Friends of Lindi Report to the Charities Commission – 31/10/24 – 30/10/25 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
-
Private donations
-
Match funding by commercial organisations
-
Sponsored charity runs/cycles
Activity taken to achieve our objects
Street Libraries
These are pop up sets of reading books placed in village locations to provide reading material to (principally) primary age children Some older children and some adults also attend to read reference books and more advanced readers
Payment is made to the librarians, and they look after the books and open the libraries at least twice a week. In November 2024 trustees visited and distributed more books to each library and met some of the children who go each week to read for pleasure.
School sponsorships
All students have now transferred to secondary school 7 are studying at Aquinas Secondary school in Mtwara and 2 at Magnificat Secondary in Moshi As well as a more consistent education they are being well prepared for future educational opportunities. In addition, they are in a safe environment and much more likely to continue with studies without the economic pressures faced by most young people from underprivileged families in Tanzania
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
Our Pounds for Porridge food scheme at Angaza Secondary came to an end in January 2025 The school decided to introduce a school wide scheme for all students which was an encouraging follow on from our small pilot scheme.
Friends of Lindi continued to support individuals in need as challenges presented themselves By granting small amounts in times of need people are able to continue working or studying despite the problems faced.
These grants included school uniforms and books, medical appointments and medicine
Mariam has found a more permanent job in a bank but continues to strive for life improvement with small income generating projects. We made a grant for a freezer for example to enable her to sell cold drinks She is the sole breadwinner looking after her young school age sister. Shafi is finally making a small living as an Aircon and refrigeration technician We have helped with ongoing training, tools and equipment to increase his ability to undertake new jobs. He is a prime example of a school failure who has been able to improve his life chances with just a little extra assistance.
Mattayo continues to perform well at school and completed secondary education at the end of 2025 We will be looking for a sponsor to help him through High school
Fadhila he young deaf student has begun some voluntary work with pre-school children at the local primary school She still needs some assistance with the purchase of materials for this work There is a real challenge to get her into paid work The stigma of the deaf makes life very difficult for her
The Chair and treasurer travelled to Lindi in November 2024 to meet beneficiaries
Washable sanitary pads
During the trustees visit we took 2 tailors from Lindi to be trained in the process of making washable sanitary pads for girls and women. This was in conjunction with EdUKaid based in Mikandani – about 120 miles from Lindi town. The aim is for these tailors to train one
other woman and then to visit schools and groups in more rual areas to pass on their skills. In return they will receive and additional sewing machine for their business. We are looking forward to see how this project progresses.
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/Remitly 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 and continue to re-stock current libraries 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 Increase fundraising activities to include our community in Crowborough and beyond.
Steve Scorer, Chair of Trustees Friends of Lindi January 22[nd] 2026
Friends of Lindi 1176494
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
| For the period from |
31/10/2024 Period start date |
To | 30/10/2025 Period end date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 4 919 - - - - - - - 4 919 - - - 4 919 2 094 56 1 278 120 - - - - 3 548 - - - 3 548 1 842 - - 1 842 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 11 894 - - - - - - - 11 894 - - - 11 894 - - - 8 784 - - 8 784 - - - 8 784 7 980 - - 7 980 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 16 813 - - - - - - - 16 813 - - - 13 008 2 006 56 1 278 120 8 784 - - - 12 332 - - - 11 879 9 822 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| 4 919 | 13 515 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
4 919 | 13 515 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 13 515 | ||||||
| Community | 2 094 | - | ||||
| Medical | 56 | - | ||||
| Vocational education | 1 278 | - | ||||
| Website | 120 | - | ||||
| School fees Travel and equipment | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 3 548 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| 1 842 | 7 980 | - | 9 822 | 13 515 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 1 842 | 7 980 | - | 9 822 | 13 515 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds CCXX R1 accounts (SS) |
Cash for 2026 school fees Reserve for upcoming projects Details ~~1~~ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - 1 842 |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 7 980 - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cash funds | 1 842 | 7 980 | - | |||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments | ||||||||
| account(s)) | OK | OK | OK | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | ||||||
| funds | funds | funds | ||||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost | (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B3 Investment assets | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost | (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B4 Assets retained for the | - | - | ||||||
| charity’s own use | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | ||||||
| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | |||||
| B5 Liabilities | - | |||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Name | Date of approval |
|||||
| Stephen | Scorer | 21/01/2026 | ||||||
| Susan Scorer | ||||||||
| 21/01/2026 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2