2024-09-30-accounts

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

DARA BASCARA TRUST TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees of the Dara Bascara Trust present their annual report for the financial period from 01 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 and confirm they comply with the guidelines set forth by the Charity Commission along with other applicable laws and regulations.

July 2025

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

I.	Legal and Administratve Informaton..........................................................................................2	Legal and Administratve Informaton..........................................................................................2
	A.	Overview........................................................................................................................2
	B.	Charitable Objects...........................................................................................................2
	C.	Public Beneft..................................................................................................................2
	D.	Strategy..........................................................................................................................3
	E.	Vision.............................................................................................................................4
II.	Report of the Management Commitee.......................................................................................6
	A.	Actvites.........................................................................................................................6
	B.	Risk Management...........................................................................................................6
III.	Finances...............................................................................................................................7
	A.	Overview........................................................................................................................7
	B.	Statement of Financial Actvites......................................................................................7
	C.	Balance Sheet..........................................................................................................................7

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

I. Legal and Administrative Information

A. Overview

Charity Name: Dara Bascara Trust Charity Registration Number: 1196985 Date of Registration: 07 December 2021 Governing Document: CIO – Foundation Constitution Registered Office: Frogmore House, Ormond Place Cheltenham GL50 1JD United Kingdom Phone: +44 2045772754 Email: darabascaratrust@gmail.com Trustees: Ryssa Magee Chair Other trusteeship: Dr. Rachelle Bascara Foundation Susan Cueva Other trusteeship: Kanlungan Filipino Consortium; Southeast & East Asian Women’s Association (SEEWA) Dr. Noemi Magnani Linda Vololona Colney

B. Charitable Objects

The Dara Bascara Trust (the “Charity”) was established in 2021 by friends and colleagues in honour of the late Dr. Rachelle Bascara to carry on her humanitarian work.

The Charitable Objects of the of the Charity are:

“The Charitable Objects of the Dara Bascara Trust reflect the humanitarian work of Dr. Rachelle Bascara (“Dara”) during her life, with a particular focus on her homeland, the Philippines. The mission of the Dara Bascara Trust is the prevention and/or relief of poverty by (i) providing or assisting in the provision of items and other necessary support designed to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient; (ii) undertaking relief projects during a crisis and/or natural disaster; and (iii) pursuing such other activities that fulfil the Charitable Objects of the Dara Bascara Trust.”

The Charity’s mission, following Dr. Bascara’s example not only in what it does but also in how it does it, is to achieve the greatest positive impact among those in need utilizing the fewest resources in an effective and responsible manner. This summary business plan outlines the main elements of how the Charity seeks to achieve its Charitable Objects.

C. Public Benefit

The Charity aims to benefit the poorest and most disadvantaged individuals and communities in the Philippines. It aims to benefit those who lack even the most basic essentials to sustain life, and it aims to aid communities in the wake of a natural disaster or an emergency. It also seeks to benefit the most vulnerable members of poor communities such as but not limited to children and women.

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

The Philippines, a developing nation with a population exceeding 100 million, continues to face significant challenges in poverty reduction. In 2023, the highest poverty rates were observed among Indigenous Peoples (32.4%), fisherfolk (27.4%), and farmers (27.0%), indicating that these groups are the most affected by economic hardship, with a substantial portion of their populations living below the official poverty threshold (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024).[1]

The Philippines and the UK have strong bilateral ties that rest on people. There are over 200,000 Filipinos living and working in the UK, many of them have acquired British citizenship and contributing to the fabric of British society.[2] They work in a variety of sectors, such as information technology, engineering, aviation, education, and hospitality. Meanwhile, around 20,000 British citizens live permanently in the Philippines.[3] Moreover, there are more than 200 Filipino community organisations and Filipino societies in the UK registered with the Philippine Embassy.[4]

The Filipino community is growing significantly worldwide, positively influencing economic and social relationships between the Philippines and destination countries. To date, more than 10 million Filipinos,[5] or approximately 8.4% of the population, are working and/or living abroad.

D. Strategy

The Charity is established primarily to prevent and relieve poverty in the Philippines.

Fundamental to the success of the Charity in achieving its purpose is having a deep understanding of the scale, scope, and nature of needs from multiple perspectives, ranging from studies conducted by multinational organizations and NGOs to local knowledge of the affected communities.

In order to better identify specific beneficiaries and their charitable needs, the trustees consult relevant studies and research and develop a robust plan for each initiative that includes active participation of community stakeholders in decision-making.

The Charity identifies its beneficiaries and their charitable needs through the following criteria:

(i) Examining publicly available information, research studies of local and international experts, including works of other organisations, and the historical and actual experiences of the trustees
(ii) Conducting interviews and using the testimonies of community stakeholders

Specifically, as examples of the above, the trustees regularly review local and international studies on identifying and responding to charitable needs of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the Philippines and monitor news and official reports on natural disasters / crises in the country.

Poverty in the Philippines continues to disproportionately affect specific sectors, with fisherfolk, farmers, and Indigenous Peoples consistently ranking among the most economically vulnerable.

1 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2025, March 21). Poverty statistics . htps://psa.gov.ph/statstcs/poverty

2 UK Government. (n.d.). The Philippines and the United Kingdom: Old friends, new horizons . htps://www.gov.uk/government/news/thephilippines-and-the-united-kingdom-old-friends-new-horizons 3 Ibid.

4 Embassy of the Philippines – London. (n.d.). Filipino community organisations . Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines. htps://londonpe.dfa.gov.ph/com-events/flipino-community-organisatons

5 University of Innsbruck. (2024). Philippines in the focus of migration research . University of Innsbruck Newsroom. htps://www.uibk.ac.at/en/newsroom/2024/philippines-in-the-focus-of-migraton-research/

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

Meanwhile, a 2024 World Bank report found that 59% of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines consider themselves poor, and 51% identify as "food poor", reflecting significant disparities in access to education, health services, and economic opportunities compared to non-Indigenous groups.[6]

Education-focused interventions remain essential in areas of the Philippines affected by poverty. One effective approach involves the provision of school supplies to reduce barriers to school attendance and learning engagement among children from economically disadvantaged families. Access to basic educational materials has been shown to improve school participation, self-esteem, and academic performance, especially in resource-limited communities.[7][8]

In terms of climate, the Philippines continues to be one of the most disaster-prone countries globally. According to the World Risk Report 2024, the country ranks highest in disaster risk among 193 economies. Approximately 60% of its total land area is exposed to multiple hazards, with nearly 74% of its population susceptible to the impacts of these hazards.[9] These disasters often have the most devastating effects on impoverished communities, where coping strategies typically include cutting back on essential expenditures such as education, healthcare, and nutritious food.[10]

At the household level, poverty is one of the most significant factors contributing to vulnerability. This is evident in disparities in access to basic services, insecure or hazard-prone housing, lower income levels, limited education, and lack of protective infrastructure.[11]

Part of the process of identifying specific charitable needs is engagement with the victims of poverty themselves, through an evaluation and monitoring process. For example, volunteers may collect basic socio-economic information through surveys after presenting the project to affected persons. The following criteria may be used to identify the neediest individuals, families, and/or communities in terms of housing conditions, income, family size and composition, health condition, and access to social networks. A final interview could be conducted to complete the selection process.

On the basis of these criteria as well as the judgment and experience of the trustees, the Charity seeks to identify specific charitable needs and determine who the organisation should help in fulfillment of its Charitable Objects.

E. Vision

The long-term goal of the Charity is to have a measurable and meaningful positive impact on the communities most affected by poverty in the Philippines while operating an economically sustainable and well-governed organisation.

We measure the tangible positive impact of our activities through the Theory of Change:

6 World Bank. (2024, May 27). Access to education, health services, economic opportunities key to improving welfare of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines . htps://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/05/27/access-to-educaton-health-services-economicopportunites-key-to-improving-welfare-of-indigenous-peoples-in-ph

7 NVC Foundation. (n.d.). Education Projects . htps://www.nvcfoundaton-ph.org/educaton/

8 Outreach International. (2023, September). Supplies help children in schools in the Philippines .

htps://outreach-internatonal.org/blog/school-supplies-help-children-in-philippine-schools/

9 Asian Development Bank. (2024, November 26). $500 million ADB loan to bolster Philippines’ disaster resilience . htps://www.adb.org/news/500-million-adb-loan-bolster-philippines-disaster-resilience

10 World Bank. (2021). Philippines – Vulnerability | Climate Change Knowledge Portal . htps://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/philippines/vulnerability

11 Philippine Statistics Authority. (2025, March 21). Poverty statistics . htps://psa.gov.ph/statstcs/poverty

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

First, we identify the desired long-term goal, that is, lifting the poor out of poverty.
Second, we identify some preconditions and basic assumptions to achieve the long-term goal:
The poor must have access to education. We assume that the provision of school supplies to children belonging to indigenous groups in the Philippines, for instance, would enable them to attend school.
The poor must have access to employment. We assume that by providing emergency relief to victims of natural disaster or crisis, including food supplies, cooking sets, bedding, tools, and materials, we try to minimise the disruption in their lives, we enable them to go back to work at the soonest possible time, earn a sustainable income, and become self-sufficient.
The poor must be involved in community decision-making. We assume that providing essential supplies and basic necessities to the poor would improve their living conditions and would allow them to become active participants in shaping society and their future.
Third, we develop indicators (population and threshold) to measure the implementation and effectiveness of the initiative.

For example, indicators may include:

Outcome 1: Access to education Indicator: School enrolment Population: IP elementary students Threshold: Remain in school until elementary graduation Outcome 2: Access to employment Indicator: Employment Population: Victims of natural disaster / crisis Threshold: Remain in job at least X months and earn a minimum wage Outcome 3: Participation in decision-making Indicator: Attendance Population: IP communities Threshold: Missing more than three meetings

Finally, we identify interventions to demonstrate how our work is going to change the community. One to three years after the first project, the organisation shall have mechanisms for data collection and evaluation to provide an overview of the outcome and to inform stakeholders. A successful Theory of Change requires effective coordination

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

among non-profit organizations, administrations, local authorities, businesses, and civil societies.

We will continue to promote compassion and altruism through public awareness campaign and raising funds for poor communities. We will continue to identify and benefit the most vulnerable members of poor communities. We will continue to monitor the situation in the Philippines.

II. Report of the Management Committee

A. Activities

The Charity is actively coordinating with other organizations to plan future projects.

B. Risk Management

The Charity has established a Risk Management Plan which provides a framework and policy for how risk will be managed within the organisation. The Risk Management Plan is based on the guidelines provided by the Charity Commission for England and Wales as well as other applicable laws and regulations.

The Risk Management Plan addresses risks across the following categories: governance, operational risk, finance risk, environmental and external risk, as well as compliance risk.

The Trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and managed such risks through following the risk management procedure: risk identification; risk assessment; risk response planning; risk monitoring, controlling, and reporting, pursuant to the Risk Management Plan.

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

III. Finances

A. Overview

The Charity has not sourced nor used any funds to date.

B. Statement of Financial Activities

	Unrestricte d funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds	Total funds	Prior period Total funds	Further details
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Income and endowments from:
Donatons and legacies	0					A1
Charitable actvites						A2
Other trading actvites						A3
Investments						A4
Other						A5
Total
Expenditure on:
Raising funds						B1
Charitable actvites	0					B2
Other						B3
Total	0

Net gains/(losses) on investments						B4
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds						C
Other recognized gains/(losses):
Gains/(losses) on revaluaton of fxed assets						D1
Actuarial gains/(losses) on defned beneft pension schemes						D2
Other gains/(losses)						D3

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

Net movement in funds	0

Reconciliaton of funds:		E
Total funds brought forward	0
Total funds carried forward	0

A1 Income from donations and legacies;
A2 Income from charitable activities;
A3 Income from other trading activities;
A4 Investment income
A5 Other income; Analysis of income in the notes to the accounts;
B1 Expenditure on raising funds;
B2 Expenditure on charitable activities;
B3 Other expenditure;
Analysis of expenditure in the notes to the accounts;
B4 Gains/(losses) on investments;
C Transfers between funds;
D1 Gains/(losses) on revaluations of fixed assets;
D2 Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension schemes;
D3 Other gains/(losses); and
E Reconciliation of funds.

C. Balance Sheet

	Total funds	Prior year funds	Further details
	£	£
Fixed assets:			A
Intangible assets			A1
Tangible assets			A2
Heritage assets			A3
Investments			A4
Total fxed assets	0
Current assets:			B
Stocks			B1
Debtors			B2
Investments			B3
Cash at bank and in hand			B4

DARA BASCARA TRUST

Trustees’ Annual Report

Total current assets	0
Liabilites:		C
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year		C1
Net current assets or liabilites	0	s
Total assets less current liabilites	0
Creditors: Amounts falling due more than one year		C2
Provisions for liabilites		C3
Net asset or liabilites excluding pension asset or liability
Defned beneft pension scheme asset or liability		C4
Total net assets or liabilites	0
The funds of the charity:		D
Endowment funds		D1
Restricted income funds		D2
Unrestricted funds		D3
Revaluaton reserve		D4
Pension reserve		D5
Total unrestricted funds	0
Total charity funds	0

OpenCharities

Table of Contents

I. Legal and Administrative Information

A. Overview

B. Charitable Objects

C. Public Benefit

D. Strategy

E. Vision

II. Report of the Management Committee

III. Finances

C. Balance Sheet

DARA BASCARA TRUST