Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Charity name: Project WHY UK Charity registration number: 1184910
1. A year like no other
At the beginning of this financial year, the world witnessed the beginning of a major global pandemic and, like most charities, Project WHY UK had to be reactive to the situation, whilst staying mindful of its charitable objects. With education centres in India closed for a large part of the year, our efforts during the first half of the year focused on the relief of poverty in India, through a number of successful public campaigns.
During the second half of the year, we saw the gradual re-opening of education centres in India and the trustees continued their fundraising efforts. We ended the financial year with healthy reserves and we are in a strong position to support education centres in India as they transition to new and safe ways of learning.
On behalf of Project WHY UK, the trustees thank our generous donors and supporters for their support during this time.
2. Campaign highlights 2020-21
“ We will walk 500 miles! ”
In May 2020, with education centres in New Delhi closed and families struggling, the trustees resolved to raise money by walking a collective 500 miles over 21 days. Through publicity of the walk, the aim was to raise funds for food packages for families living in deprived areas of New Delhi, to be distributed by
Project WHY India.
The campaign was a wellreceived and successful
fundraiser that adhered to social distancing owing to the pandemic, raising £2,513.78 overall in donations through the website JustGiving. Each £700 donated provided food for around 100 families who were struggling to access necessities due to the growing threat of coronavirus in densely populated neighbourhoods. The trustees used social media to promote the campaign, with photographs of our daily walks as well as images of families receiving supplies.
Project WHY mask sales
As the pandemic took hold, the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of infection became necessary, especially in the UK during a series of national lockdowns. Project WHY India sewed patterned masks from recycled sari material which were sent to Project WHY UK, with the expectation that proceeds of sales would be sent to Project WHY India. The trustees sold masks to their friends and families and collectively raised approximately £458 during the financial year.
A very dedicated cyclist
Project WHY UK also received a major donation from another grant-making charity, the British Asian Trust, thanks to the work of a friend of Project WHY UK, Jaideep Gulab.
From 8 to 11 November 2019, Jaideep cycled 300km across the Sri Lankan countryside, raising money with a group for the British Asian Trust. As the British Asian Trust seeks to improve education and alleviate poverty in South East Asia, which is consistent with the objects of Project WHY UK, Jaideep requested that a portion of his funds raised be granted to Project WHY UK. Following a due diligence process, we therefore received £17,598.33 from the British Asian Trust.
3. Donations
Project WHY UK’s income during the year was a total of £28,967. Of this:
-
£3,194 was received in ad hoc or regular donations, unconnected to specific fundraising initiatives;
-
£3,966 was received in donations as part of our “sponsor a teacher” initiative;
-
£17,598 was received from the British Asian Trust; and
-
£4,209 was raised through our other fundraising activities, such as mask sales and sponsored initiatives.
4. Grant-making and what was achieved
Project WHY UK made a total of £10,661 in grants to Project WHY India during the financial year, in accordance with its grant-making policy. This policy details, in particular, the process by which grants can be applied for and the decision process followed by the trustees in respect of any such application.
Owing to the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, Project WHY UK has made fewer transfers of monies to Project WHY India than it would expect given its income during the financial year. Further information on its reserves and the reasoning of the trustees is contained at section 5 below.
Food distributions
In April 2020, whilst its education centres were closed, Project WHY India requested funds to distribute food parcels to families in the slums of New Delhi who were struggling to access necessities because of hardships caused by the Covid-19 lockdown. Support was initially requested to distribute cooked foods and rations over a period of 40 days from 23 April to 31 May 2020.
£700 was initially granted to Project WHY India for this purpose. Given the success of the programme, Project WHY UK granted a further £1,700 to Project WHY India for the same purpose in May 2020, which enabled further food distributions in June 2020.
Teachers’ salaries
Although the education centres were closed, Project WHY India wished to retain certain key staff, both from a continuity perspective and because the staff themselves were from within local communities. As the situation developed, these staff were able to teach certain children remotely from the centres. Through the “sponsor a teacher” campaign, Project WHY UK continued to receive recurring donations, which were specifically earmarked for contributions to the salaries of two primary teachers, one vocational teacher and one computer teacher. These amounted to:
-
April 2020 to December 2020 : £343 per month
-
November 2020 : £393 for the month
-
December 2020 to March 2021 : £392 per month
Whilst general grants were not being made to the education centres for a period of time, the trustees considered it appropriate to continue to make grants to Project WHY India for the salaries of these teachers where specifically earmarked by donors under the “sponsor a teacher” initiative.
The following grants were made for these purposes:
-
April 2020 : £994
-
July 2020 : £1,372
-
August 2020 : £686
-
November 2020 : £1,109
For administrative reasons, the remaining amounts donated to Project WHY UK under the “sponsor a teacher” initiative are expected to be granted to Project WHY India during the next financial year.
Computer and mobile equipment and centre repairs
By September 2020, Project WHY India had commenced remote learning activities for its students. The trustees of Project WHY UK acknowledged that this was less desirable than in-person teaching, given that the benefits of education centres in poor communities extend further than teaching. However, there was also an acceptance that this was the best possible solution given the global pandemic and the trustees were therefore keen to support this endeavour.
Project WHY UK granted in September 2020 £4,100 to Project WHY India for the provision of mobile phones and computer equipment to staff, as well as roof repairs to flooded centres at Project WHY India’s Okhla and Khader centres, from which remote teaching was to take place. The laptops and equipment were essential to ensuring that pupils could continue to access PW India’s educational support through taking classes online. In addition, the roof repairs were intended to prepare the Okhla and Khader centres for their reopening to in-person teaching.
5. Reserves and funds carried forward
The trustees had agreed as a policy during the previous financial year to hold at least £500 worth of reserves in order meet any necessary event insurance and other administration costs, which might result from organising events and activities.
Project WHY UK came into the financial year 2020 with £1,585 in funds carried forward, received income of £28,967, incurred expenditure of £672 and made grants of £10,661. The financial year was therefore ended with £19,219 in funds carried forward.
The carried forward amount held by Project WHY UK at the end of the financial year was therefore significantly above its minimum reserves policy amount of £500. The reason for this is that the charity’s primary objective is the advancement of education which, to the extent possible, it endeavours to do by making grants to Project WHY India. Given the Covid-19 situation in India, which lead to schools and education centres being closed for a long period of time, the trustees considered that only limited grants could be made to Project WHY India for these purposes. It was also envisaged that, as India emerges from the pandemic, there would be a particular need for funds as education centres adapt to new ways of learning and compensate for months of missed classes. Project WHY UK therefore hopes to use its remaining funds constructively during the subsequent financial year.
6. Further information required by the UK charity statement of recommended practice (SORP)
Charitable purposes and constitution (SORP 1.17 and 1.25)
Project WHY UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a foundation constitution. Its charitable purposes are:
“To further such charitable purposes (charitable under English Law) as the trustees see fit from time to time in particular, but not limited to, the advancement of education for the public benefit and the relief of poverty in India, through the provision of grants to charities and organisations furthering such purposes. To the extent that the Sri Ram Goburdhun Charitable Trust (Registered Charity Number S32978, India, its field based programme being known as Project WHY India), makes recommendations to the trustees to further these objects, the trustees may promote these objects through the provision of funds to the Sri Ram Goburdhun Charitable Trust.”
Public benefit (SORP 1.18)
In the course of their duties, the trustees of Project WHY UK confirm they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Trusteeship and organisational structure (SORP 1.25 and 1.51)
In accordance with Project WHY UK’s constitution, trustees are appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the current charity trustees, having regard to any potential candidate’s skills, knowledge and relevant experience.
The charity was incorporated as a CIO on 15 August 2019. Its founding trustees remained in place as at the end of the financial year ending 31 March 2021 and there were no new trustee appointments during the financial year. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
The trustees regularly communicate electronically and hold meetings to discuss both fundraising initiatives and to review their trustee duties and discuss any grant requests from Project WHY India. During the financial year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and given government guidance, all trustee meetings were held electronically.
Banking and property
Project WHY UK’s bank account is held in the organisation’s name, as a CIO, at Lloyds Bank. As such, none of the trustees hold title to any property belonging to the charity, nor are any funds held as a custodian trustee on behalf of others.
7. Reference and administrative details
| Project WHY UK | |
|---|---|
| Charity name | |
| 1184910 | |
| Registered charity number | |
| 65 Parkland Drive Leeds LS6 4PP |
|
| Charity’s principal address | |
| 1. Harriet Louise Page (as chair) 2. Jennifer Susan Page 3. Jonathan Charles West 4. Mahua Ghosh 5. Cathy Robinson 6. Catherine Imogen Lough 7. Viren Sunil Bhojwani |
|
| Charity trustees at the end of the financial year |
|
| Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | Project WHY UK. Charity number 1184910 | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||||
| 1 April 2020 | 31 March 2021 | ||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts* | |||||||||
| Donations andgifts | 7,160 | - | - | 7,160 | 2,977 | ||||
| Charitable activities | 21,807 | - | - | 21,807 | 614 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total_(Gross income for AR) _ | 28,967 | - | - | 28,967 | 3,591 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts | 28,967 | - | - | 28,967 | 3,591 | ||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
| Investment Admin Cost | 672 | - | - | 672 | 30 | ||||
| Expenditure on chartitable activities | 10,661 | - | - | 10,661 | 2,155 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 11,333 | - | - | 11,333 | 2,185 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Totalpayments | 11,333 | - | - | 11,333 | 2,185 | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 17,634 | - | - | 17,634 | 1,406 | ||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 1,585 | - | - | 1,585 | 179 | ||||
| Cash funds thisyear end | 19,219 | - | - | 19,219 | 1,585 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
|||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| B1 Cash funds | Cash held at Lloyds bank and PayPal | 19,219 | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Total cash funds | 19,219 | - | - | ||||
| (agree balances with receipts andpayments account(s)) | OK | OK | |||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
|||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B3 Investment assets | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
- | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
||||
| B5 Liabilities | - | ||||||
| - | |||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Print Name | Date of approval | ||||
*** Note** : Funds received from Just Giving are included net of fees. This is because, in order to gain access to details of fees charged by Just Giving, Project WHY UK would need to pay a charge, which the trustees did not think was an appropriate use of charitable funds.
Project WHY UK received £2,513.78 through Just Giving.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Project WHY UK On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 Charity no (if any} 1184910 Set out on pages CC16a Section a and b I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (llhe Trust.) for the year ended 3110312021. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of Ihe accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111"the Act"). I reporl 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 havè followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ibl of the Acl. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordanc6 With section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wilh the accounling records Independent examiner's ststement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order lo enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete Ihe words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 1010112022 Name: Mrs S Varatharasasingam Relevant professlonal qualificationls} or body (If any}: ACCA Address: 1027a Garratl Lane London SW17 OLN Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinalion of charity accounts.. directions and guidanc6 for examiners). IER October 2018