## Friends of Khasdobir, Bangladesh _**Charity Number 1185262**_ ## 4th Annual Report and Accounts **To 31[st] March 2024** **Patrons:** The Rt. Hon the Baroness Morgan of Cotes; Rt. Hon Sir Kevin Barron ## **Trustees** Mr Mike Sherriff (Chair) Mrs Moyra Blake (Secretary) Ms Maureen Haddock Mrs Kathleen Jackson Mr Kazi Mashud (Resigned 3/6/2023) Mr Dulon Miah (Resigned 3/6/2023) Mr Monjur Elahi (Resigned 25/4/2023) Ms Sue Simmons Mrs Doreen Watson Mr Philip Watson (Treasurer) Ms. Rana Al Jalili (Resigned 25/4/2023) Mr. Sachin Mohite (Resigned 3/6/2023) Mr John Cowpe (Appointed 13/1/2024) _Bankers:_ Barclays Business Banking **.** _Ind. Examiner_ : Rachel Thorpe (Appointed 13/1/2024) _Web site_ : www.khasdobir.org.uk. Of an **History and Objectives** Friends of Khasdobir has operated as a registered Charitable Incorporated (( Organisation since 1[st] April 2020. Previously we were a registered charitable association and prior to that operated as part of Toc H under the name Toc H Friends of Khasdobir. The objects of Friends of Khasdobir, Bangladesh are: _• To advance the education of children, young people and adults in Bangladesh, in particular by supporting the work of the Khasdobir Education, Welfare and Development Project to provide and assist in the provision of facilities for education in the area currently known as Sylhet_ _• The relief of financial hardship amongst people living in Bangladesh, in particular by supporting the work of the Khasdobir Education, Welfare and Development Project to make grants of money and provide goods, services or facilities for the relief of the poor living in the area currently known as Sylhet_ _• To advance the education of the public in England and Wales in the subject of development in Bangladesh_ ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Charity is governed by a constitution adopted at a General Meeting held on June 29[th] , 2019. Trustees, most of whom have visited the project we support in Bangladesh, are appointed by existing trustees to serve a period of 3 years. There must be between 3 and 12 trustees. This year we appointed one new trustee who is a relative of the original founder of the project. 5 trustees resigned during the year. ## **Review of the Year** Friends of Khasdobir supports the educational and welfare work begun by Peter East and Harun Ahmed in Sylhet, Bangladesh, 40 years ago. Since 1st July 2018 the Friends have supported the Sylhet Jubo Academy (SJA), a local non-government organisation based in Sylhet, to deliver the project. This is the second year of a three year commitment we have made to SJA to deliver the project up to July 2025. _Continued on page 2_ _Continued from page 1_ At the beginning of this year we made a commitment to support the construction of two new shelters for use as schools. One is an additional shelter on the tea garden in an area the project did not previously serve, and one is a replacement for a school that was meeting in a garage where there were some health and safety concerns. Both schools were completed, with children attending, by July. We are currently giving attention to the long-term sustainability of the project. We have supported SJA to appoint a fundraising officer who has planned several local fundraising events including a cricket tournament that trustees took part in during their visit. Each centre also has a management committee of local people who take an interest in the centre and are starting to raise funds to support local activities. Our UK fundraising this year has included a virtual trek in Sylhet, a virtual Christmas puppet show with children from one of the centres, fundraising meals, and a garden party. In April 2023 we had an event at All Hallows by the Tower in London to celebrate the 100[th] anniversary of our founder, Peter East. Over 30 people attended. Our on-line fundraising platform is: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/do - - nation/friends of khasdobir We also now have an embroidery and craft shop selling items produced by the project. These proved very popular at our event in London. In Sylhet the project provides 12 preprimary centres for 420 children from the slum areas of the city and the tea gardens just outside the city. The centres all have monthly meetings with parents/guardians where issues related to children’s welfare are discussed. In January 2024 126 children transferred to primary schools from our centres. The project continues to provide training in sewing, block-batik and hand embroidery, and computing. 100 young people take part in the training. We are especially pleased that some of the young people have been supported by SJA and Muslim Charity to start small businesses after completing their training. During the past year the project outreach team continued door to door visits to families, organisation of courtyard meetings and distribution of widows’ allowances. The work of the team ensures that we reach those in most need and that our beneficiaries access other services such as health facilities and education provision for children who have dropped out. . During the past year our Chair spent several months with the project and three trustees visited in February. They reported back to our committee and supporters. We continue to have a facebook page with 821 followers and produce a regular newsletter. We have a leaflet informing people about our work and a web site. Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us this year. Next year we plan to continue our activities with a particular emphasis on trying to ensure the long-term sustainability of the work. ## **Risk Assessment** The Trustees have considered the risks to which they may be exposed and have policies in place to manage these. We have a lead trustee for safeguarding and have given particular attention to strengthening our communication with the project about safeguarding issues. _Continued on page 3_ 2 Gonbn￿y from page 2 Publlc Benefit The Trustees confirm that due regard has been given to the Charty CommissK)nern' guidance on public benefit. The work in Bangladesh, wthich we 3UPWt. asststs the very pcyJ￿t people in the area. Th1• r•port and •ccount8 WIH b• Saturday July 6° 2024 10 arn by zoom. Below Teachers aintin new Glassn)om wall Pl•M• eonl•ct us by en￿0 lo confftm Ihal you wll •l¢•nd •nd lo i•qu••l th• zoom Ilnk •-4_4 pl•M• vl•lt our w•b•lt•i wWw.kha￿Ots1r￿ry.u￿ I•Ml•p•ndent Ex•minet• R•port to th• Tru•le•• on th• un•udlled I1n•￿Ill 8tat•mont of Frl•nd8 of Khasdoblr, Bangladesh (on Pag• 4) I repon on ts acccxmls ol Frwa5 of Kh8sac*)ir B￿al*JO￿ lo 3111 PAarth 2024 R••p•cllv• r••pon•lbllltlM ol TN•t•M *KI Ex4mln•r As ihL chaniy's IrustLx* iou arL rc5w)nsibl¥ lor Ihc weprniion of the xcounts. you consider Ihal Ik iiudil reMuir¢mcnl of 5edion 1441. i of the Ch8riii¢s Act jo I I lih¢ Aa I does IK)l applv and ihal 1ndL.￿nd¢n1 examination 15 needed li is my rc5kx)n51bilily lo examine the accounts under section 145 of the ALI. lo follow the p￿￿ed￿re5 lajd down in the Cicncral I)Ir￿lI0n$ given by ihe Charity. Commission u￿1¢r se¢tiLm 145(5Xbl ofthe ACL aThl to state F*rticular mallcrs havL come In mv allenlion B••ls ol lthp•nd•nt Ex*n￿n•￿8 Stat•m• Mv examinaiion w&s camed oul in w1rd•￿e ￿th the B¢n¢ral Threaions yjven by the Ch￿ty Commi%%i(In An ¢xarninaiion includes i rcvi¢w ofihc accounling rccord8 kekx by thc chanlv and a cornpnson ofik accoun15 wilh those reLvrds li also I￿ludeS considerulion of Jny unusual ilems or dI￿lOsUreS in thc accounts 5eekin¥ explanation4 from you a5 lnis1￿5 conLerning anv such matte￿. The pmcedures uNIcTtsken do not ￿01'1de all ihe evidence ilwi would tL' required in an oudil aNI Conseq￿ni1). no opinion is %i%'¢n as io w,hcthcr th¢ accounts esenl a 'lru¢ and fair view and th¢ rewrt 15 limJ*d io those M￿*￿5 oul in the 5ts1¢m¢nL IKIOW In conneclion w'ith my cxarninalion. no maner hAS Come lo m). atteniion.. (i) which gives mc ￿a￿onable ca￿5¢ to beli¢*e ihai in any mai¢nal rcsFrth the requirements., lo k'eep proFrr accountin¥ record5 In acc4)rdance wilh 5￿ts0n 130 ofthe Acl. and io prerAre a￿OUnts whjch accord wih ihc Kcouniin¥ ￿COrdS aTrJ to complv with the accouniin¥ rcquirernents of the A have no( been met" or lo i%'hich. in mv 0￿mon. anentton should be drnwn in ordcT lo ernble a n(krstanding of accounts lo ￿ reached. Ichel Thwpe ICIMAI. 52 Priory Road, Lou8hbryowh. LEII 3PP Indepethnt Exominei ## **Accounts for the Year 1st April, 2023 to 31st March 2024** |**RECEIPTS**
Donations from Individuals: Gift Aid Tax Recoverable
Donations from Individuals: Gift Aid Tax Not Recoverable
Fundraising Meals Income: Gift Aid Tax Recoverable
Fundraising Meals Income: Gift Aid Tax Not Recoverable
Individual Donations from Fund Raising: Gift Aid Tax Recoverable
Individual Donations from Fund Raising: Gift Aid Tax Not Recoverable
Donations from Groups, Toc H Branches and Other Organisations
Legacies
Sales of Calendars, Surplus Jewellery, and Other Items
Interest from Charities Official Investment Fund (COIF) Deposit Accou
Interest from Charities Official Investment Fund (COIF) Investment Acc
Tax Recovered from HMR&C on Year's Gift Aidable Donations
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
**PAYMENTS**
Grant to Sylhet Jubo Academy in Bangladesh
New Colour Leaflet about Project
Quarterly Newsletter Printing and Packing
Postage (Mainly Newsletters, but Other Letters also)
Meeting Room Hire
Equipment Purchase for Sylhet Jubo Academy's Work in Khasdobir
Website Registration, Design, Management and Server Provider Contin
Trustee(s) Monitoring Visits to Bangladesh
Project Expenses by Trustees for work in Khasdobir
Costs incurred in fundraising (UK)
Grant to Sylhet Jubo Academy for Shelter Construction
Public and Trustee Liability Insurance
Bank Charges for Transferring Money to SJA's Account in Sylhet
Miscellaneous
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**Surplus ( - = Deficit)**
**BALANCES**
Balance Brought Forward
Revaluation of Investment Fund (gain/loss) as at 1st April 2023
Surplus or Deficit this year
**Cumulative Surplus Carried Forward**
**Represented By:**
Barclays Bank Current Account
CCLA Charities Official Investment Fund (Deposit Account)
CCLA Charities Official Investment Fund (Investment Account)
**Total Bank Balances**|**Present Year**
**Last Full Year**
**Full Year**
**31/03/2024**
**to 31/03/23**
**to 31/03/22**
**£**
**£**
**£**
9,972.00
10,093.00
10,413.00
1,469.09
2,498.81
5,434.94
795.00
765.20
0.00
130.00
175.00
0.00
918.00
1,915.00
610.00
0.00
49.10
45.00
428.70
1,615.50
1,872.50
0.00
25,000.00
0.00
15.00
0.00
0.00
193.43
113.19
1.14
4,957.45
5,823.92
6,389.69
3,635.47
3,090.61
4,217.78| |---|---| ||**22,514.14**
**51,139.33**
**28,984.05**| ||50,150.00
57,769.00
58,504.50
0.00
0.00
0.00
331.15
296.22
236.90
498.00
338.40
283.02
0.00
60.00
44.50
0.00
0.00
0.00
71.87
0.00
0.00
3,229.84
4,303.41
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
50.00
0.00
0.00
14,702.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
150.00
100.00
99.00
70.00
646.00
**69,252.86**
**63,513.03**
**59,167.92**
**-46,738.72**
**-12,373.70**
**30,183.87**
203,615.12
223,363.47
235,168.94
14,202.51
-7,374.65
18,378.40
-46,738.72
-12,373.70
-30,183.87
**171,078.91**
**203,615.12**
**223,363.47**
3,066.17
13,955.77
12,266.58
5,344.17
9,193.29
3,256.18
162,668.57
180,466.06
207,840.71
**171,078.91**
**203,615.12**
**223,363.47**| **Friends of Khasdobir Annual Report and Accounts adopted by the Trustees on 29[th] April 2024** **MIKE SHERRIFF Chair of Trustees** **Phil Watson Hon Treasurer** _**Friends of Khasdobir, Chapel cottage, Station Road, East Garston, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 7HF**_