2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2024 Period start date to 31 March 2025 Period end date

Charity name: FREETOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS EX PUPILS ASSOCIATION, UK & IRELAND

Charity registration number: 1191039

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The advancement of quality education, particularly for the pupils of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls, Sierra Leone. (2) Support and assist the provision of educational facilities and a safe learning environment for pupils at the Freetown Secondary School for Girls,resultingin improvedpupils’ outcomes
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	Luncheon Sale We had a successful Luncheon Sale on 15 June 2024 that was well attended and we raised a substantial amount (See account). Africana Night Our Africana night on 21 September 2024 was a huge success despite the low turnout from members. However, we had the support from non-members and it turned out to be one of our most successful events. 40th Anniversary Awujor Launch The Association celebrated 40 years since its inception, and the celebration of events was launched at an Awujor (charity with traditional food menu) event. This was the very first of it’s kind and it was highly subsidized by members. As a result of the generosity from the members, entrance tickets were sold at a very minimal cost as a way of saying thank you to our supporters who supported the association over the past forty years.

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		Our 40th Thanksgiving Service was deferred to June 2025. Thanks to all our members, 40thanniversary patrons and supporters for their continued support and donations made towards the above fundraising events. A 40thAnniversary Committee was formed and has been working had to plan all the events to celebrate this big milestone. FSSGians UK & I, has continued with monthly meetings, virtually and we had three face to face meetings which were also successful. We had the privilege to meet with and socialise with some of our senior members who are disadvantaged by technology and have not been able to join in, on our Zoom meetings. Our members continued with their annual subscription and voluntary donations. Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit/funds and that none of the income of the charity may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the charity. All funds raised are for public benefit.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Our policies include Code of Conduct (Bye laws), Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Safeguarding, Volunteering, Functions and duties of charity trustees. The charity is managed by the Trustees, headed by the President (Chair) of the organisation. The organisation works in partnership with other alumni branches in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and the United States. The trustees manage the affairs of the charity in good faith and with due regard to the will of members to further the purposes of the CIO. Trustees have a wide range of special knowledge and experience and show due consideration to any major risks that the charity may be exposed to and have established procedures in place to Manage them.

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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The charity is made up of ex-pupils (Alumni) who are volunteers and give up their time, financial contribution and expertise to improve the standard of the organisation and increase our fund-raising efforts.
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	2024 -2025 in review Fundraising events This financial year, our three main fundraising events were the Annual Luncheons Sale, Africana Night and the launch of our 40th anniversary celebrations. All were successful and made profits for the association. Annual returns We successfully submitted our fourth Annual Returns and within the time frame. Bank accounts We are managing three accounts with Metro Bank. We hold two Currents Accounts, one of which is our Subscription Account and the other our main account. The third account is our Savings Account.

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Project In 2023 we embarked on completing the refurbishment of the Home Economics department which includes the Foods & Nutrition Room and the Clothing & Textiles room. This project was split into two halves due to the financial costs. Phase 1 was the Foods & Nutrition room and this has successfully been completed and the facility has been in use since the handover. Phase 2 was the Clothing & Textiles room and this was completed in 2024. The clothing and Textiles room has been refurbished and will be fully equipped in readiness for when the school curriculum is amended. This room is set up with twenty functional tables, white boards, cupboards, electrical points, and equipment for the pupils to learn dressmaking and take their external exams in. The well-equipped cookery room and needlework room, will give the girls better opportunities and better exams pass grades. 40[th] Anniversary Celebrations. In 2024, we set up an Anniversary committee to plan for 2025 when the association will be celebrating 40 years since inception. This committee worked along side the executive to oversee all the planned events for the celebrations. Looking to the Centenary January 2026 will see the school celebrate a centenary. FSSGians UK & I has been very involved in the planning, together with our sister branches. There is a lot to do within the school to renovate, refurbish and improve on the infrastructure of the school and FSSGians UK & I have supported financially towards these projects and we have project managed some of these projects. We aim to transform the school for the centenary and this would create better learning environment for the pupils going forward. We also supported the school administration financially by setting up a revolving fund and this has been a joint venture with our sister branches in Freetown,

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and in the diaspora to ensure there are enough teachers to teach the pupils.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	N/A
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other		N/A

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Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	FSSGians UK & Ireland CIO maintains a healthy financial position at the end of the financial period as we continue to fundraise through the global financial difficulties.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The objective of our Charity is to aid our school in Freetown. Most of our income is designated for projects such as the maintenance of buildings and other facilities, improvement to the educational development of the students through provision of adequate teaching equipment. We aim to retain sufficient reserves for our fundraising events, unforeseen circumstances and sustainability and, to enable Trustees to respond rapidly to urgent matters or requests from the school in Freetown.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

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	Donations from well -wishers, supporters and members. The CIO organizes a Thanksgiving Service, Luncheon Sale and an Africana Buffet dance annually. However, for this financial year we moved our Annual Thanksgiving Service to June 2025. We also sold merchandise such as material, caps, polo shirts and scarves which were commissioned for our 40th Anniversary celebrations.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	N/A
Other		N/A

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Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	A Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association,CIO)	Para 1.25	CHARITY INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (ASSOCIATION)
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	Trustees are appointed or re-appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The term of office for each elected Trustee is two years. A Trustee shall hold the same office for no more than two consecutive terms.

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 trustees will make available to each new charity trustee, on or before his or her first appointment: (a) a copy of this constitution and any amendments made to it; and (b) a copy of the CIO’s latest trustees’ annual report and statement of accounts.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	FSSGians UK & Ireland is managed by the Trustees and Executives. The organisational structure is as follows: President / Chair Trustee Vice President /Trustee General Secretary /Trustee Assistant General Secretary / Trustee Treasurer /Trustee Assistant Treasurer /Trustee Social Secretary /Trustee Assistant Secretary / Trustee Publicity Officer / Trustee Assistant Publicity Officer / Trustee Pastoral Officers x 2 Ex-Officios x 4
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	FSSGians UK work in collaboration with our sister branches in the Diaspora; the school in Freetown; the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors in Freetown. The Diaspora presidents meets monthly.

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Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Freetown Secondary School for Girls Ex-Pupils Association UK and Ireland
Other name the charity uses	FSSGians UK & Ireland
Registered charity number	1191039
Charity’s principal address	68 BELLINGHAM ROAD London SE6 2PT

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	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Madlyne Harding	President / Chair Trustee
	Sitnah Palmer	Vice President / Trustee
	Grace Elizabeth Christiana Akinlusi	Treasurer / Trustee
	Angela Fubara	Assistant Treasurer / Trustee
	Harolda C.E.O. Williams-Babin	General Secretary / Trustee
	Amorette Decker	Assistant Secretary / Trustee
	Kadijatu McEwen	Social Secretary / Trustee
	Isabella Dixon- Williams	Publicity Officer / Trustee
	Willis Olu-Williams	Assistant Publicity Officer / Trustee
	Reverend Bernice Lemon-Thomas	Pastoral Officer / Trustee
	Vida Wills	Pastoral / Trustee
	Elizabeth Jinadu	Trustee
	Adekemi Bull	Trustee
	Doris Crompton- Thomas	Trustee

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– 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)

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Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	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) MHarding Full name(s) Madlyne Harding Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 29/12/2025

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FREEfowN SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS EX-PUPILS AssoaATION UK & I Statement of Flnanaal Artivitses for year ending 31st Marth 2025 Charlty Reg. No. 1191039 Year eftding 31 Marth 2025 Y&ir endlng 31 Marth 2024 INCOMING RESOURCES Fundralsing Events Donations Merchandise Other Receipts 22.735 5,347 1.939 8.736 Total Income 53,425 30.115 EXPENSES Fundraising Events expens Benevolence & Donations Direct Support for School Merchandlse Costs Governance & Administration 14.987 1.145 9,106 &ioi 1275 14.171 590 22.467 1358 Total Exrpen5e5 34,614 39.185 9.070 Opening Balan￿ BIFwd aosin8 Balance C/Fwd 31st March 2025 21218 40.029 21,218 Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 18th May 2025 Trustee (l) Slgn Name Madlyne Harding Trustee (2) Sign Name ANGELA FUBARA

Independent examinerfs report To the trustees of FSSG Ex Girls Association UK & Ireland I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of FSSG Ex Girls Association UK & Ireland fortheyearended 31 March 2025. Responslbiiities and basis of the report As the charitytrustees of FSSG Ex Girls Association UK & Ireland. you are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {*he Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed allthe applicable directions yiven bythe Charity Commission under . section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent ￿MInerS ststement I have completed my examination. Independent examinrf$ statement In connection with my examination. No matter has come to my attention: {11 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respectthe requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance wlth section 130 the Charities Act 2011.and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records. comply with the accounting requirements of the Charity acts and with the methods and principLes ofthe Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not b8en met- ortowhich, in myopinion. attention should be drawn in orderto enable 8 proper understandingof the accountsto be reached. Indepèndent Examiner. Alex Davies Community Accounting Support Project 702 High Road Leyton London E106JP Date IItAugust 2025