour and most importantly reduce maternal child deaths during pregnancy and at child birth.
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Relief of Poverty Achievement
Grants Issued:
During the period, as part of the charity’s objective of relieving members of serious financial difficulty, the charity donated £2,000 to the family of late Pa Barrow towards their welfare maintenance to help in relieving their hardships. These funds contributed towards the funeral
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arrangements to help the family repatriate the body to The Gambia for burial in his ancestral home.
Challenges and Recommendations:
As most charitable organizations, UKJA is mainly reliant on donations from its members and other charitable organisations in pursuant of its charitable goals. With the Covid-19 restrictions in place during this period, made resources mobilisation an absolute challenge. Thus, expanding and sustaining its development activities is a huge challenge. This is because most of the projects currently being implemented are highly capital-intensive including cost of equipment and their maintenance.
Furthermore, funding for our major projects will continue to be a challenge to the association, thus, it should explore alternative fundraising strategies by organising annual fundraising shows both in the UK and The Gambia. Also, to seek support from other higher institutions of learning and or organisations in the UK and globally to provide scholarships to the UKJA sponsored students to pursue university degrees in engineering, medicine and computer science should be considered.
Development Plans: Educate Jarra Project
| Development Plans: Educate Jarra Project |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity/Project | Expected output | Period | Resources |
| IT Lab for Jappineh | Fully functional IT lab at Jappineh Upper Basic School |
July 2022 – July 2023 |
Computers, solar panels, furniture, |
| Scholarship fund | 5 Students sponsored through secondary education |
September 2022 |
Finance |
| Organise a training Camp for children aged 10 to 14 years in the UK. |
One-week capacity building program completed with the aim of assisting students in Math’s, Science, English, and IT. Other programs such as leadership skills and career advice to be also included. |
July 2023 | Finance, laptops, resource persons, logistics etc. |
Health for Jarra
| Health for Jarra | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity/Project | Expected outcomes | Period | Resources Needed |
| Medical outreach programs |
Take 3 Doctors and 4 nurses to Jarra for a two-week period to offer free medical diagnosis and treatments |
December 2022 - February 2023 |
Accommodations, human resources, finance, logistics |
| Hospital equipment | Donate essential hospital equipment to the 3 health facilities in Jarra. |
November 2022 to April 2023 |
Beds and various equipment, including sanitary pads, etc. |
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Relief of Poverty
| Relief of Poverty | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity/Project | Expected Outcomes | Period | Resources Needed |
| Grants to needy individuals and deserving organisations |
Financial support to at least five (5) needy individuals and five (5) organisations |
August 2022 to July 2023 |
Financial resources |
| Organise fundraising activities in the UK and Gambia |
2 fundraising activities to be conducted by July 2023 to mobilise funds for the charity. |
UK – July Gambia - |
Finance, logistics |
| Engage and support productive activities to create jobs and relief poverty. |
Agri-economics ventures – Gardens, poultry farming, sheep fattening, charity shops etc. |
From now to July 2023 |
Land Finance Logistics |
Annex 1. IT equipment Donated
| Date | Name | Purpose | outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Of request | ||||
| 10/11/2020 |
Soma Angel Futa Medina Youth Development Association |
The association is at an advanced stage of installing a branch for computer skills training within their community to ease accessibility, availability, and affordability to youths in education (Students) and local members ofthe community. |
8 computers approved. |
|
| 11/11/2020 |
Karantaba Youth Development Association -Multipurpose Centre in place. |
To enhance skills and knowledge of youths in IT as it is the powerhouse of development. Already the association is engaging youths to learn other skills like satellite installation, electrical installation, plumbing, etc, in which they are benefitingfromthemgreatly. |
8 computers approved. |
|
| 10/11/2020 | S.L. Darboe & Seyfo Saja Mboge |
I am hoping to use this foundation to streamline my contributions in |
5 approved because this is a newly |
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| Foundation for Education, Leadership and Community Development. |
community development for greater efficiency and impact in education, community service and leadership development in the communities of Jarra andNiamina. |
established organisation and may have the same targeted beneficiaries inJarra. |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/10/2020 | Jenoi Youth Development Association -Centreinplace |
To improve education of the younger generation in Jenoi. The youths can learn more about information technology and broadentheir knowledge. |
10 computers approved. |
|
| 18/02/2020 | LRR Regional Youth Centre C/O Pakalinding Youth Centre |
To train regional Youths and enhance their knowledge and skills on ICT at the regional Youth Centre in Pakalinding. |
5 computers approved. |
|
| 18/02/2020 |
Pakalinding Daru Yiriwa Kafo |
To help the Pakalinding community to get easy and affordable access to basic IT services |
10 Computers approved. |
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Beneficiaries
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
The accounts declared in this report have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Charities (SORP 2015) and with relevant companies and charities legislation and regulations. The Statement of Financial Activities shows UKJA’s income from all sources and how this was expended, and the split of activity between restricted and unrestricted funds.
The charity’s income was £3,561 for the year ended 8[th] August 2021 compared to £10,169 in the year ended 8[th] August 2020. The total expenditure amounted to £8,783 for the year ended 8[th] August 2021 compared to £20,753 in the year to 8[th] August 2020. The drop in income driven by the impact of the COVID pandemic. The impact has a significant impact on our donors and that in turn impacts their donations to the charity. The fund balance carried forward at 8[th] August 2021 is £5,801 compared to £11,023 in the year ended 8[th] August 2020. Deficit for the year 2020/21 is £5,222 compared to a 2019/20 deficit of £10,584. Restricted funds stood at £1,996.
Reserves policy
UKJA is committed to using its resources in pursuit of its charitable objectives. It is also committed however to maintaining a level of reserves that is prudent to meeting ongoing liabilities, sufficient to ensure that all delivery commitments can be met and to protect the longterm future of UKJA’s operations. UKJA’s policy seeks to balance these priorities by holding a level of reserves which equate to between three and six month’s expenditure of the charity (£1,000 - £4,000); unrestricted fund balance at the year-end was £3,835. The Trustees monitors the level of reserves regularly and takes appropriate action if reserves fall outside the desired range.
Investment policy and performance
The Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that the organisation invests moneys not immediately required for its own purposes or upon such investments, securities, or property, as may be thought fit. At the present time, the trustees’ policy is to maintain all such monies on deposits earning a market rate of interest.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Constitution and Organisational Structure:
The organisation is a charity incorporated organisation. It was registered as a charity on 16 May 2017. UKJA was established by Memorandum and Articles of Association which describes the objects and powers of the charitable company; it is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles, the trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The members of the company are also the directors/trustees of the charitable company. The organizational structure of UKJA consists of a Board of Trustees which delegates the day to day management of the charity to Executive and Programme Directors. The Board is assisted by Advisory Committees which are chaired by the trustees. The key committees are the
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Finance and the Project Development and Fundraising Committee (PDFC). The operations, projects and programmes of the charity are carried out by the Executive and Programme Directors, Project Managers and other staff. Consultants are also hired to undertake work for the charity. The consultants report to Project Managers or Programme Directors.
Governance and Decision-Making:
The Board of Trustees govern UKJA and meet quarterly to discuss and review strategy, planning, development, and financial matters. Day-to-day management of the organisation is delegated to the trustees. Every three years, a strategic review is undertaken, involving trustees, staff, funders, partners, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
Recruitment and Appointment of New Trustees:
The trustees are elected from the members according to their knowledge, skill and experience of the themes and activities undertaken by the charity; commitment to UKJA mission, objectives and activities; and in accordance with the requirements for the governance of charities. UKJA provides information and updates about operations to the members. Board and relevant committee meetings consider and discuss matters relating to the strategic direction and focus of the charity.
Induction and Training of new Trustees:
New trustees receive induction training on: their legal responsibilities as charity trustees; the management and operational structure of the charity; and the key management issues, e.g. policy, personnel, finance, projects and funding matters. They are also guided on how to have optimum input and influence in the current and future development of the charity.
Risk Management:
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also directors of UK Jarra Association (UKJA) for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable UK Accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time of the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities and in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
APPROVAL
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 26th January 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
……………………………. ……………………………… Lamin Manjang – Chair Alhagie Sanneh – Treasurer
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
| Unrestricted | Restricte | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| d | |||||
| Funds | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income from: | |||||
| Voluntary income | |||||
| Donations and gifts | 2 | 2,060 | - | 2,060 | 2,439 |
| Investment income | - | - | - | - | |
| Income from charitable activities | 3 | 1,501 | - | 1,501 | 7,730 |
| Relieving poverty and advancement of | |||||
| education | |||||
| ----------------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ||
| Total Income | 3,561 | - | 3,561 | 10,169 | |
| ----------------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ||
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Relieving poverty and advancement of | 4 | 3,624 | 5,159 | 8,783 | 20,753 |
| education | |||||
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| Total Expenditure | 3,624 | 5,159 | 8,783 | 20,753 | |
| ----------------- | ---------------- | -------------------- | -------------------- | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | (63) | (5,159) | (5,222) | (10,584) | |
| Total funds brought forward | 7,833 | 3,190 | 11,023 | 21,607 | |
| Funds Transfer | (3,935) | 3,935 | |||
| --------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 3,835 | 1,966 | 5,801 | 11,023 | |
| ========== | ========== | ========== | ========== |
All recognised gains and losses are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.
All the charity’s activities are classified as continuing.
The notes form part of these financial statements.
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| 2021 | 2020 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ |
£ | £ |
|
| s | |||||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 6 | 0 | 390 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Debtors | 500 | 500 | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 5,801 | 11,023 | |||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| 6,301 | 11,523 | ||||
| Creditors:amounts falling due | |||||
| within one year | - | - | |||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Net Current Assets | 6,301 | 11,523 | |||
| --------------------- | --------------------- | ||||
| Net Assets | 6,301 | 11,913 | |||
| ========== | ========== | ||||
| Funds: | |||||
| Restricted funds | 8 | 4,335 | 3,190 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 8 | 1,996 | 8,723 | ||
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 6,301 | 11,913 | |||
| ========== | ========== |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees an authorized for issue on 7[th] May 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
……………………………….
Alhagie Sanneh Treasurer/Trustee
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1. Basis of accounting
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.
1.2. Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The aim and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.3. Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income, there is probability of receipt and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy, except as follows:
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When donors specify that income given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, then the income is deferred to the specified period.
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When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred until the preconditions for use are met.
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When donors specify that income is for a particular restricted purpose which does not amount to preconditions regarding entitlement, the income is recognized as income when receivable.
No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
1.4. Expenditure
Expenditure is recognized on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Support costs which cannot be directly attributed to particular projects are apportioned in proportion to the direct staff cost allocated to the project. Governance costs, which form part of Support costs include expenditure on the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Charitable expenditure consists of all expenditure relating to the objects of the Charity. All costs are directly attributable to the activities under which they have been analysed.
- 1.5. Depreciation and Tangible fixed assets Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, which in all cases is estimated at 3 years.
1.6. Operating leases
The charity does not have any leases.
1.7. VAT
The charity is not registered for VAT
1.8. Debtors and creditors receivable/payable within one year
- Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognized in expenditure.
| 2 | DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| funds | funds | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Donations and gifts | 2,060 | 2,060 | 2,439 | ||
| ======= | ======= | ====== | ======= |
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
| 3 | INCOME | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| funds | funds | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Fundraising Activities | 160 | - | 160 | 3,707 | |
| Educate Jarra | - | - | - | 2,117 | |
| Special Charitable Appeals | 1,341 | - | 1,341 | 1,906 | |
| ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ||
| 1,501 | - | 1,501 | 7,730 | ||
| ======== | ======== | ======== | ======== |
4 EXPENDITURES
| Administration Donations to Organizations Educate Jarra Fundraising expenses Special Appeals Transportation & Freight Welfare Total |
Unrestri cted funds £ 236 - - 2,000 1.088 300 3,624 |
Restricte d funds £ - - 5,159 - - - - 5,159 |
2021 £ 236 - 5,159 - 2,000 1,088 300 8,783 |
2020 £ 968 281 12,724 2,150 3,264 867 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,753 |
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
5. TRUSTEES
During the year, no Trustee received any remuneration (2020-Nil). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2020-Nil). During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2020-Nil).
6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures & | ||
| Equipmnt | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Cost | ||
| Cost brought forward | 3,297 | 3,297 |
| Additions this year | - | - |
| -------------------- | -------------------- | |
| Total Cost | 3,297 | 3,297 |
| ========== | ========== | |
| Depreciation | ||
| At 8thAugust 2020 | 2,907 | 2,907 |
| Charge for the year | 390 | 390 |
| ------------------- | ------------------- | |
| At 8thAugust 2021 | 3,297 | 3,297 |
| ------------------- | ------------------- | |
| Net Book Value | ||
| At 8thAugust 2020 | 390 | 390 |
| ========== | ========== | |
| At 8thAugust 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| ========== | ========== |
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 8[th] August 2021
7. TAXATION
The charity is not liable to tax on its charitable grants, donations or fee income earned in the course of its charitable activities, so long as the income is applied for the purposes of its charitable aims.
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