## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year **From** 1 Sept 2024 **To** 31 August 2025
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** Opportunity Through Education
**Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1179046**
**Charity's principal address** The Long House, Hurtmore Road, Godalming, Surrey. **Postcode GU7 2RB**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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9
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12
13
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15
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17
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Alan Lion|Trustee|||
||Nicola Lion|Trustee|||
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## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**
|**Name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|
|---|---|
|None||
|||
March **2012**
**TAR**
1
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**
**Address**|**Name**
**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|Independent Examiner|Charles Hume||
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## **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 CIO - FOUNDATION REGISTERED 03 JUL 2018
(eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
> [CIO]
(eg. trust, association, company)
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a Trustee selection methods term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the (eg. appointed by, elected by) charity trustees.
Trustee selection methods
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
OTE was set up to support the work of Nicki and Alan Lion (“the trustees”), plus the work of three partners, Elizabeth Hodgkin (“Liz”), Rebecca Mallinson (“Rebecca”) and Welcome Home School (“WHS”).
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
When the charity started, Liz and Rebecca jointly approach the trustees and asked for assistance. Rebecca had previously been supported by another UK registered charity, but, due to the burden of administration involved, that charity had asked Rebecca to try to find another UK registered charity able to support her. After discussion, the trustees agreed to provide support. The basis upon which OTE supports Liz and Rebecca is contained in a separate document titled:
- 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;
- “Basis Of Working Together OTE and Partner 20180728.docx”
- relationship with any related parties;
- In the summer of 2022, the trustees were approached and asked to
- trustees’ consideration of support to the Welcome Home School (“WHS”), Tanzania. After due major risks and the system investigation, including a visit to the school in February 2023, the trustees and procedures to manage agreed to offer the same assistance to WHS as to Liz and Rebecca. them.
## **Section C Objectives and activities**
The objectives of the charity are:
**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document**
“The relief of poverty with particular emphasis on education for the young and disadvantaged anywhere in the world.”
The trustees believe that the provision of education is one very practical way to help people out of poverty and into a worthwhile and sustainable
March **2012**
**TAR**
2
life.
The review of activities and highlights below sets out how the work of OTE provides significant benefit to the public.
OTE benefitted from the continued support of many generous contributors. Income this year was £55,938 (2024: £72,590) and payments to beneficiaries amounted to £53,420 (2024: £71,273). The drop in income represents the scaling back of the work of both Liz and Rebecca. When OTE originally started in 2018, Liz made it clear that she would inevitably have to step back from her work at some future date. Over the financial year in question she has started to scale back her commitments so that, by the end of 2025, all her remaining students will be fully provided for. The drop in payments to beneficiaries matches the drop in income. OTE **Summary of the main activities** only holds minimal reserves. **undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these** In its decision making the trustees of OTE are aware of and have **objects (include within this** complied with their duty to have due regard to The Charity Commission’s **section the statutory** public benefit guidance when they have exercised any powers and duties **declaration that trustees have** to which the guidance is relevant. **had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)**
## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
The trustees wish to thank the following organisations and institutions for their support in the past year:
The Erica Leonard Fund The R&H Grey Foundation The T W Roberts Trust St Clare and St Francis Charity
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
- policy on grantmaking;
In addition, the trustees wish to thank the many individuals who have so generously supported the work of OTE in the past year. Without such support, the wonderful transformation of some many young people’s lives that has been achieved would never have happened.
- policy programme related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
The following represent just some of the people and projects that have been supported by the charity in the period covered by this review:
## _OTE Projects_
The main work of OTE relates to sponsoring students. Every student sponsored by OTE is either known to or vetted by the trustees. We seek to help young people who cannot help themselves. We focus on students who are orphans or who have fallen on hard times part way through their education and where it is perceived that there will be considerable benefits if that person is given the opportunity to complete his or her education.
One of OTE’s most significant beneficiaries this year has been an orphan in Mozambique, Paulo, and his family. A number of years ago, Paulo and his wife decided to take in three orphan children. They have raised the children and, supported by OTE, are providing them with education. To try to ensure a more sustainable solution to their financial needs, with the help of OTE, Paulo has completed a teacher training programme and is currently seeking employment.
## _Elizabeth Hodgkin Projects_
Liz’ continued to help a number of students who are nearing the end of their education programmes. As mentioned above, Liz has been scaling back her projects whilst continuing to ensure that students who are midcourse will be financially secure for the remainder of their courses.
## _Rebecca Mallinson Projects_
If you want to read about Rebecca’s inspirational work please visit her blog site: https://living-in-nimule.blogspot.com/
Here is Rebecca’s summary of the year: As you will see, in the period covered by this review, things changed significantly. Firstly, after many successful years setting up and helping run Cece Primary School, Rebecca has moved on. The situation can be summarised by these sentences from her September 2023 blog:
“Problems have arisen between me and the landowners who gave us the land in 2016 through a land agreement. The landowners have now become very hostile and full of demands for their own clan. They have completely no thought for the school or the pupils. The constant chorus has been, ‘What’s in it for us?’
According to their mentality, white people are rich and are supposed to give to them freely. When I refused, saying that all the money I have is from fundraising for the specific purposes of education, I have been shouted down very aggressively. The landowners are completely ignoring the fact that our school is for disadvantaged families, not just for themselves.
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance
I have been looking for a way forward as I do not want to see the school fail. We have over 240 pupils and 19 staff, all of whom will lose out if the school collapses. On a personal level, I have taught in the school since 2015 and have very strong teacher-pupil relationships with a good number of our pupils.” After discussions, including consultation with OTE, Rebecca concluded that the right course of action was to move on from January 2024. She therefore sought to find a suitable school for all the Cece Primary School pupils. The buildings at Cece would be passed on to the landowners from January 2024, with the view to turn it into a private school, so hopefully the buildings will not be wasted. The desks and other equipment fundraised by Rebecca were moved to Liberty Primary School. The move to Liberty Primary School in January 2024 saw the start of new challenges for Rebecca. Over 150 students from Cece enrolled at Liberty Primary School with the number gradually increasing to over 200. Rebecca agreed with the original owner of Liberty Primary School to join this school as Director of Studies as well as fundraiser and teacher. A number of the teachers from Cece came with her. She summarised her new challenges when she wrote: “At Liberty, we are back at square one. In January 2024 there were no school buildings, no toilets, no storeroom or teachers’ room, no food, very few teachers and large numbers of cows around the school site. In short, it has been terribly difficult, but things are gradually taking shape.“ Rebecca has shown amazing resilience during these trials. During 2024 and 2025, as can be seen in the financial report, building work took place to improve the learning environment. Most importantly, in early 2025 St Francis and St Clare Charity made a donation covering the construction of a kitchen and operation of a school feeding programme, which made a huge difference to pupil attendance and general health. In spite of all the above challenges, pupils have done very well academically, so that in 2023 and 2024 the school leavers’ final exam results were the highest in the Nimule area, with a 100% pass rate. Rebecca has similar expectations for the cohort of 2025. In addition to Liberty Primary School, Rebecca has continued to support a number of deaf and blind children to attend special schools in Uganda. She is also supporting her school leavers so that they are able to attend secondary school in Nimule. All this work is done through OTE. She is a wonderful example of a truly dedicated person helping those in need. _Welcome Home School (WHS) Tanzania_ WHS is a thriving primary school, as the photos on OTE’s website demonstrate. The money collected by OTE and passed to WHS was
March **2012**
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5
Section D Achievements and performance
used for the following purposes:
Total Funds Received and Allocated:
- School library development: **£1,276**
- School fees for 8 children: **£4,067**
- Desks and chairs for Class 5: **£1,600**
- Support for new school bus **£915**
- Uniform support for Karibu Nyumbani children: **£380**
- • Donations from volunteers for outings and their stay (Roger, Hilary, Gloria): **£1,395**
- Other donations & Gift Aid for School Hall roof: **£4758.60**
## **Grand Total: £14,391.60** .
Below is a summary of some of the projects:
## **Library Project**
One of the greatest blessings this year was the completion of our school library. Through the dedication of a young volunteer, Andres, and generous donors in England, we received enough books to fill the library. The cost of carriage and importing from England was paid by OTE the sum of £1276. This has already had a positive impact on reading culture, study habits, and curiosity among our pupils. **Classroom Resources Project** We sincerely thank OTE for the donation of £1,600 which provided desks and chairs for Class 5. These have greatly improved comfort, posture, and concentration in the classroom and have created a more respectful learning atmosphere.
## **New School Bus**
We are very grateful to members of the Oxford prayer group who supported the buying of the New school bus to carry children to school each day. Amount used from donations- £915.
## **A BIG THANK YOU**
None of the above work would be possible without the extremely generous financial support that OTE receives from its many supporters. "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
## **Section E Financial review**
The charity holds limited reserves. It has little or no ongoing expenditure **Brief statement of the** commitments as all the administration is done by volunteers and all **charity’s policy on reserves** administrative costs are currently covered by the trustees. Where OTE is expecting to sponsor a student for a number of years, the trustees may hold a suitable amount in reserve to cover future years’ costs. However, the amounts so retained are relatively small.
As at 31/08/2025 the charity had a total of £9,223 (2024: £6,704) in its bank account.
March **2012**
**TAR**
6
**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;
The charity’s accounts have been produced on a receipts and payments basis. At the year-end, the charity was due Gift Aid from HMRC for the period from 13/06/2025 to 31/08/2025.
A claim for a payment of £2,352.95 was due at 31/08/2025. This was actually processed in the next financial year (01/09/2025 to 31/08/2026) and will be accounted for in that year since the charity’s accounts are produced on a receipts and payments basis.
- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
## **Section F Other optional information**
None.
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Signed Electronically **Full name(s)** Alan Keith Lion **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Chair **etc)**
**Date** 26[th] February 2026
March **2012**
**TAR**
7
||**Charity Name**
**Opportunity Through Education**|**Charity Name**
**Opportunity Through Education**|**Charity Name**
**Opportunity Through Education**|**No (if any)**
**1179046**|**No (if any)**
**1179046**|**No (if any)**
**1179046**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Receipts andpayments accounts**||||||
||**For the period**
**from**|Period start date
9/1/2024|**To**
|Period end date
8/31/2025|||
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|**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||||
|**A1 Receipts**
Direct Donations
**5,310**
Returned of Failed Transfer
Give As You Live
**57**
Income Tax Refund
**890**
**6,257**
**_Sub total_**
**_Total receipts_ 6,257**
**A3 Payments**
Payments To Beneficiaries
**4,968**
Travel Costs
Bank Fees
Failed Bank Transfer
**_Sub total_ 4,968**
**_Sub total_**
**_Total payments_ 4,968**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ 1,289**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**5,309**
**_Cash funds this year end_ 6,598**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_
**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases,(see table)**||**to the nearest £**
**26,645**
**4,191**
**30,836**
**30,836**
**30,350**
**30,350**
**30,350**
**486**
**63**
**549**
**Restricted**
**funds REB**|**to the nearest £**
**Restricted**
**funds LIZ**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**to the nearest £**
**Restricted funds**
**WHS**|||
||||**3,990**
**905**
**4,895**|**11,322**||**47,267**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**57**|
|||||**2,628**||**8,614**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||**13,950**||**55,938**|
||||||||
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
||||||||
||||**4,895**|**13,950**||**55,938**|
||||||||
||||**3,710**
**3,710**|**14,392**||**53,420**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||**14,392**||**53,420**|
||||||||
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
||||||||
||||**3,710**|**14,392**||**53,420**|
||||||||
|||**486**|**1,185**
**888**
**2,073**|**- 442**||**2,518**|
|||||||**-**|
|||**63**||**444**||**6,704**|
|||**549**||**2**||**9,222**|
## **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**
Santander Business Account
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
Signed Electronically
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**6,598**
**-**
**-**
**6,598**
OK
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**|**to nearest £**
**6,598**
**-**
**-**
**6,598**
OK
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**|**to nearest £**
**Restricted**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**2,624**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**2,624**|
|||||OK|
|||||**to nearest £**
**Restricted**
**funds**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Cost (optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Cost (optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Amount due**
**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
||||||
||Signed Electronically|Alan Lion|||
||||||
**----- Start of picture text -----**
CC16a
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Last year**
## **to the nearest £**
**58,892 7,400 31 6,267 - - - - 72,590**
**72,590**
**63,848 - 25 7,400 - - - - - 71,273**
**71,273 1,317 - 5,387 6,704**
Dat8 of
approval
212612026
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Opportunity Through Education
On accounts for the year
ended
31" August 2025
Charity no
(if any)
1179046
Set out on pages
1and2
I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity I'the Trust'l for the year ended
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the reqLJiremenls of the Charities Act
2011 ('Ihe Act'i
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145151{bl of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention
') in connection with
the examination which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material
respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have come across no olher matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
11 MAR 2026
Name".
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any1=
Address:
CHARLES R. HUME. FCA
Pirfold. Hurtmorè Road.
Goi5almiTrg. Suriey
GU7 2RB
01483 414302 &07484 128152
Email.. tharleshume@?ol.eom
IER
October 2018
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern {see CC32,
Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for
examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
r/,
o14¢y
IER
October 2018