Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/01/2024 Period start date To Period end date
31.12.2024
Charity name: The Happiness Project Ghana
Charity registration number: 1190295
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | 1. Advancing the education of the pupils at Kankaboom Children’s School by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for education 2. Helping to prevent or relieve poverty in Ghana, West Africa by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and all the necessary support designed to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be selfsufficient 3. Creating a world in which all children are free to develop and flourish. Helping to shape a society in which all children have access to education and medical care. 4. Supporting families struggling with various challenges and give them the assistance they need to encourage self- sustainability |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The charity supports the community through: -High quality educationfrom kindergarten 1&2 till basic 3 in Kankaboom Children’s School which is built by the charity and is regularly adjusted to meet the needs of our students, staff and the local community.- -Family social supportto encourage families to help themselves in the long run, e.g., by us providing microgrants, loans, or resources to start businesses to support their own families in the future. -medical care for families in rural communities(after assessment and if logistically and financially possible) to provide transportation to hospital assist in purchasing treatments to most common illnesses. Where possible the Happiness Project Ghana will |
| take community members to the hospital and covers their costs as well as educating them on how to spot symptoms in the future and the importance of health care. The charity also organises clinics to be run through the community to test community members for illnesses such as HIV, Malaria or Diabetes for free and provide treatment if tested positive. -Guaranteed free medical insurance, for students and staff of Kankaboom Childrens’s School: Which does not cover all treatment/medication but does reduce the cost of most. The cost of medical insurance for a child is £2.50 per year. Every student is enrolled in the Ghanaian medical insurance system. -_Implemented feeding_programwhich guarantees every student a healthy and nutritious lunch during the school day. -Constant access to clean drinking water for students and staff of Kankaboom Children’s School which is not accessible in rural communities. Clean drinking water protects our students and staff from water- borne diseases that can be fatal when ingested, such as typhoid, cholera, and Hepatitis A & E. The charity ensures, that the access to clean water is constantly given for our staff and students. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have been provided with access to the Public Benefit Guides produced by the Charity Commission |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Despite global economic pressures, The Happiness Project Ghana experienced a significant reduction in donation income during the reporting period. As a result, the organisation prioritised financial stability and was not able to expand the school facilities, register additional students or recruit new staff. While further expansion had originally been considered, it was determined that such developments would create an unsustainable financial burden. An important achievement during this period was therefore the charity’s ability to successfully maintain full school operations throughout the entire year. All enrolled children were able to continue attending school and participating in the full educational programme. In addition, all students and staff consistently received daily school meals. Despite the financial challenges, the organisation was able to retain all teaching staff, ensuring continuity and stability within the learning environment. The Summer School programme was also successfully continued and proved to be highly effective. The quality of education has improved significantly, and students’ learning outcomes are now comparable to those of public schools in Ghana. This progress is reflected in the positive results achieved in recent examinations. During the year, several small renovation and maintenance works were required as parts of the school infrastructure had been affected by extreme weather conditions. Repairs were carried out on the canteen area and on several school roofs to ensure the safety and functionality of the facilities. In order to ensure that all students could receive their school meals at the same time, an additional communal space was constructed using bamboo. This space serves as a sheltered area for school meals during breaks and is also used as an additional classroom when needed, thereby |
supporting both the nutritional and educational needs of the beneficiaries. In addition to educational support, the charity continued to provide basic healthcare support for its beneficiaries. All children receive medical check-ups every six months and are supported in accessing necessary vaccinations. Furthermore, individual families received medical assistance when urgent health needs arose. These measures contribute to the overall wellbeing of the children and help ensure that health-related challenges do not prevent them from participating in education.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising activities against objectives Para 1.41 set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the reporting period, The Happiness Project Ghana remained financially stable, although the organisation experienced a noticeable decrease in donation income during 2024. Ongoing global economic challenges affected the level of charitable giving, which required the organisation to focus strongly on financial sustainability and careful budget management. As a result, the charity prioritised maintaining its existing programmes and ensuring the continuous operation of the school rather than pursuing further expansion. While the organisation remains committed to growing its impact in the future, it was determined that expanding the school at this stage would create additional fixed operational costs that could not be guaranteed to be covered under the current financial circumstances. The charity therefore continued to focus on stabilising its financial position and ensuring that all core activities could be maintained. Through careful financial planning and responsible use of available funds, the organisation was able to cover its operational costs and sustain the school’s activities throughout the year. This approach ensured that the charity could continue providing education, school meals and essential support for its beneficiaries while maintaining financial stability and safeguarding the long-term sustainability of its programmes. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Happiness Project Ghana maintains financial reserves to ensure the continued and reliable operation of its educational programmes. As the organisation operates a school, it faces significant and ongoing fixed costs, including staff salaries, school meals, maintenance of facilities and educational materials. Maintaining reserves is therefore essential to guarantee that these core activities can continue without interruption. The charity also recognises that its work is dependent on voluntary donations, which can fluctuate due to wider global economic conditions. In recent years, changes in donation levels have highlighted the importance of maintaining sufficient reserves in order to manage financial uncertainty and ensure organisational stability. Holding reserves forms an important part of the charity’s risk management strategy. These funds allow the organisation to respond to unexpected financial challenges, manage potential reductionsindonation income and address |
| unforeseen operational costs, such as repairs resulting from weather-related damage or increases in local operating expenses in Ghana. By maintaining appropriate reserves, the charity is able to safeguard the continuity of its programmes, ensure that the school remains open for its beneficiaries and support responsible long- term financial planning. |
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|---|---|---|
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | The total reserves, including the 2023 reserves as well as income and expenditure in this financial period are: £10.326,74. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution adopting the Charity Commission’s model constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | New trustees are appointed by a decision of the charity trustees- The decision is based on skills, knowledge, experience and passion towards the charity’s purposes, work, and visions. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Happiness Project Ghana is led and managed by volunteer Trustees. In the financial period there are 3 volunteer trustees and 10 paid staff members in Ghana, working for the school. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The charity works independent and is not related to any other party. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Happiness Project Ghana |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | HPG |
| Registered charity number | 1190295 |
| Charity’s principal address | 290 Andover Road RG20 0LL Newbury |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadee Faye Gerayesh-Nejad |
Chair | |||
| Hannah Meyer | Trustee | |||
| PhilipLLoyd | Trustee | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Hannah Meyer Position (eg Secretary, Trustee (Treasurer) Chair, etc)
Date 06.03.2026
Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) for The Happiness Project Ghana (1190295)
Financial Period 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024
| Income | £ | Expenditure | £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Donations | 5.025,90 | School Operations | 2.980.00 |
| German Donations | 11.922,08 | School Meals | 7.989,00 |
| Grants | 0 | Staff Costs | 4.379,00 |
| Fundraising Income | 0 | Maintenance & Renovations | 931,00 |
| Other Income | 0 | Administrative Costs | 740,00 |
| Total Income | 16.947,98 | Total Expenditure | 17.019,00 |
| Net Income for the Year | -71,02 |
Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2024
| Assets | £ |
|---|---|
| Bank Account |
10.326,74 |
| Cash in Hand |
0.00 |
| Total Assets |
10.326,74 |
| Funds / Equity |
|
| Opening Balance (Funds carried forward from previous years) |
10.397,76 |
| Net Income for 2024 |
-71,02 |
| Total Funds | 10.326,74 |
Notes to the Accounts
1. Basis of Accounting
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and include all income received and expenditure paid during the financial year. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and applicable charity accounting guidance.
2. Income
The charity’s income during the year consisted mainly of voluntary donations from supporters in the United Kingdom and Germany.
3. Expenditure
Expenditure during the year relates primarily to the support and operation of the school project, including school operations, school meals, staff costs, maintenance and administrative expenses.
4. Reserves
At the end of the financial year the charity held reserves of £10.326,74) in its bank account. These reserves include funds carried forward from the previous year (£10.397,76) and the surplus generated during the current financial year.
5. Trustee Remuneration
No trustee received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year.
Approved by the Trustees on: [06.03.2026]
Name: Hannah Meyer
Signature: