BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## BETHANY INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDING AUG 2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1183255
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL HOUSE FOR CHILDREN
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 2024
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## CONTENTS
||Page||
|---|---|---|
|Charity particulars||1|
|Trustees’ report||2-3|
|Independent examiners’ report||4|
|Statement of financial activities||5|
|Balance sheet||6|
|Notes to the financial statements||7 -11|
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
TRUSTEES: Benjamin Gaba Ibironke Giwa PATRON Apostle Mathew A. Oluwajoba FOUNDER Susan Benjamin PRINCIPAL OFFICE& 214 the Headlands CONTACT ADDRESS Northampton NN3 2 NX BANKERS: 2018-2022 Barclays Bank Weston Favell Northampton 2024 National Westminster Bank Weston Favell Northampton
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## TRUSTEES’ REPORT AUGUST 2024
## **Objective**
The objective of the charity is to provide relief and assistance to children’s needs and Substitute parenting. To provide the highest education for children within the community who are lacking.
## **Trustees**
The trustees of the charity are listed on page 1 of the financial statement.
## **Statement of trustees Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and financial statements according to the law of the United Kingdom Accounting Standards
The law which applies to charities in England requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. This gives a true view of how the charity operates and how we generate and manage the resources of the charity for that period. As the trustees prepare the financial statements, they are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
- Observe the methods and principles of the charities SORP (FRSSE).
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
- State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departure disclosed and explain in the financial statements,
- To prepare the financial statements accordingly for each financial year unless we see it in proper to continue in business.
It is the trustee’s responsibility to keep correct accounting records that will disclose any reasonable accuracy at any time for the financial position of the charity. This will enable them to be sure that the financial statement complies with the Charities Act 2013, the charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provision of the trust deed. They are also in charge of safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other miss management.
Bethany International house for children is a charity registered with the charity commissions under number 1183255. This organisation is set up in Sierra Leone to help the underprivileged children in waterloo in due of the aftermath of the last war, the pandemic and current state of the country.
The charity consists of a nursery school to encourage the little children with a good education. We also have an orphanage for children who have lost one or both parents. This is the report on the activities of Bethany International house for the year ending August 2024.
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
The board of trustees ensures that the school and orphanage are administered accurately by delegating several staff members to the daily operations needed to run them. All staff, including the finance officer, report to the trustees at their bi-monthly meetings and have immediate access to the founder and trustees with specific areas of responsibility. The teaching staff receive a certain amount of salary each month, as does the maintenance man. Other staff work voluntarily.
Since 2011, Bethany International House has been committed to providing quality education, accommodation, food, and clothing to underprivileged and orphan children. The organisation is committed to providing all these facilities to help the children fulfil a worthy life of destiny and, in turn, change and educate their community. Our staff have also tried to fulfil all the objectives the founder and trustees would recognise and endorse.
This year's operation reflects the commitment of the staff and trustees, strengthening the need for and value of the provision for Waterloo's underprivileged children.
In 2019/20, we started our auto-modern nursery school building from foundation to wall height. This will consist of four classrooms, two offices, a chapel hall and five toilets. Which was completed in 2021/2022, three classrooms finished, one office and three modern bathrooms. We have also built the nursery, but want to create a more colourful atmosphere. We are still in construction mode and looking to add more outside playground active grounds, adding swings, etc. We acquired bicycles for the children to learn, but we hope to develop more. We understand that the expenses will be more than we expected so we will have to find extra funds to help us complete the building.
In 2023/24, the school wall fell, increasing the cost to rebuild and slowing the full completion of the school building. Due to weather and the craftsmanship of the local builders, it has been a challenging year, but we have successfully mended the broken walls.
The trustee's strategy for increasing financial provision is fundraising. This forces the charity to grow stronger and faster as time passes. The trustee has created other types of activities, such as piggery and poultry, and also growing crops, which will help to raise more funds and control the amount of expenditure each year to increase funding.
The trustees extend their sincere thanks to all our partners, staff, and subcontractors for their generosity to the charity and to the children of Waterloo in Sierra Leone.
The annual report was approved by the management committee and signed.
Susan Benjamin
Minister Susan Benjamin (Founder)
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
3
## **Independent Examiners Report**
Independent Examiners report: We report on the accounts of Bethany International House for Children for the year ending 30 August 2024.
## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner**
As the Charity’s management committee, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993(the Act) does not apply. It is our state responsibility, based on procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention.
## **Basis Independent Examiners' report**
Our examination was carried out by the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity, a comparison of the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiners statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
- 1) Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements (i) to keep accounting records by section 41 of the Act; and (ii) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Cat have not been met; or
- 2) To which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## **INCOMING AND EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[TH ] AUGUST 2024**
|||Unrestricted|Unrestricted|Unrestricted|Restricted|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||NOTES|funds|||Funds|Total 2024|Total 2023|
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**||||||||
|Incoming resources from generated||||||||
|funds||||||||
|Funds invested by Founder|3|£4,892.25|||£0.00|£4,892.25|£5,645.57|
|Donation funds|2a|£|2,272.00||£0.00|£2,272.00|£1,686.60|
|School Fees Donations|4|£1,591.93|||£0.00|£1,591.93|£1,744.90|
|Total Incoming resources||£8,756.18|||£0.00|£8,756.18|£9,077.07|
|____________________________________________||||||||
|**Resources Expended**||||||||
|Building Costs
5||(£5,144.91)|||0.00|(£5,144.91)|(£3,500.00)|
|Travel Costs|6|(£849.00)|||0.00|(£849.00)|(£1,340)|
|Expenses of School running Day to Day|7|(£1,430.78)|||0.00|(£1,430.78)|(£3,071.13)|
|Salary for Teachers|8|(1,007.55)|||0.00|
(1,007.55)|(1,165.94)|
|Total _________________________________________||(£8,432.24)|||0.00|(£8,432.24)|(£9,077.07)|
|||||||||
|Net Income/ (expenditure) and net||||||||
|movements in funds for the year|||||£323.94||£0.00|
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30[TH ] AUGUST 2024**
|Notes
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
11&12
**Current assets**
Cash at Bank and in hand
**Net Current assets**
Total assets less current liabilities
10
**Creditors: amount falling due**
**after more than one year**
13
**Net Assets**
**Capital and reserves**
Net deficit)|Notes
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
11&12
**Current assets**
Cash at Bank and in hand
**Net Current assets**
Total assets less current liabilities
10
**Creditors: amount falling due**
**after more than one year**
13
**Net Assets**
**Capital and reserves**
Net deficit)|**TOTAL**
**2024**
£
£47,489
324
47,813
(59,847)|**TOTAL**
**2024**
£
£47,489
324
47,813
(59,847)|**TOTAL**
**2024**
£
£47,489
324
47,813
(59,847)|**TOTAL**
**2024**
£
£47,489
324
47,813
(59,847)||**TOTAL**
**2023**
£
47,902
_______202
48,104
(54,955)|**TOTAL**
**2023**
£
47,902
_______202
48,104
(54,955)|**TOTAL**
**2023**
£
47,902
_______202
48,104
(54,955)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||||
||||||(12,034)
(12,034)||||(6,851)|
|||||||||||
|||||||||(6,8511)||
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## 1 **ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments, which are included at market value and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2016). They have also been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities published in March 2005 and applicable standards.
## **Funding Accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds that are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charity's general objectives and that have not been designated for others.
The cost of raising and administering such funds is charged against specific funds.
## **Income and expenditure**
Income, which mainly consists of donations and contributions from the charity's founder, is accounted for when received, except interest receivable, which is accounted for on an accrual basis. Expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis.
## **Legacies**
Legacies are credited on receipt to the relevant funds as indicated by the testator's wishes. Where no such wishes have been expressed, the receipts are credited to unrestricted funds.
## **Donations**
Donations were received in response to appeals for the charity's building, to support the staff, and to improve its overall operation.
## **Grants**
The charity does not receive any grants.
## **Resources Expended**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis, and it has been allocated to the development and running of the charity.
Fundraising costs are incurred in seeking voluntary contributions. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administering the charity and complying with constitutional and statutory requirements.
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is provided at a rate to write off the cost of fixed assets over their effective working lives. Hence, computer equipment and software are depreciated straight-line over three years. 25% applied to Motor vehicles.
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BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## **Taxation**
The Charity’s surpluses are derived from and applied toward maintaining charitable activities and are not subject to taxation.
## **Allocation of Costs**
Costs are allocated to the specific project to which they relate. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to a particular heading, they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
## **2. INCOME RECEIVED**
2a. In 2024, £ 2,272.00 of donation income was unrestricted funds.
3. Contribution of funds by the founder of - £4,892.25
4. School Fees donations by parents, school events and Villagers' support 46,784 SLL – £1,591.93 (rate 29.3882 SLL/1 Pound-average rate from www.trade tariff.service.gov.uk/exchange rates/view/2024-8)
## **EXPENDITURE COSTS**
The costs are all those allocated to running, maintaining, and building Bethany, including the cost of the founder’s flight and living expenses to oversee the charity.
5. The building costs increased due to the **School walls falling,** and new gates also had to be purchased, and Staff salaries
|Description|2024|
|---|---|
|Buildingfoundations(PHASE 4)|£5,144.91|
|Staff Salary|£1,007.55|
|Total|**£6,152.46**|
6. Travel costs of the members of the trustees to manage and review the charity and running of the school.
|Description|2024|
|---|---|
|Flight Cost|£849|
|Total|**£849.00**|
7. Expenses of School running Day to Day costs
|Expenses|SLL|POUNDS|Rate2024|Rate2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Stationary
School Uniforms and items for
Students
Expenses for Construction works
School Garden
Entertainment
Miscellaneous Expenses|4,590.00|156.19|29.3882||
||2,695.00|91.70|||
||25,160.00|856.13|||
||2,420.00|82.35|||
||1,835.00|62.44|||
||5,348.00|181.98|||
|**Total Expenses**|**42,048.00**|**1,430.78**||**1,430.78**|
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## 8. **Staff Salary paid £1,007.55** . - **Le. 29,610,000.00**
## **9. Statement OF Assets on 30th August 2024**
## **Fixed Assets**
Land & Building £46,250.00 Motor Vehicle £1,238.66 Total Fixed Assets £47,488.66
## **Currents Assets**
Cash at Bank £323.61 Total Assets £47,812.27
## **10. Land & Building**
|**10. Land & Building**|||
|---|---|---|
|Cost of acquisition of land||£10,000.00|
|Site Preparation||£300.00|
|Surveyor||£400.00|
|Planning and Building||£1,125.00|
|Architects drawing||£1,000.00|
|Conveyance fees||£425.00|
|Solicitor||£425.00|
|Registration of Deeds||£425.00|
|Housing and Planning Permit||£600.00|
|National Revenue Authority||£100.00|
|Value of Building on land||£31,450.00|
|||£46,250.00|
|**11. Motor**
**Vehicle**|**2023**|**2024**|
|Cost|2,202.06|1,651.55|
|Additions|0.00|0.00|
|Depreciation|550.52|412.89|
|Total|1,651.55|1,238.66|
13. Creditors: amount falling due after more than one year: £59,847.43 (Funds owed to Founder Susan Benjamin, personal contribution to Charity adjusted to include 2024 contribution 4,892.25)
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
## **Off 555, Mabureh/Waterloo Western Area Rural Sierra Leone**
## **West Africa**
## **Annual School Report for 2023-2024**
It is with great pleasure that I present the annual school report for the 2023-2024 academic year for the Bethany International House for Children, detailing the school's significant accomplishments and activities over the past year. I thank everyone for their continued support and dedication.
**Table 1: ENROLLMENT FOR 2023/2024**
|**Class Level**|**Old Pupils**|**New Pupils**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Nursery1&2|9|15|24|
|Nursery 3|8|3|11|
|Class1|10|6|16|
|Class2|15|4|19|
|Class 3|9|2|11|
|Class 4|8|4|12|
|Class 5&6|8||8|
|Total|67|34|101|
## **Table2: Beneficiaries of Half Scholarship**
|Pupils Name|Sex|ClassLevel|
|---|---|---|
|Ishmael A. Mansaray|M|3|
|SamuellaKoroma|F|3|
## **SCHOOL FEE/CHARGES**
In the 2023-2024 academic year, I collected forty-five thousand, six hundred and seventy-one new Leones (Le45,671).
The sum of five thousand and nineteen new Leones (Le5,019) was outstanding. The outstanding fee increased because some of the pupils stopped coming to school during the second term when I insisted on paying the school fees. Some students did not return, and most of them were from nursery classes.
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE **Table 3: Staff Enumeration**
|**Names of Workers**|**Monthly Enumeration**|**Months in Service**|**Annual Enumeration**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Gladys Mansaray|500|12|Le. 6,000|
|Agatha Momoh|550|4|Le. 2,200|
|IsatuJ. Nyama|350|12|Le. 4,200|
|Alhaji A. Kargbo|350|11|Le. 3,770|
|Mustapha B. Rogers|300|11|Le. 3,100|
|Matthew A. Kamara|300|11|Le. 3,300|
|DonaldJ. Deenp|300|10|Le. 2,850|
|Susan Benjamin|300|11|Le. 3,300|
|BlessingKamara|300|3|Le. 890|
|**Total**|**3,250**|**85**|**Le. 29,610**|
## **Summary of Income and Expenditure**
## **A. Income:**
|**i.**|**Fee and charges……………………………………………………………….. Le 45,671**|
|---|---|
|**ii.**|**Offering…………………………………………………………………………… Le 1,025**|
|**iii.**|**Others……………………………………………………………………………… Le 90**|
|**Total income…………………………………………………………………………. Le 46,784**||
|**B. Expenditure:**||
|**i.**|**Stationary…………………………………………………………………………….Le 4,590**|
|**ii.**|**Uniform…………………………………………………………………………….Le 2,695**|
|**iii.**|**building…………………………………………………………………………….Le 25,160**|
|**iv.**|**garden…………………………………………………………………………….Le 2,420**|
|**v.**|**Entertainment…………………………………………………………….Le 1,835**|
|**vi.**|**others…………………………………………………………………………….Le 5, 348**|
|**TOTAL…………………………………………………………………………………. Le****_42,048.00_**||
**Staff** : There were six teachers, but that was not enough to cover all the classes. In October, we employed one new teacher and another in May as a class helper for the nursery. Later in the year, the head teacher (Mrs. Agatha Momoh) resigned from her duty. According to her resignation letter, she stated that she was resigning from her duties because she wanted to continue with her studies. Among the eight staff members, three were trained and qualified teachers, and the others were not trained but willing to work.
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
**Activities:** As usual, we had our Christmas carol program in December, at the end of the first term. It was educational and entertaining, and all the pupils, parents, and staff participated well.
In the second term, we planned to take our pupils to the Sierra Leone House of Representatives (the parliament), but we were unfortunate that the country's unstable state prevented us from doing so. Therefore, we organised an inter-house athletic sports meet in the school compound. This was very peaceful and successful.
In the third term, ze organized a graduation and Thanksgiving service for nursery and class six pupils who successfully completed the other phase of their basic education program.
## **Challenges**
1. The limited number of teachers in the school seriously affected its smooth running.
2. The few teachers must sacrifice to cover the other classes, which is very tedious.
3. Classroom conditions are not attractive as they are paved, and dust is everywhere.
4. Fee collection is always challenging as some parents often pay late, others will either come to quarrel or hold onto their children long at home, and some even drop out of school.
5. Staff enumeration: We often have problems employing and retaining staff because we need quality staff, but the monthly payment seems unattractive to the quality staff we need.
6. Security and caring: The school needs two non-teaching staff members, a woman who can serve as a nanny and a man who can serve as security and gardener for the safety of the compound and the nursery pupils.
**Achievement:** During all challenges, the school ran successfully, and out of the little income we were able to raise, we partly supported some developmental projects in the school area that were undertaken in the academic year.
## **Recommendations**
**1.** If we can’t get along with the quality teachers we need, let us employ people who are ready to work with us, and we will, in turn, give them our training that requires them to serve efficiently.
**2.** Let us at least try to improve the conditions of the few classrooms we are using to reduce the poor quality of the classrooms for effective teaching and learning.
BETHANY INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 2024 HOUSE
**3.** Frequent engagement by parents/guardians encourages them to pay fees instead of dropping their children out of school, which may lead to some negative implications.
**4.** Review the enumeration given, considering the country's present economic situation.
We need a security guard and a nanny at the school to help secure the compound and serve as gardeners. The nanny will help care for the younger learners and permit the nursery teachers to serve efficiently.