2025-01-31-accounts - Medcare Appeal

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MedCare Appeal – Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 January 2025 Introduction and Trustee Statement

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I present the annual report for MedCare Appeal (charity registration no. 1188944), covering the financial year 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2025. This year, we expanded our humanitarian reach beyond Pakistan to include underserved communities in Gujarat, India, marking a new milestone for our charity. Building on last year’s momentum, we delivered a similar volume of aid — roughly one tonne (1,000 kg) of donated medical supplies and used clothing — to vulnerable populations in both countries. Throughout the year, we remained true to our volunteer-led model: the charity operated with no bank account and no cash transactions, relying entirely on in-kind donations and volunteer efforts. The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when planning and carrying out our work, ensuring that all activities directly further our charitable purposes and benefit the public.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the donors, volunteers, and partner organizations who made these achievements possible. In particular, we thank the individuals and groups in the UK who donated surplus medical supplies and gently used clothing, as well as supporters who assisted with packing and logistics. The dedication and generosity of these supporters enabled MedCare Appeal to improve the quality of life for many families and patients in Pakistan and India this year. As a fully volunteerrun charity, we take pride in making a meaningful impact with minimal resources, and we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and compassion in all our efforts.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees, Hassan Yaqoob , Chair of the Board of Trustees

Charity Objectives and Purpose

MedCare Appeal’s core objective is the relief of sickness and the preservation of health among people in need. We pursue this aim primarily by collecting donated medical and surgical supplies, as well as used clothing, and distributing these resources to underserved communities. Our focus during 2024/25 remained on Pakistan and India, where many patients and families struggle to access basic healthcare items and adequate clothing. By redirecting surplus goods from the UK to those who need them most, the charity works to improve health outcomes and ease the burden on vulnerable individuals.

This objective aligns with MedCare Appeal’s governing document as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which confirms our commitment to supporting healthcare in vulnerable communities. The trustees regularly review our aims and

activities to ensure they deliver public benefit in accordance with Charity Commission guidance. By providing donated supplies and clothing at no cost to recipients, we directly further our charitable purpose and provide tangible benefits to the public in the communities we serve.

Activities and Impact

During the year 2024/25, MedCare Appeal carried out a range of activities in pursuit of its charitable objectives. These efforts had a direct positive impact on beneficiaries in both Pakistan and India, demonstrating the effectiveness of our in-kind donation model. Key activities and their outcomes are highlighted below:

Collection of Donated Supplies and Clothing: We gathered a broad range of donated goods in the UK, including medical and surgical supplies (such as ostomy appliances and wound care materials) and, for the first time, used clothing for distribution. Donations came from generous individual supporters (including members of patient support groups) and through community collection drives. All contributions were inkind; the charity did not solicit or receive any monetary donations during the year. By collecting these surplus or gently-used items that might otherwise go to waste, we amassed significant resources to assist those less fortunate abroad.

Shipments to Pakistan and India (~1,000 kg Total): Over the course of the year, we organized multiple shipments of the donated goods to our target regions. In total, approximately one tonne (1,000 kilograms) of medical supplies and clothing was shipped overseas – a volume comparable to the previous year’s effort, but now reaching beneficiaries in two countries. Shipments were sent to Pakistan as well as to the state of Gujarat in India, marking our first delivery of aid to India. Volunteers and supporters generously handled or sponsored the packing, freight, and customs processes so that the charity did not incur direct expenses or need to handle cash for these logistics. All shipments were arranged outside of traditional procurement channels, leveraging donated goods and services without any use of a charity bank account.

Distribution and Beneficiary Impact: The donated medical supplies were distributed to hospitals, clinics, and individual patients in Pakistan, while the clothing donations were allocated to impoverished families in both Pakistan and India. Through these combined efforts, our aid reached a broad spectrum of vulnerable recipients – from patients in need of specific health items (such as urine bags and dressings) to families lacking basic necessities of life. In total, well over one hundred individuals benefited directly from MedCare Appeal’s support during the year. Entire families experienced relief thanks to the clothing donations, and healthcare facilities serving low-income communities were able to provide better care using the supplied medical materials. By relieving financial burdens on these service users and improving their quality of life, we made a meaningful difference in each locality we served.

Overall, the above activities have significantly advanced our charitable aims this year. By transforming surplus supplies and second-hand clothing from the UK into life-saving and dignity-restoring resources for underserved communities, we made strong progress toward our mission. The trustees consider this a successful outcome and are encouraged by the positive feedback received – beneficiaries reported improved wellbeing and reduced financial strain as a result of our support. We will continue to gather feedback to measure our impact and refine our approach. Building on this year’s experience, we plan to further increase both the volume of donations collected and the number of individuals and families we can assist in the coming years.

Financial Review

Accounting Basis (In-Kind Support Only): Throughout the 2024/25 financial year, MedCare Appeal did not handle any cash income or expenditure. The charity continued to operate on a receipts-and-payments accounting basis, but since all support was provided in-kind, the accounts for the year show zero monetary receipts and zero payments (as was the case in the prior year). No grants were received, and no fundraising involving cash donations was conducted during the period. Any incidental expenses associated with our activities (for example, shipping or customs fees) were covered directly by a trustee or supporter outside of the charity’s books, meaning the charity itself did not disburse any funds.

No Bank Account in Use: As in previous years, the charity had no bank account open during 2024/25. All incoming resources were in the form of physical goods, and any necessary services or related costs were donated in-kind or paid directly by volunteers on the charity’s behalf. Consequently, there were no financial transactions flowing through a bank or the charity’s records in this period. This frugal approach ensured that 100% of the charity’s resources (the donated supplies and services) went directly to its charitable activities.

Regulatory Compliance: With no cash income, the charity’s gross income remained £0 – well below the threshold requiring an independent examination or audit of the accounts. The trustees have prepared the required financial statements (a simple receipts-and-payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities), which show a nil balance carried forward since no funds were held. This Trustees’ Annual Report, together with those statements, will be submitted to the Charity Commission in accordance with our obligations as a registered CIO. The trustees are satisfied that this financial report provides a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities (or lack thereof) for the year. We also confirm that no trustee received any remuneration or personal benefit from the charity, and no donations were made to any persons or organizations with close ties to the trustees.

Governance and Trustees

Organisational Structure: MedCare Appeal is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under the foundation model, meaning the trustees collectively form the membership of the charity. The Board of Trustees is the governing body and is responsible for all strategic decisions and oversight of the charity’s operations. Per our constitution, any appointment of new trustees must be approved by a majority of the existing board. In practice, the trustees managed all activities and ensured compliance with our charitable objectives and regulatory requirements throughout the year. The charity has no paid staff; all tasks and services in 2024/25 were carried out by the trustees themselves alongside a small team of volunteers. This volunteer-led structure keeps administrative costs minimal and allows us to maximize our direct impact on beneficiaries.

Trustees Serving During 2024/25: The Board comprised the following three trustees, who served throughout the financial year (with no changes in trusteeship during the period):

Mr. Hassan Yaqoob – Chair of the Board (and acting Treasurer)
Mrs. Zaiba Tallat – Trustee
Dr. Raisa Zanib Khan – Trustee

Each of the above trustees continued in the role from the previous year and contributed significantly to the charity’s activities. For example, Mr. Yaqoob oversaw financial record-keeping and international shipping arrangements; Mrs. Tallat coordinated the collection of donations in the UK and managed donor relationships; and Dr. Khan liaised with healthcare contacts in Pakistan and India to facilitate distribution of the supplies. All trustees carried out their duties on a completely voluntary basis and received no remuneration or benefits. The Board met regularly (often via online meetings and frequent communications) to plan initiatives and monitor progress. The trustees confirm that no conflicts of interest arose during the year, and that MedCare Appeal complied with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including timely filings with the Charity Commission.

Plans for the Future

Looking ahead, the trustees have identified several priorities to strengthen and expand MedCare Appeal’s impact in the coming year (2025/26) and beyond:

Opening a Charity Bank Account: Establishing a dedicated bank account for the charity is a top priority. Having a bank account will enable MedCare Appeal to handle monetary donations and expenditures in a transparent, accountable manner as we grow. This step will allow us to gradually complement our in-kind support model with the ability to accept financial contributions (where appropriate), while maintaining strong financial controls.
Registering for Gift Aid: The trustees plan to register MedCare Appeal with HM Revenue & Customs for the Gift Aid scheme once a bank account is in place. Gift Aid will allow us to reclaim an extra 25% on eligible donations from UK taxpayers, increasing the value of any future cash contributions at no additional cost to donors. Access to this scheme should modestly boost our funding capacity, providing resources to cover logistics expenses or to procure specific high-need medical items that are not readily donated in-kind.
Expanding Collection Efforts and Partnerships: Building on our current donor base, we aim to widen our collection network across the UK. This involves partnering with more hospitals, clinics, and patient support groups to source surplus medical supplies, as well as organizing clothing donation drives in additional communities. We will also enhance outreach through social media and local events to raise awareness of MedCare Appeal’s mission, attracting new donors and volunteers. By broadening our UK partnerships and volunteer network, we hope to increase the volume of donated goods and streamline the collection and packing process.
Reaching Additional Regions in Pakistan and India: We intend to extend the geographic reach of our aid within both countries. In Pakistan, the plan is to send supplies to healthcare facilities in additional provinces beyond our current distribution areas, so that more remote or underserved communities can benefit. In India, following our initial success in Gujarat, we will explore collaborations with organizations in other regions (for example, charitable hospitals or NGOs) to distribute medical supplies and clothing to those in need. Expanding into new areas will help MedCare Appeal assist a greater number of beneficiaries and respond to a wider range of local needs.
Sourcing High-Need Items: The charity recognizes that certain critical medical supplies or equipment (for instance, specialized ostomy appliances or other high-demand items) are not commonly obtained through our usual donation streams. Going forward, we will seek ways to source these high-need items for our beneficiaries. This may involve targeted appeals for specific goods or using any future monetary donations to purchase items that fill important gaps. By addressing these needs, we can offer more comprehensive support to the patients and communities we serve.

The trustees are confident that these initiatives will bolster MedCare Appeal’s capacity and sustainability. As we implement these plans, we remain committed to our founding principle: delivering health and hope to those who need it most. By improving our infrastructure (through banking and Gift Aid registration) and expanding both our donor network and our beneficiary outreach, we aim to help even more people in the coming

years while upholding our values of transparency and volunteer-driven service. We look forward to reporting on further progress and positive outcomes in next year’s report.