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1977 2024
47 Years of Service
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## **President’s Annual Report** ## Dear SCOT member, SCOT as some of you know was founded in 1977, following the aftermath of 1977 riots in Sri Lanka. SCOT has completed 47 years serving the underprivileged Tamil Speaking people of Sri Lanka as non‐political organisation, we are going to have the 48[th] Annual General Meeting in November 2024. Since the last AGM we have had General Council (G.C.) meetings every other month of the year. In addition, on alternative months we aim to have Projects subcommittee meetings where new applications are presented to this subcommittee by the Project Officer to analyse these applications and consider recommending to the G.C. for approval for funding. Close to the fund‐ raising events like the annual Charity Dance and the Tamil New Year Lunch and lecture, we also have SCOT Event subcommittee meetings. To improve communication between GC members we have formed a SCOT GC WhatsApp group where only SCOT matters are discussed. For many years we also have a WhatsApp group which is open for all GC members to join and contribute. Fortunately, the present Sri Lankan Government is moving towards equity among people of different ethnic, religious and regional identities and SCOT welcomes such progressive thinking in Sri Lanka. Most of us in the U.K. are blessed to escape alive the ethnic war and have established ourselves economically. The enjoyment that one receives while helping the suffering poor is something that money cannot buy. Billionaire philanthropists like Bill Gate and others have attested to that. They have said compared to acquiring things they wanted to have, helping the poor brings them the greatest satisfaction and enjoyment. I know that SCOT members do charity through different channels. I only request you to ask yourself whether you can afford to donate more when charities have fund raising activities. Encourage your children to visit our website (https://www.scotuk.org/), ask them to find out about the charity activities that we do and consider becoming members of SCOT. Membership fee is only £5 a month or £60 a year and the membership form can be downloaded from SCOT website. AGM for this year will be held at the Sri Lankan Restaurant “Virundhu” (address 113 Field End Rd, Eastcote, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 1QG), on Sunday 24[th] November 2024. We take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in‐person at this AGM. Yours sincerely Dr. Bala Anton Canagasabey SCOT‐President Following COVID 19 we have our committee meetings mostly virtually. This has substantially reduced the laborious travelling around by the G.C. members to the SCOT committee meetings. We have Tamil/Sinhala New Year celebrations and in the Charity Dance ‘face‐ to‐ face’. In addition G.C. members have started meeting with our spouses in one of the G.C members home over a meal, at our own expense as part of a Team Building day. SCOT focuses our charity activities on what we call our 3 Es objectives. They are the Education, Employment and Empowerment of our underprivileged Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka. Most of our charity activities are in the North, East and Hill Country because these are the areas that were economically and infrastructurally underdeveloped due to the ethnic discrimination and decades of ethnic war. When natural disasters strike we provide emergency funding too. At present our main educational projects are supporting the children in 3 orphanages in Batticaloa with extra tuition after school hours. In Trincomalee district in Eechalampattu village, we provide extra tuition after school to 5[th] grade, O/L and A/L students. Each of these projects cost £1000 or more to SCOT annually, but we are pleased to note the progress in the grades received by children in these national examinations and we are happy to report the number children entering universities have increased. This year we have supported pre‐school education diploma courses in the Vavuniya university, and we are monitoring progress. Employment projects we support are well monitored via the Sri Lankan NGOs/charities we work in partnership with. SCOT is keen on supporting employment projects that are self‐sustainable after one cash funding. Mostly funding is given in stages following the recipient bodies submitting reports of their progress. Page | 2 Page | 1 **1977 2024** --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- **47 Years of Service** ## **Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People (SCOT) Project Officer’s Report 2024** We are immensely grateful to our members, donors, advertisers and patrons for helping us to support our fellow Tamil speaking brothers and sisters in need. In the face of challenges, SCOT was able to remain true to our goals, raising funds to not only aid those in emergency situations but to also invest into our ongoing missions. This has proved especially useful this year, where global economic and geopolitical events have adversely affected education and employment opportunities for the people of North and East Sri Lanka. This year will hold a whole host of new challenges, that we look forward to meeting head on. We will continue to deliver our vision of - **Education, Employment, Empowerment and Emergency (4E’s** ). It is important we harness our limited resources, have a structured approach, and focus on projects that will make a material difference for our people, to achieve maximum efficiency. This only speaks to the strengths of SCOT, as we have once again adapted to maximise our limited resources by working in partnership with other local and overseas organisations to meet the unique demands of those in need. Only the full support and contribution from all our members and general council could have made these achievements possible. Below shows the number of families and organisations who have benefited from your invaluable support (some projects are listed below). To name a few in the recent past, SCOT has provided. - **E** mergency **:** Floor Relief at Batticaloa, Eachchilampattu, Verugal (near Trinco), Puthukudiyirup and Mallavi and SCOT supported nearly 480 families. - **E** ducation: SCOT supported 30 students by working with Vani Hope local charity organisation to provide educational assistance for selected pupils from visually impaired families as well as families lining below the poverty line. - **E** mployment: Working with “LIFT” (Handloom Training and production) this project will create employment for women who are economically weak by providing six handlooms and associated equipment, tools and furniture’s to the Sumitha Handloom Centre and six women will be trained and employed. At least 25,000/- per month income will be ensured for each of these women which they can earn by working only in their free time. - **E** mpowerment: SCOT delivered in partnership with Rotary club colombo port city to restore vision for 100 patients who are economically disadvantaged, visually impaired persons in the Batticaloa and Kilinochchi districts. - (A comprehensive list of projects funded by SCOT is in 2023/24the Treasurer’s report). To further deliver this positive action we need you, those who are willing to share their time and skills with SCOT for our people. From generation to generation, we have followed our journey with a dream. Become a member and become part of our community, where inter-generational ideas can be supported, enabling us to collectively make the right decision for our people. Become a sponsor of our events and promote our services for our people. The more we do, the more we can change someone’s life. Mr Jude Swampillai Project Officer **1977 2024** --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- **47 Years of Service** Below: Green House Project at Vocational Training centre, Kumburumoolai. . Above: Handloom Training and production Below: Cataract surgery process in Batticaloa Above: Year 5 and below extra class in Eachchilampattu Village CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER.. 274499 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Unaudited Financial Statements 31 August 2024 AG London Consultancy Ltd SVS House, Oliver Grove, London, SE25 6EJ Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Financial Statements Year ended 31 August 2024 Page Independent examinerfs report to the trustees Statement of financial activities Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements 5-11 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Year ended 31 August 2024 I report lo the trustees on my examination of the financial slalemenls of Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People {'Ihe charity,) for the year ended 31 August 2024. Responsibilitie5 and basls of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('Ihe Acl'l. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examinalion giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act., or the financial statements do not accord with those records., or the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and faiv wew which is not a mattèr considered as part of an independent examination. I have no cOn￿rn$ and have come across no other mallers in conneclion with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the aGcounts to be reached. Mrs N Thiruvasagam ACMA AG London Consultancy Ltd SVS House Oliver Grove London SE25 6EJ Dale.. 24th October 2024 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 August 2024 2024 2023 Unreslricled funds Total funds Total funds Nota Income and endowments Dorbations and legacies Other trading activities Investment in¢ome Other inoome Total incoma 15,223 13,920 829 15,223 13.920 829 15,341 14,705 478 Expenditure Expenditure on raising funds.. Costs of other trading activities 7,881 7,881 9,349 Expenditure on charitable activities Total expenditure 9,10 Net income Net movement in funds 1,114 1.114 7,768 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward as previously reported 59,666 59.666 51,898 Prior year adjustment Total funds brought forward as restsled 59 666 Total funds carrled fO￿ard The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing adivilies Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People statement of Flnanclal Posltlon 31 August 2024 2024 2023 Not Current assets Debtors 17 11,416 12.613 Cash at bank and in hand 61,151 59,906 CredltoTs'. amounts falllng du• wlthln one year 18 371 240 Net current asset8 666 Total assèts loss ¢urrent Ilabllltles Funds of th• Charity Unrestricted funds.. Other unrestricted incoma fund$ Totsl unrestrfcted funds 60,780 59,666 Total charlty fund$ 18 These financial slalements were approved by the board of trustees and aulhori8ed for Sssue on 248t October 2024, and are signed on behalf of the board by- Dr A B Canaga8abgy A B Alphon8 Trustee Treosurer Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Thè notes on pages 5 ta 11 fomi part of thèsè financial ststèments. Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31 August 2024 General Infomia¢ion The charity is a public benefit entity and 8 registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the princip81 office is 69 Lincoln Road. Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7RH. statement of compliance These financlal statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland,, the Slalement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in th8 UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (Charities SORP {FRS 10211 and the Charities Act 2011. Accounting policies Income Voluntary income and donations are accounted for as received by the charity. The income from fundraising ventures is shown gross. with the associated costs included in fundraising costs. 8asis of preparatlon The financial statemenis have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the rev8lualion of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured al fair value Ihrough income or expenditure. The financial slatements are prepared in sterling, which is the fun¢lional currency of the entity. Fundraislng costs Fundralsing expenditure comprises costs incurred in inducing people and organisalions to contribute financially to the charitls work. This includès the cost of advertising and staging of speci81 fundraising events. Golng concern There are no material ￿n￿rIa]ntieS about the charity's ability to continue. Fund accounting Unrestricted funds are available for use al the discretion of the trustees lo further any of the charitls purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular futu￿ project or commitment. Restricted funds are subjected to reslriclions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes.. reslricled income funds or endowment funds. Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Flnanclal Stslements (continued) Year ended 31 August 2024 Accounting pollcles (conllnufjd) Incoming resources All incoming resources are included In the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity., il is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably me88ured. The following specific policios are applied to particular categories of income.. income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement lo the glft, receipt is probablè and ils amount can be measured reliably. legacy income is recognlsed when receipt is probable and enlilloment is established. income from donated goods is measured al the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical lo measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the Cost lo the donor or tho eslimaled resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No 8mounts are included for th8 contribution of general volunteers. income from contracts for the supply of seNices is recognised with the de11very of the contracted service. This is c12ssified as unrestricted funds unless there Is 8 conlraclual requirement for it lo be spent on 8 particu13r purpose and returned if unspent, in which case il may be regarded as restricted. Resourees expended Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully racovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities lo which it relates.. expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events. non- charitable trading aclivilies, and the sale of donated goods. expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking aclivilies that further ils charitable aims lor the benefit of its beneficiaries, induding those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the Charity apportioned lo charitable aclivilies. other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related lo raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable aclivilies. All costs are allocated lo expenditure calegories reflecting the use ol the resource. Direct costs atlributable lo a single activity are allocated directly lo that activily. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute lo on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis. Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Financial Statements (conllnuedl Year ended 31 August 2024 Donatlons and legacles Unreslricled Total Funds Funds 2024 Unrest￿eted Total Funds Funds 2023 Donations Earmarked donation$ 2,782 2,782 2.260 2,260 General donations 3,115 3,115 2,880 2,880 Miscellaneous 60 60 331 331 Membership Subscriptions Other tradlng actlvlties Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2024 Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2023 Dinner dance 6,900 6.900 7,450 7,450 New Year event Investment income Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2024 Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2023 Bank interest receivable 698 698 387 387 Other interest receivable 131 131 91 91 Other income Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2024 Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2023 Gift Aid tax rebate 27.5 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Financial Statements [¢0￿Cl￿￿ed) Year ended 31 August 2024 Costs of other tradlng actlvltles Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2024 Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2023 Dinner Dance Expenses 4.672 4.672 4,289 4,289 New year event Expendlture on charitable activitlès by fund type Unreslricled Total Funds Unreslricled Funds 2024 Funds Total Funds 2023 Projects funding (note 111 18,700 18,700 10,866 10,866 Easter Disaster Victim relief Emergency rellef 3,750 4,900 4.900 4.￿J0 Support costs 391 10. Expendlture on charitable actlvitles by actTvity type Activities undertaken Total funds 2024 Total fund 2023 directly Support cosls ££ Proje¢ls funding {nole 11) 18,700 18,700 10,866 Emergency famine relief Inole 121 3.750 3,750 4.900 Governance costs 391 45 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Financial Statements {¢onllnu8d) Year ended 31 August 2024 11. Analysis of project funding 2024 2023 Hari Children's, Home 1,500 1,000 Thilagawalhiyar Mahalir Illam Vivekananda GiTls Home 1.000 1,000 1,000 1,000 One Child Foundation 350 We Can Products {Concrete Blocks Project- Mannar) 2,500 Nambikkaiyin Veedu (Sea Cucumber Projecll 2,000 Caritas EHED Scholarship 491 Ooutru Valaiyulaga Kalaigergal Manlram 1.450 2,525 Humedica Inlem81ional Lanka - Medicinal plant 3,350 Handloom project- Batticaloa 3,000 Cataract Surgery- Kilinochi and Mullailheavu via Rotary Club 4,000 School for Differently abled Children- Valaicheni 750 Visually Impaired Peoples Education Development 1,400 Green House Project-vocational Training-Kumbrumoolai 1.250 Total Fundlng 12. Emergency Famlne Relief include the following: Viv8kan8nda1118m V8harai ￿rinCom811e1m8nnar 2,100 Tea Leaf Trust- Nuwara-EliyaltMulailhivulMulhur 2,100 Flood relief-Ballicaloa Dislricls- wa LIFT 1.500 700 Flood relief -Puthukkudiyiruppu 750 Flood relief-ooutru Valaiyulaga Kalaigergal Mantra 750 Flood relief -Olirum Vaalvu Mallavi 750 Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Financial Statements Icontinuedl Year ended 31 August 2024 13. Independent examinatlon fee The independent examination is an honorary work as such no fee is payable. 14. Staff costs There were no employees in the charity as it is run by ils tnjstees, as such no cost. 15. Trustee remuneration and èxpenses No r8muneralion or other benefits from employment wilh tho Charity or a related entity were received by the tnjstees. 16 Analysis of charitable funds Unrestricted funds At Prlor year 1 September Income Expenditure Transfers adjustment 2023 At 31 August 2024 General funds 47,177 32,542 131,4281 48.291 Designated Fund Kalhiresan memorial Scholarship Fund 10,000 10,000 Designated Fund English Teachers Training Project 2,489 2.489 io Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People Notes to the Financial Statements f¢ontlntsed) Year ended 31 August 2024 2024 2023 17 Debtors Other debtors and prepay7nenls 400 Income lax re¢over8ble 18. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Other creditors 19. Analysls of net assots between funds Unreslricled Total Funds Funds 2024 Total Funds 2023 Current assets Creditors less than 1 year Net assets 61,151 371 61,151 371 59.906 240 li