Trustees’ Annual Report
For the Period: 6[th] April 2023 to 5[th] April 2024
Charity name: Medical Education Exchange Teams UK Charity registration number: 117569
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Medical Education Exchange Teams (MEET UK) is a non-profit organisation that supports global health education by fostering international education partnerships. MEET UK assists in the provision of staff, equipment and services not normally provided by the statutory bodies in particular, the provision of Paediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia to children in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The April 23 – April 24 Year Q1 – Q3: Meetings between Trustees, Board of MEET(US) and of CTUMP(VN) Viability of resumption international charitable activity. Operational practice policies and procedures reviewed and updated to reflect changes in global healthcare and international travel and logistics. The Charity’s international work was resumed in Q4 2023. November 2 – 11 2023 – MEET-UK Paediatric Surgery Trip to Can Tho Vietnam. 34 Volunteers travelled from the UK and Australia to facilitate Paediatric surgery for underprivileged children from the provinces in and around the Mekong Delta. The surgical focus of the trip was on Urology and Hand surgery procedures for congenital deformities. The operating model for post-pandemic |
| charitable work, changed to expand and incorporate a second Vietnamese Hospital. We operated at two hospitals simultaneously during this trip which enabled us to assist more children and provide teaching and education to surgeons, anaesthetists, paediatricians and nursing staff at the main paediatric hospital in the region. The charity performed 30 operations and provided one dedicated morning of classroom based teaching and 6 days clinical teaching throughout the week in the operating theatres and wards. The new operating model worked well and was highly rated by the Boards of Directors of both hospitals at end of trip review. Request made and discussed scope to increase capacity, whilst ensuring education and sustainability. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees of MEET observe the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on the public benefit of charitable activities. MEET consults with our long-standing local colleagues, medical staff and Boards of Directors at the University hospitals in which we are based. Meet-UK takes guidance from the Vietnamese Board Members of MEET and in-country links, regarding international charitable endeavours, to ensure relevance, benefit to the local people and underprivileged children and to the healthcare workers, and focus on training and development to ensure sustainability and growth. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The nature of the Charity work is healthcare. It’s purpose, to deliver surgical care, to disadvantaged children and medical education to local healthcare providers. Directly re-engaging with the local healthcare teams, has enabled them to begin to re-develop their programme for screening of under-privileged children with congenital deformities, with a prospect of offering surgical treatment, in future. The work of the charity and the teams volunteering to provide surgery, has a huge impact on both the individuals we assist and their wider families and communities. The corrective surgery directly improves function for the child and in turn their ability to engage in schooling, sporting and activities for daily life. This has an immediate impact and further improves their future opportunities for education and work. In addition, a measurable psychological benefit has been shown in children with these conditions, post correction. Within the communities and cultures that we work, this effect extends beyond the patient, to their families, who often have fewer opportunities and lower earning capabilities secondary to stigma and caring responsibilities. Improving the opportunities for involvement and engagement of the wider families with work and in the community and the children themselves as they grow and indeed reducing the care burden by performing these surgeries, has a marked benefit that ripples to improve the greater society within these communities and provinces. In providing this service, MEET-UK, directly engages with the local healthcare teams and provides education and training. This expands to the entire patient journey and provides for improved assessment and understanding of the disease pathology, to consider appropriate management options, the surgical and anaesthetic processes and ongoing aftercare and physiotherapy as required, to aim optimal outcome. Local teams were able to partake in in person education, understanding and capabilities are increased and work continues with an aim to grow a self- |
sustaining service at source.
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Accounts. Credits, from donations, fund raising activity and bank interest Debits, costs incurred for the international charitable mission, purchase of essential medications, equipment, medical notes and local infrastructure requirements – communications/transport. All of the trustees are volunteers, and none receive remuneration or reimbursement for payments made for charitable purposes. All administrative work is completed by the trustees or volunteers unpaid. The charity ended the financial year in credit, which will be utilised for funding of future international charitable work. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | All monies held go towards provision of charitable activity in future years. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £15,321 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None. Charitable activities resumed in November 2023. The demand for charitable services remains high and volunteer interest is sustained. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Memorandum of Understanding Articles of Incorporation |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees selected by Board Members of the existing MEET Charity, registered in USA, and voted into office by same. All Trustees are experienced volunteers, having been responsible for in country operations and the necessary international relations for a number of years prior to the formation of MEET UK. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 |
MEET International was incorporated in Washington State USA, in 2013. MEET UK was incorporated, as a sister charity in 2018, to enable UK volunteers to operate and raise money directly. MEET UK and MEET International continue to work together for the benefit of the people and healthcare professionals of Can Tho, Vietnam. Joint Board meetings are held quarterly. In addition MEET operates in partnership with Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, who provide local expertise and information to guide all MEET work. |
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Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Medical Education Exchange Teams UK |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | MEET UK |
| Registered charity number | 117569 |
| Charity’s principal address | Markham House 20 Broad Street Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1AH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Lance Tooke | Secretary | Whole Year | ||
| Dr Neena Seth | Treasurer | Whole Year | ||
| Dr Jacqui Fox Murphy |
CEO | Whole Year | ||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name NONE
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| NONE | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets NONE held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
NONE
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) J Fox Murphy
Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc)
Date 20. April 2024
MEDICAL EDUCATION EXCHANGE TEAMS UK
Charity Number 1175691
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
MEDICAL EDUCATION EXCHANGE TEAMS UK
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
Charity Number
1175691
Address:
Markham House 20 Broad Street Berkshire RG40 1AH
Trustees
Dr Lance Tooke Dr. Neena Seth Dr. Jacqui Fox Murphy
Bankers
Virgin Money Plc Jubilee House Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 4PL
Independent Examiner
M Koureas FCCA Hetherington and Co 289 Green Lanes Palmers Green London N13 4XS
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MEDICAL EDUCATION EXCHANGE TEAMS UK RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
| GENERAL FUND Income Receipts: From Voluntary Sources : Donations Forex Bank interest Expenditure Charitable costs Cost of facilities and consumables Forex Governance costs Legal and professional fees Net (expenditure) /receipts for the year and Cash and Bank Cash at bank and in hand brought forward Cash at bank and in hand carried forward |
5.4.2024 5.4.2023 £ £ 6,687 - - 561 4 6 6,691 567 3,455 - 348 - 660 630 4,463 630 2,228 (63) 13,093 13,156 15,321 13,093 |
|---|---|
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MEDICAL EDUCATION EXCHANGE TEAMS UK STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES YEAR ENDED 5TH APRIL 2024
Accounting Basis
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
| 5.4.2024 | 5.4.2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | ||||
| £ | £ | |||
| Cash Funds | ||||
| Bank Deposit Account | 10,807 | 1,686 | ||
| Cash in hand | 4,514 | 11,407 | ||
| £ | 15,321 | £ | 13,093 | |
| Liabilities | ||||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accrued expenses | 690 | 660 | ||
| £ | 690 | £ | 660 |
Approved on behalf of the Board of Trustees on 24 June 2025 by:
………………………………………
Jacqui Fox Murphy (Trustee)
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