Report of the Trustees & Unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 15th April 2023
🌐 eliproject.co.uk
ELI Project Wales
Charity Number: 1181538
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 15 April 2023
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 3 to 13 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 14 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 15 |
| Balance Sheet | 16 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 17 to 20 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 21 |
Charity Number: 1181538
2
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 15 April 2023
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 15 April 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Additionally, the charity consistently references the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when evaluating aims, objectives, and planning future activities. This ensures alignment with the Commission's directives, promoting adherence to established standards of public benefit.
Objectives and Activities
Empower families worldwide! ELI Project is dedicated to uplifting families facing social exclusion due to their children's additional needs in the UK and Africa. The chairty’s mission: create inclusive communities, foster connections, and offer support, spreading joy and empowerment to every family they touch.
ELI Project advances its mission in the UK through impactful activities, organising inclusive community events like monthly 'Family Nights' and 'The Hangout (for 16+yrs)', drawing families and volunteers from Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, and Ammanford. These gatherings encourage participation and alleviate the social isolation experienced by families with children having additional needs.
In response to the cost of living crisis and in partnership with a local grant provider, The Austin Bailey Foundation and budgeting advice charity Christians Against Poverty, the charity also organised weekly 'Community Meals' throughout the winter of 2022/23. These gatherings welcomed all family members, offering an opportunity to connect, share a hearty meal, participate in activities in a relaxed and inclusive environment, and receive budgeting guidance from trained CAP Coaches.
In tandem with hosting social events, the charity partners with LifePoint Church, Swansea, to operate a 'buddy system'. This initiative provides tailored support for children with additional needs, empowering both them and their parents to engage in Sunday church meetings. Not only does it foster parent connections over post-service coffee, but it also nurtures meaningful friendships for the young participants.
The charity collaborates closely with ELI Project Kenya, aiming to alleviate the challenges faced by children with additional needs and their families. In Kenya, they offer educational support and essential medical equipment. Recognizing financial struggles, they empower these families through micro-business opportunities, enhancing their livelihoods. The director of ELI Project Kenya, Marion Wathingira, employs clear pre-approval criteria for selecting beneficiaries in need of support.
Charity Number: 1181538
3
Volunteers are essential to ELI Project's mission, fostering the heart of our work. Their dedication and enthusiasm drive impactful initiatives, forming the cornerstone of our endeavours. Their contributions are invaluable, ensuring the fulfilment of our mission's potential.
Image 1: Some of our awesome ELI Project Volunteers!
Charity Number: 1181538
4
Achievements and Performance
Family Nights
Our cornerstone events, 'Family Nights', have thrived, engaging eighty families across 15 remarkable gatherings during this period. On average, nine families attended each event.
Memorable moments included a beachside BBQ in August, leveraging our stunning local beaches; silent fireworks for a sensory-friendly Guy Fawkes celebration, ensuring accessibility for all; and an enchanting visit to Luminate, a mesmerising light display at a nearby historic estate. This trip was generously purchased and donated by Todd and Stephanie Presley and included nearly 60 people!
This year of enriching events emphasised the joy of connection and togetherness, culminating in our beloved Annual Easter Egg Hunt, where over 1,000 eggs brimmed with delightful treats, toys, and surprises for the children! Feedback from our families can be found on page 6 (see image 5).
The Hangout
ELI Projects' Hangout, initiated in July 2022, blossomed across 16 vibrant events for young adults with additional needs. Under Miriam and Trevor Clowers' spirited guidance, it thrived. The monthly gatherings, including festive celebrations and engaging activities like the silent disco, drew over 10 families. Heartwarming feedback highlighted the cherished moments and anticipation for more memorable gatherings.
Images 2,3 & 4 Jack-o’-lanterns created during The Hangout, young adults and volunteers at The Hangout and Miriam and Trevor Clowers.
Charity Number: 1181538
5
EII PKOJECT 4 FAMILY - NICHT FEEbBACK "such a good nightl!11 Helen, mum of daughter with AN "Wonderf ul time" "so funny." Poul. f ather of adult son with AN "Kids had a blast" Clare, Mother of son with AN "so nice to see my doughter interact with others- Mum of children with AN IDE RAMCE OF ACTIVITI THROVCHOVT T YEA For More information, contact us: +44 7487 643205 toddandSteph@eliproject.or9 elipro ject.co.uK Image 5.. Feedback from our families! Charity Number: 1181538
Community Meals
Due to evolving local needs, our KidStop preschooler group, in collaboration with LifePoint Church, Swansea, concluded in September 2022. Our focus transitioned to establishing weekly Community Meals and The Hangout, previously mentioned, in response to the escalating cost of living crisis affecting our community. Social isolation exacerbated by Covid-19 intensified the demand for safe, inclusive events for this population.
Generous support from the Austin Bailey Foundation (£1000) and International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) World Missions (£360) helped provide 640 meals for families of children and young people (CYP) with additional needs at ‘Community Meal’ events. These events, an extension of our popular monthly gatherings, aimed to address social isolation compounded by Covid-19 and the mental health challenges faced by parents in the AN community due to the rising cost of living crisis.
The funds were allocated to provide nutritious two-course meals whilst attendees engaged in diverse activities, alongside partnering with Christians Against Poverty to offer budgeting guidance from trained CAP Coaches.
A sudden change in venue due to kitchen renovations required some reallocation of budget to cover venue expenses instead of food. Despite this challenge, our Community Meals spanned 17 events in Neath, serving nearly 250 individuals from families with additional needs and providing over 640 meals, including take-home options. The venue change allowed us to engage with a new community, whilst reinforcing our need of a dedicated building.
Image 6: Feedback from families who attended our 2022/3 Community Meals
Charity Number: 1181538
7
After School Club for Additional Needs - Pilot
In response to transitioning parents from our preschoolers' group (KidStop), the charity piloted a six-week afterschool club, aiming to sustain connections. However, given the heightened demands of the school day and accommodating siblings, attendance fluctuated. Recognizing the challenge in creating a calming post-school environment, the charity opted to discontinue these sessions and redirect our focus to fulfilling the social needs of young adults through 'The Hangout'.
Buddies
The 'buddy system' developed by the charity, in partnership with LifePoint Church, Swansea, continues its vital support for families of children with additional needs, enabling their
participation in mainstream church meetings. This initiative has heightened the church's understanding of additional needs and bolstered its confidence in accommodating diverse requirements.
Notably, with our expertise, LifePoint Church has allocated a dedicated space for children with additional needs and invested in
specialised sensory equipment. This has significantly benefited children's sensory and emotional well-being, enabling their integration into mainstream teaching sessions to foster valuable peer relationships. The 'buddy system' remains pivotal in supporting families to engage in church activities.
Images 7 & 8: Buddies engaging children with additional needs using specialised equipment during morning worship at LifePoint Church, Swansea.
Hunting for a home
Following a failed building purchase in January 2022, ELI Project diligently invested resources into exploring the local property market for a potential purchase. During this ongoing pursuit, a viable short-term solution presented itself: a rental property in West Swansea, strategically located near the M4. This space serves an immediate need, allowing our operations to continue and expand seamlessly while the charity persists in finding the right property for purchase and development.
Charity Number: 1181538
8
By embracing this temporary rental, the charity gained the opportunity to understand our specific requirements and navigate the area before committing to a permanent purchase, averting potential long-term issues. On February 14, 2023, ELI Project secured Block B in Seaswan House, Llansamlet, Swansea. In the following weeks, it furnished the space, creating a welcoming environment adaptable for any future purchase.
Our overarching goal remains centred on securing a building to consolidate and extend our services, directly supporting more families, and serving as a hub to aid other churches along the M4 corridor and beyond, in line with our charitable vision. The search persists for an ideal property in the Swansea/Neath vicinity, and our optimism about the future remains unwavering!
Image 9: A welcome board at ELI Project’s temporary new home
Care for Kenya
ELI Project proudly continues supporting ELI Project Kenya amid challenging times.
Due to financial constraints, emphasis was placed on completing ongoing projects. Despite the challenges posed by a drought impacting the animal feed industry, 25 pigs were successfully raised and sold between October and March. Additionally, ELI Project provided food support to multiple families until the arrival of March rains.
In July, prompted by a deep concern for John, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy, Marion, ELI Project’s Kenyan Director, commissioned a local craftsman to make a commode chair, providing him with dignity. John, 16, lacks any specialised support for his physical deformities, leading to strain on his family during bathroom
use as his body stiffens with age. Marion, moved by his parents' dedication, provided relief to them through this multipurpose commode chair.
In September, ELI Project renovated a pit latrine for Samuel, 20, with epilepsy, due to dangerous, rotten floorboards. The charity made it safe, installing a toilet seat over the pit, considering Samuel's instability. Samuel's mother highlighted the challenging 18-year process of teaching him to use the latrine.
Charity Number: 1181538
9
Thanks to generous donations, Marion's vehicle, inactive for over a year, is now functioning. In a profound act of compassion, she journeyed for 9.5 hours to Kinango, Mombasa, offering essential food and clothing to those enduring a three-day drought-induced scarcity. The mission also aimed to evaluate the region for a potential ELI Project base, aligning with future goals.
Financial Review
The charity relies upon voluntary donations from the generosity of both families that access our activities and friends as well as an increasing number of grant providers as it’s reach grows. It has sufficient funds to meet all its financial requirements and to fund all current projects. The charity monitors income and expenditure every month and considers this during trustee meetings.
Of the total income of £98,873, £2,827 was spent on direct charitable expenditure and £3,000 on seeking an alternative property as well as developing an interim rental property. Costs associated with insurance and website domain name equalled £263. The surplus on unrestricted funds totalled £71, with the surplus on restricted funds totalling £91,674.
Restricted Funds
Building Fund
The restricted funds received an outstanding pledge from Todd and Stephanie Presley's American supporters International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) World Missions, dedicated to spreading the gospel globally. This pledge was for the purchase and development of a property with £95,294 being received by April 15th 2023.
ELI Project allocated £3,000 from this fund after our unsuccessful 2022 building purchase in early 2022 to enlist Trustee Johnathan Kirk in sourcing alternative properties. His services were unanimously approved by the Trustees for the period from May 1, 2022, to August 1, 2022. His responsibilities encompassed drafting ELI Project communications, coordinating with agents, surveyors, authorities, and overseeing potential property acquisitions. Despite identifying a suitable property, delays in its release to the market hindered progress. If successful, Jonathan was poised to handle fees, surveys, legal, tax, operational, maintenance, environmental, construction, insurance, and unforeseen duties associated with the purchase.
An additional £360 from the building fund was allocated to engage Trustee Rhi Carpenter, with unanimous board approval, in securing funding for expanding charitable works through a building purchase. Furthermore, £4,353 from these funds was utilised to purchase furniture for nearly 5,000 sq ft of space in the rental property, geared towards a potential "Forever Home" as ELI Project continues in its search for an appropriate property.
Charity Number: 1181538
10
Community Meals
The second area of restricted funds were grants of £1360 from the Austin Bailey Foundation (£1,000) which emphasises community welfare and focuses specifically on alleviating economic, social poverty, and lack of opportunities in Swansea and IPHC (£360).
Both grants initially allocated for Community Meal events were affected by a sudden venue change, necessitating the reallocation of £198 from food to cover the new weekly venue hire cost. To mitigate this, the charity utilized an additional £185 from unrestricted funds to support these events.
The balance of restricted funds is securely held with Barclays Bank, segregated from the charity's daily accounts for financial clarity and effective management. With all pledged funds earmarked for this purpose, the charity is in a stronger financial position to pursue its goals moving forward.
Designated Funds
£645 was donated from friends and family to support the charity's work through Marion in Kenya. The charity was able to supplement these donations through additional finance from unrestricted funds of £496.
These funds supported property renovations, aided existing animal micro-businesses, provided specialized medical equipment, and, in some cases, supplied basic necessities like food.
Unrestricted Funds
Apart from supporting Marion's work in Kenya (£496) and supplementing the Community Meal events (£185), the Charity allocated £263 of unrestricted funds for public liability insurance and the renewal of their website domain name. £238 was reallocated from interest paid on the building fund savings to cover any shortfall.
ELI Project has committed to paying a nominal rental fee and covering utility costs for the rental property of approximately £1150 per quarter, with only £250 pending for the accountants. The charity holds no outstanding debts.
Various assets, including silent disco equipment, sensory equipment, table tennis and air hocket equipment, craft supplies, games, and furniture donated by CBS Lebanon, support regular social events. CBS focuses on non-political gospel understanding, aiding communities through education, job development, leadership training, and humanitarian aid.
Maintenance and updates for these assets are anticipated in the upcoming months and years.
Charity Number: 1181538
11
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is governed by its Constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, where only charity trustees hold voting rights. New trustees are appointed by a resolution of a quorum of existing trustees, with no external body having the authority to appoint trustees. All new trustees receive an induction, including the ELI Project's governing document, Charity Commission Guidance on Public Benefit, and the Trustee Welcome Pack from the Charity Commission website. Trustees are selected for their specific skills crucial to the organisation, with ongoing training needs regularly assessed and supported by the trustees.
In the UK, the charity operates predominantly but not exclusively in South Wales, holding social events in Swansea and Neath. The charity also works in close association with ELI Project Kenya to deliver programmes in that country.
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against instances of fraud and error.
Reference and Administrative Details
| Charity name | ELI Project |
|---|---|
| Other names the charity uses | N.A. |
| Registered charity number | 1181538 |
| Charity’s principal address | 27A School Road, Crynant, Neath, SA10 8NS |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|---|
| Rhiannon Carpenter | N.A. | N.A. |
| Harold Presley | N.A. | N.A. |
| Jonathan Kirk | N.A. | N.A. |
| Todd Presley | Founder and CEO | N.A. |
| Trevor Clowers | N.A. | N.A. |
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved:
Charity Number: 1181538
12
Director names
Todd Presley, Founder and CEO
Stephanie Presley, Founder and COO
Marion Wathingira, Kenya Director
Independent Examiner
Ralph Bettany Associates Ltd 1 Clare Street Manselton Swansea SA5 9PG
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 8th February 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr. Andrew Todd Presley Trustee
Mrs Rhi Carpenter Trustee
Charity Number: 1181538
13
Independent Examiner's report to the trustees of ELI Project
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of ELI Project (the Trust) for the year ended 15 April 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
R C Bettany, FCA Ralph Bettany Associates Ltd
1 Clare Street Manselton Swansea SA5 9PG
Dated: 1[st] February 2024
Charity Number: 1181538
14
ELI Project Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended April 2023
The notes form part of these financial statements.
Charity Number: 1181538
15
ELI Project Balance Sheet 15 April 2023
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8th February 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
A T Presley - Trustee
R Carpenter - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements.
Charity Number: 1181538
16
ELI Project Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 15 April 2023
continued…
Charity Number: 1181538
17
14¢Aes lorihbyw 15A 2023 COMPARATIVES FOR ThE STATEMEpif OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES LinrestJK*d Tots] lunds INCOME AND ENDOWMETr¥fs FROM 045 319, 322537 LXPENDfTURE ON Charltabjt a(tlvitbes Fdmily wtlldte 561 1.61A SGI 1.618 706 T•tsl 2J85 437S NET INCOMEIEXPENDITUREI If4) 317.W2 317 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS T1 lund5 bwuAhi f<Thd TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 318 142 TNCIBLE FIXED ASSETS CAMnPUter COST At 16 April 2022 Ath]Ltions At 15 April 2023 DEPRECIATION Ai 16 April !0!? Ai 15 Apo"12023 NET BOOK VALUE A5 Awil 2023 At IS Apn"12022 CREDfTOILS: AMOUNfs FAtIJNG DUE WMIIN ONE YEAR 15.&23 15A22 (1 creditor5 S) continued... Charity Number: 1181538 18
lor ihe Year Erthd 15 A ni 2023 MOfvEMENf IN FUNDS Ai 15.423 16.422 Gener futhd (20n 547 278 IJ3 71 BuLJdLn% Fund 317. 91.674 r3.476 TOTAL FUNDS 31&142 91.745 PJJB7 16.421 IS.422 uTrrostrkt [Tr General tuTrd Keoya wab {1.267) 1,618) (387 547 2.165 1015 11885} Resirl(ted lund5 Buikling Fund 319.492 {i.&J)) 317A12 S37 continued... Charity Number: 1181538 19
NO5 10 the siaLemerKLM ltsi Year Ejkled 15 A nl 20J) m0MEr IN FUNDS. Nd Ai 16_421 At IS.423 Generni fund Kenya appeak 278 133 133 231 Builth"n% Fw 409,476 4)9.476 TOTAL FUNDS 4)9.8B7 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURFS Charity Number: 1181538 20
ELI Project Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 15 April 2023
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.
Charity Number: 1181538
21