## 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
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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
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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