**-** ## **Action For Sustainable Communities Foundation** ## **Registered Charity: 1193197** ## **Trustees report and financial statements** **For the period ending 31[st] December 2021** Page **1** of **8** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report - 21st January 2021 to 31st December 2021** ## **Objectives and Activities** ## **Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document** The objects of the Action for Sustainable Communities Foundation (ASC) are to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public in particular, but not exclusively for communities in Europe, Africa and Asia by: (a) the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources. (b) the relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in socially and economically disadvantaged communities; and (c) the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration. The charity will use such means as determined by its trustees including the following: - providing or assisting in the provision of goods, services, resources, grants and technologies and equipment to enable better use of resources - developing infrastructure and educating communities - providing people with the means to live and support themselves and their community for the present and for the future - promoting public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local areas Nothing shall authorise an application of the property of the charity for the purposes which are not charitable. ## **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** The first project ASC has undertaken is to fund the Thitimira Secondary School for 200 children in the Mzimba region of Malawi which is one of the poorest rural areas in the country. Before December 2021 there was no secondary school within 10km of the local villages which made attendance impossible for most children who are expected to do household chores before and after school. Several villages had come together to start building the school but funds had run out and the building work was left at a standstill. Thanks to the Public Health Action Support Team CIC (PHAST) as well as several other very generous donors and several fundraising events organised by trustees (including sponsored walks and a triathlon), building work was resumed enabling the school committee to complete the following: - the first school block; - two teacher’s houses. - temporary pit toilets for girls and boys. Page **2** of **8** - installation of solar powered electricity; and - a bore hole and hand pump. Once completed, the school will be transferred to Malawi’s Ministry of Education. They provide teachers and oversee the syllabus and governance of the school. ASC funded the cost of text books, stationary and other basic school equipment to enable the school to open on 4[th] January 2022 for the first intake of children. ASC coordinated a community engagement process to involve and incorporate the ideas of the community in the planning of phase 2 of the building of the school. This included planning a permaculture garden and a rewilding project to protect and restore the forest around the local villages. ASC is receiving advice and support from a global engineering company who are offering their help pro bono. In addition to the country’s curriculum, these children will learn how to care for the environment through knowledge about the impact of climate change on their country and undertaking practical ways they can mitigate the problem by planting trees and creating a sustainable permaculture garden using human and animal waste. They will learn about the importance of solar and wind energy as natural sources of power for cooking, lighting powering computers etc. ASC will encourage entrepreneurial skills so the can help themselves and their families break out of poverty. It is hoped that by 2025, 200 children with an equal number of boys and girls will attend the school. ## **Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit** ASC has had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. ## **Contribution made by volunteers** ASC has been fortunate to have been supported by friends and family but have not recruited any volunteers. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **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.** In its first year ASC has successfully funded a secondary school which will enable the first 50 students to receive a secondary education. This will provide them with the knowledge and skills to find better paid jobs and enable them to break out of the cycle of poverty. An additional 50 students will attend each year over the next 3 years to make up a total of 200 children in 4 different year groups. The school will help children to break out of poverty, giving them the skills, they need to improve their prospects, the prospects of their family and their whole community. Page **3** of **8** Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world and has the fourth highest percentage of people living in extreme poverty in the world with 70 percent living on little more than a dollar a day. According to the Borgen Report (https://borgenproject.org) Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world and has been ranked as one of the lowest performing nations for literacy in sub-Saharan Africa. Education is seen as one of the critical pathways to improving living conditions in the country. Currently only 8 percent of children finish secondary school. The major reason is the distance to secondary school and lack of transportation or infrastructure. Secondary education only receives 10 percent of the education budget. The installation of a bore hole providing access to clean water has been lifechanging for the local communities as well as for the students. Prior to this, villagers had to walk 2 km to fetch water. ## **Achievements against objectives set** The successful installation of the bore-hole and the completion of basic infrastructure will enable the school to open to the first year intake of students in January 2022. This achievement could not have been realised without the generosity of donations and the expertise provided by trustee Newton Matupi’s expertise as well as his knowledge of the area and contacts on the ground. ## **Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set** The fundraising activities were restricted due to Covid concerns and avoidance of inside venues for events. However, outside events and events online were possible and raised several thousand pounds mainly thanks to friends and family. ASC now seeking advice from fundraisers to enable us to appeal to donors with a likely interest in our work as well as running larger events that will reach the wider public. Page **4** of **8** **Financial Review** ## **Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period** ASC is a registered charity whose objects are to promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public, but not exclusively, for communities in Europe, Africa and Asia. ASC was registered on the 22nd January 2021 and commenced operations in May 2021. The charity has been successful in raising funds and particularly in meeting its objects in a very short timescale. In its first year, almost all payments, other than administrative costs (representing some 4% of overall expenditure and fully covered by donations from trustees) were directed to the Thitimira Secondary School project. ## **Receipts** The charity has received support from organisations and individuals from within the UK. The trustees have donated funds and provided services free of charge so that donations received are expended in full on the charitable work it undertakes. ## **Payments** The charity has been able to direct 96% of payments directly to the Thitimira community in Malawi to fund a borehole, two classrooms, two teachers houses, solar power and toilets to support the establishment of a secondary school to be used by the dispersed communities in the area. ASC ensures the funds provided are properly utilised by seeking photographic evidence of building progress, obtaining written quotes, and having a presence on site when Trustees visit the project. ASC has obtained free professional advice for the community from international architects and engineers and has supported the use of local professionals in the construction of the school thus helping to support the community in its economic sustainability. ## **Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held** The trustees do not hold any reserves, as fixed costs are minimal, but do maintain working capital to provide a source of funding to support the Thitimira Secondary School project. At the year end, ASC’s available cash reserve was £19.3k. ## **Forward Strategy** Much has been achieved in a very short time despite the impact of Covid. The aim of the charity is to build on the foundations already put in place and to expand both our charitable income and our work in Malawi. It also plans to fund projects in Sri Lanka to the benefit of extremely poor communities, to assist these communities to raise themselves out of poverty. ASC is working to engage in and to develop new partnerships to enable us to meet our objectives to raise our profile and engage with other organisations and the charity community to increase our funding. ASC is looking to develop a good working environment and relationship with the Government of Malawi, its Ministry of Education and its local officers. Page **5** of **8** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ASC’s governing document is the Constitution dated 17 January 2021. ASC is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) founded on 22[nd] January 2021. Trustees are appointed by the charity trustees. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed (for a term of three years) 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. ASC Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales. The charity (registered charity number 1193197) was entered on the Register of Charities on 22 January 2021. The charity is overseen by its Board of Trustees to raise funds and work in partnership with other professionals to deliver educational development projects in Malawi, Sri Lanka and other developing nations. The areas of primary focus for our work currently is the provision of a secondary school in the Thitimira Secondary School in a remote area of Malawi. The trustees meet on a quarterly basis to review expenditure on its projects, set priorities, and review progress against strategic goals and key performance indicators. They also provide mentoring and guidance to the local team who lead on the development and expansion of the school construction. ## **Risk management** The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place. Measures are in place to ensure this happens on an annual basis. ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charityname|Action for Sustainable Communities Foundation| |---|---| |Other name the charityuses|ASC| |Registered charitynumber|1193197| |Charity’s principal address|St Clair
Petrockstowe
Okehampton
Devon
EX20 3QJ| Page **6** of **8** ## **Names of the charity trustees who managed the charity** |1
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3
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6|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Dr Catherine Brogan|Chair||Founding trustee| ||Mr David Smead|Treasurer||Founding trustee| ||Dr Newton Matupi|||Founding trustee| ||Ms Felicity Corbyn|||Founding trustee| ||Mr Iain Corbyn|||Founding trustee| ||Ms Charmaine Donnelly|||Founding trustee| ASC does not hold title to any property. There are no custodian trustees holding funds on behalf of others. Page **7** of **8** ## **Trustees’ Responsibilities in Relation to the Accounts** The Charities Act 2011 requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that year. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to: 1. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 2. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 3. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and 4. prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Declarations** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees. Signature: Full name: Dr Catherine Brogan Position: Chair Signature: Full name: Iain Corbyn Position: Trustee Date: 14 October 2022 Page **8** of **8** **Action for Sustainable Communities Foundation 1193197** ## **Receipts and payments accounts** Period start date Period end date **To** 1/21/2021 12/31/2021 **For the period from** ## **Section A Receipts and payments** **Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds funds funds funds** **to the nearest £** **to the nearest £** **to the nearest £ to the nearest £** ## **A1 Receipts** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Company donations 32,400 - - 32,400
Public donations 5,050 5,277 - 10,327
Go fund me 5,154 - 5,154
Misc 30 - - 30
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37,480 10,431 - 47,911
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
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Sub total - - - -
Total receipts 37,480 10,431 - 47,911
A3 Payments
Thitmilla school Malawi project 16,986 10,431 - 27,417
Start up expenses 343 - - 343
Paypal fees 5 - - 5
Website development 800 - - 800
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Sub total [ 18,134 ] 10,431 - 28,565
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - -
Total payments 18,134 10,431 - 28,565
Net of receipts/(payments) 19,346 - - 19,346
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - -
Cash funds this year end 19,346 - - 19,346
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## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period** ||||**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Categories**|**Details**||**funds**||**funds**| |**B1 Cash funds**|HSBC|**_Total cash funds_**|**to nearest £**
**19,346**
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**19,346**|


|**to nearest £**
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**-**| ||(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))||OK|OK|| ||||**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**| ||||**funds**||**funds**| ||**Details**||**to nearest £**||**to nearest £**| |**B2 Other monetary assets**|Gift Aid claim||**1,250**
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|**1,319**
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**asset belongs**|**Cost (optional)**
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**asset belongs**|**Cost (optional)**
**-**|| |**charity’s own use**||||






|**-**
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**-**| |**B5 Liabilities**|**Details**||**Fund to which**
**liability relates**|



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**Amount due**
**(optional)**| |Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees||Signature|Print|Name|| ||||Dr Catherine Brogan||| **----- Start of picture text -----**
CC16a
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Last year
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**to the nearest £** **-** **-** **-** **-** **Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - -** OK ## **Endowment funds** **to nearest £** **-** **Current value (optional)** **-** **Current value (optional)** **-** **When due (optional)** Date of approval 14-Oct-22 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts S•ctson A Initependent Examiner's Report R•port lo th• tnisl•MI Acllon lof Su6ts1n•l￿I Communlll•• FouTrd•llon a¢¢¢￿nts for th• 31M December 2021 Ch•flty no Ill •ny) 1193197 S•t ou¢ on pty•• I f•PQrt ts> th• trusl••• on my •xammalon of th• ¥¢￿18 of tIKg abov• ch•rlty (tr Trusf) for lh• p¢nod •TrJ•d 31* Deombor 2021. RMpon•lbllltlM and As the rJb•rty tw•teu of th• Tru￿, you re•ponth lor lfv wopwat￿n b••ts ol rnport Gf ?￿JnIS In r•quir•fMrts of tt* Ch￿￿08 A 20111Ihe Acr>. I r•tth m ro8p•a cd my Oxommabcffi d th• Tru8t's aocwrts wi•d wt under seCt￿n 145 al the 2011 aTKI In carryty oui my examinats￿. I have foll¢ywed Ihe apph'c•tAe Dlreth'M$ gl¥•n by c￿rtY Crmmimi under s•clion 14515){b) ol ts Acl Ind•p•nd•nt I have corn￿ my •xwnknatlon. l eonfimi that no rn•tenal maltern h•ve •xamln•rf• •tst•rn•nt Cofne trj my att8nbon In c4)nnect￿n wth lh8 éxaminatlon *thtch gN•• rn• ¢*J8• tp tslbOVe that In, any rnaterial resF•rt Ad or I have no C*)n¢efM *)d h4v• ts)m• acrols M