Charity Number: 1177569 CONGO FREE POVERTY (CONGO SANS PAUVRETE) ANNUAL REPORT & UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 CONGO FREEPOVERri FL4T44. CROS5MOUNT H¢XlSE BovnER 5Th, LONiX*I SES HOTMAILCOM
Reference and admlnlstratlve infomiatlon For the year ended 31 March 2024 Charlty number 1177569 Re8lstered office Flat 44, Cro55rn0unt House, Wer Street. London SE5 OXB Trustees Wete Biawete E5ia Baleze Goncalves Jose Bankers 8arclays bank CONGO FREE POVEIITY FiAT44 aiossMOUNT BOWYER sfREET, LOND(X4 SE5 OJ¢B COFREP@HOTMAILCOM
Trustee< annual report For the year ended 31 Marth 2024 The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial ststements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Reference and administrative inforrnation set out above forms part of this rewrt. The financial ststements comply with current requirements, the governing document and the Statement of Recommended Practice-Ac¢ounting and reporting by Charities: SORP, applicable to charities preparing their accounts. Structure, Governance and Management The charity is registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales on 16 March 2018 and iys governed as CIO- FOUNDATION charitable organisation. Its governing document was first adopted in 2018 and amended on 8, June 2022. Currently the charity has a management comrnittee of 3 people who meet quarterly and are responsible for the strate8ic dlre¢tion and policy of the charity. Trusted Weul*Men( Inductlon, and tralnlng The trustees of the charity are elected at the charlty Annual General Meeting. Most trustees are already fèmiliar with the prattical work of the charity having been encouraged to take up volunteering hour5 at our operational centre. Additionally. new trustees are invited and encouraged to attend a series of short training sessions to familiarise themselves with the charlty and the context withln whlth It operates. Trdining covers.. The obliqations of management committee members. The main documents whleh set out the operational framel1rk for the charity including the constitutlon. Resourcing and the current financial position as set out in the latest publlshed accounts. Future plans and objectives of the charity. Rlsk management The board of trustees has conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk re8lster has been established and is updated at least annually. Where appropriate systems or procedures have been developed to mitigate the Tisks, the chartty faces. Significant external risks to funding hove led to the development of a strategic plan which allow for the diversification of fundin8 and activities. Internal control risks are minimlsed by the Implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transaction5 and projects. Procedures CONGO FREE POVER7V FLAT44. alOSSMOUNT HOUSE BOWYER STREET, LONDON SE5 OXB COFRÉP@HOTMAILCOM
are in place to ensure compliance wlth health and safety of stsff. volunteers. users. and visitors. Objectives and artivities Purposes and aims The trustees regularly review the aims, objectives and artivities of the charity. Th15 report looks at what the eharty has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report on the success of each key artivity and the benefits the charlty has brought to the groups of people it is set up to help. The review also help5 the trustees ensure the charivs aims. objectives and activities femain focused on its stated purposes. The trustee5 have referred to the Charity Commission'5 general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the tharltys aims and objectives and in planning its future èctivlties. In particular. the trustees consider how planned actNities will contribute to the Set aims and objectives. The OanIsation,S objects are.. To relleve poverty among refugees, asylum seeker5. rnigrant workers and their dependants living in England and Wales by providing interpretlng/translating/advocacv/ healthlhousing advice and education.. To provlde Congolese young people, born in United Kingdom. with free Congolese dialects classes in Llngala, ikong0, Swahili and Chiluba in the interests of maintsining Congolese langua8e and cultural heritage. To relieve poverty among children and young people livlng In D R Congo. by providing them with basic education, soclal and health supporL The provlslon of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation wlth the object of Improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facllities by reason of their youth. age, infirmity or disablemenL financlal hardship or soclal and economic circum5tsnces. To promote social inclusion for the public benefrt by preventing people from becoming 50¢i8lly excluded, relieving the needs of th05e people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate Into sodety. Vlslon The v151on of Congo Free Poverty That every Indlvldual is heard, valued and supported" Missi Congo Free Poverty commits to: Being a user-led organisation & putting individuals first. Delivering high qualrty & innovative seryice5. Improvlng users, well-being. CONGO FREE POVERIY FiAT44 CRI)5SMourir HOUSE, BOWYER STREET. LOND(XI SIS OXB COThEpeHOTMAILCQM
Amplifying the voice of s¢xially excluded & marglnalised indivlduak to influence change. Strate8ic Alms We have now in place a 5-year12024- 20291 strategic plan, which involves putting people at the centre of everything we do. The strategy has identified 3 key strategic objectives. These To build long-term finanelal stsbilty. To 8ive targeted support using a'whole famiv approach. To buildin8 capacity. Athlevanents and performante. and beneficiaries of our senAces The charltys maln artivities and those whom It alms to help are described below. Chlldren and oun eo We provided a Trumber of services for chlldren and young people ineluding supplementary ¢lasses. homework club, and Congolese languages tuition. We also worked and supported youn8 people v•ith mentsl health1ssue5. Women sewin rou The weekly sewlng group is a chano for migrant women including refugees and asylum seekers to come together and learn some basic sewing skills and make their own clothes in fun, friendly and supportive environment. Core su The core support include5 helping people with benefits checks and advice. Blue Badge applications, council tax dCount applications, referrals and SnpOSting to other community resources. Flnanclal revlew Against the Ilmlted resources and insecurities over fundin& it ha5 again been a difficult year to plan or develop new services and activities. Prlncl I fundin sources The principal source of funding for the charity are its members, monthly donations, and Tfusts and charitable Foundations. Inves No material investments are held at this time. The tru5tee5 will conslder an appropriate investment policy in the future as unrestricted funds are raised. Reserves CONGO FREE POVERTY FiAT44 CROSSMOUNT HOUSE. 8OWYÉR sTrE. LONDON 5E5 OXB COFREP@HOTMAIL.COM
The management committee has examined the charitys requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It hos established a policy whereby unrestrirted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 month5 of the expenditure. But as its stsnd the charity has no or very limtted free reserves. Statement of trustee responslbllftles The trustees of the Con80 Free Poverty are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial ststements in accordance with applicable law and UnFted Kingdom Accounting standards (United Kingdom Generally Accounting Practice). The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Prartice (SORPI 'AcCti and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005. Under the Charities Art 2011. the trustees are required to prepare a statement of accounts for each reporting year which glves a true and fair vlèw of the State of the charity and of the incomin8 resources and application of re50urces of the tharity fof that period. In preparing these financial ststements. the trustees are requlred to= Sele¢t 5utsble occounting policies and then apply them consistently. observe the methods and principles in Charities SORP. Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudenL stste whether applicable United Kingdom accounting stsndan15 have been followed, Subject to any material departures disclosed an explained in thefinanclal ststements. And prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is Inappropriate to presume that the charity wlll continue to operate. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accountin8 records that dtsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial ststements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for Safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detertion of fraud and other irregularities. Th report was approved by the trustee5 and signed on their behalf by: Esla Baleze Trustee . Date: 31yh November 2024 FiAT44 ¢JlOSSMOUNT MOUSE. 8OIYYER sniEET. LONt)ThN SE50XB cOFREP@HOTMLCOm
CONGO FREE IYIVERTYI CONOOSANS PAUVREtE Statomontolflnanc141 actlvltles{Incomeand expenthrfj) F•rth• ye8r•nded 31 March202A Membership Peoples, HealthTru5t Pay Pal's donatlons Awards ForAII 1.800.00 0.00 1,800.00 0.00 3,450.00 ,000.00 80.00 0.00 0.00 18,800.00 16,600.00 0.00 London Communty Foundation Chrlstwlnner Church 7,200.00 2.OCKJ.00 0.00 Souter CharitableTrust Donnation5 lotherl 0.00 1400.00 2.400.00 0.00 Salarie5 0.00 0.00 0.00 Professlonallees 550.00 Rentlroom hire 1.500.00 1.500.00 2,100.00 2,100.00 1,400.00 L900. 1,900.00 8,300.00 8,81JO.00 6.800,00 0.00 1.600.00 1,600.00 750.00 750.00 Travellvoiunteorsexpgnses Sewlngyoup actMtEes capital equipmentlsewlng Childrenclassesactlvltles Sundrleslrefreshments 0.00 0.00 1.200.00 0.00 Aftlcan festival 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,2110.00 Computers 0.00 0.00 Totalfunds broLtghtforward 300.00 SW.00 I&t 8,230.00 Ail of iheabove results are derived from contlnuingactNities.There were nootherr&ogntsed galns or losses otherthan those stated abov8.
Balance sheet &8Lt3IE1ar£lo24 2024 2023 Flxed a$set$: Tangible assets 8.800.00 Current assels Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 30.00 Liabilities Creditors: amountsfalllng due within one year Net current assets Totsinetassets 30AQ 8230.00 Approved bythe trustees on 20 November2024 and signed on thelr behalf by.. Esla Baieze Trustee
Notes to the flnancial staternent5 For the yeai ènded 31 Mah 2024 l. Accountlng policies a) Statutory Inforniatlon Congo Free Poverty is a charity and is regitered wlth the Charity Commlsslon In England & Wales. The registered office address Is FLat44, Crossmount House. Bowerstreet. London SE5 OXB. bl Basls of a¢¢ountlng These accounts have been prepared on the ieceipts and payments basis wlth all incoming resources and outgolng resources shown on a cash basis.