## **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.| 1 |||**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.| 2 ## **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.| 3 **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, 4 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**| 5 ## **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**| 6 ## **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.| 7 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
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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||| |||||| |||||| 8 17 18 19 20 ## – 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)** 9 |**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 10 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