Passion for Change Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report For the period 12 April 2024 to 30 September 2025
Charity Registration Number: 1207830
Andrew and Gillian West with the children and teachers at Prey School, near Siem Reap
1. Introduction: How It All Began
When we arrived in Cambodia in January 2024, we had no intention of starting a charity. A friend who runs the Veg Voyages Foundation had built a school in a village called Prey, near Siem Reap. He had only intended to fund the building, but ended up covering the running costs as well, and did not have the resources to sustain it. He asked if we could visit and consider volunteer teaching.
The project was run through the Shinta Mani Foundation, which supports many projects and villages across the region. We visited the school, but the journey was difficult — over an hour from central Siem Reap on potholed roads. At the time, there was only one part-time, unqualified teacher teaching about 30 children for one hour a night. We were disappointed, as the distance made daily teaching impossible for us.
We then discovered another school called Lovely Hearts, closer to town, with around 80 children. We offered to volunteer there, and we loved it. We loved the children so much that we extended our stay in Cambodia just to help. We started putting our own money in to buy materials, bikes, and essential items.
As we shared our story on Facebook, friends and family asked if they could send money to help. When a couple of people asked to donate regularly, we realised we needed to take this seriously. While it was just our own money, it did not matter if things went wrong, but when it was other people's money, things had to be done right. So, while still in Cambodia, we started the difficult process of becoming a registered charity. On 12 April 2024, the Passion for Change Foundation was officially formed.
2. Early Activities and Difficult Decisions
Much of our initial work happened before the charity was formally registered. We took the children on their first bus trip to see elephants — 80 children and teachers — many of whom had never travelled before and were sick on the bus. It was a day none of them will ever forget.
Children from Lovely Hearts School experiencing their first elephant encounter
When one of the main sponsors of Lovely Hearts stopped funding the school, we personally paid for the teachers. The school building had a large crack and we feared it might not survive the rainy season, so we fundraised and paid for a repair. We also took on sponsoring an elephant called Ning Wan at the Elephant Valley Project, a commitment we continue to this day.
However, with charity registration imminent, we had to look closely at the structures of the projects we were supporting to ensure they were fully legal and compliant. We asked to put someone on the board of trustees for Lovely Hearts to represent our interests, as we were going to fund the whole project, but this was turned down. Unfortunately, we could not get the safeguards we needed to protect donor funds. With a very heavy heart, we had to walk away from several of the initial projects we had supported.
Ning Wan, the elephant we sponsor at the Elephant Valley Project
3. Returning to Prey School: A New Beginning
Before we left Cambodia, we had another meeting with Shinta Mani to see if we could do anything to help Prey School. They told us their ambition was to have a full-time professional English teacher in place, to open the school up to more children, all day, five days a week.
We worked with them to recruit Pothea, a qualified English teacher, to work alongside Nurek — the generous individual who had donated his land and previously taught the children voluntarily at night. We agreed on a curriculum, and we left Cambodia knowing we had started something that was going to grow.
Andrew and Gillian teaching at the school
During the rest of the period covered by this report, we kept in contact from afar. Shinta Mani held a recruitment day, and over 130 children and parents turned up. Our version of the school was born.
While we were away, the school had to expand into Nurek's old house on the land to use as an extra classroom. It leaked and looked a bit like a prison, but it provided vital space for the growing number of children. The extensive renovation work we subsequently carried out — including a new roof and full repaint — will feature in our 2026 report.
The extra classroom (Nurek's converted house) before renovation
4. Building the Base
The school held its annual graduation ceremony, inviting clients from a Veg Voyages Cambodia holiday to witness the children being recognised for their incredible efforts. Seeing those children proudly holding their certificates was a moment that reminded us exactly why we started this journey.
The children proudly displaying their certificates at the annual graduation ceremony
This period was, in essence, 18 months of building the base. Funding came primarily from ourselves, supplemented by a growing group of regular sponsors and ad hoc donations. We even held a party to celebrate our wedding, provided a free bar, and asked everyone to donate to the charity instead of giving gifts. Every contribution, however large or small, went directly to the children.
While we were away, we received monthly reports on the progress of the children and helped out wherever we could. The truly transformative, on-the-ground work began in October 2025 when we returned to Cambodia full-time — and that will be the focus of our next annual report.
5. Financial Review
The formal accounts for the period 12 April 2024 to 30 September 2025 show total receipts of £5,645 and total payments of £7,396, resulting in a deficit of £1,751. This deficit was covered by a personal donation from the founders, Andrew and Gillian West. The closing bank balance at 30 September 2025 was £966.
It is important to note that prior to the charity's formal registration, the founders personally invested £6,989 and spent £3,772 on charitable activities in Cambodia — primarily supporting Lovely Hearts School and Prey School. This pre-registration commitment, totalling nearly £7,000 of personal funds, reflects the depth of dedication that Andrew and Gillian brought to this project long before it was formally constituted as a charity.
The trustees receive no remuneration or expenses from the charity. Every penny donated goes directly to supporting the projects.
| Amount (£) | |
|---|---|
| Total Receipts | 5,645 |
| Donations and legacies | 5,592 |
| Interest on deposit account | 53 |
| Total Payments | 7,396 |
| Prey School Project | 4,112 |
| NDCCO School Project | 1,094 |
| Lovely Hearts School Project | 963 |
| Elephant Valley Project | 375 |
| Ray of Light School | 75 |
| Staff salary | 241 |
| Governance and administration | 536 |
| Net position | (1,751) |
| Closing bank balance (30 Sept 2025) | 966 |
6. A Heartfelt Thank You
None of what we have achieved would have been possible without the support of the most wonderful community of people around us. From those who donated money — whether a one-off gift or a regular monthly contribution — to those who shared our posts, sent us kind words of encouragement, or simply believed in what we were doing: every single act of support has mattered.
When you are thousands of miles from home, working in a remote village, knowing that people back in the UK, Spain, Gibraltar, and beyond are cheering you on makes an enormous difference. You are all part of this story.
"From the bottom of our hearts — thank you."
7. Structure, Governance and Management
Passion for Change Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1207830). The Foundation operates under a board of trustees who are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity.
The trustees who served during the period covered by this report were:
Andrew West (Co-Founder) Gillian West (Co-Founder) Jacqui Rogers
Additional trustees were appointed after the period covered by this report and will be listed in the 2026 Annual Report.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Andrew West, Trustee
Date: May 2026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND
Receipts and Payments Accounts — CC16a
Charity Name: Charity Registration Number: Period covered by these accounts:
Passion for Change Foundation
12 April 2024
| SECTION A — RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS | SECTION A — RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS |
|---|---|
| Descripton | Unrestricted Funds £ |
| A1 RECEIPTS | |
| Donatons and legacies | 5,592 |
| Interest on deposit account | 53 |
| Sub-total A1 (Gross Income for Annual Return) | 5,645 |
| A2 ASSET AND INVESTMENT SALES | |
| None | 0 |
| Sub-total A2 | 0 |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS (A1 + A2) | 5,645 |
| A3 PAYMENTS | |
| Prey School Project — teacher salaries and school running co | 4,112 |
| NDCCO School Project (support discontnued afer due dilige | 1,094 |
| Lovely Hearts School Project (support discontnued afer due | 963 |
| Elephant Valley Project — elephant sponsorship | 375 |
| Ray of Light School, Phnom Penh | 75 |
| Staf salary | 241 |
| Governance and administraton (bank setup, admin, website | 536 |
| Sub-total A3 | 7,396 |
|---|---|
| A4 ASSET AND INVESTMENT PURCHASES | |
| None | 0 |
| Sub-total A4 | 0 |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS (A3 + A4) | 7,396 |
| NET OF RECEIPTS / (PAYMENTS) | -1,751 |
| A5 Transfers between funds | 0 |
| A6 Cash funds at start of period (opening balance) | 0 |
| CASH FUNDS AT END OF PERIOD (closing balance) | 966 |
| SECTION B — STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 30 | SECTION B — STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 30 |
|---|---|
| Category | Details |
| B1 Cash funds | Wise account (GBP) |
| Total cash funds | |
| B2 Other monetary assets | None |
| B3 Investment assets | None |
| B4 Assets retained for charity's own use | None |
| B5 Liabilites | None |
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Note 1 — Founder Contributions
The deficit of £1,751 between total receipts and total payments was covered by a personal donation f This is a related-party transaction. The founders receive no remuneration or expenses from the charit
Note 2 — Pre-Registration Activity
Prior to the charity's registration on 12 April 2024, the founders spent approximately £3,772 of person supporting Lovely Hearts School and Prey School in Cambodia. These amounts are not included in the Trustees' Annual Report as evidence of the founders' commitment prior to formal registration.
Note 3 — Discontinued Projects
Payments were made to NDCCO (£1,094) and Lovely Hearts School Project (£963) during the period. F to obtain satisfactory evidence that these organisations were properly registered NGOs and that fund purposes. Support for both projects was discontinued. The trustees consider this demonstrates respo
Note 4 — Banking Arrangements
The charity operates a Wise account in the name of the Foundation for receiving and transferring fun funds were temporarily managed through the founders' personal accounts, with full records maintain period was £nil.
| APPROVAL BY TRUSTEES | |
|---|---|
| Signed on behalf of all trustees: | |
| Name (print): | Andrew West |
| Signature: | (signed digitally on submission to Char |
| Date of approval: | May 2026 |
| Name (print): | Gillian West |
| Signature: | (signed digitally on submission to Char |
D WALES
a
| 1207830 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| to | 30 | September 2025 | |
| Restricted Funds £ | Total Funds £ | ||
| 5,592 | |||
| 53 | |||
| 5,645 | |||
| 0 | |||
| 0 | |||
| 5,645 | |||
| 4,112 | |||
| 1,094 | |||
| 963 | |||
| 375 | |||
| 75 | |||
| 241 | |||
| 536 |
7,396
SEPTEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted Funds £ | Restricted Funds £ |
|---|---|
| 966 | 0 |
| 966 | 0 |
| 0 |
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