Friends of Lindi Report to the Charities Commission – 31/10/23 – 30/10/24 Registered charity number: 1176494
Address: Sandale, Old Lane, Crowborough East Sussex, TN6 3QH
Structure: Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees Date of constitution: 3 January 2018 Trustees:
Alex Creasy Chris Hamilton Nick Hepher Stephen Scorer Susan Scorer Ali Farrell
Trustees were recruited from interested supporters. Friends of Lindi (FoL) has policies for new trustees including eligibility, appointment, conflict of interest and induction to the role. Chair: Stephen Scorer, Sandale, Old Lane, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 3QH
Treasurer: Susan Scorer
Administrator: Win Creasy (MBE), Tarbet, Pescot Avenue, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7NA Public benefit statement
The trustees have complied with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties. Organisational structure
Decisions on raising and spending funds are made by agreement of the majority of trustees. FoL has worked with Joy School, Mitwero, Lindi, St Mary’s International School Dar es Salaam, Aquinas Secondary School Mtwara, parents/guardians of children sponsored, as well as local teacher contacts made during the 3-year VSO placement from 2014-2017.
Where FoL work is based: Lindi town and region – Southern Tanzania Objects of the charity
“The prevention or relief of poverty in Lindi, Tanzania by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.”
“The prevention or relief of poverty [or financial hardship] in Lindi Tanzania by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and all the necessary support designed to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient.” “To relieve the poverty of young people by the provision of grants to enable them to participate in healthy recreational activities that they could not otherwise afford.” Material expenditure on fundraising Website registration and operation Leaflet printing Principal funding sources
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Private donations
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Match funding by commercial organisations
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Live music evening and raffle
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Sponsored charity runs/cycles
Activity taken to achieve our objects Street libraries
228 new books for the street libraries were ordered from Nairobi and delivered to Dar es Salaam.
These would be taken to Lindi and distributed to the 6 libraries on the next visit by trustees
Payments were made to support the librarians and their families in recognition of their work.
School sponsorships
All but one of the students have now transferred to secondary school and are attending Aquinas Secondary school in Mtwara. Sponsors are supporting 9 students in this private school where they are studying and living in English. As well as a more consistent education they are being well prepared for future educational opportunities. 2 girls completed their Form 2 National exams, and both passed with top grades. An outcome that would have been unimaginable had they attended government schools. School fees for the students were paid and in addition restricted sponsor funds were used for uniform, books, stationery and transport. As well as government health cards to cover eventual medical expenses.
Helping individuals
In conjunction with a secondary school in Lindi a “Pounds for Porridge” scheme has been started. This assisted 5 girls initially with the aim of expanding it to more girls as funds are available. This scheme encouraged girls to stay on at school rather than drop out. Drop out girls are very vulnerable in Tanzanian society. By the end of August 2024 15 girls were being given a meal on a daily basis.
Friends of Lindi continued to support individuals in need by paying for uniforms and schoolbooks where needed. The individuals are those identified by our voluntary representatives in Lindi.
Young people sponsored in vocational courses continue to make progress and are now starting work. One is being supported with short term accommodation while he establishes himself in Dar es Salaam as a refrigeration technician. Others are still in training and receive help with fees and transport while their families provide food.
Manzi the veterinary student made it to his placement in Denmark and was there during the year 2023-2024. He gained many skills and experience of life in Europe and methods of farming and livestock management. Arafa who is studying Refrigeration and Air conditioning at VETA was also on field training in Mtwara port which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Mattayo continues to do well at school and has been appointed head boy
Fadhila the young deaf student (a former neighbour) returned from the centre in Dodoma with tailoring skills which will give her an income generation possibility. She still wishes to follow her dream of being a nursery school teacher and we followed up avenues to enable this dream. In early 2024 she started a course for nursery teacher training in Masasi and FoL supported her fees and start up costs of books and uniform
Mariam continues with her make up enterprise along with selling sweetcorn at the local bus stand. She has applied for a job in a local bank and we are awaiting the result of the interview. She continues to be the sole supporter of her young sister Swalha who we also support as she proceeds through secondary school.
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Unpaid voluntary contributions
FoL is run by volunteers, who organise presentations and fundraise for the charity. Volunteers run and post on the website and produce leaflets. In addition, we use the services of 2 local Tanzanians for logistical assistance during the year. No monetary payment other than transport costs is made for these services.
Statement of the financial management policies The charity complies with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with regard to the keeping of accounting records, the preparation and scrutiny of statement of accounts and the preparation of annual returns and reports. Proper accounts and records are kept and the treasurer regularly reports the financial position to Trustee meetings. Monies are now transferred to our 2 local volunteers via World remit from our Co-Operative Bank charity accounts. Additional monies for day to day school expenses are made to staff responsible at Aquinas School.
Plans for the future
Continue supporting students in English Medium Schools Continue and expand support for older students who need funding for vocational courses after being failed by the secondary system.
Contribute to partner organisations where needs fulfil the requirements of our objects
Open more Street Libraries
Increase our work with local groups such as Lindi Sports Development
Continue to use local partners to identify needs and implement projects. The aim is to transfer more autonomy and responsibility to local partners with a view to increased sustainability of our work
Connections have been made with EdUKaid in Mtwara with the aim of training some tailors from Lindi to make washable pads for girls and women in communities in Lindi. Trustees plan to visit when the training takes place.
Increase fundraising activities to include our community in Crowborough and beyond.
Steve Scorer, Chair of Friends of Lindi August 10th, 2025
Friends of Lindi 1176494 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 31/10/2023 30/10/2024
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 5 028 - - - - - - - 5 028 - - - 5 028 2 006 173 318 481 208 - - - - 3 186 - - - 3 186 1 842 - - 1 842 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 7 980 - - - - - - - 7 980 - - - 7 980 - - - - 8 456 237 - - 8 693 - - - 8 693 7 980 - - 7 980 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 13 008 - - - - - - - 13 008 - - - 13 008 2 006 173 318 481 208 8 456 237 - - 11 879 - - - 11 879 9 822 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 13 008 - - - - - - - 13 008 - - - 13 008 2 006 173 318 481 208 8 456 237 - - 11 879 - - - 11 879 9 822 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 028 | 13 515 | |||||
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| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
5 028 | 13 515 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 13 515 | ||||||
| Community | 2 006 | - | ||||
| Medical | 173 | - | ||||
| Vocational | 318 | - | ||||
| Education | 481 | - | ||||
| Website | 208 | - | ||||
| School fees Travel and equipment | - | - | ||||
| Medical | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 3 186 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| - | ||||||
| 1 842 | 7 980 | - | 9 822 | 13 515 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 1 842 | 7 980 | - | 9 822 | 13 515 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Details Details Cash for 2025 school fees Reserve for upcoming projects Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - 7 980 1 842 - - - 1 842 7 980 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Stephen Scorer Susan Scorer |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| Stephen Scorer | |||
| Susan Scorer |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2