2023-12-31-accounts

Rossholme in Kenya Acorns of Nairobi

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 1 January 2023 To: 31 December 2023 Charity name: ROSSHOLME SCHOOL IN KENYA Charity registration number: 1178553

Chackeridge Cottage Ashbrittle Wellington Somerset TA21 0LJ

www.rossholmeinkenya.org [e-mail] 01823 673324 07860 115951 Registered Charity Number 1178553

Chairman’s Annual Report 2023

We have been delighted to welcome two new trustees to our board: firstly Steve Swan, now living in Cornwall, a Landscape Architect who has considerable experience of building and has worked actively with several charities. He has already been a very active supporter of Rossholme with other members of his family and he has been instrumental in major fund raising events.

Secondly, Carolin Shaw (CS) who was appointed in June 2024. A former Rossholme School (in Somerset) pupil, she lives in Somerset and has undertaken to relieve me of several tasks including publicity.

I am very grateful to Nick Griggs, who now manages our finances and sends money out to Kenya. He has also been researching and, in close communication with Joyce, Starlink has now been installed so we have an internet link at Rossholme. This will facilitate links with UK schools, and will enhance the curriculum teaching of Computer Studies within the school.

As well as generous financial support, Doug Brodie (DB) provides invaluable help and support to Rossholme with his background and knowledge of Kenya.

Last year’s report gave details of the proposals to acquire the land and property of the school in its present location within the Kiambiu Slum. We launched a campaign to raise the £25,000 needed and in December 2023, we achieved the objective and Joyce Aruga handed over the KES4,250,000 needed. We now have a copy of the legal document showing our ‘ownership’ of the land and property where Rossholme School is located. Technically, all slum land is owned by the Government but our certificate shows that we are now ‘Registered Owners’ of the plot of land.

We have 523 pupils attending the school daily from the ages of 3-12. Joyce Aruga (JA) remains Head and her resilience, perseverance and single mindedness enable her to manage every project and difficulty thrown at her! She employs 13 qualified teachers, 2 cooks and a security guard who lives on the premises. 203 pupils are funded by their parents but remaining pupils are subsidised with support from various different sources, including Rossholme School in Kenya, Tushinde and other sources from whom JA receives income. She continues to receive financial support from the US and she has also built up a good relationship with East Africa Children’s Project (EACP), a UK charity from whom we have received considerable financial support this year for solar power, desks and computers and a major contribution towards the acquisition of the property.

Having acquired the land and premises, we no longer have to pay rent so our monthly payments to RinK normally now amount to £600 to pay salaries and

Chackeridge Cottage www.rossholmeinkenya.org Ashbrittle [e-mail] Wellington 01823 673324 07860 115951 Somerset TA21 0LJ Registered Charity Number 1178553

other essential costs. Thanks to increased contribution from DB, we have been able to increase the salaries.

I mentioned in my previous report that we were hoping to set up Kirsty’s Places as Day Care Centres within Kiambiu following generous donations amounting to £10,000 from Trustee Doug Brodie and his brother, themselves brought up in Kenya. Named in memory of their late mother, the first of these was set up last August by Tushinde but unfortunately, although most of the equipment was rescued, the record breaking floods meant that the property had to be destroyed because of its proximity to the river.

My cousin Anne Halliday, came out to Kenya with me in June 2023. She worked tirelessly on her return to get donations from schools and other individuals and organisations within her home town of Pershore, Worcestershire. Some months ago, at her own expense, she sent out 13 boxes of school equipment, stationery and toys which have been very gratefully received.

Having raised some £1,700 last year with their Rough Ramble for Rossholme, Kitty Hollingsworth and her nephew Christian Edbrook, are planning another one on 2[nd] November 2024. We need to publicise this to attract others.

CS and I have worked very hard to put together an application to be selected as one of The Times selected charities for their Christmas Appeal. It has been submitted. If, by some ‘cat’s chance’, we are accepted, it would certainly be a boost and enable us to start building with a realistic chance of getting it all done!

I envisage an active year ahead with the proposed new school building and I am most grateful to all our trustees for their contributions to the further development of Rossholme.

Judith Webb

Chairman of Trustees, Rossholme School in Kenya

www.rossholmeinkenya.org [e-mail] 01823 673324 07860 115951 Registered Charity Number 1178553

Chackeridge Cottage Ashbrittle Wellington Somerset TA21 0LJ

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	To provide education and health care to disadvantaged children in slum areas of Nairobi, Kenya and support the safety, education and well-being of children and their supporters.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	The trustees confirm they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	At the year-end the charity held bank balances of £4,978. During the year payments of £17,003 were made to the Rossholme School in Kenya. The reserve of £10,000 held to support the work with Tushinde described in the Chairman’s report was paid out. Further payments of £513 were made to support activities to promote donations to the charity. Bank charges less interest totalled £39. Donations and other income totalled £15,615 during the year.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	The Trustee look to hold a prudent reserve to support the future monthly payments to Rossholme School in Kenya.
Amount of reserves held	At the year-end the charity held bank balances of £4,978
Reasons for holding zero reserves	n/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	n/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	n/a

Structure, Governance and Management

Type ofgoverning document	CIO- FOUNDATION Registered29May2018
How is the charity constituted?	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	The Trustees are selected by unanimous agreement of the existing trustees.

Chackeridge Cottage Ashbrittle Wellington Somerset TA21 0LJ

www.rossholmeinkenya.org [e-mail] 01823 673324 07860 115951 Registered Charity Number 1178553

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	ROSSHOLME SCHOOL IN KENYA
Other name the charity uses	Rossholmein Kenya
Registered charity number	1178553
Charity’s principal address	CHACKERIDGE COTTAGE ASHBRITTLE WELLINGTON TA21 0LJ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4	Trustee name	Office (ifany)	**Dates acted if not for whole year **
	Judith Webb	Chair
	Douglas Brodie
	Nicholas Griggs	Treasurer
	Steven Swan		13 December 2023 to 31 December 2023

There are no corporate trustees or trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity.

Chackeridge Cottage Ashbrittle Wellington Somerset TA21 0LJ

www.rossholmeinkenya.org [e-mail] 01823 673324 07860 115951 Registered Charity Number 1178553

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

No funds were held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

None

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position Date	SJB Webb	Nick Griggs
	Sylvia Judith Brownlow Webb	Nicholas Griggs
	Chair	Treasurer
	20 July 2024
	20 July 2024

www.rossholmeinkenya.org [e-mail] 01823 673324 07860 115951 Registered Charity Number 1178553

Chackeridge Cottage Ashbrittle Wellington Somerset TA21 0LJ