2021-12-31-accounts

Global Waste Cleaning Network A Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements For the period 2[nd] May 2020 to 31[st] December 2021

Charity registration number: 1192372

Global Waste Cleaning Network

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

For the period 2[nd] May 2020 to 31[st] December 2021

Contents

Objectives and Activities .................................................................................................................... 3
Achievements and Performance ........................................................................................................ 3
The Network .................................................................................................................................. 3
Partnerships .................................................................................................................................. 4
Research........................................................................................................................................ 4
Events ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Financial Review ................................................................................................................................ 5
Structure, Governance, Management ............................................................................................... 6
Governing Document..................................................................................................................... 6
Trustees ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Reference and Administrative details ................................................................................................ 6
Exemptions from Disclosure .............................................................................................................. 7
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others .......................................................................... 7
Declarations ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Statement of Financial Activities ........................................................................................................ 8
Balance Sheet .................................................................................................................................... 8
Notes forming part of the Financial Statements ................................................................................. 9
1. Accounting Policies ................................................................................................................ 9
2. Donations and legacies ........................................................................................................ 10
3. Expenditure ......................................................................................................................... 10
4. Trustee renumeration and related party transactions .......................................................... 10

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Objectives and Activities

Global Waste Cleaning Network’s purpose is the protection, preservation and improvement of the environment for the benefit of mankind through:

• the establishment of an international network of active environmental organizations and specialists

• raised awareness of the negative effects of waste on the environment

• promotion of good waste management practices and the contribution to the advancement of research in waste management

Global Waste Cleaning Network (GWCN) aims to play a vital role in the growing worldwide movement to reduce the impact of Environmental pollution on society via advocacy and the implementation of evidence-based programs to reduce pollution in Oceans, Coastlines, Lands and the Atmosphere.

The purpose of the network we are currently establishing is to support environmental activities, showcase, connect and train the network members, contribute to Environmental debates, foster environmental research, and spread environment related information.

In this first period since incorporation our primary activity has been the establishment of the network, utilising digital communications and our network of volunteers, to establish critical mass. We have also worked hard to establish the operational systems required to manage and support our members. Alongside this we have been networking to build out partnerships with research institutions.

The Trustees regard our core objective, being the protection, preservation, and improvement of the environment, to be of intrinsic benefit to society as a whole. All our activities are in line with this charitable objective. We therefore have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on our activities being of public benefit, whether or not they are aware of, or involved in, our work.

Achievements and Performance

The Network

The main focus of our activities since our charity was founded in May 2020 has been to establish our network of profit and non-profit organisations, including educational institutions, who have an interest in the promotion of environmental protection. This stage of growth, to achieve “critical mass”, is fundamental to achieving our other objectives. We have made significant progress in establishing this network and by December 2021 we had 585 members across 155 countries.

Going forward into 2022 our aim is to become the largest global environmental network, and to further engage with members, allowing them to learn and network with other organisations to further their objectives.

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We are also working on developing a mobile social app to be launched in 2022. This app is designed to help GWCN member organisations meet, exchange ideas, and share resources within chat groups.

We thank our management team of volunteers and all other short-term volunteers who have worked incredibly hard to recruit and engage with our members toward our goal of being a leading global environmental organisation. We have had a network of around 160 volunteers across many countries, and who dedicated a significant amount of their time and energy supporting our organisation. Their work varied from research, web article writing, artificial intelligence modelling to administrative tasks and searching for potential member organisations.

Partnerships

The second main focus has been to establish partnerships with leading Global organisations which will enable us to fulfil our education and research objectives once our network has been established. We have made good progress towards this goal and established alliances with non-profit international organisations and eminent educational institutions from Europe, USA and Africa.

Research

We established and launched GWCN’s research centre - the ‘Environmental Network Research Center (ENRC)’. This is GWCN’s research body that furthers environmental and efficient energy research activities.

Our research programs add a level of depth to GWCN mission of contributing to the advancement of research in waste management.

We also established a research journal which is associated to ENRC, and which we called ‘Environmental Network Journal (ENJ)’. It is a fully peer reviewed, open access journal with a mission to help researchers communicate with a global audience and interact with expert scientists from across the environmental science community and beyond. Our academic editors take an objective and constructive approach to peer review each and every submission. Submissions are assessed on their scientific soundness and validity and not evaluated based on subjective assessments of importance.

ENJ covers the following branches of environmental science research:

• Waste management and pollution control

• Renewable energy and Waste-to-Energy

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Conservation biology and sustainable agriculture

• Environmental economics

• Environmental analysis and monitoring

• Terrestrial biology and ecology (Forests and wetland ecology)

• Aquatic biology and ecology

The first issue of the journal was in August 2021.

Events

GWCN has had a good number of organized and supported environmental and energy related webinars, and which included the following main ones:

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Date	Event Name	Organizer	Format	Country	GWCN Role
23 October 2020	Restoring the Delta Fisheries	African WFMD Hub	Online	Nigeria	GWCN was one of the main evaluators of this event.
20 November 2020	Healthy Environment & Sustainable Energy	GWCN	Online	United Kingdom	Organizer
26 February 2021	Environmental Network Research Center's Summit	GWCN	Online	United Kingdom	Organizer
27 May 2021	GWCN Annual Members Conference	GWCN	Online	United Kingdom	Organizer
17 June 2021	Confused by Light - Light Pollution and its consequences on Animals	GWCN	Online	United Kingdom	Organizer
25 June 2021	Sustainable Construction for a Better Living Environment	‘Vietnam Green Building Council’ and ‘Eurocham Green Growth Sector Committee’	Online	Vietnam	Supporter
1 July 2021	Waste Management and Sustainability	Youth 4 Climate Action Project	Online	Fiji	Supporter
13 July 2021	Accelerating NET ZERO With GREEN GAS	AB Energy	Online	United Kingdom	Supporter
4 August 2021	The 6th SDG – Clean Water and Sanitation	‘GREENWAVE for Environment and Sustainability’ and ‘Kuwait Water Association’	Online	Kuwait	Supporter
13 August 2021	Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all	Youth 4 Climate Action Project	Online	Fiji	Supporter
2 September 2021	Environmental Network Research Center's Summit	GWCN	Online	United Kingdom	Organizer
14 September 2021	Addressing Sustainable Development Goals	Mapúa University	Online	Philippines	Partner

Financial Review

Global Waste Cleaning Network has a desire to be relevant and supportive to as many environmental organisations as possible to create a ‘Network Effect’ - maximise the value and potential of the network for both GWCN and our members through establishing scale. We do not currently charge membership fees and so rely heavily on our network of highly motivated volunteers to run the organisations activities, work with our partners and support our members. Without their time, energy and willingness to support GWCN’s activities we would have been unable to achieve what we’ve done in the last year.

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Income for the period was purely in the form of grants and donations to enable specific activities, e.g. Marketing, Customer relationship management. The charity holds no assets nor reserves and we have no liabilities. We are very grateful to the technology organisations who have supported our operations through allowing use of their products and services.

As we move forward, we plan to build out our organisation’s finances to enable further support GWCN’s relevance, members’ activities and deeper engagement with our partners. This will be funded through a combination of grant funding and charging for member services and events.

Structure, Governance, Management

Governing Document

Global Waste Cleaning Network is a UK based Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and it is governed under a ‘Foundation’ model charitable constitution. Our only voting members are our charity trustees. GWCN was established on May 2[nd] , 2020.

Trustees

GWCN Trustees meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. There must be a minimum of three trustees. At present the charity has four trustees from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity.

Aside from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity Name: Global Waste Cleaning Network (GWCN)

Charity registration number: 1192372

Principal address: 27 Bilberry Close, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 8GD. United Kingdom

Members of the Board of Trustees who served during the period and up to the date of this report were:

• Mr Linus Ayangwoh Embe - Founder, Chairman and CEO

• Dr Roger El Achkar - Founder, Director General and Dean of Research

• Mr Kofi Atuah - Trustee

• Mrs Monica Braithwaite - Trustee (appointed 19 May 2021)

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Exemptions from Disclosure

No exemptions claimed.

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

There were no funds held as custodian on behalf of others.

Declarations

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Charity law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• Observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;

• Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• State whether applicable UK accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures and explained in the financial statements;

• Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The charity is exempt from requiring an audit or independent examiner’s report under the Charities Act (November 2016 guidance).

The Trustees’ Report and financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12[th] October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Monica Braithwaite

Trustee Date: 14/10/2022

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Statement of Financial Activities

For the 20 month period from 2[nd] May 2020 to 31[st] December 2021

Notes Income from Donations and legacies 2 Gross income in the reporting period Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 3 Total expenditure in the reporting period Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds £ £ £ 61 7,134 7,195
	61 7,134 7,195
	0 6,189 6,189 61 945 1,006
	61 7,134 7,195
	0 0 0
	0 0 0
	0 0 0
	0 0 0

The charity has received no government grants in the reporting period.

Balance Sheet

As at 31 December 2021

There are no line items as GWCN held no assets or liabilities nor had any funds as of 31 December 2021. There were no fixed asset transactions during the period. As this is the first period of incorporation there are no prior year comparatives.

The note on pages 9 to 10 form part of these accounts.

Accounts, including the balance sheet, were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12[th] October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Monica Braithwaite

Trustee Date: 14/10/2022

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Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

For the period ended 31 December 2021

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. As this is the first period of incorporation there are no prior period comparatives.

a) Basis of accounting

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP): Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 to comply with the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.

b) Accounting period

This is the first set of accounts prepared for GWCN. They reflect the 20 month period from the CIO’s inception on 2[nd] May 2020 through to 31[st] December 2021, which is our first period end.

c) Fund accounting

• Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

• Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

d) Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• Offsetting: There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted under FRS102 SORP.

• Grants and donations are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the general income recognition criteria are met.

• Donated goods, services and facilities: Donated goods, services and facilities are included in the SOFA when received at the value of the gift to the charity, provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably. Donated services and facilities that are consumed immediately are recognised as income with an equivalent amount recognised as an expense under the appropriate heading in the SOFA.

• The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.

• Foreign currency transactions: Value of grants utilised in $ were converted to £ using the official published HM Revenue and Customs monthly rate for the month the grants were 'drawn down'.

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e) Expenditure and liabilities

• Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

• Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

• Foreign currency transactions: Value of expenditure in $ was converted to £ using either the £ cost relevant to the transaction when it occurred (if the specific expense was directly converted to £), or the official published HM Revenue and Customs monthly rate for the month the costs were incurred.

2. Donations and legacies

Donations and gifts Donated goods, facilities and services	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total £ £ £ 61 0 61 0 7,134 7,134
	61 7,134 7,195

3. Expenditure

Raising Funds Advertising, marketing, direct mail and publicity Charitable activities Software Total expenditure	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total £ £ £ 0 6,189 6,189 61 945 1,006
	61 7,134 7,195

GWCN had no employees during the period. No staff costs or employee benefits were incurred.

4. Trustee renumeration and related party transactions

No Trustee received any renumeration nor received any other benefits or expenses during the year. No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.

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