Bethany Village Leprosy Society
Bethany Village
Leprosy Society 27 Murray Avenue Bromley Kent BR1 3DG
A charity registered under the Charities Act
ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
For Bethany Village Leprosy Society (BVLS), the 2024-2025 reporting year was a decisive one in our move to wind down our fundraising operations without jeopardizing ongoing social and development programmes in Bethany Leprosy Colony in India.
Government has been revoking the legal right (under the Foreign Contributions Act) for many Indian NGOs to receive overseas funding, meaning that Bethany’s capacity to receive UK funding could be revoked at any time. With our own membership ageing, and our key objectives well on the way to being achieved, we decided to stop active fundraising.
Our decision to begin winding down the charity now was taken for several reasons. Firstly, fewer than 150 of Bethany’s 1,000+ residents are now people directly affected by leprosy, and although they still have multiple needs, the success of our vocational training programme for younger people in the village – which has led in most cases to gainful employment – means that very few families are without support from their offspring. The core objective of our charity, to enable Bethany to become self-reliant, has been achieved.
In the last reporting year we also inherited a gift of £35,000 from one of BVLS’s late members, which enables us to cease fundraising whilst sending – subject to trustees approving an annual budget request and satisfying themselves that the previous year’s funds have been spent appropriately – a proportionate sum every year for the next five years, allowing Bethany to adjust gradually to a cessation of funding.
Secondly, new sources of funds have been found within India from, for example, The Leprosy Mission Mizoram, which will cover basic medical care needs in Bethany.
Our committee of Trustees – re-elected for another year at our AGM in 2024 – remained the same as for the previous year: Graeme Griffiths (Chair), Ashley King (Treasurer), James Staples (Secretary), Anne King, Gillian Griffiths and Rachel Lea. In subsequent years it is envisaged that the committee will need to meet only once annually, to scrutinise Bethany’s expenditure in line with its previous year’s budget request, and to agree a budget request for the
Thirdly, and more pragmatically, UK banks have made it increasingly difficult for small British charities to have bank accounts, with regular reviews to safeguard against money laundering making for an increased administrative burden on the charity’s officers. At the same time, the Indian
subsequent year STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2024-2025
----- Start of picture text -----
INCOME EXPENDITURE
Donations £95.00 To Bethany £6,000
E E Estate £35,000.00 Administration £132.60
Tax recovery £296.32
Covenants £1,133.00
TOTAL INCOME £36,542.32 TOTAL £6,132.60
EXPENDITURE
----- End of picture text -----
BETHANY VILLAC:E LEPROSY SOCIETY REGISTEREI) CHARITY- 291107 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEARENDEI) 5TH APRIL 2025
I have prepared the annexed accounts for the year ended the 5th April 2025 from the books and records of the BETHANY VILLAGE LEPROSY SOCIETY and from the information and explanations supplied to me certify that they are in accordance therewith. Glen C.olburn Independent Examiner 2 Mineral House Mineral Lane Cheshani Allthorised Independent Exaininer 15th January 2026
BETHANY VILLAGE LEPROSY SOCIETY Balance Sheet at the 5th A ril 2025 2025 2024 Bank Charitable Account Bank Money ManaBer Account 1311.10 36377.15 4952.83 2343.70 37688.25 7296.53 Represented bv.. Funds held as of 6th Aprll 2024 7296.53 9728.49 Add: Surplus of income over expenditure In the year 30391.72 0.00 7296,53 9728.49 Less: Surplus of expendlture over Income in the year 0.00 2431.96 37688.25 7296.53
BETHANY VILLAGE LEPROSY SOCIETY Income and Ex nditure Re th ort for the Year Ended 5 A ril 2025 2025 2024 Income Fundraising Events Covenants Other Donations E E Estate Membership Fee5 Christmas Appeal Bank Interest Received Inland Revenue - Tax Refund 0.00 0.00 2495.00 957,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 53,51 2680.73 1133.00 95.00 350(K).00 0.00 0.00 0.00 296.32 Total InLome 36524.32 6186.24 Expendlture Contributions to Bethany Villa8e Adminlstrative Expenses Mlscellaneou5 6000.00 132.60 8500.00 118.20 0.00 Total Expenditure 6132.60 8618.20 Deflclt of Income over ExpendSture for the year 30391.72 -2431.96
I have prepared the annexed accounts for the year ended the 5th April 2025 from the books and records of the BETHANY VILLAGE LEPROSY SOCIETY and from the information and explanations supplied to me certify that they are in accordance therewith. Glen Colburn Independent Examiner 2 Mineral House Mineral Lane Cheshani Bucks Authoi'ised Independent Examiner 15th January 2026