ROOT AND BRANCH CHANGE A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Registration Number 1199565 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 ROOT & BRANCH CHANGE ## ROOT AND BRANCH CHANGE A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Registration Number: 1199565 |Registered Office:|19 Bevan Hill| |---|---| ||Chesham| ||Buckinghamshire| ||HP5 2QS| |Bankers:|Lloyds Bank PLC| ||Business Banking| ||PO Box 1052| ||Cardiff| ||CF11 1LJ| |Trustees:|P H Brooks (Executive Chairman)| ||T B Grist| ||J S Spence| |Independent Financial|Examiner| ||Selli & Co| ||c/o LAS ACC Ltd| ||No.1 Royal Exchange| ||London| ||EC3V 3DG| ## **ROOT AND BRANCH CHANGE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 April 2024**_ ## **The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024.** The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the Charity Commission for Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) with an income of over £25,000. ## **Objectives and Activities** The objects of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation are, for public benefit: 1. To prevent or relieve poverty in South Africa, in particular but not exclusively in the township of Munsieville and surrounding areas, by providing grants, items and services (including advocacy and education) to children and families in need and/or charities and other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty amongst children and families 2. To advance the Christian religion in accordance with the statement of faith in the United Kingdom and South Africa, in particular but not exclusively through educating the public about the Christian religion and arranging missionary and outreach work amongst communities in financial hardship. There have been no changes to these objectives since the last annual report. When planning the activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that the Charity’s activities met the principles laid out in that guidance. The Charity aims to benefit the public in the communities with which it works by raising funds and donations and undertaking activities for the prevention and relief of poverty and its impact on children and their families in Munsieville township, South Africa, and the development of long term strategies leading to improvements in the health, security and well-being of vulnerable children that can be sustained in the long term, with or without the direct involvement of the Charity. The Trustees have also worked to advance the knowledge and personal experience of individuals and churches regarding the central place within Christian discipleship of care and justice for poor, vulnerable and marginalised children in South Africa as well as in the United Kingdom. In the period to 5 April 2024, the Trustees agreed that the Charity would devote its best efforts to the further development of its strategy to support the rescue, care and protection of children in or close to Munsieville township who have experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse, neglect or abandonment, providing support either directly to those in need, or supporting carefully selected partners to act on its behalf. The Trustees recognise that whilst abuse, neglect and abandonment of children is, to some extent, driven by poverty, it also perpetuates trans-generational poverty by limiting vital social development and access to education of children, restricting their opportunity to emerge into adulthood with the capacity to contribute positively to society and to their own future families. With this in mind, they are seeking to develop a core specialism in the prevention of family-based mistreatment of children, and in the challenge of transforming situations where abuse and neglect have occurred. These objectives have been greatly enhanced by the actions of the Charity over the period covered by this report. ## **Grant making policy** Root and Branch Change voluntarily agrees to work with other organisations to deliver some activities on its behalf. It does not consider unsolicited funding requests from external organisations. Small grants are made to individuals with the care of vulnerable children in our primary area of operation, who may be passing through a time of crisis. Such grants will only be considered when application is made to the Trustees by partner organisations in good standing with the Charity. The Charity may, from time to time, provide gift in kind donations to external charitable organisations to undertake certain humanitarian activities that were pre-determined by the Trustees, being consistent with the objects of the Charity, and are in line with the strategic objectives of Root and Branch Change. ## **Achievements and performance** Root and Branch Change has made strenuous efforts over the year to establish its UK team of Trustees, advisors and operational volunteers, at the same time as working with its partners and contacts in South Africa to assess how the new Charity can make the most impactful and sustainable contribution to overcoming the challenges faced by children and families in the township of Munsieville, Gauteng Province, South Africa - challenges that have resisted attempts to address them for over a century. The township and its immediate catchment area has an estimated population of some 60,000 people including over 25,000 infants, children and young people, two thirds of whom being defined as vulnerable using criteria established by UNICEF. Although Root and Branch Change is a new organisation set up to address the specific needs of children who are likely to fall through the “net” of services delivered by state providers or other NGOs, its founders have over two decades of combined experience in this very township, having overseen significant improvements in the health and well-being of children as a result of systematic and committed targeting of resources on core contributors to trans-generational transmission of poverty, poverty and deprivation that has become the accepted norm in Munsieville. The Trustees have an unshakable belief that significant, lasting change can be experienced by the most vulnerable people in the community – babies and infants who have been, or are likely to be, victims of serious abuse, neglect and abandonment. Along with rescue, protection and nurturing children so affected, the Charity has undertaken extensive consultation with local partners in support of its strategic aim of preventing such traumatic adverse experiences by establishing in-depth support for young, inexperienced parents and high numbers of young school-age girls who become pregnant, often as a consequence of rape, incest or coercion. Throughout this reporting period, we have made advances in four key areas, all linked to our long-term objectives, seeking to lay firm foundations for our agenda of change within Munsieville, South Africa, and with churches in the UK: - 1) **Child rescue** . Over the year, we have identified a number of people in Munsieville who, in our opinion, have the skills, attitudes and confidence to provide temporary refuge for babies and infants who have suffered serious abuse, neglect or abandonment, and for whom there are no other suitable places of safety. These people have been endorsed and approved by local Department of Social Development officers and have received training and mentoring. We have successfully placed children into the care of these people for short-term care, affording an opportunity for courts, social workers, police and other agencies to undertake their work in determining the best long-term care arrangements. Those providing this crisis care are individuals from within Munsieville who are members in good standing within local churches, so they have a structured support network to assist with their caring responsibilities. This experience, and the ongoing dialogue with the various agencies involved, is proving most valuable to the Trustees as they seek to build strength and resilience into their future strategy. Over the year, seven children were provided with emergency residential care due to a crisis, with the cost of their care being grant funded by Root and Branch Change. - 2) **Prevention of child abuse, neglect and abandonment.** Whilst the provision of emergency care is important to the Charity, our main long-term focus is on prevention of family-based abuse, neglect and abandonment. To this end, the Charity has engaged in consultation with its network of individuals and organisations involved in the support of families, children and young people, to gather the evidence that will inform the organisation in its efforts to establish the strongest possible service to support the many young girls who become pregnant, frequently having babies in secret, subject themselves to risky “back-street” abortions, or find it impossible to care for their newborn babies, leading to catastrophic abandonment or infanticide. With the information, experience and evidence from this ongoing consultation, the Trustees visited Munsieville in April 2023 to hold further planning meetings with local practitioners and to undertake a two-day round table conference with a view to initiating an effective local network to develop effective abuse prevention services. In January 2024, the Executive Chairman visited the township, along with a senior adviser, engaging in further consultations leading recommendations to the Trustees to embark on the development of a comprehensive service to be known as “ **GA O NOSI** ” (You are Never Alone in the Setswana language), set to become the defining programme of the Charity. Ga O Nosi has the following core components: **IMMEDIATE CRISIS CARE** for any young child or teenager who discovers that she is pregnant and is in urgent need of a trusted “champion” who will support her through every stage of her crisis, working, as appropriate, with statutory and volunteer service providers to equip her for the very best outcome possible for her **SISTERS IN MOTHERHOOD** – a dedicated service to equip teenage mothers who have decided to care for their children with comprehensive parenting skills, within a club-based mutual support setting with three tiers, the final tier aimed at those with latent leadership potential, equipping them for future roles in delivering the service to other teenage mothers in the future. **SCHOOLS-BASED OUTREACH SERVICE** – with teenage pregnancy being recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing teens across South Africa, largely driven directly or indirectly by poverty, and contributing significantly to further trans-generational transmission of poverty, the Charity will invest a major part of its resources in a dynamic service with a range of tools and a variety of approaches to tackle the issue head on, with the willing participation of all local primary and secondary schools. The Trustees are committed to drive cultural change and to drive forward significant and measurable reductions in child/teen pregnancy over the coming decade. - 3) **Empowering belief.** Consistent with the Christian beliefs that are foundational to Root and Branch Change, we are committed to the mobilisation of Christian young people from within our South African host communities and in the UK, in biblical and transformational mission, consistent with the objects of the Charity, and in particular, Objective 2 above. We have, over this reporting period, undertaken actions to strengthen our partnerships with churches close to our UK base, most notably St Mary’s Church and Emmanuel Church, Chesham, and in South Africa, with Real Life Church, Krugersdorp. From the UK churches, we have agreed to undertake a two-week youth mission to Munsieville township in July 2024, and have provided training and mentoring to 23 young participants and eight leaders. The young people will join forces with young people from Munsieville to undertake a variety of projects including “shack-home” safety, and the extensive interior and exterior design, landscaping and the construction of outside terraces and gardens at a purpose-built youth centre being constructed at the township’s renowned children and teenagers health campus, Hope Park. We have also invested time in cultivating strong working relations with Real Life Church, involving them in helping to shape a vibrant new Christian hub within Munsieville, to help nurture practical, outwardfocused Christian discipleship. - 4) **Developing a sustainable support structure in the UK.** Committed to developing a sustainable future for the new Charity, the Trustees have continued their endeavours to broaden its support base in the UK, and to establish an income generating project to raise renewable funding for ongoing operations in South Africa. Whilst the number of committed financial donors remains relatively low, this has quadrupled over the year, and we continue efforts to grow the capacity of the organisation to manage steady increases in both the quantity of donors over the coming years as well as their loyalty through active participation in the work of the Charity. - With our fundraising garden plant growing operation now established in Chesham, on land provided on a rent-free basis by Pressmore Farm Estate, our volunteers are now ready to start offering plants for sale from the beginning of the financial year commencing 6 April 24. Our aim in the first year of such activity is to establish a loyal following from local gardeners and householders and to achieve a breakeven position in its first year, leading to a modest surplus in year two, leading to between ten and fifteen percent of the charities costs coming through this operation by the end of the third year of operations. The Trustees acknowledge, with great appreciation, the steadfast and loyal support of those volunteering at the nursery, and to a number of artisans and crafters who have wished to support the Charity by selling their products at plant sales throughout the year. ## **Safeguarding** The Trustees recognise that they bear a heavy responsibility for the safeguarding of the children, young people and families in South Africa for which the Charity exists, for its volunteers and stakeholders, any staff, paid or unpaid, whom it may employ, and for all participants in the work of the Charity. They are aware of the added complications imposed on the Charity by virtue of the extreme vulnerability of many of its beneficiaries and the difficulties of working under more than one regulatory jurisdiction. Prior to its registration by the Charity Commission in July 2022, the Trustee Board adopted robust policies and procedures covering the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, safer employment/engagement, and working/volunteering overseas, and other related topics. In a bid to remain at the cutting edge of “best practise” in safeguarding, the Trustees have agreed to join non-profit safeguarding organisation, Thirtyone:eight, through which policies and training will be further developed and DBS checks managed. ## **Fundraising** Over the year, Root and Branch Change has been sustained through the generous and committed support of a number of individuals. This has been augmented by the proceeds of fundraising sales of plants and gifts. The Charity is committed to develop a sustainable income stream from garden plant-growing activities operated by volunteers, and has further developed its charitable plant nursery facility in Buckinghamshire, attracting a loyal base of supporters for the charity. The Charity acknowledges the support of the Anglican Parish of Great Chesham (UK), and of St Mary’s Church, Chesham in particular, which has adopted Root and Branch Change as an official Mission Partner. Although this arrangement does not include regular direct funding, members of the St Mary’s congregation are currently a most significant source of income. In addition to this, the Parish of Great Chesham is currently engaged with the Charity in a joint project to give practical mission experience in South Africa to 23 young people and eight leaders from its churches and is providing funding for this activity which will take place in July 2024. In February 2024, the Trustees agreed to work with local stakeholders in Munsieville, South Africa, to develop a comprehensive new service called “Ga O Nosi”, detailed in the section above (Achievements and Performance). A small number of individuals and families have provided funds to help initiate this long-term initiative – funds that be carried over into our next financial year as restricted funds. The Trustees acknowledge these generous donations with gratitude, not least for the faith implicit in them in the capacity of the Charity to deliver the project with excellence. ## **Voluntary help and donations in kind** All Trustees gave their time freely and without charge. We acknowledge and greatly appreciate the provision of rent-free land and services (for the Charity’s plant nursery) at Pressmore Farm, Ashley Green Road, Chesham. We are greatly indebted to a small band of faithful volunteers who have consistently gone above and beyond what could normally be expected, to facilitate activities in both Munsieville, and in Chesham, and are thankful and excited about our collaboration with The House of Tree at Pressmore Farm, Chesham, which is supporting our work to develop our nursery and adjacent community garden as both an income stream for the benefit of children in Munsieville, but also as a base to engage more people in the UK in creating solutions for children in Munsieville whom they are unlikely to ever meet. ## **Reserves** Root and Branch Change uses its resources efficiently and effectively which is evidenced by: - 1) Very low frictional costs. We currently pay no staff – all personnel are volunteers, pay only very limited out of pocket expenses, and use office space and other property on a rent-free basis. - 2) Delivering what we promised. All commitments have been honoured and no commitments are made by the trustees without robust plans for how they will be paid for. - 3) Putting money raised to work. Root and Branch Change puts cash to work and runs with low reserves. This has been made possible by our low overheads and a low fixed cost structure that allows us to deliver a low burden of costs, as above. A higher level of reserves can be carried at any time if required by donors. The Charity has become more established over the period covered by this report and expects that in the coming year (ending 5 April 2025) it will undertake projects and initiatives that involve financial commitments and contracts that include notice periods for individuals and organisations providing services for the charity. When such obligations are accepted by the Charity, the Trustees will maintain reserves at a level to fulfil such obligations. ## **Risk management** The Trustees operate a rolling risk assessment programme, with quarterly review, covering the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, including those relating to the operations, volunteers, beneficiaries of the charity, the finances of the charity and the low levels of free reserves it carries. They are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks in the UK and in its activity in South Africa. ## **Structure, governance, and management** Root and Branch Change is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its Constitution. It is governed by a Board of Trustees who are all volunteers who give their time without remuneration and required to be members of the charity. The Trustees who served during the year are as follows: P H Brooks (Executive Chairman) TB Grist JS Spence The election of members to the Board, in place of those retiring, takes place at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees may appoint any member to the Board to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Trustee. A Trustee so appointed shall hold office only until the next Annual General Meeting when he/she shall retire and be eligible for reappointment for a three-year term. When recruiting new Trustees, the Board makes enquiries with its advisors, and with relevant external bodies, in a bid to attract candidates with skills and experiences appropriate to the perceived needs of the charity at that time. Training and mentoring are made available to Trustees as appropriate, to equip them to fulfil their duties in accordance with voluntary sector best practice and external requirements. The Executive Chairman and operational team of volunteers is charged with the responsibility to execute the day-to-day operations operations of the charity in accordance with the policies, procedures and budgets approved by the Board of Trustees. The Charity has no share capital or debentures. ## **Strategic plans for the future:** The focus of the charity over the coming year will be to strengthen its capacity to deliver vital services to children and families in crisis in Munsieville township, in particular to: - 1) Appoint a Project Leader for the Ga O Nosi programme for the prevention of child/teen pregnancy, and the care and support of those young people who experience unwanted pregnancy or who already have a young child. Assist this leader to become well established in the wider community of Munsieville and to embed the Ga O Nosi project as a valued stakeholder within Hope Park Health Campus for Children and Young People. - 2) To organise an official launch of the Ga O Nosi programme in Munsieville by the end of the next financial year, with its three primary components (crisis care, Sisters in Motherhood parenting club, and teen pregnancy prevention) ready to deliver measurable changes. - 3) Establish clear and effective channels for the lawful collection of data and evidence of the impact of Ga O Nosi to inform further expansion of the project within Munsieville and in other locations in South Africa in the future. - 4) To strengthen the Trustee board with additional members with relevant skills, raising the number of Trustees to six, and to move to a “cabinet-style” of operation with Trustees having responsibility for specific “portfolios” on which they will report to the Trustee board. - 5) To increase committed, regular donations to the charity by fifty percent by the end of the year ending 5 April 2025, and supporting the charity’s sustainability by achieving at least ten percent of its income from garden plant sales and through fundraising markets and fairs by the close of the financial year ending 5 April 2027. - 6) Creating a new ongoing programme to mobilise young Christians in South Africa and in the UK, to become effective change-makers in their own locality as well as in Munsieville and similar settings in South Africa. To this end, we aim to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with churches to achieve specific objectives that will measurably develop the understanding of, and commitment to, radical, outward-looking, Christ-centred discipleship. The Trustees' Report was approved by the Board of Trustees. SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES **Paul H Brooks** Chair of Trustee Board DATED: 22 January 2025 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENfjLANO ANO WALE5 Rootand Branch ChoTr Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from 6th A ril 2023 5th April 2024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrèstrictèd funds Rèstrictod funds Endowmont fund8 Totsl fund8 La8tyoar toth• n•ar4•t tr*th¥ wrMt£ ttstM n••r••t£ toth• nHrnJt£ toth• nwrnt£ A1 Re¢elpts Donat￿n$ 17.141 2,$58 2,089 17,14S 2,9D2 2,889 45,295 1S,8J2 2,83T 148 Gfft Trading Profft Youth m￿On 45,295 Sub totalfGft)ss income for ARJ 22,S93 45,639 68,232 1(B37 A2 A558t and Invostmèntsalos, 1888 tsblel. Sub total 22,693 45,639 68.232 18,837 A3Pa ments ch1trj￿re & Field Support * Chrisknas Mission 3,15B 522 3.037 3,1fj8 522 3.037 3,693 1,668 277 $,71¥J 1A01 Repairn and RenewAL4 Travel & AoxmmDdaknL Equipment Phune & IT Bank Chats8 Sundnes Youth MiSs￿n 1249 1,68B 277 337 61 362 27,346 27,346 Sub total 111.471 25,599 40.066 .B81 A4 Asset and investment purchases.15eo table) 3,27 &27B Sub total J.278 3,278 Totslpayment t3.749 29,596 4&344 9,861 N•t of r•e•ipts/(payments) A5 Transfers belw88n funds A8 Ca$h tund$ last year end Cash funds this y￿r •nd 16.044 24,888 8,976 6,317 15,161 6,317 31.205 16,044 B,576 CCXX R1 acr4)unts ISSI 20101￿025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr05tricttrd funds Rpstri¢ted funds Endowtntfit lunds B1 Cash fund5 ¢86h 13.Bfj6 10.731 Tolal cash funds 13,￿9 16,731 Unrfrstricted furK15 to Mar•stE Restri¢tsd funds to Mir•4t£ Endowrnent nds to n••r••t£ Details GfftAvJ 82 Othor monetary assets 1.940 252 stock 90D Inwrdrhce 10Z Fund tvwhkh 4o$•tts$k*n Details Colt lopYoMII curr•￿tY51￿• B3 Investment ass?ts Fund •5s•tb•bn Cost lopdonall curr#￿1Valu onal 84 A880ts rotalnad for th charlty'8 own uso Mu￿r 3278 Fund to whlch r•lats• mountdu Details onal BS Llabllltles by t￿￿try￿( bthaf of all the1n￿te Dale of roval Print Name Pdul H PKoDks 20101125 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI ROOT AND BRANCH CHANGE Charlty Reglstratlon Number 1199565 Statement of Financial Activities Perii)d ending 51412024 2024 2023 INCOME Donations Gift Aid Recovery Trading Profit 62441 2902 2889 15852 2837 148 68232 18837 LESS.. EXPENDITURE Childcare & Field Support Youth Mission Christmas Mission Marketing Repairs & Renewals Insurance Vehicle Costs Travel & Accommodation Phone & IT Safeguarding Bank Charges Equipment Sundries Depreciation 3158 27346 3624 3076 1481 80 522 3037 203 756 439 337 3693 277 145 61 1668 14 820 40886 9861 NET INCOME £27,346 £8.976 Note t Restricted Funds 2024 Youth Mission Re￿iptS Expenses Bal blf 45638 -27380 £18,258 ROOT & BRANCH CHANGE CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1199565 AS AT $1412024 BALANCE SHEET 2024 2023 FIXED ASSETS Cost Les$ DeP￿ClaI10n 3278 820 2458 ASSETS Stock Giftm'd Recovery Bank Cash Prepayrnenl Fllghls In Advan¢e 900 2222 30597 43 102 733 6264 53 2215 33864 9265 LESS.. LIABILITIES Expenses 289 NET CURRENT ASSETS 36322 8976 RESERVES Bal blf Nel Income Reslricled Funds 8976 £9,088 £18,258 8976 36322 8976 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Root and Branch Change On accounts for the year ended April 2024 Charity no lif any 1199565 Set out on pages I report to th8 trustees on my exarnination of the accounts of the above charity I'tha Trust'l for thè y88r èndèd 0510412024. Re5pon5ibilitie5 and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Gharilies Act 2011 Iyhe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirrn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connectK)n with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Date: 2010112025 Signed: Name: Neena Selli Relevant professional qualifi¢ationl$l or body Irf anyl- ACCA Address: Selli & Co CIO LAS ACC LTD. No.1 Royal Exchange. London. EC3V 3DG Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidan￿ for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to diselose.