2022-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year 31 March 2020 To 31 March 2021

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Rural Education Network International

Other names charity is known by REN Intl

Registered charity number (if any) 1186152

Charity's principal address 39 Sher Afzal Close Cowley Oxford Postcode OX4 2FA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
		Moreen Pattison	Chairperson
		KaySage	Treasurer
		Peter Hockley	Secretary
		Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
		Name		Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Moreen Pattison
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution)The organization is a charitable incorporated organization governed by a constitution whose voting members are its charity trustees. The charity was founded in June 2016 and registered with Charity Commission in November 5th2019. How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) CIO Foundation Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by) The founding director of the organization is also a charity trustee and there are two other appointed charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and have voting powers.
		The organization is a charitable incorporated organization governed by a constitution whose voting members are its charity trustees. The charity was founded in June 2016 and registered with Charity Commission in November 5th2019.
		CIO Foundation
		The founding director of the organization is also a charity trustee and there are two other appointed charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and have voting powers.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about:	Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about:	New and appointed trustees are offered training to ensure they are adequately equipped to do their job appropriately and within charity law.
	policies and procedures	REN Intl has three trustee members and one fundraising volunteer.
	adopted for the induction and	The trustees meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic
	training of trustees;	direction and policy of the charity. At present the trustees are
	the charity’s organisational structure and any wider	responsible for fundraising, secretarial work and day to day running of the charity in the UK. The trustees are from diverse backgrounds
	network with which the charity	and they bring along rich professional experience.
	works;
	relationship with any related parties;	The Head Teacher and the Deputy Head Teacher are accountable for day to day responsibilities of running the school in Uganda. The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers
		the services specified and that key performance indicators are met.
		The Trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which
		the charity is exposed and a risk register has been established. The
	trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.	risk register is updated annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of a
		strategic plan which will allow for the diversification of funding and
		activities. Internal control risks are minimized by the implementation
		of procedures for authorization of all transactions and projects.

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Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers, children, parents and visitors to the school.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

For the public benefit to advance the education of children in Uganda, particularly but not exclusively, to support Willow School specifically by constructing more classroom blocks, community library, boys’ and girls’ dormitory, school dining hall, school assembly hall, paying teachers wages and other co-curricular activities.

All our charitable activities focus on fundraising in order to advance the education of the vulnerable children in rural remote Northern Uganda. In June 2016 the school officially opened with 36 pupils registered. Also in 2016 REN Intl launched their first ever fundraising drive to raise funds to construct a borehole to supply clean water for the children and the surrounding community of Koch Lii. We were able to drill the borehole in September 2017. In 2017, REN Intl was able to fund the construction cost to provide temporary classroom space for Primary 5 and overall school attendance was 180 children, half of these were girls. In 2018 REN Intl invested in a brick making project to enable us to construct permanent classrooms for the children and minimising expenditure at the same time. We produced 40,000 bricks that were used to construct a classroom block for Primary 6, Primary 7 and an office block. The physical labour cost of doing so was also supplemented by the parents offering their availability to carry out some work at school. By the end of 2018 the number of children registered had risen to 250 pupils. In 2019 REN Intl again invested in a brick making project which produced 30,000 bricks. These bricks were essential in constructing permanent classroom blocks for Primary 1, 2, 3, 4 and a block of classrooms for the Nursery Children (K1 to K3). Willow School also prepared the children to sit their first Primary Leaving Examination (PLE for P7) at the end of the year. There were 19 children who registered and sat for their PLE in 2019. The school had over 350 children registered. In 2020, Willow School, with support from well-wishers was able to open a Senior 1 for the children who had completed their PLE as there wasn’t a single Secondary School in the whole of Lii Sub County. Unfortunately, Uganda like many other countries went into National Lockdown and the schools were closed. This meant the children were not able to continue with their education. The Government re-opened schools in phases later in 2020; the candidate’s classes - those who were due to sit national exams at the end of the year- were the priority. Willow School was able to support 17 PLE students to prepare and sit these exams in March

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Of the 17 pupils, our school performed the best in the whole of the sub county. We produced a First Grade from one of our girl pupils; this was a significant achievement from Willow School to meet its aim of eradicating illiteracy in a society where girls’ education is not a priority.

In 2021, the Government allowed more year groups to resume their education. Willow School was open from Primary 3 to Primary 6. However, from June 2021 Uganda went back into National lockdown and this meant schools were again closed. To counteract this, the Government advised children to continue learning through television and radio programmes providing teaching and learning materials.

To ensure our children do not miss out on valuable learning time, we mobilised resources and partnered with other stakeholders (parents, church leaders, local community leaders and clan leaders) in the community and conduced community outdoor learning programs where children gather in small groups to attend learning.

Our teachers were out in the community to supervise those older children who can learn through radios that are were available in community. Some of our teachers are also reading to and teaching the younger children.

The main focus in 2022 was on developing and implementing our teaching and learning policy. We ensured our teachers had training to support teaching and learning the English Language.

In the same year, we turned our community library into a temporary dormitory for the girls at the request of our parents. This meant our school attendance was regular (280) throughout the year. The children who would normally miss school due to inaccessible roads after a heavy rain benefited most. As a result there an overall progress in learning.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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Our volunteers are an integral part of REN Intl; their work is highly appreciated and they are from diverse backgrounds and they bring along rich professional experience.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

• policy on grantmaking;

• policy programme related investment;

• Contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D

Achievements andperformance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The project has endeavored to construct a Library but we prioritized a greater need for a Girls’ Dormitory as this ensured the girls stayed in school to complete their primary education and maintained consistency in school attendance. We recruited another qualified Teacher to reinforce the others previously employed. A lot of improvement in the academics area was visible and reflected in the Final Uganda Primary Leaving Examination of 2020 which was sat by 17 candidates. Another achievement that unfortunately didn’t last long or take root was the opening up of the Secondary Section. It started very well with 13 Students and 8 Teachers recruited for all the subjects as per the Ministry of Education and Sports standard. But due to Covid-19 and the 1stLockdown, they all had to return home. Due to these challenging circumstances the school management came to a decision that the Secondary Section would be financially draining as the money wasn’t at hand to sustain it and would therefore have to be closed. An unfortunate and painful decision but beyond our control and unforeseen. In the 1stLockdown of 2020, some staff members took advantage of the Covid-19 situation and invested their time to plant onions, cabbages, green Peppers and tomatoes in the school farm. This produced much needed food for the school, gained experience for many involved and also created some good team work opportunities. In the same year of 2020, the project managed to buy 2 sets of Double Decker (bunk) beds for the pupils and this brought in a lot of excitement as it’s the first of its kind in the School. To date we more double bunk beds for all our children in boarding facility. The project has constructed a temporary Kitchen and Stand for utensils. As a result of recruiting qualified Teachers to replace the non- qualified Teachers, the outcome is seen in the recent Final Uganda Primary Leaving Examination results. We are looking forward to improving on our results in the years to come. This is our target; with the team work we have, nothing is impossible. This was the second sitting since the school opened and our examination results managed to be the best school in Lii Sub – County. Willow School achieved a very high success rate. The School bought more furniture for sitting for the pupils. Also some chairs for the staff and office furniture as well.

Section E Financial review

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Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

REN Intl does not have any policy financial reserves.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

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;

• investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Against the backdrop of limited resources and insecurities over funding, it has continued to be difficult to plan or develop services on a long term base. Nevertheless the charity, with the aid of sound financial management, the generous supporters through monthly standing order donations and regular fundraising projects have enabled REN Intl to continue its fundamental work in ensuring the vulnerable children of rural Northern Uganda receive an education. Standing orders remain our principle funding source as Covid 19 impact has meant schools have been in lockdown for most of the year 2020 and fundraising were restricted.

Our main expenditure has been on meeting the aims and objectives which were to raise funds to drill a bore hole, constructing classroom blocks and girls’ and boys’ dormitory. And most importantly ensuring the overall running cost were met including payment of teachers’ wages each month.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	Moreen Pattison
	Moreen Pattison
	Chairperson
	02/02/2024

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Income and Expenditure - REN Rural Education Network (REN) For the 9 months ended 31 December 2022 Prepared by Tori Taneka Accountancy

Contents

• 3 Income and Expenditure

Income and Expenditure - REN Rural Education Network (REN)

20 Mar 2024 Page 2 of 3

Income and Expenditure

Rural Education Network (REN)

For the 9 months ended 31 December 2022

		APR-DEC 2022
Income
Income: Corporate		8,115.64
Income: Individuals		1,670.00
Income: Other		5.00
Total Income		9,790.64
Expenditure
Building Material		400.00
Stationery		250.00
Telephone & Internet Subsistence Teachers Salaries Subscriptions Advertising & Marketing Total Expenditure Net Loss FINAL		20.00 250.00 9,330.00 42.13 80.00 10,372.13 (581.49)

Income and Expenditure - REN Rural Education Network (REN)

20 Mar 2024 Page 3 of 3