TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AL-EHSAN FOUNDATION (UK) FINANCIAL YEAR – 01 APRIL 2023 – 31[st] MARCH 2024
INTRODUCTION
Having made a promising start towards the beginning of April 2023 the Trustees identified the outstanding issues to complete the administration and set up of the organisation and the main projects for the forthcoming year.
1. VOLUNTEERS
To complete the process of onboarding the volunteers on an official basis and to designate specific roles to them as befitting their areas of expertise.
2. FUNDING
Funding was divided into two parts. Firstly, the funding required to run the organisation and secondly, any funding raised to donate to good causes that have already been identified or to the general fund.
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(i) FUNDING FOR AL-EHSAN (ALEF) – It was agreed that for the forthcoming year, there would not be a specific drive to raise funding for offices/premises as remote working and meetings were working well. The previous year, the Charity was able to deliver a lot of its services at the client venue (e.g. schools, other NGO’s and Governmental organisations). When premises were required for in person events, ALEF was able to use premises of different organisations which were made available. The focus for the short term was to concentrate on establishing the organisation and promoting the works it carried out. In terms of the works carried out by volunteers, their expenses would be met directly by the organisations to which services were provided.
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(ii) FUNDING FOR GOOD CAUSES – There were a lot of approaches for help with funding for all types of causes both abroad and at home. Where possible people were redirected to existing organisations which better met their specific needs. One of the main aims of ALEF is to co-ordinate and work with other organisations so as not to duplicate work thereby depleting precious resources in both monetary and people terms. Organisations and individuals who needed financial assistance were helped to approach/apply to the correct agencies and government departments which were set up to deal with their queries/specific needs.
OVERSEAS CHARITABLE CAUSES _(please see bank account for more details)*_ – It was decided to promote small projects
which we could make a significant impact and once again in collaboration with other local charities and existing UK registered charities. Some of the projects that we helped raise funding for inter alia included:
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Funds to provide running water and sanitary conditions for a women and children’s health clinic in Gambia
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To provide some funding for the provision of a replacement roof and flooring for a mosque in Gambia
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Directing donations to charities dealing with poverty relief for women and orphans in Gambia, Bangladesh and Morocco.
3. WORK AND SERVICES CARRIED OUT
The Trustees are pleased to report that ALEF was able to despite setbacks (please see below) provide many of the services that it was set out to do. Particularly in collaboration with other NGO’S to provide services to the local community in the most efficient way possible for the benefit of all. Some of the works carried out by ALEF volunteers are as follows:
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SCHOOL VISITS – In conjunction with Trowbridge Mosque (one of the oldest established mosques in Wiltshire) to run school visits for local schools within Wiltshire, for the children to visit the mosque and to participate in workshops etc as part of their wider RE classes.
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Working alongside Wiltshire Police in an advisory capacity
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Meeting and liaising with other Faith organisations including Wiltshire Faith Communities Network
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Providing advice and assistant to SACRE – Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
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Working with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service)
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Providing advice and assistance to members of the local community on various matters, and where possible providing those individuals with the advice and assistance and where it is not within the experience or remit of ALEF volunteers putting them in touch with other more suitable organisations. In many cases due to the number of female volunteers who work with ALEF, we get approached to provide moral support and guidance to women who find themselves in difficulties..
4. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS/BANK ACCOUNT
As can be seen from the accompanying Annual Accounts, there has not been any further funds put into the bank account or monies taken out, so the amount has not changed from the Annual Accounts for the previous Financial Year 2022-2023. The bank account was not in operation for the last financial year due to severe health issues affecting some of the Trustees (see below). *Donations to overseas charitable causes (2 above) were done directly through third parties. ALEF promoted the causes and any money raised via ALEF’s promotions were asked to be paid directly to
the charities/individuals involved in raising funds for those causes. ALEF was not the main charity organising funds for those causes.
5. OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS
ALEF was in the process of starting many projects and bringing on additional volunteers to join but unfortunately during the second year of operation it was beset by two major setbacks. Firstly, during the latter part of 2023, the CEO suffered major debilitating health issues which meant that she had to take a back seat and was unable to work. With the CEO unable to continue, it was left to the remaining trustees and volunteers to carry on. However, things slowed significantly when a few months later the Chairman also fell seriously ill. With both the Chairman and CEO out of action, most of the formative work from website formation, on boarding volunteers and forging links with other organisations, funding etc were stopped. The volunteers and remaining founder/trustee who were already working on projects carried on with existing relationships. It is a testament to their hard work and commitment that ALEF was able to provide the services it did.
The CEO’s condition is now stable and returning back to normal slowly, and the Chairman is making good progress. It is a year since both experienced life changing medical conditions but God willing they should make a full recovery and be able to resume their roles fully.
FUTURE
Having started so well, due to the unforeseen events, ALEF as an organisation has not been able to develop as hoped. However, even with all the set back the need for ALEF to provide the services it was set up to do, is evident by all the work that the few volunteers who were able to continue has shown. Volunteers at ALEF are inundated with requests for help from both individuals and organisations and there is a clear need for the kind of work it aims to do. The next year will be crucial to ALEF’s future as a stand-alone organisation. With both the CEO and Chairman hoping to get back to carrying out more work in the next year, it is hoped ALEF can start to rebuild and deliver more of the services it was set up to do.
The Trustees of Al-Ehsan Foundation (UK ) January 2025
Al-Ehsan Foundation (UK)
| Statement of Accounts from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 | Statement of Accounts from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 | Statement of Accounts from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptions | **Summary of account ** | Comment |
| 2023/2024 Income | Income | Comments |
| Gen funds and Mosque working | £650.00 | This amount remains the same as 2022/2023 due to no fnancial activity |
| Charitable donation | £1000.00 | This amount remains the same as 2022/2023 due to no fnancial activity |
| Total Income | £1650.00 | |
| 2023/2024 Expenses | £0.00 | |
| Net Income | £1650.00 | |
Gen Funds-Running costs as defined by the trustees
Mosque- Funds collected towards building a Mosque or Mosques
Charitable Cause- To help community to eradicate poverty, help educate children from poor families and assist with higher education inUK and Overseas.
External training- Income received from school visits and training statutory bodies,
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