Dorcas Dress Project - 2022-23 Trustees’ Report
Aims (Public Benefit Statement)
The Dorcas Dress Project charitable goal is:
The object of the CIO is the relief of financial hardship anywhere in the world by providing sewing equipment, training and support to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient and to do so using Christian values and for the public benefit.
Structure & Governance
Trustees (as of end of financial year)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Melissa Russon | Trustee (Chair) |
| Kojo Amoasi | Trustee (Treasurer) |
| Nana Amoasi | Trustee |
| Rev Hasna Khatun | Trustee |
| Hannah Harrison | Trustee |
Trustees are likely to contribute 4-5 hours a month towards their work for the charity. In the 2023-24 financial year, it is an objective to create and implement a formal trustee recruitment process.
In this financial year we were able to recruit a Treasurer for the first time, which has led to significant improvements in our financial processes and understanding.
Executive Team
| Executive Team | |
|---|---|
| Name | Role |
| Maria Skoyles | CEO |
Maria is employed as CEO for 8 hours a week.
2022-23 Trustees’ Report Dorcas Dress Project
Staff
Dorcas Dress Project employed no staff (beyond the executive team) in the 2022-23 financial year.
Volunteers
Over the duration of this year we have worked with 4 volunteers in Oswestry and 8 volunteers in Leicester. We’ve supported 3 sewing hubs across two countries in Africa (Uganda and Nigeria), involving 14 volunteers. This is a total of 26 volunteers.
Status
We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, no. 1177034.
Objectives for 2022-23
Our overall goal for the year was to develop and expand our Learning Hubs across the UK and Africa, working from our existing links in Nigeria: with the vision of combating social exclusion and isolation, raising aspirations and increasing employability across marginalised communities.
Our objectives were to:
-
Maintain and support the work of our sewing hub in Oswestry, UK.
-
Continue working with the pop-up sewing hub in Leicester, whilst dress production is completed.
-
Explore options of starting a sewing hub in Oxfordshire.
-
Maintain and support sales at our one international sewing hub in Nigeria.
-
Identify, fundraise, enrol and train volunteers at 2 further international hubs in Africa.
-
Identify and start fundraising for 2 further international hubs.
Performance against Objectives
Maintain and support the work of our sewing hub in Oswestry, UK
We’ve continued to support the work of our existing hub in Oswestry.
Continue working with the pop-up sewing hub in Leicester, while dress production is completed
Following a fundraising campaign in January-March 2022, we worked with a factory in Leicester to produce a run of Dorcas dresses. This was our first experience of working directly with a factory. The goal of the fundraiser was to provide free English lessons for
2022-23 Trustees’ Report Dorcas Dress Project
workers in the factory. Many of these workers speak very little English, and often they don’t have a language in common with other workers in the factory floor, either.
Following the production run, the factory chose to provide English lessons themselves for their workers during working hours - an outcome we were very pleased with! The funds we raised were redirected to provide free English classes targeting garment workers elsewhere in the city.
Explore options of starting a sewing hub in Oxfordshire
As we close this financial year we have just started a sewing hub in West Oxfordshire during March, where we hope to provide weekly access for over 100 asylum seeking families to make, mend and repair donated clothes, providing them improved self-esteem, an opportunity to build relationships across cultures and be welcomed by local residents in the village.
Maintain and support sales at our one international sewing hub in Nigeria We have maintained our sewing hub in Nigeria, providing a sales opportunity for a batch of dresses.
Identify, fundraise, enrol and train volunteers at 2 further international hubs in Africa We have also established 2 new sewing hubs in Uganda, one in Kampala and one in the Teso region. We have provided online virtual training and opportunities to improve and develop their sewing skills. We have received a first small batch of dresses from one of our Ugandan hubs, ready for us to sell and financially support their team of 6 local dressmakers.
Identify and start fundraising for 2 further international hubs.
We have made a connection with GLO, a charity based in Burundi and have started training some of their charity delegates so they can use the project to support people in local need.
We have also started fundraising so we can set up a project in the largest refugee camp in Tanzania.
Additional achievements in this financial year
With the introduction of our new online Moodle training programme, we have been able to track enrolments onto each new module and monitor training progress and completed assessments. Through providing online virtual sewing classes as required by each sewing hub we have been able to provide the necessary and personalised support to meet the individual needs of volunteers and beneficiaries.
The Moodle platform enables sewing hubs to monitor the progress of beneficiaries, while improving confidence in volunteers and beneficiaries alike as they begin to use the progression tools. Certificates of achievement are available to recognise achievement, and validate tasks being carried out which they may have otherwise felt incapable of.
Our hope is that beneficiaries will leave us with improved self-esteem, mental health and self-worth enabling us to provide them with strong references, which will in turn support future employment opportunities. Our training platform has been used by sewing hubs and volunteers in Shropshire, Leicestershire and Berkshire.
2022-23 Trustees’ Report Dorcas Dress Project
Our volunteers and beneficiaries have made the following comments:
“I am hugely impressed with the way the sewing instructions are put on video. It must have taken a great deal of time. Every step is explained very clearly and shown very clearly. “
"I've finally found something I truly love and want to do. I'd do it everyday if I could." “Throughout the project… I have felt well supported.”
“From the initial meeting on zoom where everything was explained and then the
bombardment of questions and queries that came your way from the Oswestry team, which were all promptly answered, through to the details that you are answering now, I’ve felt well supported and encouraged. “
“The group training sessions, the flow charts and the individual training input have given me confidence to go live…The videos are a great resource.”
“It’s been exciting to see how [the lockdown has been used] to build relationships through zoom but also to build more solid structures in the project so that it is much more of a package now. It’s come a long way from an instruction manual and a dress to sew to a package that teaches sewing skills at a slower pace so there is (hopefully) confidence in the trainees that they will have the skills to make the dress well.”
Learning from this financial year
We have achieved a lot on our little income and recognised the need to be more organised and intentional about fundraising so we can support all beneficiaries across our growing hub network.
Financials
Treasurer’s report
The 2022-23 financial year is my first partial year as treasurer of the Dorcas Dress Project, after having been the external reviewer of accounts for 2021-22 in November 2022.
In summary, it presented a year of smaller financial activity than 2021-22, but the year was otherwise sustainable. At a high level, the charity ended the financial year with £4033.63 (of which a portion will need to be returned to a sponsor) compared to £4145 for the previous year. However the total outgoings and incomings were lower the previous financial year, with incomings at £9933 and £15471 and outgoings £10556 and £18145 for 2022-23 and 2021-22 (derived from the nominal activity report). Particular items I will highlight is the 75% drop in the volume of sales and correspondingly of Gift Aid, although there is a corresponding drop in the cost of sales. Also, while business donations have remained broadly in line with last year, personal donations are down significantly. The Leicester hub and the Crowdfunder donations contributed significantly to the unreserved donations from last year. It is also worth highlighting that macroeconomic conditions for the 2022-23 financial year have been worse than the previous year, with successive interest rate increases and high inflation. Additionally, pensions are now correctly being accounted for and travelling and postage costs have gone up, 3.6x and 3.3x respectively.
2022-23 Trustees’ Report Dorcas Dress Project
Transactions and financial data is stored through a combination of manual automatic input into the shared Google Drive and Sage Accounting through hard work from the CEO. The treasurer has only been taking a regular and in depth look at the data towards the end of the financial year and would be looking to build regular oversight over the accounts for the next financial year. There are various areas and options available to the Dorcas Dress Project, such as defining a reserves policy, that would be worth investigating in the next financial year (2023-24) to ensure strong foundations and confidence the charity can react to upcoming changes. Also, further investigation into how to raise both sales and personal donations.
Reserves Policy
For the 2022-23 financial year, the Dorcas Dress Project didn’t have a reserves policy. This is primarily as the team had not gotten round to formalising a policy as it has been maturing its processes. In the 2023-24 financial year, it is an objective to create and implement a reserves policy.
2022-23 Trustees’ Report Dorcas Dress Project
The Dorcas Dress Project
Balance Sheet Report
To: 31 March, 2023
| ASSETS | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | |
| Total Fixed Assets | £0.00 |
| Current Assets | |
| 1020 - Stock - Finished Goods 8,105.68 |
|
| 1200 - Bank Account 4,033.63 |
|
| 1220 - Paypal 143.95 |
|
| Total Current Assets | £12,283.26 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | £12,283.26 |
| LIABILITIES | |
| Current Liabilities | |
| 2100 - Trade Creditors 4.00 |
|
| 2210 - PAYE to pay to HMRC 44.40 |
|
| Total Current Liabilities | £48.40 |
| Future Liabilities | |
| Total Future Liabilities | £0.00 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | £48.40 |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | £12,234.86 |
19 Jul 2023 16:02
Page 1 of 2
| EQUITY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Net Profit / Loss | 12,234.86 | |
| Net Profit / Loss (prior year(s)) | 12,561.13 | |
| Net Profit / Loss (current year) | -326.27 | |
| TOTAL EQUITY | £12,234.86 |
19 Jul 2023 16:02
Page 2 of 2
The Dorcas Dress Project
Profit and Loss Report
01 April, 2022 - 31 March, 2023
| Sales | Sales | |
|---|---|---|
| 4000 - Sales - (total received) 714.76 |
||
| 4100 - Gift Aid 126.25 |
||
| 4101 - Unreserved donations (business) 6,051.53 |
||
| 4102 - Unreserved donations (personal) 567.57 |
||
| 4103 - Reserved donations for Tanzania project 1,782.74 |
||
| 4301 - Sponsorship - Nigeria 690.00 |
||
| Total Sales | £9,932.85 | |
| Direct Expenses | ||
| 1000 - Stock - Raw Materials 43.36 |
||
| 5000 - Cost of Sales - Goods 31.99 |
||
| 5500 - Hub Resources - Tools & equipment 524.45 |
||
| 5503 - Resources and costs for Tanzania project 1,892.70 |
||
| 6000 - Marketing | 271.89 | |
| Total Direct Expenses | £2,764.39 | |
| GROSS PROFIT / LOSS | £7,168.46 | |
| Overheads | ||
| 7000 - Employee Wages and Salaries | 5,660.00 | |
| 7030 - Employer's Pension | 373.00 | |
| 7400 - Travelling | 536.35 | |
| 7500 - Printing | 57.94 | |
| 7510 - Postage and Carriage | 453.91 | |
| 7630 - Business Insurance | 145.60 | |
| 7900 - Bank Charges and Interest | 16.35 | |
19 Jul 2023 15:56
Page 1 of 2
| 8200 - General Expenses 251.58 |
|
|---|---|
| Total Overheads | £7,494.73 |
| NET PROFIT / LOSS | -£326.27 |
19 Jul 2023 15:56
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From: 01/04/2022 To: 31/03/2023
19 Jul 2023 16:02
The Dorcas Dress Project Trial Balance Report
This period only
| Nominal Code | Name | Last Financial Year | Last Financial Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debit | Credit | |||
| 1000 | Stock - Raw Materials | 43.36 | ||
| 1020 | Stock - Finished Goods | 21.60 | ||
| 1200 | Bank Account | 111.41 | ||
| 1220 | Paypal | 143.94 | ||
| 2100 | Trade Creditors | 104.00 | ||
| 2210 | PAYE to pay to HMRC | 276.40 | ||
| 4000 | Sales - (total received) | 714.76 | ||
| 4100 | Gift Aid | 126.25 | ||
| 4101 | Unreserved donations (business) | 6,051.53 | ||
| 4102 | Unreserved donations (personal) | 567.57 | ||
| 4103 | Reserved donations for Tanzania project | 1,782.74 | ||
| 4301 | Sponsorship - Nigeria | 690.00 | ||
| 5000 | Cost of Sales - Goods | 31.99 | ||
| 5500 | Hub Resources - Tools & equipment | 524.45 | ||
| 5503 | Resources and costs for Tanzania project | 1,892.70 | ||
| 6000 | Marketing | 271.89 | ||
| 7000 | Employee Wages and Salaries | 5,660.00 | ||
| 7030 | Employer's Pension | 373.00 | ||
| 7400 | Travelling | 536.35 | ||
| 7500 | Printing | 57.94 | ||
| 7510 | Postage and Carriage | 453.91 | ||
| 7630 | Business Insurance | 145.60 | ||
| 7900 | Bank Charges and Interest | 16.35 | ||
| 8200 | General Expenses | 251.58 | ||
| TOTAL | £10,424.66 | £10,424.66 |
Produced by Sage Business Cloud Accounting
Page 1 of 1
| 445 Purchase QE Invoice 18/10/2022 155 ads 20.00 0.00 20.00 356 Purchase QE Invoice 23/10/2022 ebay 123 sewing machine 39.99 0.00 39.99 362 Purchase QE Invoice 28/10/2022 Royal Mail 138 postage 3.35 0.00 3.35 363 Purchase QE Invoice 28/10/2022 Royal Mail 139 postage 3.35 0.00 3.35 364 Purchase QE Invoice 28/10/2022 Royal Mail 140 postage 0.95 0.00 0.95 365 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 124 bosch cutters 28.99 0.00 28.99 366 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 125 cutting pegs 3.50 0.00 3.50 367 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 126 cutting safety gloves 11.39 0.00 11.39 368 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 127 machine bobbins 4.99 0.00 4.99 369 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 141 fabric shears 6.62 0.00 6.62 370 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 128 tape measures 3.49 0.00 3.49 371 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 129 tailors chalk 3.98 0.00 3.98 372 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 130 embroidery scissors 6.60 0.00 6.60 373 Purchase QE Invoice 30/10/2022 ebay 154 Facebook 3.14 0.00 3.14 374 Purchase QE Invoice 31/10/2022 Toolstation 144 lubricant spray 10.19 0.00 10.19 375 Purchase QE Invoice 31/10/2022 ebay 132 sewing machine. bands 3.90 0.00 3.90 376 Purchase QE Invoice 31/10/2022 Stikets 145 labels for Tanzania 20.96 0.00 20.96 443 Purchase QE Invoice 31/10/2022 ebay 131 LED lights machines 14.20 0.00 14.20 377 Purchase QE Invoice 10/11/2022 Royal Mail 146 postage 2.85 0.00 2.85 378 Purchase QE Invoice 22/11/2022 UPS 147 parcel to Tanzania 437.34 0.00 437.34 379 Purchase QE Invoice 01/12/2022 153 facebook 7.41 0.00 7.41 380 Purchase QE Invoice 05/12/2022 Royal Mail 148 postage 2.85 0.00 2.85 381 Purchase QE Invoice 10/12/2022 ebay 149 cutters for Burundi 43.95 0.00 43.95 382 Purchase QE Invoice 10/12/2022 ebay 150 cutters for Burundi 43.25 0.00 43.25 383 Purchase QE Invoice 18/12/2022 ebay 151 cutters fro Burundi 51.50 0.00 51.50 384 Purchase QE Invoice 22/12/2022 Stikets 152 labels for Burundi 49.30 0.00 49.30 487 Purchase Invoice 06/01/2023 ebay 10.17 0.00 10.17 491 Purchase Invoice 07/01/2023 ebay 170 54.34 0.00 54.34 531 Purchase QE Invoice 10/01/2023 Royal Mail 168 postage 8.05 0.00 8.05 497 Purchase Invoice 11/01/2023 ebay 6.62 0.00 6.62 515 Purchase Invoice 11/01/2023 Stikets 20.57 0.00 20.57 501 Purchase Invoice 12/01/2023 Royal Mail 178 5.95 0.00 5.95 |
The Dorcas Dress Project From: 01/04/2022 02 Jun 2023 Purchase Day Book Report To: 31/03/2023 14:26 |
|---|---|
| TOTAL £1,434.33 £0.00 £1,434.33 |
495 Purchase Invoice 23/01/2023 ebay 174 18.58 0.00 18.58 504 Purchase Invoice 26/01/2023 Lontex Cargo 180 5.95 0.00 5.95 492 Purchase Invoice 31/01/2023 ebay 171 19.47 0.00 19.47 494 Purchase Invoice 31/01/2023 ebay 173 13.87 0.00 13.87 500 Purchase Invoice 31/01/2023 ebay 177 7.77 0.00 7.77 518 Purchase Invoice 01/02/2023 Royal Mail 180 5.95 0.00 5.95 509 Purchase Invoice 14/02/2023 Royal Mail 182 3.35 0.00 3.35 512 Purchase Invoice 23/02/2023 ebay 185 9.02 0.00 9.02 511 Purchase Invoice 28/02/2023 ebay 184 0.99 0.00 0.99 609 Purchase Invoice 01/03/2023 Paypal 1.35 0.00 1.35 508 Purchase Invoice 02/03/2023 Royal Mail 181 3.35 0.00 3.35 510 Purchase Invoice 02/03/2023 ebay 5.00 0.00 5.00 |
The Dorcas Dress Project From: 01/04/2022 02 Jun 2023 Purchase Day Book Report To: 31/03/2023 14:26 |
|---|---|---|