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2024 Trustee Report
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Family First Ghana is a charitable organisation that is passionate about supporting families who have children with complex medical needs and disabilities in Kumasi, Ghana.
Registered Charity 1208800
Background
In Ghana, many families who have children with disabilities are not supported in their communities. The stigma attached to poverty and disability can cause families to be ostracised from society, leading to a lack of su�icient healthcare, education and employment opportunities and a poorer quality of life.
Our activities and purposes:
Provide relief and Improve access to assistance to families inclusive services who have children (e.g. healthcare, with disabilities therapeutic and/or ill-health. Work with schools, interventions, hospitals, NGOs & education). communities to raise awareness of disability and medical conditions
We strive for a Kumasi that is inclusive and accessible for all so that families can go from surviving to thriving!
2024 Projects & Progress
Family Care
Over the year, we have o�ered family care to many families in Kumasi who have children with disabilities. We worked collaboratively with these families to understand their wishes and concerns and help them work toward meaningful goals. Our individualised support has included (but is not limited to) –
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Supporting children to access therapies and healthcare
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Identifying appropriate schools/tutors based on the individual’s needs
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O�ering training at schools to improve inclusive practice
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Funding school and university fees and school transportation
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Ensuring families have access to safe living conditions
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Providing specialist disability equipment
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Improving accessibility at schools and family homes
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O�ering emotional support to young people and caregivers
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Raising awareness of disability in local communities
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Afia has loved
starting
vocational
training in
beading at her
specialist school
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Tina started school in Italy whilst she is residing there to receive medical care!
Patrick and many other young people have received Physiotherapy at home
We arranged social activities for children with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to play and have fun like every other child…
…and opportunities for parents to connect and support one another!
Stanley started university following his dreams of studying in the medical field \
Hosting teacher workshops in specialist and mainstream schools to improve inclusive education
Awareness programmes and talks We made Esther’s home accessible – cementing wheelchair ramps and adding accessible grab bars to help her build independence as she grows older.
Agape Love Inclusive School
We started 2024 by completing the building work of three new accessible classrooms at Agape Love Inclusive School and o�icially opened a special educational needs department. In February, we hosted a vibrant open day, full of dances and performances from the students, disability awareness talks for the community, and celebrations of all abilities. Over the year, the team of professionals working at Agape Love have been committed to supporting the students, engaging with them in a range of individualised learning tasks, and it has been amazing to see the young people thriving in an inclusive, accepting and nurturing environment.
At Agape Love Inclusive School, we play, learn and grow together!
A Big Thank You
Our team in Ghana
A massive thank you to our dedicated and skilled team in Ghana, which consists of project coordinators, graduates of the Disability and Rehabilitation Degree programme from KNUST, physiotherapists, teachers, passionate volunteers, and partner organisations. They work hard to ensure that families and young people with disabilities get the best care and support.
Our supporters, sponsors and donors
We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports Family First Ghana. Every kind wish of support, each donation or fundraiser, or share of our social media posts, helps us on our journey of raising awareness of disability and improving access to inclusive education and healthcare to build a brighter future for families who have children with disabilities living in Kumasi.
Administration
Principle O�ice Address: 4 Kirke Grove, Taunton, TA28SB
Trustees:
Rosie Watts (Chair of Trustees) Sarah Withams Louisa Stevenson-Hamilton Michael Pascual
Custodian trustees: none
Trustees are appointed by invitation from the existing board of Trustees, if there is a unanimous agreement of all existing Trustees. New Trustees will be given a copy of the Charity Commission's guidance for Trustees "The Essential Trustee" (CC3) and a copy of the current version of our constitution and annual report and statement of accounts.
Structure, governance and management:
Family First Ghana was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in June 2024. As a very small charity, the board of trustees and dedicated team in Ghana work collaboratively together to ensure we identify and support families and young people who have the highest levels of need. By working with services, professionals and community leaders, we aim to build a sustainable infrastructure of support for individuals living with disability and/or complex medical needs.
Charity Objectives (as stated in the constitution): The relief of sickness and the preservation of good health and to relieve the needs of children and young people in Ghana who are physically or developmentally disabled by provision of financial and material assistance and other such facilities as the trustees shall, from time to time at their absolute discretion, determine with the object of improving the conditions of life for persons who are in need of such facilities.
public benefit when determining the activities of the charity.
Risk management: We have a safeguarding and anti-money laundering policy in place to mitigate risk. Our trustees conduct regular risk assessments for any projects carried out to limit risk to the organisation, sta�, trustee and beneficiaries.
Reserves policy: As a very small charity, our organisation currently does not have a formal reserve policy. We actively monitor our financial situation on a monthly basis to ensure we can cover our operational costs on a month-to-month basis and plan for any proposed projects.
Financial
Reporting
Family First Ghana Receipts and Payment Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Restricted Funds | Total funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||
| Sponsorship | 3235 | 1002 | 4237 |
| Donations | 259 | 6519 | 6778 |
| Fundraising | 879 | 0 | 879 |
| Interest | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Grants | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Receipts | 4378 | 7521 | 11899 |
| Payments | |||
| Accessibility | 1300 | 0 | 1300 |
| Administration | 235 | 0 | 235 |
| Family care | 604 | 1555 | 2159 |
| Disability awareness | 103 | 0 | 103 |
| Education | 2815 | 557 | 3372 |
| Healthcare | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Specialist equipment | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| Staff salary | 226 | 0 | 226 |
| Therapy | 1175 | 0 | 1175 |
| Travel and transportation | 247 | 0 | 247 |
| Total Payments | 6810 | 2112 | 8,922 |
| Net Receipts | -2432 | 5409 | 2,977 |
| Cash brought forward | 8819 | 0 | 8819 |
| Cash funds carried forward | 6387 | 5409 | 11796 |
Financial Reporting
Family First Ghana Statement of Assets and Liabilities Year Ended 31 December 2024
| 2024 | £ |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds | 6387 |
| Restricted Funds | 5409 |
| Total Assets | 11796 |
| Funds Accrued | 0 |
| Total Liabilities | 0 |
Looking Forward to 2025
We are excited to expand our work in Ghana throughout 2025 to reduce inequalities and injustices that individuals with disabilities and complex medical needs can face. Alongside the generous support from our dedicated donors, as a UK charity, we plan to register with the HMRC to receive gift aid, which will augment our donations and maximise the impact we have in building a brighter future for individuals living with disability in Kumasi, Ghana.
Please follow our work on social media and get in touch with any questions or if you’d like to get involved in supporting our charity!
Email: familyfrstghana@hotmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyFirstGhana/ Instagram: www.instragram.com/ghanafamilyfrst/ X: https://x.com/familyfrst_gh
We believe that ALL children can learn to spread their wings and soar when treated with kindness, respect and acceptance.