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2024-12-31-accounts

FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID Registered Charity Number 274778

TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 31st December 2024

FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

The Trustees present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: Friends of Colombia for Social Aid Charity Registration Number 274778 Registered address: Flat 3 32A Russell Hill PURLEY Surrey CR8 2JA Patron The Baroness Hooper CMG

Trustees Mrs Maria Patricia Marulanda Calero President Mr Felipe Posada Chair Mrs Amanda Ardila Ms Clemencia Corradine Mrs Xihomara Paulina Zentner Mrs Maria Parada Mrs Lauren Page Treasurer, appointed on 1st October 2024 Mrs Silvia Eberstein

Independent Examiner Scotch Accounting Ltd Bankers HSBC CCLA Email : info@focsa.org Website: www.focsa.org Phone : 0777 177 0883

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Message from the President of Friends of Colombia for Social Aid (FOCSA) for the 49th Annual General Meeting

Dear Friends, Supporters, Volunteers and Members of FOCSA,

As we reflect on the past year, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have contributed to FOCSA’s work throughout 2024.

Whether through generous donations, tireless volunteer efforts, supportive partnerships, or kind encouragement, your commitment has helped us sustain and strengthen our mission. Thanks to this — collective support, we were able to continue funding vital projects in Colombia many of them focused on improving the lives of children in vulnerable communities, by providing better health, care, and opportunity.

In the UK, we remained active and connected, and I would particularly like to thank everyone who — supported and participated in our events whether attending, organising, or helping behind the scenes. Your presence and energy give life to our fundraising efforts and help grow the spirit of solidarity that defines FOCSA.

To our donors, volunteers, supporters, friends, and sponsors: thank you. You are part of a generous and compassionate community, and it is your continued belief in our cause that enables us to keep walking this — path of hope and support together, for Colombia and especially for its children.

With warmest thanks, Patricia Marulanda President, FOCSA

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Structure, Governance and management Governing Document

Friends of Colombia for Social Aid (FOCSA) is constituted as a charitable Trust. The Trust was established in 1977 under a Trust Deed (as amended) which established the objects and powers of the charitable Trust.

Mission

Our mission is to help to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged children in Colombia. We fulfill our mission by donating medical, educational and other vital equipment to hospitals and specialist institutions that treat these children and improve the quality of their lives.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

Mrs Maria Patricia Marulanda Calero was unanimously re-elected and formally confirmed as President on the 1[st] October 2024. Mrs Lauren Page was appointed Treasurer on the 1st October 2024 replacing Diana Herrera.

Organisational Structure

The Board of Trustees meets on a quarterly basis and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. A scheme of delegation is in place and the day-today responsibility for the charitable activities lies with an Executive Committee of volunteers. The President of the Charity sits on both the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee.

Objectives and Activities

In planning our objectives each year we have regard to the Charities Commission general guidance on public benefits.

Principal Funding Sources

Our main sources of Funding are the profits from organising Fundraising Events and unrestricted donations.

Grant Making Policy

The Charity provides donations to FOCSA Bogota, for the purchase and donation of medical equipment in Colombia. All charitable donations of over £10,000 are approved by the Board of Trustees.

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Investment Policy

Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year most of the Charity’s funds are to be spent on the charitable objects in the short term so there are few funds available for long-term investment. Having considered possible options the Trustees decided to place surplus funds into a call deposit account with the CCLA Charities Deposit Fund.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have examined the Charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organization. The fixed costs of the Charity are very low, and it owns no property, as a result the risks to the long-term financial sustainability of the Charity are small. It has established a policy whereby the minimum level of reserves should be £30,000 approximately equivalent to the cost of organizing fundraising events and administration of the Charity for one year.

Trustees are confident that at this level they would be able to continue the current activities of the Charity. The administration costs related to organizing fundraising events (£31,866) and administration of the Charity (£3,517) during 2024 amounted to £35,383.The charity only hold the spring fiesta every other year, therefore the level of reserves required for 2025 will be significantly lower, estimated at £5,500. Therefore the present level of reserves available to the Charity of £102,734, therefore, are more than adequate.

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Fundraising activities in 2024

During 2024 we continued our fundraising activities, mainly from events and other donations.

Our events were:

Other donations included and added up to £13,626

Donations to Medical Institutions in 2024 – Equipment delivered

During 2024 FOCSA donated £26,711 (2023 £40,500) to FOCSA Bogota to support various projects.

The year 2024 marked an exciting chapter in our commitment to extending a helping hand to those who need it most. Throughout the year, we carried out three impactful donations that will transform the lives of 17,570 children and adolescents, who face adversity in the remote and diverse regions of Colombia. These donations were made full of expectation, representing rays of light crossing the darkness and reaching places where the need is deepest. From the highest mountains to the most remote valleys, our commitment to serving the marginalized communities knows no limits or borders.

These projects are not just numbers on a list but are living testimonies of our firm commitment to spreading well-being. Each benefitted child and adolescent is a story of rebirth and a reminder that, together, we can transform the world, one donation at a time.

ESE HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS, Carmen de Viboral, Antioquia, £16,611

San Juan de Dios Hospital is a low-complexity facility that provides emergency care, hospitalisation, outpatient consultations, diagnostic services, targeted protection programmes, and early detection for 16,614 children and young people per year across the municipality.

The hospital required the replacement of outdated dental units and the acquisition of other essential basic equipment.

The following items were donated:

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

ESE HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO HERNANDO MONCALEANO PERDOMO, Neiva, Huila, £8,600

This institution is a Level 3 hospital located in the south of the country, serving the regions of Huila, Caquetá, Putumayo, southern Tolima, and eastern Cauca.

It provides care for approximately 900 children per year, many of whom require specialised neonatal services.

They required equipment for the neonatal intensive care unit to monitor critically ill and premature newborns , and to ensure adequate oxygenation of the brain and other vital organs.

Item donated: Root Oximetry module with accessories to monitor brain perfusion in newborn babies.

PROYECTO UNIÓN HOGAR SANTA RITA DE CASCIA, Bogotá, £1,500

This project is an inclusive space providing comprehensive care for children with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities. It served approximately 56 children per year.

The following item was donated: 10 basic cot beds

FOCSA BOGOTA

The FOCSA Bogotá Committee has been incredibly active and supportive throughout 2024, as always. They have identified projects, contacted medical institutions and hospitals, as well as equipment providers and communities that have greatly benefited from our donations. We are truly grateful for their ongoing support in ensuring that our donations are properly executed and followed up accordingly.

Our deepest and sincerest thanks go to the entire FOCSA Bogotá volunteer team, led by its president, María Cristina Kley , and to our Head of Projects at FOCSA UK, Margarita González ,

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Financial Review

About Receipts:

Total receipts for the year were £91,292 made up of events (83%), Donations (15%) and interest received (2%).

Event Receipts total for the year were £75,506 (2023 £20,136), with the two main fund raising activities being: The Spring Fiesta 2024 being a key fundraising event which FOCSA hold every other year raised a total £63,428 and The Royal Parks Run raising a total of £12,078 (2023 £10,704) which continues to be a key annual fundraising event for FOCSA.

Adhoc donations were given throughout the year totalling £13,626 (2023 £9,601) towards supporting FOCSA’s cause. Lastly, FOCSA received income from investment activities via money market funds managed by CCLA, which in 2024 totalled £2,160 (2023 £1,770)

About Payments:

In order to conduct this year’s events, FOCSA expended a total of £31,866 (2023 £12,001) of which £30,090 is represented by The Spring Fiesta, £1,776 for the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2024.

Total admin expenses in 2024 were £3,518 (2023 £1,468), detailed in the notes to the accounts.

The total net income before donations was £55,909 (2023 £18,039).

During 2024, FOCSA donated a total of £26,711 (2023 £40,500) fulfilling its mandate to support hospital infrastructure and medical equipment for children located in low-income zones in Colombia, with a significant impact on multiple communities around the country.

About Final Cash and Reserves:

FOCSA closes 2024 with a significant amount of cash in its accounts totaling £100,377 (2023 £73,536) held in its HSBC account (56%) and CCLA accounts (44%). Of this balance, allowing for the minimum reserve level of £30,000, an amount in excess of £70,000 is available for future donations.

Final Note Regarding Financial Review:

The Financial statement for the year ended 2024 has been prepared on an accrual basis, in 2023 they were prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis.

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Plans for Future Periods

FOCSA’s plans for the future are in line with our Mission to help improve the lives of the most disadvantaged children in Colombia by raising funds and donating medical, educational, and other vital equipment to hospitals and specialist institutions providing treatment to disadvantaged children, therefore improving their quality of life.

In terms of fundraising, during 2025 we expect to continue to raise funds through a variety of events including the Summer Walk, Royal Parks Half Marathon, as well as direct donations to the Charity.

In terms of donations to hospitals and institutions, in 2025 we expect to continue identifying the best projects to benefit from our donations, executing our donations, and monitoring our program.

We acknowledge that we currently hold significant excess reserves and are looking for larger projects to undertake during 2025 which will hopefully see a rise in our donations to Bogota for 2025.

Responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and Accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The Trustees have elected to prepare the accounts on a receipts and payments basis under Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the receipts and payments of the charity for that period.

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

Approved by the Trustees on ______ and signed on their behalf 9th September 2025 by:

Mr Felipe Posada Chair

Mrs Lauren Page Treasurer

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

DONATIONS
Walk
Serenade
Cards
Junior and Mini Great North Run
Royal Parks Half Marathon
Spring Fiesta 2024
Other Donations

INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank Interest
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Event Expenditure
Walk
Serenade
Royal Parks
Fiesta
Bank Charges
Just Giving Fees
Insurance
Other Admin Expenses
Bookkeeping
Web Hosting
Professional Fees
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME PRE DONATIONS
DONATIONS
NET INCOME POST DONATIONS		 2024
£
-
-
-
-
12,078

63,428
13,626
89,132
____
2,160
______
91,292
-
-
1,776
30,090
128
1,181
686
140
403
380
600
______
35,383
_____
55,909
(26,711)
(
_____
29,198
(		 2023
£
1,537
5,570
176
2,151
10,704
-
9,601
29,737
____
1,770
_____
31,507
161
5,344
1,450
5,046
111
562
639
156
-
-
-
_____
13,468
_____
18,039
40,500)
_____
22,461)


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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

BALANCE SHEET

NOTE
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
1
Cash at Bank
2



CREDITORS : Amounts falling due within
Accruals
4


NET ASSETS


TOTAL FUNDS
3
 2024
£
3,360
100,377

______

103,737

one year
1,003
____
1,003
______
102,734
______
102,734		 2023
£
Nil
73,536
_____
73,536
Nil
___
Nil
_____
73,536
_____
**73,536 **

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FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID TRUSTEE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. DEBTORS
Prepayments
Cash Held in Bogota		 2024
2023
£
£
1,812
Nil
1,548
Nil
_
_
3,360
Nil

Prepayments consist of an advance payment of the entrance fees for the 2025 Royal Parks Half Marathon.

£1,548 was sent to Bogota during 2024 which has yet to be subsequently donated to an institution and will be donated in the early part of 2025.

2. CASH AT BANK

HSBC
CCLA Deposit


3. FUNDS
Restricted
Unrestricted



4. CREDITORS
Accruals		 2024
£
56,052
44,325
__
100,377
2024
£
2,421

100,313
_
102,734
2024
£
1,003
_
1,003		 2023
£
31,371
42,165
_
73,536
2023
£
Nil
73,536

73,536
2023
£
Nil

Nil

Accruals consist of bookkeeping fees of £403 for the quarter to 31st December 2024 that were not paid until January 2025 and the Independent Examiners fee of £600 that was not paid until July 2025.

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