The Rufiji Leprosy Trust
Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 30 September 2025 Charity Registered in England and Wales Number: 286242
The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Contents For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
| Reference and administrative information Trustees’ report Independent examiner’s report Receipts and payments account Schedule of expenditure Notes to the accounts |
Page 1 2 - 3 4 5 6 7 - 9 |
|---|---|
The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Reference and Administrative Details For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
| Patrons | Professor the Baroness S Hollins |
|---|---|
| The Reverend V A de Waal | |
| President | Dr A W L de Waal |
| Trustee | Dr S Feather (Co-chairperson) |
| Mr J G O’Donoghue (Co-chairperson) | |
| Mrs R Green | |
| Mr R M Luxmore | |
| Treasurer (non-Trustee) | Mr J Steel |
| Charity Secretary (non-Trustee) | Ms J O’Donoghue |
| Independent examiner | Michelle Ferris FCA DChA |
| Albert Goodman Chartered Accountants | |
| Goodwood House | |
| Blackbrook Park Avenue | |
| Taunton | |
| Somerset | |
| TA1 2PX | |
| Bankers | Lloyds Bank Plc |
| 37 Market Square | |
| Crewkerne | |
| Somerset | |
| TA18 7LR | |
| Principal office | c/o CAFOD |
| Romero House | |
| 55 Westminster Bridge Road | |
| London | |
| SE1 7JB | |
| Chairman- Foundation for Rapid | |
| Response to TB and Leprosy | Mr U Mpalaza |
| Field address | The Foundation for Rapid Response to TB and Leprosy |
| Kindwitwi | |
| Utete | |
| Coastal Region | |
| Tanzania |
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Trustees’ Report For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
The Trustees present their report, along with the financial statements of the charity, for the year ended 30 September 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 8 and comply with the charity’s governing schemes and applicable law, statutory regulations.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Rufiji Leprosy Trust (“RLT”) was founded on 10 October 1982 to continue the work with people affected by leprosy, which was started in 1961 by the late Canon Robin Lamburn in Kindwitwi village and the Rufiji District of Tanzania. RLT is a charitable trust governed by a deed of settlement dated 10 October 1982 and amendments dated 11 March 2015.
RLT operates exclusively with the Foundation for Rapid Response to TB and Leprosy (FRRTL), a NonGovernment Organization, registered in Tanzania (registration number 1023) and based in the village of Kindwitwi.
The Trustees of RLT are responsible for its general control and management. They give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits.
The Trustees serving during the year and since the year-end are as follows:
-
S Feather
-
J O’Donogue
-
J Cosgrave (Resigned 10/02/2025)
-
R Green
-
A de Waal (Resigned 31/03/2025)
-
R Luxmore
-
V de Waal (Resigned 31/03/2025)
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Summary of the objectives of the charity as set out in its governing document
RLT aims ‘to pay or use the capital and income of the Trust Fund as and when received to or for such charitable purpose or purposes (including without prejudice to the generality of this clause the purpose of the prevention treatment and cure of leprosy in Tanzania or elsewhere in the world) or to or for any other charitable institution or institutions or other charitable object or objectives anywhere in the world as the Trustees shall in their absolute discretion think fit to support maintain or establish.’
Summary of the main activities in relation to these objectives
In planning the Charity’s activities, the Trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
RLT operates exclusively with FRRTL, and its main activities involve the provision of funding for human resources, services and facilities to the people of Kindwitwi, and, in particular, those affected by leprosy. RLT gives no funds to any other organisation. Whilst it has been very encouraging to see FRRTL access streams of funding other than that from RLT, RLT still remains the principal donor to FRRTL.
The Trustees closely monitor funding requests each month, prior to any transfer of funds.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Meetings of the Trustees of RLT
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Trustees’ Report For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
Over the course of the year, the Trustees had four formal meetings, three via Zoom and one in person in London. In addition, the Co-chairs held teleconferences with the Chair of FRRTL to discuss funding decisions.
Activities in Kindwitwi
The Ward
The Trustees continue to provide funding for full care support for a number of the most vulnerable who have no other means of caring for themselves.
Leprosy Work
RLT provision of various levels of support for the most disabled villagers as well as meeting general health needs of the wider village community. RLT supports the shoemaker, who ensures that all those in the village and surrounding areas affected by leprosy have appropriate bespoke or ready-made footwear.
Education
RLT continues to support the running costs of the village kindergarten. Four students were supported with their Secondary School costs. RLT also supported the further education of two students.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During the year ended 31 September 2025, the charity had total income of £52,181 (2024: £16,287) of which £30,000 was received as a legacy. Expenditure totaled £31,459 (2024: £23,232). The income and expenditure relating to the restricted funds were £8,734 (2024: £nil) and £8,226 (2024: £nil). Total funds on 31 September 2025 were £69,481 (2024: £48,759). This is split between unrestricted £68,973 (2024: £48,759) and restricted £508 (2024: £nil).
Policy on Reserves
RLT continues to monitor the situation with respect to a decreasing donor base and the need to make up the shortfall from our modest reserves. RLT has committed to support ongoing activities, whilst maintaining sufficient reserves to sustain the core work of RLT in supporting those most vulnerable people affected by leprosy In Kindwitwi who have no other means of support outside of that. provided by RLT.
The Trustees' policy is to hold sufficient reserves to ensure RTL can fund at least 3 years of these core costs and a minimum of staffing costs of FRRTL, so that FRRTL would have adequate time to plan the wind down of its nonessential work and to seek alternative funding for the essential aspects of its work, should RLT no longer be able to offer long-term support. Given the level of regular giving from RTL's donors, this equates to a minimum reserve of around £50,000. As of 30 September 2025, RLT had reserves of £69,481, of which £68,973 was unrestricted.
Funding the Work of RLT
Co-Chair Geoff O’Donoghue and his wife Jenny were able to visit Kindwitwi in October 2024 to identify ongoing need and identify areas which could be funded by alternative means going forward and begin to consider handing over responsibility for funding activities in Kindwitwi to FRRTL and closing the Rufiji Leprosy Trust.
……………………………………… ………………………………………… S Feather J G O’Donoghue Co-chairperson, Rufiji Leprosy Trust Co-chairperson, Rufiji Leprosy Trust
Date: 28th June 2028
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Independent Examiner’s Report For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
Independent examiners report to the Trustees of The Rufiji Leprosy Trust
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for The Rufiji Leprosy Trust (“the charity”) for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts 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 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not comply with these records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
……………………………… Michelle Ferris FCA DChA Albert Goodman LLP Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Ave Taunton TA1 2PX
Date: 29 June 2026
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Receipts and Payments Account For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted £ £ |
2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Income receipts General donations 10,423 - Legacy donation 30,000 - Grant income (note 8) - 8,734 Tax repayments on general donations 2,304 - Interest 720 - |
10,423 30,000 8,734 2,304 720 |
13,213 - - 3,074 - |
| Total receipts 43,447 8,734 |
52,181 | 16,287 |
| Direct charitable expenditure Kindwitwi account (page 6) (20,737) (8,226) Governance expenditure(page 6) (2,496) - |
(28,963) (2,496) |
(19,218) (4,014) |
| Totalpayments (23,233) (8,226) |
(31,459) | (23,232) |
| Net receipts /(payments) for theyear 20,214 508 |
20,722 | (6,945) |
| Bank balances at the start of the year 48,759 - |
48,759 | 55,504 |
| Bank balances at the end of theyear 68,973 508 |
69,481 | 48,759 |
28th June 2026
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on ………………………..
………………….. ……………………. S Feather J G O’Donoghue Co-chairperson Co-chairperson
………………….. R Luxmore On behalf of the Trustees
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Schedule of Expenditure For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted £ £ |
2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Expenditure of Kindwitwi Local administration (including salaries) 11,334 - Village development (education) 1,846 - Building and equipment maintenance 566 8,004 Patients’ welfare 6,991 222 |
11,334 1,846 8,570 7,213 |
10,033 2,612 43 6,530 |
| 20,737 8,226 |
28,963 | 19,218 |
| Fundraising expenditure Newsletters - - |
- | - |
| - - |
- | - |
| Governance expenditure Travel costs – trustees’ meetings 1,527 - Independent examination 702 - Website and Newsletter 267 - |
1,527 702 267 |
2,080 1,320 614 |
| 2,496 - |
2,496 | 4,014 |
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Statement of Assets & Liabilities and Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
1 Accounting policies
The Receipts and Payments Account has been drawn up as a summary of the receipts and payments made during the year by the Charity. Amounts are included as received and payments made during the year by the Charity. Amounts are included as received by the Charity or as cheques are drawn.
The Receipts and Payments Account does not include other accruals and prepayments in respect of income or expenses and have been prepared following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charities Commission.
Funds held by the charity are:
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects of the charity at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for restricted purposes within the objects of the charity and as specified by the donor. Restricted funds in 2025 related to a grant received from the St Lazarus Charitable Trust.
2 Cash funds
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Lloyds Trustees accounts | 69,481 | 48,759 |
3 Other monetary assets
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Tax repayment due | 632 | 1,107 |
| Bank interest due | 638 | 420 |
4 Other monetary liabilities
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Accrued fee for independent examination | 702 | 672 |
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Statement of Assets & Liabilities and Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
5 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
The Trust has purchased a number of assets, mainly for use in the village of Kindwitwi. Following the creation of the Kindwitwi Leprosy Care and Community Development Association on 1 January 2007, a company based in Kindwitwi, all assets previously retained for the charity’s own use were transferred to this company.
6 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or benefits, directly or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity, were paid or payable in the year to any Trustee or to any persons known to be connected with any of them.
During the year, travel expenses totalling £1,527 covering one Trustee and the Chairty Secretary visiting Kindwitwi and two trustees attending meetings in London (2024 – £2,080 covering 2 trustees visiting Kindwitwi and two trustees attending meetings in London).
7 Employees
There were no employees during the year (2024: none).
8 Funds
| Opening | Closing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Balance | |
| 01.10.24 | 31.09.25 | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| General | |||||
| Unrestricted | 48,759 | 43,447 | (23,233) | - | 68,973 |
| Total Unrestricted funds | 48,759 | 43,447 | (23,233) | - | 68,973 |
| Restricted funds | - | 8,734 | (8,226) | - | |
| St Lazarus | 508 | ||||
| Total Restricted funds | - | 8,734 | (8,226) | - | 508 |
| Total funds | 48,759 | 52,181 | (31,459) | - | 69,481 |
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The Rufiji Leprosy Trust Statement of Assets & Liabilities and Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 30 September 2025
Funds (continued) – prior year
| Opening | Closing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Balance | |
| 01.10.23 | 31.09.24 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General | |||||
| Unrestricted | 55,504 | 16,287 | (23,232) | - | 48,759 |
| Total Unrestricted funds | 55,504 | 16,287 | (23,232) | 48,759 | |
- |
|||||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Total funds | 55,504 | 16,287 | (23,232) | - | 48,759 |
The specific purposes for which material funds are to be applied are as follows:
-
The unrestricted funds are available to be used at the trustees’ discretion to further the objects of the charity.
-
The St Lazarus fund was awarded as a contribution towards installing new pit latrines, renovating houses and providing beds and furniture in Kindwitwi.
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