Annual Report 2022-23
The Beatrice Project
‘Restoring dignity and opportunity to
young women in Zimbabwe’
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1 November 2022- 31 October 2023
Principal address: 23, Rockleigh Road, Southampton, SO16 7AQ
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Annual Report 2022-23
Contents
| 1 | Introduction ........................................................................................... 3 | Introduction ........................................................................................... 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 3 | ||
| 1.2 | Scope............................................................................................................................................. 3 | ||
| 2 | The | Beatrice Project ............................................................................... 3 | |
| 3 | General Overview of the Year ................................................................. 3 | ||
| 4 | Highlights of the Last Year – Growth and cultural change. ....................... 4 | ||
| 4.1 | Employment of NN National director ........................................................................................... 4 | ||
| 4.2 | Widespread engagement by community leaders ........................................................................ 4 | ||
| 5 | Looking Forward .................................................................................... 5 | ||
| 6 | Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 Oct 2023 ........... 5 | ||
| 6.1 | Income and Fund Raising .............................................................................................................. 5 | ||
| 6.2 | Risk Mitigation Reserves ............................................................................................................... 5 | ||
| 6.3 | Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 Oct 2023 ............................................. 5 | ||
| 6.3.1 | Independent examiner's report on the accounts ...................................................................................................... 5 | ||
| 6.3.2 | Income and Expenditure ........................................................................................................................................... 6 | ||
| 6.3.3 | Balance Sheet ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 | ||
| 6.4 | Accounting Policies ....................................................................................................................... 8 | ||
| 6.5 | Income .......................................................................................................................................... 8 | ||
| 6.6 | Expenditure................................................................................................................................... 9 | ||
| 6.7 | Debtors ......................................................................................................................................... 9 | ||
| 6.8 | Creditors ....................................................................................................................................... 9 | ||
| 6.9 | Trustee and Related Party Transactions ....................................................................................... 9 |
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Annual Report 2022-23
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This report has been produced to satisfy the requirements of the Charities Commission and to provide information to the supporters of the Beatrice Project.
1.2 Scope
This report covers the period 01 November 2022 to 31 October 2023. It provides a narrative on the developments of the Beatrice Project (BP) during this period along with the associated finances.
2 The Beatrice Project
The Beatrice Project (BP) is a small UK based charity supporting the work of Ntombi Nto (NN), a Zimbabwean registered trust. Ntombi Nto means ‘a wholesome, confident young woman’. The BP began life when it was formally launched by Mrs Joy Khumalo in Zimbabwe in 2015 in partnership with Susan Hutchinson in the UK. This was in response to the concerns of local community and church leaders in the rural areas south of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, about girls dropping out of school because of a lack of affordable sanitary protection.
The objectives of the BP are:
To advance in life, and relieve the needs of, girls and young women by providing help, advice and resources as a means of:
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a) developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;
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b) enabling them to continue in their education;
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c) providing education on reproductive health and psychosocial issues;
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d) supporting locally led child protection measures.
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Trustees: Susan Beatrice Hutchinson
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Roger John Snowdon (identified and appointed as Safeguarding Officer)
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Anthony Andrew Arthur
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Treasurer: Richard Mills
3 General Overview of the Year
Throughout the reporting year, The Beatrice Project (BP), has increased its efforts in fundraising to support the work in Zimbabwe. The Ntombi Nto (NN) team has continued to apply enthusiasm and dedication to what they do and we have seen some encouraging growth. Susan Hutchinson (Founder Trustee) visited the project in March and valuable video and interview material, much of which is now on the website, was garnered. As well as this personal contact, email and phone communication, enabled through the provision of funds to pay for an office and wifi for the NN team, has been regular throughout the year.
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Annual Report 2022-23
The political situation in Zimbabwe continues to bring challenges to NN, and this was particularly so during the months surrounding the election held in September. Despite the attendant problems of continuing economic instability, NN is implementing the programme and making good progress, working with other agencies in the country and growing in stature.
NN has made particularly great strides in the Gweru region and has been approached there by more schools than it could realistically commit to helping this year. The sense of ownership of the project by community leaders, both men and women, in the rural settlements, is truly impressive.
There are now 15 schools around Gwanda and Gweru on the programme. The shared ambition of BP and NN remains to enable underprivileged girls from these rural communities to maximise their potential through completing their education, finding work and contributing to their communities.
4 Highlights of the Last Year – Growth and cultural change.
Mrs. Khumalo has gradually been developing a team of young people, three individuals in particular, who are beginning to contribute significantly to the work of the project. Continued further support has been provided by The Training and Resource Support Centre (TARSC) – who generate the Aunty Stella kits – by Bonani Medina (local youth leader working under the auspices of the Solon Foundation) and by volunteers and professionals from the rural communities.
4.1 Employment of NN National director
In April of the reporting period, and largely through the fundraising efforts of the Beatrice Project, Mrs. Joy Khumalo became salaried full time. This was seen as a huge step forward, recognising the immensely valuable work she does and allowing her to devote herself more fully to the work of the charity. As a result, the NN team have seen a new school in the Gwanda region and two new schools in the Gweru region fully signed up to the programme: disposable sanitary pads are no longer offered, menstrual cups have been distributed (almost 1000 since their introduction on the programme) and sewing rooms have been established for making reusable sanitary pads. A teaching and support programme, involving boys as well as girls, is now running at all of them. The attraction of these Sexual and Reproductive Health workshops has this year been enhanced by generous donations of sweets and biscuits from Lobels, a local baker and confectionery firm. This is another example of local endorsement and support for NN.
4.2 Widespread engagement by community leaders
The good reputation of Ntombi Nto and the Beatrice Project is spreading throughout the area around Gweru and the sense of support and engagement from the local community leaders has been hugely encouraging. There is now a real sense of urgency and a degree of competition being demonstrated by the rural schools to become involved and begin to receive the help being offered to them. This is coming not only from the school teachers but from a wide variety of cultural leaders including the kraal (village) heads and the area chiefs as well as councillors, who are the political leaders of the larger communities. Encouragingly, these highly respected leaders are not always men and their support and endorsement of NN’s work is key to the progress of the project.
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Annual Report 2022-23
5 Looking Forward
Plans for 2024 include a visit to UK by Mrs. Khumalo. First and foremost, this will give opportunity for her to meet other members of the BP board and to share with them firsthand the impact of their work. It will also give ample opportunity to promote the project through presentations and talks, generate further income to the project and raise the profile of the work. This will bolster the development of relationships and provide a more personal forum for reviews and discussion between NN and BP regarding the future growth and development of the project.
In Zimbabwe, we hope to see the work consolidated and the group identity of the NN team established as the work into the Gweru schools in particular is developed.
6 Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 Oct 2023
6.1 Income and Fund Raising
As a charity, we are very fortunate to be supported by a growing number of regular donors, on whose committed giving we rely for a known amount each month. Regular newsletters and updates on our website give information on the activities, needs and plans of the Trustees and the charity, and these often prompt further giving.
We are grateful to St James’ Place for their interest and support.
We are further indebted to the Bright Future Trust whose generosity has enabled NN to run and maintain the NN Project vehicle in Zimbabwe.
All money received or raised by BP is used to support the work of NN.
6.2 Risk Mitigation Reserves
As principal funders of the work undertaken by NN in Zimbabwe, BP recognises the need to be able to provide the quarterly support grants on a regular and timely basis.
Whilst the trustees wish to see all funds raised by BP transferred to Zimbabwe within as short a time scale as possible, they recognise the need to hold some funds in reserve to ensure continuity of support.
With quarterly support grants currently around £4,500, the trustees consider that a reserve of £5,000 is appropriate at the present time.
6.3 Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 Oct 2023
6.3.1 Independent examiner's report on the accounts
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (The Beatrice Project) for the year ended 31/10/2023
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As the charity's trustees, 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 Trust’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.
The charity’s gross income exceeded £25,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
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.
Simon Wield
Member - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants 30/07/2024
6.3.2 Income and Expenditure
| Income (note 2) Donations and legacies Charitable activities Grants received Total Expenditure (note 3) Charitable activities Administrative costs Total Net income for the reporting period Interest income Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ 34,004 - 34,004 14,601 1,886 - 1,886 1,878 3,600 12,000 15,600 5,000 |
|---|---|
| 39,490 12,000 51,490 21,479 |
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| 28,612 12,204 40,816 17,974 4,737 29 4,766 616 |
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| 33,349 12,233 45,582 18,590 |
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| 6,141 (233) 5,908 2,889 103 - 103 - 6,244 (233) 6,011 2,889 6,207 634 6,841 3,952 |
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| £12,451 £401 £12,852 £6,841 |
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6.3.3 Balance Sheet
| Current assets Debtors (note 4) Cash at bank and in hand Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (note 5) Net current assets Total net assets Funds of the Charity Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total this year Total last year £ £ £ £ - - - 191 12,451 7,401 19,852 13,650 |
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| 12,451 7,401 19,852 13,841 |
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| - 7,000 7,000 7,000 |
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| 12,451 401 12,852 6,841 |
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| £12,451 £401 £12,852 £6,841 |
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| 401 401 634 12,451 12,451 6,207 |
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| £12,451 £401 £12,851 £6,841 |
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with FRS102 SORP. Signed on behalf of all the trustees: Name Date of approval Susan Hutchinson 16.Aug. 24
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6.4 Accounting Policies
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a. Basis of preparation. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
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b. Funds structure. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or trust deed. There is a single restricted fund, the vehicle fund, restricted to funding the costs of a motor vehicle essential to carrying out the work of the charity. Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose.
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c. Income recognition. All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, and it is received. In the case of performance related grants, income is only recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met (5.16 FRS 102 SORP).
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d. Tax reclaims on donations and gifts. Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
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e. Expenditure recognition. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
6.5 Income
| e | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Donatons | 30,143 | 13,692 |
| Gif aid | 3,861 | 909 |
| Events | 1,886 | 1,878 |
| Grants | 3,600 | - |
| Total | £39,490 | £16,479 |
| Restricted funds | ||
| Grant for vehicle running costs | £12,000 | £5,000 |
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6.6 Expenditure
| diture | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Grants to Ntombi Nto Trust | 21,668 | 12,905 |
| Employment costs in Zimbabwe | 4,747 | - |
| Sanitary supplies | 2,122 | 703 |
| Administraton | 4,737 | 339 |
| Bank charges | 75 | 277 |
| Total | £33,349 | £14,224 |
| Restricted funds | ||
| Grants for vehicle expenses | £12,233 | £4,366 |
Administration includes £3,605 for a trip by a Beatrice project Trustee and volunteer to monitor project progress in Zimbabwe.
6.7 Debtors
Donations received but not yet credited to bank accounts: Nil (2022 – £191)
6.8 Creditors
Grant income received, but related services not yet provided: £7,000 (2022 – £7.000).
A total grant of £12,000 was received during the year to cover vehicle running costs for 12 months to 31 July 2024. At the year-end, £7,000 of this had not been spent, and is due to be spent in the following year.
6.9 Trustee and Related Party Transactions
One Trustee had direct expenses reimbursed during the year totalling £5,858. These expenses related to foreign travel and event expenses reimbursed at cost. (2022 – Nil),
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