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Baranku School Fundraising Charity A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered in England & Wales Registered Charity, Number 120883
Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
Together, we build a brighter future - changing lives, one child, one classroom, one opportunity at a time.
| Page | Contents |
|---|---|
| 2-11 | Trustees’ Report |
| 12 | Receipts & Payments Account |
| 13 | Statement of Assets & Liabilities |
| 14-15 | Notes to the Accounts |
Page 1 of 15
Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Baranku School Fundraising Charity Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
Full Name: Baranku School Fundraising Charity
Registered Charity Number: 1208833
Principal Office 11 Helmsdale Close Arnold
Nottingham NG5 8DH
Trustees & Members
Michael Tinkler – Trustee & Chair Caroline Tinkler - Trustee Sonia Charalambous - Trustee
Banking
Co-operative Bank, 2 Clumber Street, Nottingham, NG1 3GA
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Trustees’ Report 1[st] January - 31[st] December 2025
Who We Are
Baranku School Fundraising Charity ( The Charity ) supports early years education in The Gambia, helping young children gain the strong foundations they need to thrive. We are a registered UK charity, run entirely by volunteers and guided by our trustees.
Our Focus
We concentrate all our efforts on Baranku Academy Nursery School, ( Baranku School ) a small rural school serving children aged 3 to 7 in Jambanjelly, The Gambia. By focusing on one school, we ensure every donation has maximum impact.
Why It Matters
Baranku School is a Christian school that is open to all children, regardless of background. It provides high-quality early education, helping to break the cycle of poverty and giving children the confidence and skills to succeed in life. As the poverty rate in the local area is 76%, School fees are kept low (£11 per term) and are waived where families cannot afford them, ensuring no child is excluded.
In September 2025, the school welcomed 83 pupils, up from 45 in the previous year—a wonderful sign of growing trust and impact.
What We Achieved in 2025
Thanks to our supporters, we were able to:
-
Complete the renovation of the school building with concrete floors, rendered walls, new windows, and fresh paint inside & out
-
Create seating under the shade of the veranda
-
Provide four new whiteboards and 180 posters
-
Supply 118 reading books, flashcards, stationery, and crayons
-
Have built a portable stage
-
Support a joyful Christmas celebration with decorations & food
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
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Gift graduation Bibles to Infant Year 2 pupils
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Maintain the school’s website, social media, and communications
All trustee visits were self-funded, ensuring donations went directly to the school.
Fundraising Success
Community fundraising played a huge role this year:
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A concert raised £633
-
Church collections and school partnerships added vital support (£261)
-
EasyFundraising provided £76 of donations through everyday shopping
In total, £1,392 was donated in 2025, with an additional £92 claimed through Gift Aid.
Looking Ahead
While The Charity is small, we have big hopes. In 2026, we plan to launch our “ Angel Investors ” appeal to grow regular monthly giving to help the school meet its ongoing costs, including employing paid teaching staff.
Thank You
Everything we do is made possible by our generous supporters, volunteers, churches, schools, and partners.
Together, we build a better future, changing lives, one child, one classroom, one opportunity at a time.
Page 4 of 15
Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Governance and Management
The Charity is governed in accordance with its constitution dated 19[th] June 2024 and operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales.
The Charity is managed by its Trustees, who are also the Members of the CIO. Details of the current Trustees are set out above. Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees in line with The Charity ’s constitution.
A Trustee may retire by giving written notice to The Charity , provided that sufficient Trustees remain in office to meet the quorum requirements for decision-making.
The Charity must have a minimum of three Trustees and may have up to twelve. Decisions require a quorum of two Trustees, or the number nearest to one third of the total Trustees, whichever is greater.
Objectives and Activities
The object of The Charity is to advance the education of pupils at schools in the Republic of The Gambia by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for education in such ways as The Charity trustees think fit.
The Charity has chosen to focus all its resources on a single school, the Baranku School . The school is located in a rural area of The Gambia, between Jambanjelly and Jalambang, on the Sanyang Highway in Kombo South, West Coast Region. At present, The Charity does not provide funding to any other schools in The Gambia.
A formal Partnership Agreement is in place between The Charity and the Baranku School . This agreement is based on a model provided by The Charity Commission and clearly sets out the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of both parties.
Summary of the Main Activities Undertaken for the Public Benefit
The Charity ’s aim is to support the Baranku School , to provide local children with a strong academic foundation, helping them to thrive and break the cycle of poverty faced by many families in the area.
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in The Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing their aims and
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
objectives and in planning their future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set. The Charity’s activities and beneficiaries are described below.
The Charity provides funds which enables the Baranku School to provide an education for children aged 3 to 7 in the Jambanjelly area of The Gambia.
Baranku School offers a range of educational opportunities that enable pupils to realise their individual potential. The school is open to all children aged 3 to 7 and charges a small fee of D1,000 per term (approximately £11). Where families are unable to pay due to financial hardship, fees are waived to ensure that cost is never a barrier to education.
In September 2025, the school enrolled 83 children, an increase of 38 pupils from 45 in September 2024, reflecting the growing demand for the school’s work.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to The Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
School Location
The school has a building with four classrooms located at:
Sanyang Highway Jambanjelly Village Kombo South West Coast Region The Gambia
Thank you to organisations, businesses & people:
-
King’s Church Arnold – use of copier and building
-
Year 6, Arno Vale Junior School – fundraising raised £150 for posters and a whiteboard
-
Calverton Baptist Church – collection raised £111
-
Gambia Experience – additional baggage to take items to The Gambia
-
Timbooktoo Bookstore – donated boxes of crayons
-
Caroline Tinkler - donations when she retired for reading books worth £100
Concert Thanks to:
-
Shades of Blonde’s Lynn, Maddy and Debbie who performed free
-
Alex pianist
-
George, sound desk,
-
Andrea, Teresa, and Lesley refreshments Team
-
Linda, Arthur, Andrew, Jennie & trustees selling tickets
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Creame Beauty of Calverton – sold concert tickets and donated raffle prize
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Divine Beauty by Sonia - donated raffle prize
Page 7 of 15
Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
| Shades of Blonde Concert | Shades of Blonde Concert |
|---|---|
| **Income ** | Amount |
| Ticket Sales | £500 |
| Donations | £493 |
| Total | £ 993 |
| Expenditure | Amount |
| Tickets | £12 |
| Cakes | £93 |
| Pianist Fees | £205 |
| Gifts | £50 |
| Total | £ 360 |
| Surplus | £ 633 |
| Expenditure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tickets | £12 |
| Cakes | £93 |
| Pianist Fees | £205 |
| Gifts | £50 |
| Total | £ 360 |
| Surplus | £ 633 |
Thank you to all of our generous supporters who gave £1,393 of donations during the year, £92 of gift aid associated with the donations was also claimed.
Risks
The Charity has a Risk Management Policy which identifies, assesses, manages, and regularly reviews risks. Risk management is a standing agenda item at Trustee meetings.
The Charity has robust financial controls and policies in place, covering separation of duties, conflicts of interest, contract approval, value for money, financial reporting, fraud, bribery, and scam prevention. A written Investment Policy is also maintained.
The Charity is currently reliant on voluntary donations, with a small number of regular donors. To address this risk, Trustees plan to launch an “Angel Investors” appeal in 2026 to encourage regular monthly giving and provide more sustainable income to support the school’s ongoing costs.
Operating in The Gambia presents additional risks, compared to the UK. While inflation has begun to fall, continued cost pressures mean The Charity must grow income at a rate that reflects local conditions. This has been built into The Charity ’s business planning.
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
The Charity is entirely volunteer led, with Trustees undertaking all operational work. To reduce reliance on a small number of individuals, The Charity intends to recruit additional volunteers as it grows.
Although small, The Charity faces the same regulatory and compliance requirements as larger organisations. Trustees regularly review policies and procedures covering charity law, data protection, health and safety, and safeguarding, and appropriate insurance is in place.
When working internationally, The Charity follows Charity Commission guidance on overseas operations. Clear audit trails are maintained for all funds transferred to the school, supported by receipts, photographic evidence, and regular communication. Trustees remain in close contact with the school and two trustees visit annually.
Where banking limitations exist in The Gambia, The Charity uses reputable international transfer services.
Safeguarding protocols are in place, particularly in relation to supporter visits through the proposed Angel Investor programme.
As plans develop to provide regular revenue support, the Trustees recognise the need for the school to become a registered Gambian charity. Trustees will support this process with appropriate legal advice to ensure strong governance and accountability.
The Charity’s policy on reserves
The Charity must
-
have insurance - annual cost £203
-
maintain a website for the school & charity - annual cost of £244
In consideration of these commitments:
The Board of Trustees have reviewed The Charity’s need for reserves in line with the guidance issued by The Charity Commission. The Trustees have identified the need to hold reserves equivalent to 4 months of its’ annual commitments which is £149. At the end of the year The Charity had reserves of £149 which is at the target level.
Financial Review
Between the 1[st] of January and 31[st] of December 2025 The Charity had an income of £1,899 and expenditure of £4,770, with a planned deficit at the year end of (-£2,871).
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
It should be noted that £2,000 of funds raised in 2024 were designated to partfund the planned building work at the school. These funds were transferred to the school to undertake these works during 2025, along with £633 of unrestricted funds which were raised at the Shades of Blonde concert and £428 of general donations to The Charity .
During 2025 The Charity spent £4,185 to support the school in the following ways:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THE BARANKU SCHOOL
----- Start of picture text -----
White Website Books Stationery
Boards £244 £212 £17 Christmas
Posters
£304 £137
£24
Stage
£111
Graduation
£75 Building Work
£3,061
----- End of picture text -----*
----- Start of picture text -----
Render walls, create new windows, create new seating areas,
lay concrete floor and paint inside & out.
----- End of picture text -----*
Designated Fund
-
£2,000 walls and floor designated fund spent
-
£149 charity’s reserves (in line with The Charity’s reserve policy)
The income included these Restricted Funds , all of which was spent in 2025:
-
£150 from Arno Vale Junior School for posters and a whiteboard
-
£100 gift from Caroline Tinkler for reading books
The Charity carried forward £3,037 from 2024, plus the planned net deficit of (-£2,871) leaves £166 carried forward at the end of the year.
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
The Charity does not have any paid employees, all the work is undertaken by volunteers, primarily The Charity trustees.
At the end of the year there was:
-
£17 of unrestricted funds
-
£149 of designated reserves
Signed on behalf of The Charity ’s trustees:
Signed _________ Date: 28[th] January 2026
Michael Tinkler, Chair & Truste
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Baranku School Fundraising Charity
Receipts & Payments Account for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2025
| 2024 Total Funds5 |
Receipts | Notes | Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
2025 Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 13 | Bank Interest | £ 6 | £ - |
£ 6 | ||
| £7,142 | Donations | £1,142 | £250 |
£1,392 |
||
| £432 | Gift Aid | £- | £- | £- | ||
| £ 931 | Sales | 2 | £ 500 | £ - |
£ 500 | |
| £ 8,518 | Total Receipts | £ 1,648 | £ 250 |
£ 1,898 |
||
| Payments | ||||||
| £ 6 | Bank Charges | 3 | £ 21 | £ - |
£ 21 | |
| £ 192 | Insurance | £ 203 | £ - |
£ 203 | ||
| £4,194 | Grants | £3,691 | £250 |
£3,941 |
||
| £34 | Fundraising | 4 | £360 | £- |
£360 | |
| £46 | Printing& Stationery | £- | £- | £- | ||
| £187 | Website | £244 | £- |
£244 | ||
| £821 | Barn Dance | £- | £- | £- | ||
| £ 5,481 | Total Payments | £ 4,519 | £ 250 |
£ 4,769 | ||
| £ 3,037 | Net Receipts/(payments) | -£ 2,871 | £ - |
-£ 2,871 | ||
| £ - | Cashfunds at start ofthisperiod | £ 3,037 | £ - | £ 3,037 | ||
| £ 3,037 | Cash funds at end of thisperiod | £ 166 | £ - |
£ 166 |
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Statement of Assets & Liabilities on 31[st] December 2025
| Cash Assets | 2025 |
|---|---|
| CoOpCurrent Account | £149 |
| CoOpSavings Account | £17 |
| Total all Bank Accounts | £ 166 |
| Cash in Hand | - |
| TOTAL Current Assets | £ 166 |
Cash Assets are the amount of money held by The Charity in the bank accounts detailed in the above table.
The Charity does not have any fixed assets.
At the end of the year other monetary assets of £92 for a Gift Aid claim made in December was outstanding.
At the end of the period The Charity did not have any liabilities.
These financial statements are accepted on behalf of The Charity by:
Signed _________ Dated: 28[th] January 2026
Michael Tinkler, Chair & Trustee
Page 13 of 15
Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
Baranku School Fundraising Charity Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2025
1. Receipts & Payments Accounts
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period.
Usually, cash received, and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.
2. Sales
During 2025 The Charity received £500 for the sale of 50 tickets at £10 per ticket.
3. Bank Charges
Fees were incurred when supporters made a payment using their phone, credit, or debit cards.
4. Fundraising
Expenditure associated with the Shades of Blonde concert.
5. Prior Year Figures
Prior year figures have been shown for The Charity .
6. Analysis of Funds
| Restricted Funds | Opening Balance |
Receipts | Payments | Closing Balance |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Tinkler Books Fund | £- | £100 | £100 | £- | |
| Arno Vale Junior School FundraisingFund | £- | £150 | £150 | £- | |
| Total Restricted Funds | £ - | £ 250 |
£ 250 |
£ - | |
| Designated Funds | |||||
| Walls & Floor | £2,000 | £- | £2,000 | £- | |
| Reserves Fund | £1,037 | £- | £888 | £149 | |
| Total Designated Funds | £ 3,037 | £ - |
£ 2,888 |
£ 149 |
|
| Unrestricted Funds | £ - | £ 1,649 | £ 1,632 |
£ 17 |
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833
Trustees’ Annual Report 2025
7. Expenditure to support Baranku School
The Charity made grants, purchased or provided items for the Baranku School as follows:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books | £212 |
| Stationery | £17 |
| Christmas Celebration | £137 |
| BuildingWork* | £3,061 |
| Graduation Presents | £75 |
| Stage | £111 |
| Posters | £24 |
| White Boards | £304 |
| Website | £ 244 |
| TOTAL £ 4,185 |
*Rendered the walls with concrete, created three new windows, created seating areas under the veranda, laid a new concrete floor, and painted the school inside & out.
Total direct expenditure to support the Baranku School was 88% of The Charity ’s expenditure.
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Baranku School Fundraising Charity, a CIO, Registered Charity Number 1208833