Trustees’ Annual Report 2024-2025
Charity Name: Chaffinch Registration Number: 1206986 Registered Address: 3 Spurr Court, York, YO24 3ND CEO: Sarah Woods
Trustees (for the period February 2024 to April 2025):
| Trustee Name | Office | Dates of Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Edwards | Chair | |
| Neil Hutton | Treasurer | |
| Paul Chaytor | Secretary | |
| Kate Williamson | ||
| Elizabeth Mandziuk | Appointed 25 November 2024 | |
| Susan Rippon | Appointed 25 November 2024 | |
| Sofia Alaines Guzzo | Appointed 25 November 2024 | |
| Lorenzo Amorosino | Appointed 20 January2025 |
Chaffinch is a newly incorporated charity, registered on 12 February 2024, with a constitution adopted on that date. It employs no staff and is managed by a Board of Trustees and volunteer CEO with support from other volunteers.
During this period, we welcomed four new trustees. Trustees are elected by membership vote, or by appointment by the charity trustees, and serve a term of 3 years, with eligibility for reelection, at AGM, for further 3 year periods.
For this period, Chaffinch has produced an annual report for members and supporters, giving details of the charity’s main activities and the impact of these achievements. Throughout, consideration of public benefit and risk awareness have been paramount in accordance with the requirements of registration as a charity.
The Reserves Policy allows for a reserve of approximately £5,000 to be maintained - equal to three times monthly income from the Child Sponsorship programme - to cover core running costs in the event of an unexpected shortfall in donations, plus the option of an additional £11,000 in a project reserve (if the Trustees so wish), giving a maximum reserve of £16,000. No project reserve was maintained in this period.
The Trustees declare that they have approved the combined annual report and financial accounts.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Ben Edwards Chair
C4rffiacl support1chIlIen lrt Ke#ya i• 2024 - 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Messages from the Chair and CEO Our Mission Our Impact Summary Our Work Impact Stories Raising Awareness Financials Fundraising Child Sponsorship Looking Ahead How You Can Help
Dear Supporters and Friends,
As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I am proud to present this year's annual report for Chaffinch. It has been a year of growth, resilience, and renewed commitment to our mission of supporting vulnerable children in Kibera. Our flagship partnership with Future Stars continues to provide life-changing support in the form of education, food, clothing, and care to the children who need it most. Thanks to your generosity, we've been able to sustain and strengthen this vital work.
We extend a heartfelt welcome to our new members joining us on this journey, to our longstanding supporters, thank you, your continued belief in our work makes everything possible. We hope that with your help we can extend our reach and impact even further.
Together, we are changing the future for these wonderful children.
Ben Edwards Chair of the Board of Trustee s
To the Chaffinch family,
It seems a little odd to be writing to you in the very first Annual Report for Chaffinch as registered charity 1206986. As Chaffinch’s founder, I’ve been working hard for over 11 years now but the majority of those were with the original Chaffinch, registered charity 1173464. I know it can be a little confusing but please be assured that we are still very much the same charity that we have always been and the children’s welfare still takes centre stage.
On my visits to Kenya, I see the very real difference that our donors are making through the support of local people encouraged to create positive change in the Kibera community. I’ve always been passionate about local people leading the way, and our ability to provide the financial and administrative support they need to achieve success.
This year has seen positive change in the lives of so many children and I’m humbled by the hard work of the Future Stars staff who make it all possible. I look back on the past year with great pride and look forward to the next with hope and expectation.
Sarah Woods Founder & CEO
Bringing hope , positivity , and empowerment to Kenya’s disadvantaged children
OUR IMPACT
Delivering our aims through the passion and skills of local people in Kibera builds stronger, more resilient, and more independent communities.
56
Children had their essential needs supported through the Child Sponsorship Programme.
215
Children received a quality education, who were otherwise unable to attend school.
33
Children were housed when experiencing periods of homelessness or family disruption.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 4
Over the course of the past year, we have continued our work with the Future Stars Development Centre to provide for some of Kibera’s most disadvantaged children. This has included support for education, food, healthcare, and much more.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 5
Kenya's ongoing cost of living increases have led to more children relying upon meals served at the Future Stars Development Centre . We have continued to provide both breakfast and lunch for every child attending the pre-school and primary school, as well as feeding the children and young people currently residing at the centre.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 6
The delivery of our aim to reach more children with a reliable and quality education has meant continued growth at the Future Stars school. We have been able to supply large quantities of exercise books and stationery as well as empowering teachers with further resources and wage support.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 7
In this period, we saw many children accessing the accommodation at the Future Stars Development Centre . For some this was a single night of crisis. For others, their stay has lasted all year while efforts continue to find them a stable and suitable home.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 8
Thanks to a contact at Médecins Sans Frontières , we were able to ensure provision of extensive first aid kits and basic medications for the children of Future Stars . We also funded visits to a local clinic when children were more seriously unwell, and an ongoing deworming programme for every child we reach.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 9
OUR WORK - VISUALISE THAT
Providing meals for over 200 children requires a lot of food! The menu is basic and largely vegan with the most common meals being rice and beans or ugali and green leafy vegetables. There’s also a mug of hot, sweet porridge every morning.
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1,384 kg maize flour (for ugali) 769 kg porridge flour 1,578 loaves of bread
924 kg beans 2,390 kg of rice ...and so much more!
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2024-2025 Annual Report | 10
KPSEA Exams
In October, seven children from Future Stars were registered to sit for their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment. This
comprises a series of exams at the end of grade 6 and marks the end of primary education.
As Future Stars only had seven candidates, they travelled to Anajali Primary School in nearby Lang’ata where they joined many other children eager to show what they had learned.
Following the exams, all seven children were enrolled in a junior secondary school where they will continue their education. This gives them real hope for the future with education remaining the #1 route out of the extreme poverty into which these children were born.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 11
Deworming
This might not seem like the ‘nicest’ topic for an impact story but it’s certainly an important one.
In communities like Kibera, where poor sanitation is the norm, intestinal parasites can cause real problems, especially for children.
By providing deworming tablets every three months, we can ensure the children don't develop serious health problems as a result of these parasites. This improves school attendance rates as well as contributing to healthy growth and development.
It’s not cheap to treat the whole school but its value is significant. Good health provides a strong foundation and gives the children the opportunity to thrive.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 12
Play and Learning
We arranged for Timothy from Ajibu Community, in Uganda, to visit the Future Stars Development Centre, bringing with him their ‘Variety Play Pack’, an extensive supply of sturdy wooden blocks and shapes.
The teachers were trained in the importance of learning through play and they identified many skills that the children practised as they played. This is play + learning + creativity + cognitive development, and included skills such as team building, conflict resolution, mathematical and scientific principles, sharing, imagination, and problem solving.
The resources are now available to all teachers at Future Stars with large blocks for the primary school and smaller, colourful blocks for each pre-school class.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 13
Scovia, 12
In this photograph you can see Scovia practising her crochet skills, which form part of the grade 6 primary school curriculum.
Sadly for Scovia, it looked like primary school was going to be the highest level of education she would receive as there was simply no money available at home to enrol her in a junior secondary school and provide all the needs of that vital ongoing education.
Thankfully, at the last minute, through our Child Sponsorship Programme , we found a wonderful sponsor for Scovia. Because of this, Scovia was able to join a local junior secondary school with a brand new uniform and all the supplies she needed.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 14
Graduation
In October, the Pre-Primary 2 class at the Future Stars Development Centre celebrated their graduation. This event marked the end of their pre-school days and celebrated their achievements so far.
Graduation is a very important event as it highlights the value of education and encourages families to prioritise their children’s ongoing attendance as they move on to primary school.
For the first time, gowns were not hired but instead were produced specifically for Future Stars . These can now be used for years to come, reducing overall costs despite the outlay needed to buy fabric and accessories.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 15
Grace, 19
Having completed high school and also a short course in fashion and design, Grace was finally able to enrol in college and take a step closer to achieving her dreams. She was enrolled at Nairobi Women’s Hospital College, studying to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Grace also took the next step towards independence by moving out of her familiar Future Stars dormitory and into a college hostel where she quickly found new friends.
Her early results have been extremely promising and Grace is thoroughly enjoying the course, which could give her a qualification leading to reliable employment and a life away from extreme poverty.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 16
Laban, 11
In January, while playing with his friends at school, young Laban had an unfortunate accident resulting in a broken wrist.
Thanks to the provisions of our Child Sponsorship Programme, Laban was able to be quickly treated at St Mary’s Mission Hospital where he had his wrist x-rayed and placed in a plaster cast.
Even though Laban was very unhappy not to be able to run around and play football with his friends, he and his mother were very grateful for Chaffinch’s support as it would have been very difficult for them to pay the medical bills when rent and food take priority.
Building Dreams: Transforming Lives A film for Chaffinch by Frederik Dharshie
We continue to raise awareness of Chaffinch’s work and the lives of Kibera’s children through a short film produced by award-winning videographer Frederik Dharshie.
You can view the film on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/COgYnXfNklU
FINANCIALS
With Chaffinch run 100% by volunteers, that means more of our supporters’ valuable donations can be used to further our work with Kibera’s children. This year, approximately 95p out of every £1 was spent directly delivering our aims in Kenya.
Revenue: £24k
As this is our first Annual Report, the reporting period is slightly longer than one year, beginning 12 February 2024 and ending 5 April 2025.
Additional income of £14k, not included in the revenue, was received following the closure of Chaffinch, registered charity 1173464 (England & Wales) and the transfer of its remaining assets to ourselves. This was part of the process of transforming Chaffinch into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
A further £3k of Gift Aid, associated with this year’s income, will be claimed in the 2025/26 period.
FINANCIALS
Whilst we do our best to keep overheads low, there are inevitable expenses e.g. postage for items sold in our online stores, website hosting fees, and banking fees for the transfer of funds to Kenya. This year our largest expenditure, in Kenya, was on education, followed by the costs associated with our feeding programme at Future Stars. Wage support is funding provided to Future Stars to assist with vital payments made to the centre’s teachers and support staff, who themselves live in Kibera.
Overheads: £1.6k
Expenditure in Kenya: £27k
FUNDRAISING
With the vast majority of our fundraising efforts this year being restricted to the online environment, we know that we need to work harder to create meaningful face-toface connections with our supporters.
It hasn’t all been about financial donations. We have also received donations of goods to sell in our online stores, and items to be provided directly to our beneficiaries in Kibera.
FUNDRAISING
eBay
Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, our eBay shop has continued to provide valuable income despite a general downturn in this market. Over the course of the year we have sold everything from CDs to plumbing supplies! Online sales allow us to make people all over the country aware of the valuable work that Chaffinch is doing.
FUNDRAISING
Recycling
We have continued to work with Terracycle UK to recycle materials that would usually end up in landfill or incinerators. Collecting this waste has provided those local to York with a way of supporting Chaffinch without the need to donate funds. Over the past year we have collected bakery packaging, empty coffee bags, and biscuit wrappers. Terracycle UK have paid us for this waste, by the kilogram.
CHILD SPONSORSHIP
This year saw 56 children directly benefitting from the Chaffinch Child Sponsorship Programme.
This programme provided reliable access to education, healthcare, food, and social and psychological support. This support extended beyond just the sponsored children, ensuring many more could benefit from our sponsors’ generosity. We ended the year with over 50 sponsors spanning Europe, Asia, and North America.
CHILD SPONSORSHIP
Education matters
From playgroup to high school, the sponsorship programme ensured that children were able to access a quality education. The majority of these children were at high risk of dropping out of education entirely due to financial difficulties and pressures at home.
Sponsorship provided everything needed for school, from exercise books to uniforms.
CHILD SPONSORSHIP
A human connection
Something that lies at the very core of our Child Sponsorship Programme is the idea of building connections. It’s about showing a child that someone cares about them, even if that person lives thousands of miles away. Many of our sponsors chose to write letters and even send Christmas gifts to the children they sponsored. The children contact their sponsors a minimum of 4 times a year.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 26
This Annual Report is our first as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with our new registered charity number. We have now fully taken over operations from the original Unincorporated Association founded back in 2014. With our new status, we hope to continue our growth and development, working ever more effectively to support the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Kibera.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 27
Increasing regular donations
Regular donations are vital to the work of charities and Chaffinch is no exception. These donations provide reliable income, allowing us to budget effectively.
Even just £5 every month makes a big difference. This regular income means we can plan ahead and sustain both existing and new projects. With Gift Aid added, a small donation can go even further.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 28
Growing our team
With Chaffinch run 100% by volunteers, it’s vital that we have enough people to rely upon. There are many opportunities to get involved, including graphic design, social media management, and fundraising. We expect effort, not perfection, and we welcome people from every walk of life and from all over the world.
2024-2025 Annual Report | 29
In-person interactions
While the internet is a wonderful means of communicating with our supporters, and potential supporters, around the world, it’s also important that we invest time in face-to-face interaction. Over the course of the next year, we hope to focus on holding some events, or at least having a presence at established events, particularly in the York area where Chaffinch was born. Come and meet the team!
Volunteer
We are always on the look-out for new volunteers, and hope that we can provide a rewarding experience for anyone joining our team. We have volunteers based all over the world and from a wide variety of different backgrounds. chaffinch.org.uk/volunteer-with-us
Donate
Raising funds is, of course, a large part of our remit. Without the financial support of our donors, we couldn’t effectively deliver our aims out in Kibera. Even small donations can go a long way. chaffinch.org.uk/donate
Speak
Raising awareness of Chaffinch and the work that we do is crucial as we aim to grow our support. In some areas, we are able to come and talk to your group or school so get in touch and see how we can help: contact@chaffinch.org.uk
Shop
Take a look at our online shops! Every purchase makes a very real difference out in Kibera: charity.ebay.co.uk/charity/Chaffinch/72687 numonday.com/shop/chaffinch
Craft
Are you creative? We are always looking for donations of high-quality hand-crafted items to sell online in our numonday craft shop. Contact us to discuss how you can help in this way: contact@chaffinch.org.uk
www.chaffinch.org.uk | 3 Spurr Court, York, YO24 3ND | Registered Charity 1206986 (England & Wales)
Photo credits throughout: Philemon Amolo, Frederick Dharshie, and Sarah Woods
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tnta m•mbors of Chaffinch On accounts for th• period ended Charlty no Ilf any) 1206986 5th April 2025 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for th8 period ended V April 2025 Respon•lbllltlM and bas18 of report As the thantys trustees, y<xJ are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examinatK)n of the TnJ8t's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Ad and in Carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable DIrectn$ given by the Charity Commission under seGtiM 145{5)(b) of the Act. Indopondent I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have •xamlnorfs Statsment come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: the accountirvJ records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Charits'es Act: or the accounts rKJt accord wilh the accounting rerdS,. or the accounts dNI not (x)mply wth the applicable requirements conmIng the fom and content of acc<)unts set out in the Charities (ACUnts and Reports) ReguLqtions 2008 other than any requirement that the a¢¢ounts give a Irue and fair view Ythich 18 not a matter ¢onsKlered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come auoss no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of tl* aCunts to be reathed. Slgned: Date: 30rJr2025 Nama: Adrian Fuller Relovant profasslonal qualifi¢ationls) or body (if any): Bsc Addreu: 19, Bilsdale Close, YorK Y030 srr IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rfthe examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of conrn (see CC32. lTrJependent examinatson of tharty accounts: directions and guidan for examiners). Give here brlef details of any ltsms that the examlner wishes to disclose. Chaffinch Unincorporated Charty was dosed on 8th July 2024, and its assets transferred to a new tM)dy. Chaffinth CIO. The trustees of the Chaffinth Unincorporated Charity arKJ the Chaffinch CIO have both agreed that all transactions made up to 8th July 2024 shall be treated as relating for the Unincorporated Chanty, and all transactions after that date shall be treated as relatsng to the CIO, *thithever bank account was used for any transaction. The acwunts have b8en Produ( and examrnd on this basis. IER Oct 2018
| Charity Name | No (if any) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAFFINCH (New CIO) | 1206986 | |||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
12/02/2024 | To | 05/04/2025 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 16,865 1,660 4,859 55 13,654 - - 37,094 - - - 37,094 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 391 - - 210 - - 601 - - - 601 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 16,865 1,660 5,250 - 55 13,864 - - 37,695 - - - 37,695 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME | 16,865 | ||||
| SALES CHANNELS | 1,660 | ||||
| OTHER DONATIONS | 4,859 | ||||
| INTEREST ON SAVINGS ACCOUNT | 55 | ||||
| ClosingUA Charityfunds moved to CIO | 13,654 | - | |||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
37,094 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| none | - | - | |||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||
| Total receipts | |||||
| 37,094 | 601 | - | 37,695 |
| A3 Payments | 27,324 1,566 - - - - - - - 28,890 - - - 28,890 8,204 8,204 |
41 - - - - - - - - 41 - - - 41 560 - - 560 |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
27,365 1,566 - - - - - - - 28,931 - - - 28,931 8,764 |
27,365 1,566 - - - - - - - 28,931 - - - 28,931 8,764 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds awarded | 27,324 | |||||
| Other costs | 1,566 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 28,890 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
none |
- | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 8,204 | 560 | - | 8,764 | |||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 8,204 | 560 | - | 8,764 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of | the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds |
Signature Details none Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Current account (inc Paypal/Stripe) savings account |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 8,149 560 55 - - 8,204 560 OK OK 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 Neil Hutton |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| Neil Hutton | 21/10/2025 | |||