Afghan Sports Trust (AST) Annual Report 05[th] April 2023 to 04[th] April 2024 Registered Charity Number: 1189138
Annual Report Supporting Notes
1. Objectives & Activities
1.1 Our Mission Statement
The Afghan Sports Trust provides grants for grassroots sports organisations and sports clubs in Afghanistan.
“Sports is a cost-effective and powerful tool for promoting important human values such as respect for rules and for others, teamwork, discipline, diversity, hospitality and empathy.” – UN Sustainable Development goal 3
People will often think of Afghanistan as a place of instability, conflict, or poverty. But it is also a country with a long history, great beauty, and incredible generosity. Too often we only hear one side of the story, and it’s important to try to locate and create positive stories, a sense of pride, and a way for people to enjoy themselves together. Sport can provide all those things.
1.2 Summary of Activities
The Afghan Sports Trust (AST) is a charity that supports local sports clubs and groups in Afghanistan. We also aid Afghans who have migrated after the 2021 political change and are using sport to adjust to their new environments. In addition, we can help Afghans overseas who are engaged in sports projects in Afghanistan or for Afghan communities in transition. We give financial assistance to both groups and individuals who are eligible.
We are pleased to have been able to provide grants and disbursements to several projects, individuals and other registered charity partners on behalf. This included
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Afghan Peaks Charity
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Kabul Equal NGO
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Free to Run NGO
1 Afghan Sports Trust (AST) – Annual Report 5[th] April 2023 – 4[th] April 2024
- Various projects in Afghanistan which have supported Cycling, Table Tennis, Skiing, Parkour, Cross Fit, Yoga and Martial Arts
1.3 Regard to public benefit
Sports activities generate individual benefit with regards to physical and mental health and provide for societal change. The distribution of smallscale grants to grassroots sports movements and clubs built the foundation for greater access to sports for the general public, and more specifically vulnerable groups such as women and youth.
2. Achievements and Performance
The Afghan Sports Trust established itself as a reliable organisational structure to which sports movements, organisations and clubs tendered for support and served as platform for information sharing and networking.
The organisations receiving funding support from the Afghan Sports Trust represent a diverse range of sports activities, including winter and summer sports. Activities are not planned only in the capital Kabul, but in several provinces in the country, assuring a decentralised approach for greater impact.
Note: Writing this report in February 2025, it can be acknowledged that since August 2021, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there have been significant changes for organisations and individuals operating in the country, including the recipients and final beneficiaries of the Afghan Sports Trust.
3. Financial Review
3.1 Income
We have received income of £8,482 of which £8,482 was unrestricted.
-
Income during the year was received primarily from:
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Fundraising collaboration with our Charity partners ‘Secret Marathon’
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Funds received via individual donations
3.2 Expenditure
The AST distributed grants to a number of projects, charity partners and individuals. In total we issued grants amounting to £11,909.
3.3 Year End Balance
2 Afghan Sports Trust (AST) – Annual Report 5[th] April 2023 – 4[th] April 2024
The balances at the end of the reporting period are £15,367 all unrestricted. The unrestricted amount has continued to be used to fund grassroot sports projects whilst the restricted funds of £3,193 earmarked for the next Marathon of Afghanistan event have been unrestricted by unanimous decision of the trustees due the insurmountable obstacle the Taliban regime currently represent over the running of the event.
3.4 Additional items
No additional items to note.
4. Structure, Governance and Management
4.1 Type of Governing Document: CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 20 Apr 2020
4.2 How the charity is constituted: Charity Incorporated Organisation
4.3 Trustee selection methods
Every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees
5. Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | AfghanSportsTrust(AST) |
|---|---|
| Registered charity number |
1189138 |
| Charity’s principal address |
5a Pipers Avenue HARPENDEN AL51HB |
| Website | www.afghansportstrust.org |
6. Charity Details
| Name | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JamesBingham | Chairman | |
| JulianeWeymann | Trustee | |
| Keith MacIntosh | Trustee | |
| IanO’Toole | Treasurer | ResignedFebruary2024 |
| ZeinabRezaie | Trustee | |
| StefanoFranzoso | Treasurer | AppointedDecember 2023 |
3 Afghan Sports Trust (AST) – Annual Report 5[th] April 2023 – 4[th] April 2024
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Name: Stefano Franzoso Position: Treasurer Date: 04 February 2025
4 Afghan Sports Trust (AST) – Annual Report 5[th] April 2023 – 4[th] April 2024
Afghan Sports Trust
Statement of Financial Activities (Income & Expense) April 6, 2023 to April 5, 2024
| Income Income and Endowments Total Income Expenses Expenditure Total Expenses Net Resource movement Transfers between funds Net movements in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
£ Unrestricted 8,482.13 8,482.13 (11,909.15) (11,909.15) (3,427.02) 3,193.03 (233.99) 15,600.73 15,366.74 |
£ Restricted (3,193.03) |
£ Endowment |
|---|---|---|---|
£
Total
8,482.13 8,482.13
(11,909.15) (11,909.15)
(3,427.02)
(233.99)
15,600.73 15,366.74
Afghan Sports Trust
Charity Commission Registration Number 1189138 Balance Sheet - Detail As at April 5, 2024
| Current Assets Cash At Bank and in Hand Net Assets Funds & reserves Restricted funds Unrestricted General Funds Funds Provided |
£ 15,366.74 |
|---|---|
| 15,366.74 - 15,366.74 |
|
| 15,366.74 |