Minutes of a Meeting of the Trustees of the Dubai College Foundation held on 31[st] May 2023 (Teams)
Present: Mr M Lambert (Chairman) Mr B Blackwood (Treasurer) Mrs D Turpie (Secretary) Mrs A Madnani Mr K Dempsey Apologies: Mrs T Makhoul In attendance: Mr J Smyth Mrs L Parker Mrs S Yip Absent: Mr L Talwar Item Discussion Action 1. Apologies for absence 2. Election of trustees who are not ex officio members a. The chairman confirmed that Peter Hill has agreed to be BBL/DTU added as a trustee and his appointment is now confirmed. The Charity Commission and Foundation website need to be updated. b. The chairman asked that trustees drop him or the secretary Trustees an email with any recommendations for additional trustees. 3. Review of activity and future projects Lisa Parker, Charities Administrator, shared a presentation updating trustees on the last year’s activities (copy attached).
During 2022-2023 three permits were successfully approved and the Charity Committee were able to donate AED118,066 for the Parhar Trust project. AED87,116 was also donated through the Parent Fund.
The Shree Jagadishwor project is on target for completion in June/July 2023. Visuals have been shared with the DC community and the concrete top floor has recently been laid.
Funds donated since Oct 21 and transferred to the IHC amounting to AED252,209 ($68,675) have not been transferred to our CAF bank account on direct instructions from MOFAIC and the Federal Government.
A number of new projects have been considered for 2023-2026.
Dubai College remains the only educator in the UAE to hold charity status.
The IHC licence has been renewed until 23[rd] February 2025 with the costs sponsored by the Dubai College Parent Fund.
The Foundation has registered with Charities Online and HMRC which has enabled us to utilise Gift Aid for contributions in the UK.
Existing financial commitment
- UWS, Jaisithok – our total commitment is $100,000 and $61,790 has been paid to date. For 2022-2023 there are sufficient funds in the UK CAF account to cover payment. Money has been donated but we do not have access to the funds for the periods 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 as it is currently held by IHC. We have been advised this is a Federal Government decision, but they will not divulge the reason.
Julian Smyth raised concerns about committing to future projects if we are not able to access the funds.
Anju Madnani also questioned what happens to the money while it is stuck with IHC and will it attract interest?
Ben Blackwood and Lisa Parker will meet with the IHC BBL/LPA Finance Team to try to find a solution to resolve this. If necessary, Mike Lambert and Julian Smyth will contact MLA/JSM some of our influential parents with contacts, to seek further clarification and assistance with this issue.
For 2025-2026 we will need to donate $10,000 to honour our commitment.
Charity Committee
- Parhar Trust, Shree Jagadishwor - $70,366 was paid to Parhar Trust by Dubai College in June 2022 on behalf of the Dubai College Foundation. $55,884 has been donated to date through Charity Committee initiatives and proceeds from the Parent Fund.
New Project Considerations
The following 3 proposals were considered:
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Parhar Trust – re-build of 2 existing schools that were damaged and deemed unsafe by earthquakes and mud slides. The school accommodates 101-104 students. Project cost: $70 - $88, 589 over 12 months
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UWS – new build with resources and training to reach an area where there is currently no education. It would benefit 80-140 students. Project cost: $159,235 over 6 years
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Parhar Trust / Children of the Mountain – deliver teacher training and education programmes to 5 schools including Shree Jagadishwor. 250 students. Project cost: $15,000 over 3 years.
The Committee agreed that the Dubai College Foundation will provisionally proceed with the UWS partnership to rebuild in the remote community of Pipaldhara, in the Gulmi district of Western Nepal.
This will benefit the children of 190 mixed ethnic group households where literacy levels among adults sits between 5- 40%.
The closest access to education is currently a 5 hour walk.
The school expects to enrol 80 students in the first year increasing to 140+ by year 5.
It will be a 5 classroom school offering education from kindergarten to Grade 8 and will include all necessary equipment and resources and recruitment/training of local teachers.
The school will transition to local ownership and enter the national education system in Year 6.
Other updates
Dubai College Charity Committee will produce a Business Plan for 2023-2024.
RSH/Charity Committee
An application will be made to IHC for a fund raising permit for LPA term 1 of the 2023-2024 academic year.
A student/ parent trip to Shree Jagadishwor is being considered RSH/RDE for Autumn 2023.
Once we have received a resolution from IHC we will sign a MOU BBL/LPA and agree timescales with UWS for the new project.
Mike Lambert thanked Lisa Parker for all her work and for the update.
Action
Item
Discussion
| 4. | Development Office update |
|---|---|
| Julian Smyth was invited to attend the meeting and gave an | |
| overview of the activities in the Dubai College Development | |
| Office. |
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Financial Review The Treasurer, Ben Blackwood, shared the accounts to August 2022 which were reported to the Charity Commission. The closing balance is the amount currently held in the CAF account. (copy of accounts attached).
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Any other business
As the current secretary Debra Turpie is retiring at the end of September, the new registered address for the Dubai College Foundation in the UK will be Ben Blackwood’s address, 1 Daniell Crest, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 8NY and the Dubai address will be Dubai College, PO Box 837, Dubai, UAE. The digital GCA/DTU letterhead will be updated accordingly.
Mike Lambert thanked everyone for the great work with the Foundation which communicates a terrific message to our students.
Agreed by the Committee as a correct record.
Michael Lambert Chairman