Trustees’ Annual Report
Reporting Period: 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Charity name: Food for a Future
Charity registration number: 1197539
Objectives and Activities
Food for a Future is a UK charity dedicated to relieving poverty and financial hardship for children and families in Cambodia. Our primary objective is to support education, training, and access to essential foods and goods/services to enable impoverished children to attend school and improve their educational opportunities.
During the reporting year, our charity focused on three main programmes. Our education programme continued to provide underprivileged children with access to education by supplying rice to feed families, along with provisions including school supplies and learning materials. This initiative has empowered children, who would otherwise have no access to an education, to attend school and enhance their educational prospects.
We also maintained our sewing programme, which equips young women with valuable vocational skills through training in sewing and tailoring. This programme enhances their employability and provides them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
In response to the evolving needs of the community, we introduced new language classes for English and French, aimed at improving language skills and expanding educational opportunities for children and young adults.
We have currently suspended our mechanics programme during this reporting year and are not adding any new students to that initiative.
These programmes have made a significant impact in alleviating poverty and financial hardship among children and families in Cambodia. By empowering them with education and sustainable skills, we strive to break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for the communities we serve.
As trustees of Food for a Future, we confirm our adherence to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. We have diligently considered the Commission's guidance in our decision-making processes, ensuring that our charitable activities align with the Commission's principles and objectives. By doing so, we aim to maximize the positive impact of our work and fulfil our duty to effectively serve the public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
We are delighted to report on the significant achievements of Food for the Future and the positive impact we have made on the lives of our beneficiaries and society as a whole during the reporting period:
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Education Programme:
This year, our monthly sponsorship of rice has allowed us to support 16 students in attending school in Cambodia. By tackling food insecurity, we have empowered these students to concentrate on their education, alleviating the pressures of hunger and the need to work to support their families. Many of these students have demonstrated significant progress, consistently attending classes, and their accomplishments are well-documented through attendance records and report cards. Our ongoing partnership with the school head and the village chief has been instrumental in ensuring our initiatives are effectively aligned with the educational needs of the students.
Sewing Programme:
This year we continued the ‘Learn to Sew’ programme which is an apprenticeship scheme that has empowered young women in our sponsored village to become qualified seamstresses. In addition to sewing, participants are also being taught crochet skills, enabling them to create items that can be sold to tourists The students on the programme receive training from qualified sewing teachers, equipping them with advanced sewing skills. This programme not only provides economic opportunities for the participants but also contributes to the development of a sustainable local industry. Several of the students completed the sewing programme during the reporting period and we are assisting them with the marketing efforts to sell their products to local hotels and hospitality outlets.
Mechanics Programme:
Our initial cohort of 5 students have finished the mechanics progrmame. Based on the advice of our local coordinator, who assessed his ability to effectively monitor and manage the programme, we will not be adding any new students to the mechanics programme at this time. Instead, we will focus our efforts on our education, sewing, and language programmes, ensuring that we continue to empower more individuals through these vital initiatives.
Health & Wellbeing:
Our local coordinator in Siem Reap works diligently with the Village Chief and local health centres to educate families and individuals on preventative hygiene measures. We assist by providing basic sanitary and hygiene products, as well as provide talks and training by our local coordinator contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of the community.
Official Charitable Registration:
Food for a Future continued to be registered as an official a charity in both the United Kingdom and Cambodia. This registration solidifies our commitment to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the highest standards of governance. It also strengthens our ability to serve our beneficiaries effectively and attract further support for our charitable endeavours.
Overall, the achievements of Food for a Future have made a tangible difference in the circumstances of our beneficiaries. Through our various programmes, we have empowered individuals, provided educational opportunities, improved livelihoods, and contributed to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. We are immensely proud of our accomplishments and remain dedicated to creating a positive impact on society as a whole.
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Financial Review
We have conducted a thorough review of the charity's financial position, encompassing income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. We are pleased to report a healthy financial position, with diversified income sources and efficient expense management. Detailed information can be found in the financial statements. It should be noted that minimal reserves are held to ensure the sustained continuity of our programmes, recognizing that interrupting children's schooling at any time would be detrimental. The amount of reserve held at the end of the reporting period totalled: £9,498.
We would like to emphasize that no remuneration is paid to any of our trustees or our local coordinator in Siem Reap, and all activities involved in running and managing the charity are conducted on a purely voluntary basis. Our trustees and local coordinator generously contribute their time, expertise, and resources without any financial compensation. This commitment ensures that the resources and funds received by the charity are maximized for the intended beneficiaries, allowing us to make a greater impact in fulfilling our mission. We are grateful for the selfless dedication of our trustees and volunteers, whose efforts are instrumental in the success of our charitable endeavors.
Principal Sources of Funds:
During the reporting period, the principal sources of funds for our charity were primarily from individuals who generously sponsored our students and programmes. Their support played a crucial role in enabling us to provide educational opportunities, vocational training, and essential resources to our beneficiaries. We are deeply grateful to all our donors and sponsors for their invaluable support, which has been vital in driving the success of our charitable endeavours.
Investment Policy and Objectives:
We prioritise investing in projects and initiatives that align with our charitable mission and have a positive impact on society. Through this strategy, we aim to support initiatives that address pressing social and environmental challenges, such as our education, sewing, and language programmes. By leveraging our financial resources, we not only create direct benefits for our beneficiaries but also contribute to wider societal benefits, such as poverty alleviation, skills development, and sustainable industries. Our investment policy reflects our commitment to responsible and impactful investing, ensuring that our financial resources are aligned with our charitable goals and contribute to positive social change.
Risks and Assessment:
While our work has yielded significant achievements, we recognize the potential challenges that may impact our operations and ability to fulfil our mission effectively. Some key risks include:
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Operational and Logistical Challenges: As we work in a developing country, we face operational and logistical risks, including infrastructure limitations, political instability, and regulatory changes, which may hinder the smooth implementation of our programmes.
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Programme Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our programmes, such as the education, sewing, and language initiatives, requires ongoing support, capacity building, and community engagement. Failure to address these factors may undermine the effectiveness and impact of our efforts.
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- External Factors : External factors beyond our control, such as natural disasters, public health emergencies, or changes in government policies, can significantly impact our operations and the communities we serve.
We continue to look at ways to mitigate these risks by considering diversifying our funding sources, conducting risk assessments, maintaining financial reserves, and establishing contingency plans. We are committed to actively monitoring and addressing these risks to safeguard the continuity and success of our charitable endeavours.
Structure, Governance and Management
Our charity operates under a Constitution/Trust Deed, which serves as our governing document. It outlines our purpose, structure, governance arrangements, and legal obligations, providing the framework for our charitable activities. The charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Trustees
In accordance with our charity's constitution, the trustee selection methods are as follows:
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Eligibility: Every charity trustee must be a natural person.
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Age Restriction: No individual under the age of 18 years can be appointed as a charity trustee of the CIO.
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Automatic Cessation: No individual can be appointed as a charity trustee if they would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause [12(1)(e)].
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Acceptance of Office: Before acting as a charity trustee, whether through appointment or re-appointment, the individual must expressly acknowledge their acceptance of the office of charity trustee. The specific method of acknowledgment is determined by the charity trustees.
These constitutional provisions ensure that trustee selection is conducted in accordance with the age requirements, eligibility criteria, and acceptance of office, as outlined in our charity's constitution.
Our charity has established policies and procedures to ensure effective induction and training of trustees. New trustees receive important documents, including the Constitution and the latest Trustees' Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, to familiarize themselves with our governance framework and financial position. While an orientation visit to our operations in Siem Reap may not always be feasible, we highly value its potential benefits in providing firsthand insights and enhancing trustees' understanding of our charitable work.
Organisational Structure:
Our charity operates under an organizational structure which includes a Board of Trustees overseeing the governance and strategic direction of our organization. Additionally, we have a local coordinator based in Siem Reap who plays a crucial role in managing and coordinating our operations on the ground. This structure ensures effective decision-making, accountability, and efficient implementation of our charitable activities in the community of Siem Reap.
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Related Parties:
In our Annual Report, we disclose the presence of related parties among our trustees. This includes a disclosure that siblings hold positions as trustees, as well as the disclosure that one of the trustees is the daughter of another trustee. We want to assure our stakeholders that despite these familial relationships, we uphold transparency, fairness, and good governance to ensure that all decisions are made in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries, free from any preferential treatment based on family ties
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Food for a Future |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | N/A |
| Registered charity number | 1197539 |
| Charity’s principal address | Pwllmeyric Lodge, Badger’s Meadow Pwllmeyric, Chepstow, NP16 6LE Monmouthshire |
Charity Trustees Who Manage the Charity:
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Gittins | Chair | FullyAppointed duringreporting period |
| Samantha Man | Secretary | FullyAppointed duringreporting period |
| James Lovell | FullyAppointed duringreporting period | |
| Alice Gittins | FullyAppointed duringreporting period |
Declarations
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above:
Submitted on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Full Name: Sarah Louise Gittins Position: Chair Date: 26 October 2025
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Charity Name
No (if any)
Receipts and payments accountspts and payments accountsts and payments accountspayments accountsayments accountsyments accountsments accounts
Receipts and payments accountspts and payments accountsts and payments accountspayments accountsayments accountsyments accountsments accounts CC16a For the period 1st Jan 2024 31-Dec-24 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income from Sponsors |
4339 | - | - | 4,339 | - | ||||
| Gift Aid | 1,873 | - | - | 1,873 | - | ||||
| Bank Interest | 59 | - | - | 59 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 6,271 | - | - | 6,271 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
Expenditure |
5,147 | - | - | 5,147 | - | ||||
| Bank Charges | 314 | - | - | 314 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 5,461 | - | - | 5,461 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| 810 | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 810 | - |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Categories B1 Cash funds |
1 Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Cash in Bank at end of Dec 2024 |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 9,498 - - 9,498 Agreement Error |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| 10/26/25 OK |
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details Details Details Details S Man Signature SLGittins |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name SarahGittins Samantha Man |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval | |||
| SLGittins | SarahGittins | 26-Oct-25 | |
| S Man | Samantha Man | 26-Oct-25 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
10/26/25
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