Impact report for the year ending 30 September 2024
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Contents
| Section Header | Page |
|---|---|
| Our vision,mission and aim | 2 |
| A message from our Chair | 3 |
| Activities in 2023-24 | 4 |
| Governance and Committee | 5 |
| BVDA’s accounts and notes to the financial statements | 6 |
Our vision, mission and aim
Our vision is of a global community working together to deliver sustainable positive change.
Our mission is to inspire and enable students to actively engage in sustainable international development.
Our aim is the advancement of education and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress in developing countries.
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A message from our Chair
For the second consecutive year, unfortunately this year our plans to send a project team to Nepal were unsuccessful. A small but committed student team organised a project and recruited a team of volunteers during the first half of the year, learning the lessons from the previous year by planning further ahead and actively communicating with potential volunteers. Unfortunately however, sufficient students dropped out that the project was ultimately unable to go ahead.
We have carried out honest conversations with the student committee to understand the reasons for this, and see what can be done differently. The traditional BVDA approach of sending teams of six volunteers to carry out a structured project is vulnerable to volunteers dropping out late in the process, so other opportunities will be explored as a priority.
This did however lead to a new group of students committing to lead student activities next year, and clarified what needs to change. Ultimately, we want to ensure that committed students are able to complete their chosen volunteering opportunity. Next year, the students will work with the trustees to find opportunities that are more flexible and less dependent on group travel.
Ben Perry, chair of trustees
Thank you
The trustees are very grateful to the students that have taken part in local BVDA activities during the year, and to all those who have supported us during the year.
BVDA was founded by Bristol University students, and our mission continues to be inspire and enable students to actively engage in sustainable international development. This is made possible by the continuing commitment of the Bristol University students and their wider community. Thank you.
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Activities in 2023-24
Publicity and Recruitment
BVDA returned to running a stall at the Bristol SU Welcome fair, which proved popular with a high number of students registering interest in BVDA’s activities. Several students noticed the contrast between BVDA and other international volunteering opportunities being marketed to students. Volunteering with BVDA is less expensive, more flexible, and is often more sustainable in terms of impact.
The BVDA committee ran several recruitment events. In addition to holding information talks and linking with other student societies, the BVDA committee advertised BVDA at during International Summer Opportunities week and at the Global Opportunities Fair.
Project planning
Six volunteers made a formal application to volunteer in the summer of 2024, and took part in planning for a summer project to Nepal. Project scope and costs were agreed and initial plans were agreed with our partner organisation PSD. However several of the volunteers dropped out before the final commitment with PSD was due to be made in March. This resulted in the decision to cancel the project for summer 2024.
Fundraising
No active fundraising was carried out during the year. BVDA maintains adequate reserves to fund continuing operations in Bristol, so until an international project was confirmed the committee decided that no fundraising was required.
Monitoring & Evaluation
One of the trustees carried out an M&E project into the experience of being a BVDA trustee, by talking to past and present trustees. Several recommendations were made covering how the trustee experience could be improved, and how trustee recruitment and onboarding could be improved next time trustees were recruited.
Committee M&E focussed on the experience of students participating in committee activities, emphasising the importance of the committee president recruiting a team to support them and share responsibilities, as well as making the role more social.
M&E also focussed on the reason for students dropping out of the international project. Reasons related to uncertainty over the project costs and exact dates, and the legacy of the late cancellation of last year’s project. Others related to pressures on students, with many seeking jobs or internships during the summer holidays. Next year’s committee resolved to address these with the objective of maximising the opportunity for volunteers to complete their volunteering.
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Governance and Committee
At the start of the 2023/24 period, BVDA was governed by four registered trustees. Our projects and safeguarding trustee, Celestine Weegenaar, resigned from BVDA in early 2024. Liam Joyce took over her trustee responsibilities, having joined as a trial trustee in 2023.
BVDA was supported by a small student committee, who had initially been part of the student group in 2023. With guidance from the trustees, the president took the lead on activities and meetings, including event promotion, social media communications, volunteer recruitment, planning for the overseas project, and student social activities.
Our current trustee board is:
Ben Perry (Chair)
Caitlin Bromfield (Committee Contact)
Vaihari Balendran (Finance)
Liam Joyce (Projects and Safeguarding)
Trustee recruitment typically consists of reaching out to BVDA alumni (three of the current trustees) or by advertising for specific skills and trustees based in Bristol, using websites such as Reach volunteering (one of the current trustees). Anyone interested in becoming a trustee, and who has either BVDA experience or is based near Bristol, is welcome to contact BVDA at trustees@bvda.org.uk.
BVDA’s registered charity number is 1173282.
The registered address of BVDA is 6 Cavendish Road, Bristol, BS9 4DZ.
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BVDA’s accounts
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that neither an independent review nor an audit is required for this year under sections 144(2) and 145(1) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).
The accounts, together with the related notes to the financial statements, were approved by the trustees and were signed on their behalf by:
Ben Perry, Chair 2023/24
Vaihari Balendran, Finance Trustee 2023/24
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Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 2023/24
Basis of accounting
The financial statements are prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis.
Receipts
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Fundraising sales represent the income made from sales of charity goods.
Payments
Fundraising costs represent the costs associated with the income from fundraising sales.
Project expenditure represents payments made to overseas partners to fund volunteering projects. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Volunteers do not receive payments for their services. Administrative costs include the costs associated with meetings of the trustees and committee.
Neither the trustees nor the committee members receive any payment for their services to the charity. During the year, travel and expense costs were reimbursed to trustees and committee members totalling £331 (2023: £321). Insurance costs represent the public liability insurance purchased for UK operations.
Restricted funds
The charity’s policy for restricted funds is to separately record donations, grants and other sources of fundraising where restrictions are imposed that are narrower than the charity’s overall objectives. No restricted funds are held at 30 September 2024.
Taxation
BVDA is a registered charity, and as such is entitled to certain tax exemptions including receipt of Gift Aid.
BVDA is not registered for VAT and accordingly, all expenditure is recorded inclusive of any VAT incurred.
Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate incurred as part of the transaction. Bank fees incurred are recorded as direct project expenditure. All bank accounts are held in pounds sterling.
Reserves (cash funds)
The trustees have determined that BVDA needs to retain £7,500 in reserves to cover operational costs for one year, should we face a loss of income. Hence, BVDA continues to hold sufficient reserves to meet this requirement. Restricted funds are excluded from charity reserves.
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