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2023-12-31-accounts

Company registration number: 01692497 Charity registration number: 286631

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Wortham Jaques Limited Chartered Accountants and Charity Advisers 130a High Street Crediton Devon EX17 3LQ

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 4
Independent Examiner's Report 5
Statement of Financial Activities 6
Balance Sheet 7
Notes to the Financial Statements 8 to 17

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Reference and Administrative Details Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees Mrs N Badsha
Mr W H Frankel OBE, Chair
Mr M B E Mbikiwa
Secretary Mr W H Frankel OBE
Charity Registration Number 286631
Company Registration Number 01692497
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office 130a High Street
Crediton
Devon
EX17 3LQ
Independent Examiner Wortham Jaques Limited
Chartered Accountants and Charity Advisers
130a High Street
Crediton
Devon
EX17 3LQ
Bankers NatWest
1 Princes Street
London
EC2R 8PA

Page 1

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2023.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, being its Memorandum & Articles of Association, and constitutes a company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Mrs N Badsha Mr W H Frankel OBE, Chair Mr H G H Kleinschmidt (retired 2 August 2022) Mr M B E Mbikiwa Secretary: Mr W H Frankel OBE

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The charity’s trustees have held office for many years. One of the trustees is a retired Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England with significant experience of charity law, another is an Advocate practicing in South Africa. All have wide-ranging experience as trustees of charities operating in, or concerned with, South Africa, where two of the trustees reside.

The Articles of Association require that all new trustees are appointed by the existing trustees. At present, there is no intention to appoint any additional trustees.

Induction and training of new trustees

Due to the trustees’ professional qualifications and experience the trustees do not consider any formal procedures for the induction and training of new trustees to be necessary. However, as and when the need to appoint new trustees arises, the trustees consider such matters at that time.

Risk Management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud or error.

The trustees have examined the major risks that the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established so that steps can be taken to lessen these risks.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The company is a registered charity with registration number 286631 and a company limited by guarantee with company number 1692497. The charity’s governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. It was set up in 1983 with the principal objects to promote the education of the people of Southern Africa.

Page 2

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Trustees' Report

Significant activities

During the year the charity made grants as set out in note 7 to the financial statements.

The trustees continue to review the future strategy for the charity to determine the best use of the charitable funds, particularly given the changing needs in Southern Africa.

Grant making policy

The present policy is to work with charities established in the UK and Southern Africa with similarity of objects to the Sol Plaatje Educational Project. One of these is the UK based Canon Collins Trust to which we have committed to give a grant of £150,000 per year until 2025 for scholarships in South Africa for South African, Zimbabwean and Namibian students.

How our activities deliver public benefit

When considering grants and donations the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

The company is committed to working with charities overseas in pursuit of the education of people within Southern Africa.

The company and its trustees are dedicated to seeking out organisations acting in the interests of Southern Africa which will benefit from either donations or grants and which uphold the key objectives of Sol Plaatje Educational Project.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The trustees have reviewed the level of resources and are satisfied that funds are adequate and available to meet the needs of the charity. As noted above, the trustees regularly review the charity’s strategy for the future and will, as part of this process, develop an appropriate reserves policy.

Principal funding sources

The principal funding sources are gains from disposal of investments, dividends receivable from listed investments and interest receivable from balances held with various banks and stockbrokers, as well as investments.

Investment policy and objectives

Monies are invested in a wide range of investments but primarily in equities and bonds. The day to day responsibility for investments during 2022 has been delegated to various brokers. The overall policy however is to invest in low and medium risk investments. All investments are being kept under review.

Page 3

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Trustees' Report

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Sol Plaatje Educational Project for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 11 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... Mr W H Frankel OBE Trustee

Page 4

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Sol Plaatje Educational Project ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Sol Plaatje Educational Project as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities.

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.

......................................

Charlotte Chapman Gibbs BFP ACA Wortham Jaques Limited Chartered Accountants and Charity Advisers

130a High Street Crediton Devon EX17 3LQ

17 April 2024

Page 5

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Investment income
3
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
4
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Gains/losses on investment assets
Net income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
16
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Investment income
3
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
4
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Gains/losses on investment assets
Net expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
16
Unrestricted
funds
£
56,964
56,964
(21,109)
(202,246)
(223,355)
306,134
139,743
139,743
4,417,359
4,557,102
Unrestricted
funds
£
80,482
80,482
(27,494)
(190,372)
(217,866)
(418,671)
(556,055)
(556,055)
4,973,413
4,417,358
Total
2023
£
56,964
56,964
(21,109)
(202,246)
(223,355)
306,134
139,743
139,743
4,417,359
4,557,102
Total
2022
£
80,482
80,482
(27,494)
(190,372)
(217,866)
(418,671)
(556,055)
(556,055)
4,973,413
4,417,358

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2022 is shown in note 16.

The notes on pages 8 to 17 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 6

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

(Registration number: 01692497) Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023

Note
Fixed assets
Investments
11
Current assets
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
13
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
14
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Revaluation reserve
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
16
2023
£
4,556,770
-
3,326
3,326
(2,994)
332
4,557,102
4,226,764
330,338
4,557,102
4,557,102
2022
£
4,205,780
9,077
205,410
214,487
(2,909)
211,578
4,417,358
4,350,293
67,065
4,417,358
4,417,358

For the financial year ending 31 December 2023 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 6 to 17 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 11 April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

.........................................

Mr W H Frankel OBE Trustee

The notes on pages 8 to 17 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: 130a High Street Crediton Devon EX17 3LQ

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

Sol Plaatje Educational Project meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

Income and endowments

Investment income

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Page 8

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Grant provisions

Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Fixed asset investments

Fixed asset investments, other than programme related investments, are included at market value at the balance sheet date. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year, or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period of disposal.

Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Page 9

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Foreign exchange

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.

The results of overseas operations are translated at the average rates of exchange during the period and their balance sheets at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising on translation of the opening net assets and results of overseas operations are reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity (attributed to non-controlling interests as appropriate).

Other exchange differences are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they arise except for:

1) exchange differences on transactions entered into to hedge certain foreign currency risks (see above);

2) exchange differences arising on gains or losses on non-monetary items which are recognised in other comprehensive income; and

3) in the case of the consolidated financial statements, exchange differences on monetary items receivable from or payable to a foreign operation for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur (therefore forming part of the net investment in the foreign operation), which are recognised in other comprehensive income and reported under equity.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Financial instruments

Classification

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.

Page 10

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Recognition and measurement

All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.

Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

Investments

Investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary or preference shares (where shares are publicly traded or their fair value is reliably measurable) are measured at fair value through profit or loss. Where fair value cannot be measured reliably, investments are measured at cost less impairment.

Investments in subsidiaries and associates are measured at cost less impairment. For investments in subsidiaries acquired for consideration including the issue of shares qualifying for merger relief, cost is measured by reference to the nominal value of the shares issued plus fair value of other consideration. Any premium is ignored.

Fair value measurement

The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price for an identical asset in an active market. When quoted prices are unavailable, the price of a recent transaction for an identical asset provides evidence of fair value as long as there has not been a significant change in economic circumstances or a significant lapse of time since the transaction took place. If the market is not active and recent transactions of an identical asset on their own are not a good estimate of fair value, the fair value is estimated by using a valuation technique.

3 Investment income

Income from dividends;
Dividends receivable from other listed investments
Other income from fixed asset investments
Total for 2023
Total for 2022
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
55,289
1,675
56,964
80,482
Total
funds
£
55,289
1,675
56,964
80,482

Page 11

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

4 Expenditure on raising funds

a) Investment management costs

Note
Other investment management costs;
Amounts payable to investment managers
Total for 2023
Total for 2022
5
Expenditure on charitable activities
Note
Grant funding of activities
Governance costs
6
Total for 2023
Total for 2022
Grants to institutions
Total for 2022
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
21,109
21,109
27,494
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
199,157
3,089
202,246
190,372
Grant funding
of activity
£
199,157
187,445
Total
funds
£
21,109
21,109
27,494
Total
funds
£
199,157
3,089
202,246
190,372
Total
expenditure
£
199,157
187,445

Page 12

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

6 Analysis of governance and support costs

Governance costs

Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Other governance costs
Total for 2023
Total for 2022
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,994
95
3,089
2,927
Total
funds
£
2,994
95
3,089
2,927

Page 13

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

7 Grant-making

Analysis of grants

The support costs associated with grant-making are £Nil (31 December 2022 - £Nil).

Below are details of material grants made to institutions

Name of institution
Activity
Canon Collins Legal and Educational
Trust
Grants to institutions
UWC Archive
Grants to institutions
The Bookery
Grants to institutions
Equality Collective
Grants to institutions
The Library Project
Grants to institutions
Urban Farming
Grants to institutions
2023
£
150,000
16,221
11,241
10,916
10,779
-
199,157
2022
£
150,000
-
12,194
12,644
-
12,607
187,445

8 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

9 Independent examiner's remuneration

9
Independent examiner's remuneration
2023 2022
£ £
Examination of the financial statements 2,994 2,910

10 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

11 Fixed asset investments

11 Fixed asset investments
2023 2022
£ £
Other investments 4,556,770 4,205,780

Page 14

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Other investments

Cost or Valuation
At 1 January 2023
Revaluation
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
12 Debtors
Accrued income
13 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank
14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
15 Reserves
At 1 January 2023
Transfer of surplus funds
Unrealised gain on investments
At 31 December 2023
Listed
investments
£
Unlisted
investments
£
4,117,116
88,664
306,134
-
1,119,988
1,256,778
(1,251,174)
(1,080,736)
4,292,064
264,706
4,292,064
264,706
4,117,116
88,664
2023
£
-
2023
£
3,326
2023
£
2,994
Unrestricted
revaluation
reserve
£
67,065
(20,398)
283,671
330,338
Listed
investments
£
Unlisted
investments
£
4,117,116
88,664
306,134
-
1,119,988
1,256,778
(1,251,174)
(1,080,736)
4,292,064
264,706
4,292,064
264,706
4,117,116
88,664
2023
£
-
2023
£
3,326
2023
£
2,994
Unrestricted
revaluation
reserve
£
67,065
(20,398)
283,671
330,338
Total
£
4,205,780
306,134
2,376,766
(2,331,910)
4,556,770
4,556,770
4,205,780
2022
£
9,077
4,292,064
4,292,064
4,117,116
2022
£
205,410
2022
£
2,909
Total
£
67,065
(20,398)
283,671
330,338

Page 15

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

At 1 January 2022
Transfer of surplus funds
Unrealised loss on investments
At 31 December 2022
Unrestricted
revaluation
reserve
£
1,300,640
(1,121,505)
(112,070)
67,065
Total
£
1,300,640
(1,121,505)
(112,070)
67,065

16 Funds

16 Funds
Balance at 1
January
2023
£
Unrestricted funds
General
4,417,359
Balance at 1
January
2022
£
Unrestricted funds
General
4,973,413
17 Analysis of net assets between funds
Fixed asset investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Incoming
resources
£
56,964
Incoming
resources
£
80,482
Resources
expended
£
Other
recognised
gains/(losses)
£
Balance at
31
December
2023
£
(223,355)
306,134
4,557,102
Resources
expended
£
Other
recognised
gains/(losses)
£
Balance at
31
December
2022
£
(217,866)
(418,671)
4,417,358
Unrestricted
funds
Total funds at
31 December
General
£
2023
£
4,556,770
4,556,770
3,326
3,326
(2,994)
(2,994)
4,557,102
4,557,102
Balance at
31
December
2023
£
4,557,102
Balance at
31
December
2022
£
4,417,358
4,557,102

Page 16

Sol Plaatje Educational Project

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Fixed asset investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
4,205,780
214,487
(2,909)
4,417,358
Total funds at
31 December
2022
£
4,205,780
214,487
(2,909)
4,417,358

18 Analysis of net funds

Cash at bank and in hand
Net debt
Cash at bank and in hand
Net debt
At 1 January
2023
£
205,410
205,410
At 1 January
2022
£
70,655
70,655
Financing cash
flows
£
(202,084)
(202,084)
Financing cash
flows
£
134,755
134,755
At 31
December
2023
£
3,326
3,326
At 31
December
2022
£
205,410
205,410

Page 17