2024-03-31-accounts - Friends Of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation (Kbf)

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year T Day Month Year From 1 April 2023 o 31 March 2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Friends of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation (KBF) Other names charity is known by Friends of KBF Registered charity number (if any) 1176527

Charity's principal address 2 Stamford Road Carrington Manchester Postcode M31 4BA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Catherine Meredith	Chair
Monika Wiselka	Trustee
Anke Raabe	Trustee
Elizabeth Peppiatt	Trustee	1/4/23-31/10/23
















Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name		Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods

Trust deed Trust

Appointed by existing trustees by majority vote

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and training of trustees;

 the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;

 relationship with any related parties;

trustees’ consideration of
major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
“Friends of KBF” exists to support the work of “Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation”(KBF), a charitable organisation based in Kolkata, India which runs an educational project for children from the slum area, a hospice/carehome for people who have been left to die with no one to care for them; and children’s clubs in a variety of locations. “Friends of KBF” achieves this by raising funds, providing resources and visiting/being in contact with KBF on a regular basis in order to support its leaders and assist in decision making.
“Friends of KBF” is managed by 3-4 trustees as named in section A, plus 1 associate who meet at regular trustee meetings. Named trustees have the final vote on decisions, but all contribute to the discussions, perform administrative and fundraising tasks, and have contact with the leaders of KBF in India.
Issues considered to present risk to the running of “Friends of KBF” or “KBF” in India are discussed between the two parties as soon as possible by telephone/WhatsApp call as detailed in the “Joint working agreement”, in order for a decision to be made. A special meeting may be called as detailed in the Trust Deed if required.
In terms of policies/procedures, a signed joint working agreement is in place between the trustees of “Friends of KBF” and the leaders of “KBF” in India. A safeguarding policy and visiting policy are also in operation.

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Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

The objects of the charity are, for the benefit of people living in Kolkata and West Bengal, India: 1. The advancement of education of children who, due to disability and/or poverty are otherwise unable to access education, in particular but not exclusively by assisting in the provision of schooling including the provision of educational materials and school meals.
1. The prevention or relief of poverty, in particular but not exclusively by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.
1. The advancement of health, the relief of sickness and/or the saving of lives by supporting individuals who, due to poverty, homelessness or other factors are unable to access healthcare by assisting in the provision of medical aid, access to a care home or hospice and medical care or facilities and services not normally provided by the statutory authorities.
The above objects to be furthered by providing grants and support to Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation (KBF) in India.
The trustees of Friends of KBF have read the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance and have regard to this when making decisions about activities to be carried out. These must be of benefit to the people served by Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation in India and must seek to manage any risks to their welfare as far as possible. To this end, Friends of KBF supports and raises funds for the three main projects run by Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation in India:  A school project for children from the slum and surrounding poor area whose families would otherwise be unable to afford for them to be educated. The project provides education for these children and then supports them to attend local government schools. Funding is provided for uniforms, books and admission costs, and these children continue to attend the project for support with their studies. They also receive food and clean drinking water daily at the project. In addition, the school project runs a class for children with disabilities and special educational needs living in the area. They receive some basic education, stimulation and physiotherapy input whilst in attendance.
Children’s clubs run in three locations in Kolkata which seek to provide an opportunity for children from very poor backgrounds to play, socialise and learn away from the challenges and responsibilities of their everyday life.
A care home project which provides shelter, food and basic healthcare for people who have been left to die with no one to care for them. Residents are cared for by a nurse and have weekly input from a doctor and physiotherapist. With basic care, some will recover and will then be able to move on from the care home. Others choose to remain and continue to be cared for at the care home. Those who do not recover will be allowed to die with dignity in a safe environment.

Safeguarding and Visitors policies are in place to ensure protection of the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults served by the projects.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related
investment;
contribution made by
volunteers.
Friends of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation sends money to Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation to support the work of its projects as outlined above, on a monthly basis. The amount of money to be sent is agreed in advance between the two organisations in accordance with the “Joint working agreement”. Restricted donations must be used only for the purpose for which they have been donated. The accounts of both organisations are independently audited on an annual basis in order to ensure funds are properly used.
All trustees and associates of Friends of KBF are volunteers and are not paid for their time. Other volunteers may also contribute to the work by carrying out fundraising activities/events or by visiting the projects in India in order to assist with activities for the people served by the projects.
All visitors to the projects are supervised at all times by the leaders and staff of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation, and are safer recruited and vetted beforehand by the trustees of Friends of KBF, including DBS checks.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

During the financial year which ran from April 2023 to March 2024, all KBF projects in India continued to run as normal. All were fully funded by Friends of KBF in the UK. Below is a summary of the work during this period.

School

The school project continued to provide education and support for around 52 children. At the start of the new school year in January 2023, there were 21 children from the project attending local government schools. By January 2024, this number increased to 27, of which 4 were new admissions who had not previously attended government school. The KBF school project continues to support these children in their studies for a few hours on Monday to Friday and provides a daily nutritious snack. After the government school day is finished, KBF provides English classes for children who wish to attend.

The class for children with disabilities has also continued throughout this year with up to 26 children on record, 15-17 of whom were attending regularly. Friends of KBF were again able to secure a grant from the Souter Charitable Trust in September 2023, in order to provide regular physiotherapy sessions for these children.

This grant was also used to fund nutritious food for all children in attendance at the KBF school project, as well as monthly food parcels for their families.

Children’s clubs

Weekly children’s clubs have continued to run in 3 locations during this time: in the school building on Saturdays, and for children living in the red light area as well as a group of homeless children on Thursdays.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Care Home

The Care Home, which is located outside of the city has continued to provide shelter, basic medical care and food for around 32-36 men and women throughout this time period. Residents are those who have been left with no one to care for them on the streets of Kolkata. Some were referred by local police, while others had been found by KBF staff in the area surrounding the projects.

Regular physiotherapy sessions continue on 3 days each week for all residents, thanks to ongoing funding from the Souter Trust. A doctor visits the Care Home on 2 days each week to examine and recommend treatment as needed for residents. During this financial year, the previous doctor became unwell, and a new doctor has since been employed from the village near to the Care Home. A nurse and other care staff continue to provide hands on care on a daily basis.

Extra money was sent at Christmas so that children attending the school project and children’s clubs, as well as the Care Home residents could enjoy additional celebrations and activities.

Supporters and fundraising

Throughout 2023, Friends of KBF celebrated 10 years since its launch in October 2013. This was through a variety of events both in India and the UK. For example, a Zoom event linking UK supporters directly to the staff and residents at the Care Home in India was held in May. An in-person Friends of KBF birthday party and quiz happened in October in Manchester. Communications such as leaflets and newsletters were also sent out.

Two fundraising events took place: a “Yorkshire 3 Peaks” sponsored walk and a fundraising concert, in order to raise funds for a car to be purchased by KBF in India. This was due to the previous electric vehicle becoming very worn and the need arising for a vehicle to transport staff and residents between the Care home and school projects.

Trips

Three separate visits to KBF happened during this year. One of these was by two long term supporters in October 2023, during which a trip to a local educational theme park was arranged for the school children, as well as a trip out for the Care Home residents. In January 2024, two Friends of KBF trustees visited on separate weeks alongside three other visitors from the UK. Musical activities with the school children as well as a special meal for the Care Home residents and staff were facilitated during this time. These visits allowed time for trustees and the leader of KBF to discuss the needs of the projects in greater detail. Throughout the year, regular phonecalls between Friends of KBF trustees and the leader of KBF have also continued.

Section E Financial review

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Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

We aim to keep 3 months’ worth of supporting money in reserve at all times to ensure that the work of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation in India may be maintained.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Not applicable

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:  the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);  how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;  investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

“Friends of KBF” raises funds via:

a small scale child sponsorship programme, which raises monthly donations from regular sponsors, specifically for the running of the school project.
a small scale care home sponsorship programme, which raises monthly donations from regular sponsors, specifically for the running of the care home.
Ad hoc donations from supporters which may/may not be specified as restricted to a particular area of the work.
Fundraising activities such as sponsored events, coffee afternoons and alternative Christmas presents.
Applying for grants for specific purposes such as to fund a physiotherapist to work in the care home and with the children with disabilities.

Any restricted donations or grants must be spent only on the purpose for which that money has been donated. This is confirmed with the leaders of KBF in India via ongoing reporting on expenditure.

As detailed in Section C, an agreed amount of funding is sent to Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation in India on a monthly basis in order to support the work of the projects.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Catherine Meredith

Anke Raabe Full name(s) Catherine Meredith Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair Treasurer etc)

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Date 1611212024 TAR March 2012

Charity Name No (if any) Friends of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation 1176527 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/04/2023 31/03/2024

Section A Receipts and payments

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Donations 24,377 Gift Aid 373 FundraisingEvents 246 Grants - Appeals/ SundrybIncome - - - - 24,996 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ *Sub total*(Gross income for AR)		to the nearest £ 6,247 - 3,509 3,600 - - - - 13,356 Restricted funds	to the nearest £ Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ 30,624 373 3,755 3,600 - - - - 38,352	Last year to the nearest £
Donations	24,377	6,247	- - - - - - - - -	30,624	-
Gift Aid	373	-		373	-
FundraisingEvents	246	3,509		3,755	-
Grants	-	3,600		3,600	-
Appeals/ SundrybIncome	-	-		-	-
	-	-		-	-
	-	-		-	-
	-	-		-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	24,996	13,356		38,352	-
- - Sub total - Total receipts 24,996 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).		- - - 13,356		- - - 38,352
			- - -	-
				-	-
				-	-

		13,356	-	38,352	-

*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	24,996	13,356	-	38,352	-
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-	-	-

**Total receipts **	24,996	13,356	-	38,352	-

14,356 21 - - - - - - - 14,377 - - - 14,377 - 1,021 - 2,821 1,800		39,944 231 - - - - - - - 40,175 - - - 40,175 - 1,823 - 14,319 12,496
	- - - - - - - - - -	39,944	-
		231	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		40,175	-

	- - -	-
		-
		-	-

	-	40,175	-

- 1,021	- - - -	- 1,823	-
-		-	-
2,821		14,319	-
1,800		12,496	-

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Details This year end - Account Details Details Details Details Signature *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ to nearest £ 10,697 1,799 - - - - 10,696 1,800 OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Anke L Raabe Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional)	to nearest £ Endowment funds
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			to nearest £ Endowment funds
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
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			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Anke L Raabe	10/01/2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Friends of Kolkata Bhalobashi Foundation (KBF) members of

On accounts for the 31 March 2024 Charity no (if any) 1176527 year ended Set out on pages 1 to 2

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the statement requirements:

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Date: 14[th] January 2025

Name: Fiona Norton

IER

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: 150 Lock Lane

Partington Manchester M31 4PW

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems (E.g. Accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; any material expenditure or action which appears not to be in accordance with the trusts of the charity; any failure to be provided with information and explanation by any past or present trustee, officer or employee; and in the case of accruals accounts any material inconsistency between the accounts and the trustees’ annual report, and in the case of a charitable company with the director’s report.)

IER