Registered Charity Number: 1198976
Friends for Life Aid
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
Registered Charity Number: 1198976
Contents
1. Charity Information............................................................................................................1 2. Trustee Report .................................................................................................................... 2 3. Objectives and Activities.................................................................................................. 2 4. Public Benefit Statement .................................................................................................. 2 5. Achievement and Performance this year………………………………………..…….3 6. Fundraising Approach……………………………………………………………..…….3 7. Financial Review………………………………………………….……………...…….3-4 8. Principal Risks and Uncertainties……………………………….…………………….4 9. Structure, Governance and Management……………………….……………………4 10. Future Plans……………………………………………………….………………….....5 11. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities…………………………..…………….…….5 12. Financial Statement…………………………………………………..……………...….6 Statement of Financial Activities……………………………………….………………...6 Balance Sheet………………………………………………………………..…………….…7
Registered Charity Number: 1198976
1. Charity Information and Administrative Details
Registered name: Friends for Life Aid (FFLA)
Charitable status: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Registered charity number: 1198976
Registered address: Flat 11, Icarus House, London E3 4LZ
Correspondence: Arif Ahmad (Trustee), Flat 11, Icarus House, London E3 4LZ
Bankers: Metro Bank, One Southampton Row, London WC1B 5HA
Trustees who served during the year and to the date of approval:
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Tajab Chowdhury – Chair of Trustees
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Arif Ahmad – Trustee
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Muhammed Miah – Trustee
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
2. Trustees’ Annual Report (for the year ended 31 March 2025)
The trustee presents their report together with the set of financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
The Friends for Life Aid (“the Charity”) is registered in England and Wales in May 2022 with primary aim to help provide “Education for people living in poverty, aiming to support disadvantaged communities through education initiatives.”
The Trustees and voluntary members of the Committee undertake the day-today management of the Charity voluntarily and without seeking any individual benefits or reward which is central to the ethos of the Charity. Noone is paid or allowed to derive financial benefit from providing any support in providing the delivery of the FFLA objects.
3. Objectives and Activities
Objects : The charity’s objects are to advance education for the public benefit, with a particular focus on people living in poverty, principally in underprivileged and deprived areas of Bangladesh.
Main activities undertaken to further these purposes:
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Fundraising from the public and supporters to resource educational and community projects;
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Grant-making and support to partner institutions that provide social, cultural and educational learning spaces for people from deprived backgrounds;
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Volunteer-led oversight and monitoring of projects to ensure funds are used for charitable purposes only.
4. Public Benefit Statement
The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance and that the activities carried out during the year directly further FFLA’s charitable purposes for the public benefit. Beneficiaries include disadvantaged children, young people and their communities in Bangladesh, who gain access to educational resources, facilities and opportunities they would not otherwise have.
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
5. Achievement and Performance this year
Despite a challenging economic environment for fundraising, with cost-of-living pressures affecting donor giving, FFLA successfully delivered two targeted appeals during the year:
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2024 Bangladesh Flood Appeal – emergency relief was delivered through trusted local partners, addressing essential needs and reaching targeted beneficiaries.
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2024 Kalamakanda Masjid Project Appeal in Netrokuna – support contributed to capital improvements for community learning spaces and facilities, completed as planned.
The trustees are grateful to donors and volunteers for their continued commitment. No staff were employed during the year; all activity was carried out by trustees and volunteers.
6. Fundraising Approach
FFLA undertakes low-risk, volunteer-led fundraising from the public and its supporter base. The charity is not registered with the Fundraising Regulator; however, the trustees aim to follow the spirit of the Code of Fundraising Practice, ensuring respectful engagement with donors and prompt handling of any complaints. No complaints were received in the year.
7. Financial Review
Overall result for the year : The charity reports a net surplus for the year, resulting in closing free reserves of £3,014 at 31 March 2025. (Accompanying financial statements.)
Reclassification of opening balance : The opening funds brought forward have been corrected by £600 (reclassifying an amount previously shown within creditors), resulting in corrected brought-forward funds of £2,452.
Principal funding sources: unrestricted donations from the public and income from specific appeals.
Reserves policy : The trustees aim to maintain a modest level of unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover essential governance and administrative costs and to provide resilience when planning projects. At year end, free reserves were modest but adequate for the size of the charity.
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
Going concern: The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties affecting the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these accounts.
8. Principal Risks and Uncertainties
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Compliance and safeguarding risks associated with working through partners overseas – mitigated by due diligence, simple grant agreements and activity reporting;
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Financial controls and fraud risk – mitigated by dual authorisation of payments, oversight by trustees and maintaining clear records;
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Reputational and fundraising risk – mitigated by transparent reporting and careful campaign planning.
The trustees review risks periodically and will consider forming subcommittees as activity grows.
9. Structure, Governance and Management
FFLA is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by its constitution. Day-to-day management is undertaken by the trustees with support from volunteers; no trustees or volunteers received remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year. There were no related party transactions.
Trustee recruitment, induction and training: Trustees are appointed in line with the constitution. New trustees receive an induction covering the charity’s purposes, policies, finances and the Charity Commission’s guidance for trustees. The board meets regularly (virtually and in person) and decisions are made collectively.
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
10. Future Plans
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Website and digital presence: phased rollout of an information site with donation capability, subject to funding;
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Digital outreach: Expanding use of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to reach donors and beneficiaries;.
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Fundraising: continue to mobilise support from the public and regular donors, and explore supplementary income streams to support education-focused grants and projects.
11. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards . The law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP, where applicable;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable law and regulation (SORP 2019). The trustees 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.
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
12. Financial Statement
The Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 March 2025, together with the related notes and accounting policies, form part of these financial statements and are presented in the following pages or as an appendix to this report.
| Statement of financial activities (SOFA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| For the year ended 31st March 2025 | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Income from: | ||
| Donations and legacies | 12,367 | 1,420 |
| Charitable activities | - | - |
| Other activities | - | - |
| Total income | 12,367 | 1,420 |
| Expenditure on: | ||
| Raising funds: | ||
| Costs of Operating activity | - | 300 |
| Expenditure on raising funds | 310 | - |
| Charitable activities | ||
| Other activities - Direct Costs | 11,495 | - |
| Total expenditure | 11,805 | 300 |
| Net income/(expenditure) before net gains/(losses) on investments |
562 | 1,120 |
| Net gains/(losses) on investments | - | - |
| Net Income/ (expenditure) | 562 | 1,120 |
| Transfers between funds | - | - |
| Net movement in funds | 562 | 1,120 |
| Reconciliation of funds: | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 2,452 | 732 |
| Total funds carried forward | 3,014 | 1,852 |
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Registered Charity Number: 1198976
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Balance sheets
As at 31st March 2025
2025 2024
Total Total
£ £
Fixed assets:
- -
Tangible assets
- -
Investment properties
Investments - -
Current assets:
Stock - -
Debtors - -
Cash at bank and in hand 3,014 2,452
3,014 2,452
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year - 600
Net current assets 3,014 1,852
Total assets less current liabilities 3,014 1,852
- -
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Total net assets 3,014 1,852
Funds:
Restricted income funds - -
Unrestricted income funds:
- -
Designated funds
General funds - -
Total unrestricted funds - -
Total charity funds 3,014 1,852
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Approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 27.01.26.
Tajab Chowdhury (Chair of Trustees)
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