THE FURSA TRUST Giving hope and dreams a reality ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024 ,1) . l*. •1, li
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT WHY FURSA? OUR VISION, OUR MISSION WHAT WE DO OUR CORE BELIEFS DEFINE HOW WE WORK AND WHAT WE DO WHY A CLUB? THE YEAR IN REVIEW
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★ The Holiday Club
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★ Trips and Outings
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★ Fursa Children In Service To Others ★ Parents = Partners
★ Our Impact THE FURSA TEAM IN KENYA 2023/2024 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FUNDRAISING LOOKING AHEAD ABOUT US
INTRODUCTION
The Fursa Trust is registered in the UK and works directly with local community organisations in Kenya, providing strategic, operational and financial support to meet our aims and objectives as described in this report. The Report is an obligation to the Charity Commission, but it is also an opportunity for us to share our journey and our progress with our partners and donors - past, present and future! Read on and thank you for your support!
CHAIRPERSON'S STATEMENT
I am full of gratitude sharing the Fursa Trust Annual Report for 2023/2024—a snapshot of the journey we’re taking together to engender opportunity and hope in children in Deep Sea slum, Nairobi, Kenya. Since we began in 2019, we have grown from supporting 12 children to reaching 65 this year. Each number represents a story of resilience, growth, and celebration made possible through our Afterschool, Saturday and Holiday Clubs, the partnership of parents, and the dedication of our Team and community. This year, we look to the future with excitement as we prepare to expand our reach through a new Resource Centre, continuing our mission to ensure every child has the chance to dream and thrive. Thank you for standing with us. Your support, belief, and generosity are transforming lives and building brighter futures for children in need.
RUHI MORBIWALLA The Fursa Trust Chairperson
WHY FURSA?
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The Fursa Trust believes that all children deserve a life of choice and opportunity, regardless of their circumstances. Fursa empowers children who are marginalised, to break free from poverty and discrimination in the most vulnerable living .
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conditions in Kenya. We are currently working in a forgotten slum in Nairobi called Deep Sea
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Fursa means “opportunity” in Kiswahili.
Deep Sea is a very densely populated environment. Children and their families live in rudimentary iron sheet dwellings that lack very basic amenities like running water, electricity, or drains. They live in rooms without windows, bathroom or kitchen. Eclipsed by other larger slums, Deep Sea is not on the radar of big charities. The Fursa Trust originated within the community itself, and we provide support through helpful empowerment & educational provision from the local community, rather than an external one-size-fits-all charity model.
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OUR VISION
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The Fursa Trust is committed to creating a world where all children, regardless of their background and circumstance, can lead a life of choice and opportunity. OUR MISSION
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We support underserved children in Kenya to build skills and confidence, enabling them to access better lives.
WHAT WE DO
The Fursa Trust in the UK provides a programme of support to children and their families that is delivered by our partner organisation in Kenya. This programme of support is built on creating a place of safety and belonging, centred around our Clubs and support to families
The Afterschool Club supports students academically, socially and emotionally (help with homework and school work, mentoring, life skills, etc.), providing a safe and welcoming environment for children to come to after school every day. On our Funday Fridays, children participate in games and debates that promote communication and critical thinking. Peer to peer learning boosts confidence and community, and individual children can get help with specific areas and topics where they are struggling to understand in school. Our Saturday and Holiday Clubs provide a fun and enriching environment for children to develop, learn, and imagine their future, including trips to parks and museums, meeting mentors, and inspirational community members and professionals from different fields, taking part in engaging goal setting and creative activities and performances, etc.
P arents and guardians of children attending the Fursa Clubs attend regular (monthly) meetings and workshops that build community and offer training in relevant subjects such as child development, nutrition, household and small business finances, etc. The Fursa Trust assists families with finding funding for secondary school tuition fees and other adhoc costs relating to their education. The Trust has a small Resource for providing grants directly and also builds connections with organisations and funders in Kenya and beyond to provide this support. Adhoc support in response to major health or other crises that impact directly on our families, where possible developing links with community leaders and other service providers with expertise in these areas. Fundraising , primarily in the UK and Kenya, to ensure sustainable financing to support all our activities in Kenya.
- OUR CORE BELIEFS DEFINE HOW WE WORK AND WHAT WE DO
Children are at the heart of our work, and all that we do is focused first and foremost on children within the community. Building self-esteem, aspiration, and the skills and confidence to work with others are crucial ingredients that enable and enhance academic achievement. Academic success creates opportunity in Kenya; access to better secondary schools depends on achievement at primary school level. Parents and guardians are essential partners in the work of The Fursa Trust and we all share accountability for their children’s development and growth. Volunteers who share Fursa’s values and who are committed to our vision and mission bring diversity and experience and help us achieve our objectives.
The Fursa model is scalable through the training and empowerment of local program providers.
WHY A CLUB?
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It’s not safe to be a child in the slum; there is little to no lighting after dark, alcohol and drugs are rife and incidents of violence and abuse are commonplace. While the parents are out working and sometimes return late, an after-school club provides the assurance that their children are safe and cared for.
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● Most of our children are in classes of 50 or more students at school; teachers are under pressure to get through the curriculum and students that fall behind have little chance of ever catching up. From year 4 (around 11 years old) all classes are taught in English and so children struggling with English as a second language are even more challenged in all their subjects.
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● A Club provides an opportunity for more personalised learning in a supportive community. We do not replicate school. Instead we can respond to individual students and assess where each child might need help with their studies.
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● A Club offers a safe space where children can talk about difficult things they’re facing. While children can be exposed to violence at home, illnesses or addictions, we are there to listen to them and offer a space where they can talk without shame and feel supported, taking care of their social and emotional well being.
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● We provide all our students with a snack each day, to ensure that children receive adequate nutrition to promote their overall health and well-being, to improve focus and concentration during our activities, positively influencing academic performance and skill development and to boost attendance and consistent participation in educational and extracurricular activities. During holidays, when schools are closed, Fursa provides all our students with a nutritious lunch. And we celebrate birthdays each month with a cake and singing - small actions that show we care for each and every child, we celebrate their lives and we are with them as they grow.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Our programme of support continues to grow and reach more children in Deep Sea. From 12 children in 2019, a total of 65 children were enrolled in Fursa in January 2024; 27 in Primary and Junior Secondary schools (grades 4-8) and 38 in Senior Secondary schools. Our After school and Saturday Clubs continued to be a hubbub of activity and learning. Regular attendance was above 80% and In a student satisfaction survey, 96% said that coming to Fursa improves how they feel about going to school. Children told us that since coming to Fursa they felt their study performance in subjects at school, work habits and time management at school, working in a team, behaviour and confidence had improved. Specific examples include The Fursa Club supported 11 children in their “candidate improvements in certain subjects, particularly maths and year”, preparing for the end of year KCPE (Kenya Certificate English/reading, improved friendships and taking care in of Primary Education) exams in November 2023, and choosing friend groups, and behaviour.
The Fursa Club supported 11 children in their “candidate year”, preparing for the end of year KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) exams in November 2023, and worked with the children and their families to prepare them to join secondary school in January. Fursa was able to find funders to support each and every one of them into secondary school in January 2024. The Fursa Trust assists with finding funds to cover secondary school tuition, and uniforms and bedding, and their families contribute other costs such as books and transport.
THE HOLIDAY CLUB
Holidays this year were back to normal this year, after the condensed school years following COVID. More than half of the children in Fursa are boarding in secondary schools, and holidays bring energy and excitement, as well as extra demands on the team to help the children and their parents cope with the challenges of adolescence. The Holiday Club focuses on life skills and learning through fun activities, with sessions on a variety of subjects from cooking to conflict resolution, and from establishing personal boundaries to effective communication. With all our students in attendance during the holidays, we now have to split the group and hold sessions in the morning and afternoon. In addition to these organized activities, the Fursa Club opened in the mornings during the holidays for secondary students to bring their holiday work and specific needs, supported by our volunteer university undergraduates and graduates. The Cheza Cheza Dance Foundation in Kibera, came to Deep Sea to work with Fursa children during the holidays, building confidence and wellbeing through dance. The Fursa children welcomed children from Cheza Cheza to their end of year Talent Show, and Cheza Cheza reciprocated, inviting Fursa to Kibera, where they met other children and participated in their annual celebration, promoting social exchange and friendship and building confidence. The end of year Talent Show was an opportunity for the children to express themselves through dance, fashion, spoken word, and short plays, all created and choreographed by the children themselves.
- TRIPS AND OUTINGS “Fursa” means opportunity in Kiswahili. Most children in the slum have little hope and struggle to envision a better future. They are focused on surviving, day to day. This is why we invite special guests to come and talk to them, and also run trips that expose children to different environments and help them imagine a world and a life beyond the confines of the slum. Play is acknowledged more and more as an important part of a child's development. Deep Sea Slum has no green spaces and very few open spaces for children to play safely. Poverty in Deep Sea is acute and parents do not have the resources to finance visits and trips. These opportunities can open young people’s eyes and minds to new worlds, taking children out of their comfort zone and builds a sense of possibility and confidence in them. We always plan trips during the Holiday period to ensure secondary students can be included and to enable the group to be all together. An outdoor fun day at the Nairobi Arboretum: an afternoon or play, games and shared time to enjoy in the beautiful In June, the children visited the Kenyan cultural centre and historical setting of the Nairobi Arboretum (Bomas)and learned about the rich and diverse cultures
In June, the children visited the Kenyan cultural centre (Bomas)and learned about the rich and diverse cultures of Kenya, including reconstructed villages, traditional performances and dances. For our children, this was an opportunity to learn about the cultures and traditions of their own families and each other.
FURSA CHILDREN IN SERVICE TO OTHERS In October, all the children from the Afterschool Club and our Volunteers participated in the Be Bold Go Gold 5km Fun Run in aid of the Faraja Cancer Support Trust, a Nairobi based charity that supports cancer sufferers in Kenya. The children and team all rose to the challenge to complete the run, helping each other across the finish line. In November, Fursa girls from Junior Secondary school and Form 1 made a visit to Kamae Borstal Girls Institute based at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison to run a joint career day event together with Nafisika Trust , an organisation that works to empower and support the inmates to transform and have skills that will enable then to reintegrate with their communities after they leave prison. The event brought together different professionals ranging from Lawyers, IT professionals, hairdressers, Teachers, Counselling Psychologists etc. The Fursa kids and the 'Smart Dadas' (the friendly term used at the prison to refer to the inmates) got an opportunity to ask questions and learn about many different career options they can pursue after secondary school.
It was not only a chance to learn from the professionals; the students also got a chance to make friends, learn from each other and appreciate the different realities that their different environments present. “ My greatest memory was when the Fursa teens mentioned how grateful they felt to have their freedom despite the living conditions at home being so challenging ” (Fursa volunteer)
PARENTS = PARTNERS The Fursa Trust recognises the vital role that parents and guardians play in a child’s development, and parents are key partners in our work. Empowering parents empower the children. When a child joins the Club, we visit their family to understand their personal situation, how they think, and their struggles. This is crucial to understand the context in which the child is living, in order to better help them. We help parents make the best of the resources they have; we offer workshops on how to manage their finances, how to maximise nutrition within their budget. We inform parents about child development and share information about parenting skills and how they can support and encourage their children
This year our parent meetings have provided a continued space for parents to share experiences, troubles and concerns - around peer pressure, drug use, pregnancy, and behavioural challenges. Parent meetings are also an opportunity for parents to meet the volunteers and teachers that come regularly to the Club and to hear how their children are progressing in the Club and ways they can support them.
OUR IMPACT
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Over 4 years, we have grown from serving 12 to 65 children ● 38 Fursa students have graduated to secondary school; 7 are supported by national scholarship schemes; the remaining 31 attend secondary school owing to funding facilitated by TFT.
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● 96% of students say that coming to Fursa has improved how they feel about school; examples include improvements in academics, behaviour, and social interactions. Children note improved interactions with people, standing up against bullying, teamwork, responsibility, and better performance in subjects like Maths and English.
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● 100% of the young people shared that attending Fursa makes them feel good, happy, comfortable, and secure.
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● 100% of Fursa students would recommend Fursa to their friends, highlighting the positive impact the club has had on their lives.
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THE FURSA TRUST TEAM IN KENYA
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to them all; their generosity of spirit and care in helping the children of Deep Sea are the backbone of the Fursa Trust in Kenya. The Fursa Trust supports the Kenya team with a number of professional development initiatives to ensure the quality of support. In 2023/24 this included a training on the new Kenya Competency Based Curriculum, facilitated by a representative from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
The Fursa Trust Kenya is registered as a company limited by guarantee since July 2021. There are three non-executive directors (one resident in Kenya and two resident in England) and two permanent staff members, Emily A’chieng and Sharon Emma Chepkemoi, responsible for the day to day running of the club. They are supported by a team of volunteers, many of whom have worked with Fursa for several years. These volunteers include retired teachers, educators and university students, many of whom are from within Deep Sea themselves. The children benefit from working with a diverse and caring community that brings new experiences and different perspectives into their lives, and Fursa provides important opportunities for our volunteers to grow and develop new skills while giving back to the community.
“ This training [on the CBC] not only enhanced our ability to support the children academically but also allowed us to be a part of their journey in discovering and nurturing their unique talents. I am excited to see the positive impact this will have on their futures.” (Fursa Coordinator) Funding from MFF supported three unique and innovative training and support sessions from an experienced child counsellor; two sessions for the Fursa Team and one parenting session for the parents. The sessions covered child social and emotional development, mental health, relationships, managing stress, and parenting strategies.
“ The [training on] mental health relationships and how to handle teenagers was amazing the way madam Esther made everything look simple it was the best I have ever had in a lifetime ” (Volunteer) Our Club coordinator participated in a training on monitoring and evaluation, and the team received mentoring on strategic planning. We are grateful for the additional opportunities for support created by funding from the Merck Family Foundation.
SUPPORT TO THE FURSA TEAM UK The Fursa Trust UK Trustees benefitted hugely from the generous contribution that people made of their time over this period. Special thanks to Emma Recknell and Zainab Mustafa provided invaluable support with developing our website and social media policies and raising our profile in the UK, as well as supporting the team in Kenya develop their social media skills and strategy. And thanks also to Aalia Sheikh Nabi for supporting us with branding and graphic design. SUPPORT TO FURSA IN KENYA In Kenya, A&K continue to support us with pro-bono legal support and PKF have provided pro-bono financial and accounting support since our first Audited accounts submitted in 2022. We are deeply grateful for this support and the confidence that it brings to our operations and compliance requirements.
On the International women’s day the Fursa Team in Kenya joined female leaders in the field of education to share knowledge and learn from each other. “This experience was transformative for me. It not only broadened my understanding of integrating technology in education but also reinforced my commitment to creating learner-centered programs. I am eager to continue implement these ideas at Fursa Trust, ensuring that we continue to provide innovative and effective learning experiences for the children we support.” (Club Coordinator)
- 2023/2024 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
INCOME & EXPENDITURE - APRIL 2023-MARCH 2024 In July 2023, The Fursa Trust in Kenya received a significant grant from the Merck Family Foundation, supporting a proportion of core costs and the extension of the resource centre in Deep Sea. In addition, funding for 27 students for secondary school from a donor in the U.S. was sent directly to The Fursa Trust in Kenya where previously it passed through the Fursa Trust in England. As a result, expenses incurred by the Fursa Trust UK were just £14,174 and we have been able to build up reserves towards expanding both in Deep Sea when the new centre opens, and beyond.
Reserves Policy: The CIO aims to maintain a reserve fund equivalent to 12 months of operating expenses to ensure financial stability and mitigate risks. This reserve will be kept in liquid, low-risk assets and reviewed annually to ensure it remains adequate for the organisation's needs. There are no risks about the charity continuing as a going concern
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising has continued to focus on building up a core of individual and corporate friends of Fursa making smaller or larger donations. Regular donations from Friends of Fursa create the security we need to allow our Kenya partner organization to employ staff and invest in their development which is so crucial to support children and families in Deep Sea. As we look ahead to growing our presence, both in Deep Sea and beyond, during the coming year we will be focusing on developing a fundraising strategy that supports sustainable growth.We have been growing our presence and following on Social Media, and our team in Kenya has been supported by volunteers in England to develop skills in storytelling and we have started to work with a UK-based production company and a Kenya-based video company to support our fundraising efforts with compelling storytelling through photos and film.
LOOKING AHEAD
Expansion plans! Thanks to a grant by the Merck Family Foundation and support from a Nairobi based construction company, The Fursa Trust, Kenya have embarked on a significant expansion of our Resource Centre. The expansion will more than triple the physical space available to Fursa and we have been working closely with an architect to bring our vision to life. The new space includes a permanent office space for a community women-led organization, as well as an expanded learning centre for Fursa, with access to external space, a computer/IT centre, a library, an office and counselling area, and one large learning area that can be divided using partitions. The downstairs area can be used by a local preschool during the day. It can also be available for community meetings and parent meetings and workshops out of these hours. The upstairs area can be used for IT and Employability training for school leavers during term time. The whole area will be used for Fursa’s Afterschool Club and Holiday Club to expand our offering both in terms of the number of young people we can serve and the range of support and choice we can offer.
Architect’s vision for the new building
- ABOUT US The Fursa Trust is a registered charitable incorporated organization, governed by a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Foundation Constitution. The only voting members are the CIO’s charity trustees. Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. In all our activities, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit The Fursa Trust was registered with the UK Charities Commission in December 2019. STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE The Fursa Trust is governed by a board of Trustees. Trustees are recruited based on a skills audit overseen by the Board chair. Each new Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Board of Trustees. OUR TRUSTEES Ruhi Morbiwalla (Chair)
Marc Hersheson Sarah Gabay Phillida Chenevix Trench Mitali Kelly Registered Address: 13a Acol Rd, London NW6 3AA Charity Number: 1186991
- Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
This Annual Report has been approved by the Board of Trustees on 22 January 2025, and signed on their behalf by: ........................... Ruhi Morbiwalla, Trustee and ` ........................... Phillida Chenevix Trench, Trustee www.thefursatrust.org
| The Fursa Trust |
The Fursa Trust |
The Fursa Trust |
The Fursa Trust |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
Period start date 01/04/2023 |
To |
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| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| A1 Receipts Donations and Grants 29,284 - - - - - - - 29,284 - - Sub total - Total receipts 29,284 A3 Payments Charitable activities 5,413 Prepayment to The Fursa Trust Kenya 4,674 Governance costs 1,865 - - - - - Sub total 11,952 - - Sub total - Total payments 11,952 Net of receipts/(payments) 17,332 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 41,257 Cash funds this year end 58,589 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ 6,896 - - - - - - - 6,896 - - - 6,896 - 6,896 - - - - - - - 6,896 - - - 6,896 - - - - Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
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| - - - - - - - - - |
36,180 - - - - - - - 36,180 |
35,633 | |||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 35,633 | |||||
| - - - |
- - - |
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| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 36,180 | |||||
| - | 35,633 | ||||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
- 12,309 4,674 1,865 - - - - - 18,848 |
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| 25,200 | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 25,200 | |||||
| - - - |
- - - |
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| - | |||||
| - | 18,848 | 25,200 | |||
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17,332 - 41,257 58,589 |
10,433 | |||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 41,257 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details Current Account Savings Account Details Prepayment to The Fursa Trust Kenya Details None Details None Details None Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ 8,589 50,000 - 58,589 OK to nearest £ 4,674 - - - - - Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
to nearest £ - - - - OK to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds Restricted funds Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | ||||
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
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| None | - | |||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - |
Notes to the accounts
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1 The trustees voted to prepare the accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis for 2023/24 No adjustments were required to be made to the 2022/23 accounts.
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2 The prepayment outstanding at the year end with The Fursa Trust Kenya was a restricted grant. This funding issue was discharged during 24/25.
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3 Financial activity shown in the bank statements but subquently reversed have been excluded from the transactions shown in the receipts and payments accounts.
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature | Print Name Ruhi Morbiwalla Philidda Chenevix Trench |
Date of approval |
|---|---|---|
| Ruhi Morbiwalla | 13/01/2024 | |
| Philidda Chenevix Trench | 13/01/2024 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ The Fursa Trust members of On accounts for the year 31/03/2024 Charity no 1186991 ended (if any)
Set out on pages Sections A and B below
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Andy Moore Date: 23/1/25 Name: Andrew Moore FFA Retired Blaenpentre, Swyddffyonn, Ystrad Meurig, SY25 6AW Address: