**Now the children are able to read various books and their reading has improved.** _Beatrice Maluza, Head Teacher, Kalira School, Malawi_
2021 Annual Report Including Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2021
A student enjoys reading a book donated by Book Aid International. © Book Aid International/Solar Aid/Chris Gagnon
## Welcome
2021 was another extraordinary year. Covid continued to dominate headlines and lives here in the UK and around the world.
The pandemic kept so many classrooms closed – and millions of students, in particular girls, will never return to school.
## Lord Paul Boateng
Book Aid International Vice Patron and former Chair of the Board of Trustees
More families have been pushed into poverty by the pandemic, and the effects of conflict and climate change have driven yet more people from home.
In this difficult landscape, our work creating access to books matters so much. With books, students can begin to catch up. With books, adults can learn new skills and chart a course out of poverty. And with books, families facing war can find the strength to carry on.
So in 2021 we set ourselves a target to once again send more than one million books to communities around the world and to expand our programmes to reach more readers. I am very proud to say that thanks to the hard work of our staff and the generosity of our supporters we exceeded those targets.
Our supporters range from publishers who donate thousands of brand-new books to our cause to book lovers who donate £6 a month as members of our Reverse Book Club – but they all share a belief in the power of books to help create a more equal future for all.
## **With books, students**
## **can begin to catch up.**
Our former Patron His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh also shared that belief, and we were all deeply saddened by his passing in April 2021. He was a great reader and we honour his memory by remaining committed to the mission that so inspired him: giving everyone the opportunity to read.
**With books, adults can learn new skills and chart a course out of poverty. And with books, families facing war can find the strength to carry on.”**
2021 was the last year of our _Vision 2020_ strategy, and it is clear to see how much our charity has grown since the strategy’s launch in 2017. We do more for readers facing barriers to reading and learning, we have a more diverse partner network and we are more innovative.
This Annual Report highlights some of these innovations and introduces you to a few of the readers we reached in 2021. I hope you enjoy reading it, and I thank you for your support.
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8 June 2022
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The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2021.
Reference and administrative information set out on page 30 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. This Trustees’ Annual Report includes a directors’ report as required by company law.
**Book Aid International is a charity and limited company registered in England and Wales. Charity no: 313869. Company no: 880754. Registered office: 39–41 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NR. www.bookaid.org**
## What we do
The consequences of not being able to access books can limit potential for a lifetime.
Children struggle to learn to read. Adults and children have fewer chances to develop new skills, discover new interests or read simply for the joy of it. Professionals miss out on the opportunity to study the latest research and push their careers forward.
That is why every year we provide more than one million books to communities around the world where people would otherwise have few books, or no books at all.
Publishers donate books to us for free – everything from children’s picture books to law and medical texts. We then provide these books to our network of 150 partners who make them available to readers in thousands of schools, libraries, universities, hospitals, prisons and refugee camps around the world.
We also work with our partners to establish and refurbish libraries, train teachers and librarians, promote reading and fund the purchase of locally published books.
In all the places we work, our partners tell us which books people need most, and we provide a carefully chosen selection of titles in response to their requests. In 2021, we focused in particular on supporting schools affected by the pandemic, people displaced by conflicts and climate disasters and medical students and professionals who struggle to access the latest books.
**We manage 28 schools across Liberia, and the books donated by Book Aid International are very important.** _Ernest Lavi Lincoln, Data Officer, Street Child Liberia_
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|**Trustees’ annual report**|**4–31**|
|Strategic report: 2021 year in review|**4**|
|Finances, governance and administration|26|
|Independent auditor’s report|**32**|
|**Audited accounts**|**36–57**|
**Our vision is a world where everyone has access to books that will enrich, improve and change their lives.**
**Our mission is to provide books, resources and training to support an environment in which reading for pleasure, study and lifelong learning can flourish.**
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A Liberian
student
making use of
donated books
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Two boys in Gowrie Primary School, Northern Ghana, enjoy a donated book
**2** Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report
**3**
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report
## Covid: building on our initial
## response
## As the pandemic continued into its second year we built on lessons learned in 2020 to reach out to readers around the world.
In 2021 the effects of Covid continued to create challenges – delaying shipments and projects and creating a climate of uncertainty. And yet, with the support of our donors and publishing partners, we were able to deliver the majority of our planned programmes and provide more than one million books once again.
## **Covid’s impacts on our projects**
In many of the communities where we work the effects of Covid showed few signs of diminishing. In Uganda, for example, schools remained closed for much of the year. In total their doors were shut to pupils for 83 weeks – the longest shutdown in the world. Our projects were affected as a result.
Kenya, Somaliland, Zambia and Zimbabwe also experienced Covid-related school closures, and many of our other partners faced Covid restrictions which meant that they needed to adjust project implementation schedules. As a result, our _Study Hub_ , _Children’s Corners_ , _Reading for All_ , _Inspiring Readers_ , _Books to Go_ , _I Choose Reading_ and _Libraries for Learning_ programmes were all delayed.
Travel remained challenging, so we delivered our programme training online and via the ‘train the trainer’ approach we developed in 2020.
Despite all of these challenges, we were able to complete the majority of our planned projects in 2021 – although many were on adjusted timelines. The success of our remote training methods mean that they will remain part of our work even after the pandemic, helping us to reach more people in more communities.
Girls reading donated books at a STEM _Study Hub_ in Malawi
103,744 **pupils benefited compared to 55,882 in 2020**
19 609 **local trainers upskilled teachers and librarians trained**
## **Covid’s impacts on our operations**
Operations were disrupted by Covid throughout the year, and our Covid protocols meant that we were unable to welcome volunteers. Instead, we employed two new staff to ensure we could provide the books our partners needed.
While demand for books remained very high, our partners were facing their own challenges related to the pandemic. This meant we sometimes needed to adjust the timings of shipments or the number of books sent. Covid-related driver shortages also meant that our operations team faced challenges securing transport for book shipments.
In spite of all these issues we exceeded our goal of providing more than one million books worldwide.
A shipment of books being loaded on its way to the Gambia
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40
of 40 planned shipments
sent
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24 1,007,449 **countries reached books sent compared to compared to 19 in 2020 867,567 in 2020**
## **Covid’s impacts on our fundraising**
Throughout the year, despite an uncertain outlook here in the UK, support for our charity remained as strong as ever and our total income increased. Thousands of people donated to us either through our Reverse Book Club or with one-off gifts. 827 supporters started new regular gifts in 2021 – an extraordinary contribution at such a challenging time.
Covid-related school closures forced us to adapt programme schedules and made gathering data more challenging in 2021. This meant that we were not always able to meet report and programme delivery schedules agreed with donors.
However, our corporate and trust funders showed patience and flexibility, allowing us to amend our reporting schedules to accommodate Covid-related delays. We would like to warmly thank them for their support in 2021. Our chair, Lord Boateng, speaking at a supporter event in November 2021
£2,537,342 £1,103,816 **raised, against a budget of donated by trusts £2,025,914**
## 827
**new regular gifts**
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **4** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **5**
## 2021 in numbers
In 2021, we worked with 150 partners, providing 1,007,449 books worldwide and giving an estimated 19.3 million people the opportunity to read.
|**Countries that received books**|**Countries that received books**|**The types of books**|**we provided**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Bhutan|4,280|||
|Cameroon
Ethiopia|53,415
55,515|**Children and**
**primary**|509,784|
|The Gambia
Ghana|31,582
95,642|**Secondary and**
**teenage fcton**|130,699|
|Greece|10,518|||
|India
Iraq|11,472
11,575|**Adult fcton and**
**leisure reading**|116,193|
|Jordan|2,107|||
|Kenya
Lebanon|91,712
21,352|**Medicine and**
**healthcare**|89,069|
|Liberia
Malawi|28,888
55,875|**Higher educaton, law**
**and teacher training**|
79,115|
|Palestine|21,687|||
|Rwanda
Sierra Leone|49,531
63,576|**English**
**language**teaching|36,514|
|Somalia|1,529|||
|Somaliland
South Sudan|34,365
26,438|**Development**|27,242|
|Syria
Tanzania|3,054
95,985|**Vocatonal, technical**
**and business**|17,231|
|Uganda|103,716|||
|Zambia
Zimbabwe|36,656
96,979|**Reference**|1,602|
## **Where we reached readers**
805 101 **Public and Refugee camps community and support libraries centres** 280 45 **Higher and further Prison libraries education libraries** 280 1,373 **Medical School libraries libraries**
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Supporting our partners
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£110,840 609 **Grants provided Teachers and for local books librarians trained** 45,190 133 **Local books School libraries purchased established**
**6**
**7**
## Our impact: books to enrich education
In 2021, school closures during the pandemic left millions of children behind – so the need for books to help pupils catch up was greater than ever.
World Bank research in 2021 found that the number of 10-year-olds unable to read a simple book could soon rise as high as 70% in some low and middle income countries. Good-quality books in schools could help these children receive the education they deserve, but in the communities where we work well-stocked school libraries are rare. Many schools have no library at all.
So last year we provided brand-new, carefully selected books to school libraries and worked with our partners to establish new reading spaces in schools. The books we provided ranged from story books to support young readers right through to advanced non-fiction for secondary school pupils preparing for exams.
## **Supporting education partners**
In 2021, we provided books to 47 partners who have education at the heart of their missions. These included the Tamer Institute of Community Education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ibba Girls School in South Sudan and VSO’s education projects in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These partners run programmes ranging from large-scale teacher training to projects that help the youngest pupils develop a love of reading – and the books we supply are a vital contribution to their work.
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1,846
school libraries
supported
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47
education
partners supported
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We also provided books to a number of organisations that focus on education for the most vulnerable children, both in and out of school. These partners include Street Child in Cameroon, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Liberia, The Street Child Empowerment Foundation in Ghana and Salve International and Inspire Lives Africa in Uganda.
## **Lighting the way to learning in rural Malawi**
In many rural communities, few families have access to electricity. This means that for children – especially girls – daylight hours after school are taken up with chores, leaving little time for reading and learning.
In 2021, we worked with SolarAid to launch the _Solar Libraries_ project, providing 8,984 books to 20 schools to create lending libraries stocked with books and solar lights. The programme allowed 17,964 students to continue reading after dark.
**“The coming of new books has boosted learners’ confidence in reading and they truly enjoy reading. As a librarian I am able to give them appropriate books for their current reading level: not too difficult but challenging enough to encourage growth.”**
A Malawian primary school pupil studying at home thanks to a _Solar Library_ © Book Aid International/SolarAid/Chris Gagnon
_Kondwani Malisawa, Librarian, Chinkhumbe Primary School, Malawi_
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516
teachers
trained
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## **Establishing new school libraries**
In addition to providing books to schools, we also ran a number of projects that established new school libraries in 2021.
In total these programmes established 133 new school libraries, provided more than 160,000 books to schools, trained 516 teachers in how to use books to enrich classroom learning and upskilled 19 local trainers. These trainers now have the skills to support local teachers in the years ahead.
Some of our programmes establish permanent school libraries. Through our _Inspiring Readers_ programme, for example, we set up new libraries in 82 schools across Uganda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Kenya, benefiting 49,842 pupils.
Other programmes establish small ‘book box’ libraries in schools or less formal school reading spaces.
A teacher in Zambia leads a lesson using a donated book to enrich learning
Our _Reading Around the Reserve_ programme in Malawi established reading spaces in 71 schools, while our _Discovery Book Box_ programme established eight ‘school libraries in a box’ in Cameroon, Ghana, The Gambia, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda, directly benefiting 5,715 pupils.
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45,190
local books
purchased
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In 2021, we also increased the grants we provided to partners to buy locally published books to £110,840, funding the purchase of 45,190 books.
## **Before the donation from Book Aid International, we didn’t have any books to offer our pupils.**
_Florence Ayamga, Head Teacher, Gowrie Primary School, Ghana_
Students in Zimbabwe exploring a set of locally purchased books © Cynthia R Matonhodze/ Book Aid International
## **New possibilities in Sierra Leone**
Many of the schools where we work have room for a library but don’t have the funds or books to create a reading space.
Through our _Explorer Libraries_ programme, we provide the books, funds and training to transform unused spaces into thriving school libraries.
In 2021, we set up 11 _Explorer Libraries_ including one in the Namya Islamic Primary School in Sierra Leone.
## **“The new books have changed children’s perceptions. They are motivated to read and forge ahead with their education.”** _Librarian, Namya Islamic Primary School, Sierra Leone_
Readers at Namya Islamic Primary School enjoying their _Explorer Library_
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report
**8**
**9**
## Our impact: books in communities
## In far too many places, books remain a luxury – out of reach for huge numbers of people.
Public and community libraries often offer the only chance for people to read, but many lack the funds to buy new books. Community libraries, in particular, are often run by volunteers with very few resources.
## 805 **libraries supported**
In 2021 we provided brand-new books of all types to 270 public libraries and 535 community libraries. They ranged from networks of libraries spanning entire countries to small community libraries that serve a single village. Many have outreach programmes and mobile libraries that also benefited from the books we provided.
## 2,865
**people involved in reading promotion**
## **Working with partners to promote reading**
In addition to providing books, we also work with our partners to raise awareness of the importance of libraries and reading. In 2021, we provided books to partners who specifically focus on promoting reading in The Gambia, Ghana, Lebanon, Palestine and Somaliland. These books are a vital resource for these partners, helping them encourage reading in their communities.
We also expanded our _Reading Promotion_ programme in 2021, supporting 12 partners to run a total of 12 events which promoted the value of books, raising the profile of local libraries and encouraging people to read.
## **A new container library for Zanzibar**
Our _Community Container Library_ programme transforms shipping containers into thriving libraries. We provide the funds to refurbish each shipping container, along with a collection of books chosen for the local community, a grant to buy locally published books and training for librarians. The libraries are then run by our local partner.
Working with Zanzibar Library Service, we began building our second container library in Southern Zanzibar in May 2021. Located in Dunga, a town of 76,000 people that previously had no library, it has already become a community hub stocked with 5,000 UK-donated books and 1,192 locally purchased books.
**“Nowadays, learners are able to spend time in the library and escape other negative activities happening in the community. Adults regard the library as a safe space for their children. With this library, female students in these rural areas are developing their knowledge through reading.”**
_Nuru Khatib Mirat, Librarian, Dunga Community Container Library_
The finished _Community Container Library_ in Dunga, Zanzibar
## **Celebrating community reading**
In 2021 we launched the _Community Reading Award_ project, which offered grants of £1,400 to launch innovative projects and inspire more people to read in the community. Winners included:
- The I am a Story Champ project, which will involve 400 vulnerable children in new community reading centres and through a reading competition in Uganda
- The Love Through Books project, which will establish a library in the Africa Hope Centre Orphanage in Nairobi
- The Ekon Community Literacy Project, which will set up a community library in the fishing community of Ekon, Ghana
AfLIA (The African Library and Information Associations and Institutions) helped to select the winners, and they commented on how this new programme supports African libraries:
**“AfLIA is enthused with this Community Reading Award that encourages African libraries to think innovatively about how to reach and provide information and literacy services that are not just within the four walls of the library.”** _Dr Helena Asamoah-Hassa, AfLIA Executive Director_
## **Inspiring reading at school and home**
In 2021, we expanded our _Books to Go_ programme, which establishes lending libraries in schools and trains teachers in how to encourage children to read both in school and at home with families.
In 2021, we established 20 _Books to Go_ libraries in 20 primary schools across Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Zanzibar – and whole families are feeling the benefit.
**“My children came home and told me they have a library in the school. I came to the school to confirm whether it was true and, when I did, I was able to borrow three books. I dropped out in class eight, so reading right now is my only hope to ensure that I gain knowledge and also motivate my children to read.”**
_Simon Kimutai, parent, Wewo Primary School, Kenya_
A child reads with a Mummy Matters staff member in Uganda
A mum reads with her children at home thanks to _Books to Go_ in Sierra Leone
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **10** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report
**11**
## Our impact: books during crisis
In 2021, the number of people around the world forced to flee their homes rose to more than 82 million.
The impact of a crisis on education and learning can be devastating, with millions of people robbed of the chance to read. In 2021 we worked with partners worldwide to create the opportunity for people who have been displaced or who live in communities where conflict is an everyday reality to access books.
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101
refugee
settings supported
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## **Supporting refugees**
Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya is one of the world’s largest refugee camps. It is home to 196,666 people and, in 2021, we worked to enrich education across the camp. Through our _Reading for All_ programme we provided 12,000 brand-new books to eight primary schools in the camp and equipped five secondary schools with study books.
Elsewhere, we also reached many thousands more refugees by providing books to Shire Refugee Camp Library in Ethiopia, to Dadaab refugee settlement in Kenya, to Bidi Bidi, Navikale and Kyaka II refugee settlements in Uganda, to the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania and to 23 refugee camps across Greece. In total, we provided 56,721 books to refugees around the world.
**“I love reading. Especially, I love reading history. To be a lawyer you need to be good in languages. You need to be good in English. So sometimes I do read a lot of novels too. I read them to improve my vocabulary and make my career bright.”** _Justin, refugee, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya_
Justin on his way to school in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
## **Reaching people living with conflict**
## 207,578 **books provided to conflict-affected countries**
In 2021 we provided books to eight countries where people live with the daily impact of ongoing conflicts: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan and Syria. Books in these communities provide a lifeline, enabling people in some of the world’s most marginalised communities to study, learn and escape into books.
One of our new partners in 2021 was Yezidi Emergency Support (YES), a local organisation that supports the minority Yezidi community in Iraq. Yezidis were brutally targeted by ISIS in 2014 and, last year, we provided 1,208 books to support five reading spaces designed to support Yezidi children.
## **“Every day, queues of children all dressed in their best clothes wait at the door and plead to be allowed to come to our childfriendly reading space.”**
_Anna Norona, Yezidi Emergency Support, Iraq_
Readers in a YES Centre enjoying a reading lesson
## Our impact: books for professionals
In many of the countries we work in, professionals and higher education students face multiple barriers to accessing up to date information.
Libraries often lack the funds to buy books for higher-education students, and practising professionals are also unable to purchase the up to date books that they need. Unreliable internet and electricity mean that digital information is often out of reach as well.
In response, in 2021 we provided 79,115 higher education books, law and teacher training books and 89,069 medical books around the world to support higher-education students and practising professionals in a variety of fields. Our partners included the Hawassa University in Ethiopia, AMREF Health Africa in Kenya, the University of Liberia and the College of Medicine at the University of Malawi.
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288
Medical
libraries supported
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Supporting healthcare providers**
We provided a wide range of brand-new medical books to universities, colleges, hospitals and clinics around the world, reaching trainee doctors and nurses and helping professionals to keep building their skills.
One of the medical training facilities we supported in 2021 was the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Somaliland. We provided 1,167 books to give the next generation of midwives access to the information they need to offer the best possible support to every mother and baby in their care.
**“Without books, we cannot develop. Without books, we cannot get trained. Without books, we cannot get out of the situation that we are in. In Somaliland, there’s no bookshop I can walk to and just buy books from, and there’s nobody like Book Aid International. When I first opened the hospital, the first gift of books were received from Book Aid International.”**
Edna Adan Ismail, centre, in The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital Library with her students
_Edna Adan Ismail, Director and Founder, Edna Adan Maternity Hospital_
## **Reaching universities**
## 280
A lack of books puts students’ education and future success in jeopardy so last year we provided higher-education books to universities in 12 countries. They covered topics ranging from history to the social sciences to law.
**higher education libraries supported**
Our focus is on universities where students face the greatest barriers to reading and learning. Last year that included working with the University of Mosul to restore its library, which was deliberately destroyed by IS in 2014. In 2021, the library reopened, and we were pleased to support students with a donation of 10,295 books.
## **“I have always believed that libraries are lighthouses of knowledge – providing a beacon for those who value learning… Now our lighthouse is once again burning bright. Libraries can only thrive when they are full of inspiring, wonderful books – and I join the university community in thanking Book Aid International for its support.”**
_Dr Alaa Hamdon, University of Mosul Lecturer and Founder, Mosul Book Bridge_
Students studying from UK-donated books at The University of Mosul
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **12** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **13**
## Meeting our strategic goals
2021 marks the end of our _Vision 2020_ strategy, and our charity has grown and changed significantly since the strategy was launched in 2017.
Our _Vision 2020: Where Books Change Lives_ strategy was due to guide our work until 2020. In light of the pandemic, we extended the strategy for one more year.
Five key objectives shaped our work during the strategic period and, in meeting them, we have grown our partner network, increased our focus on reaching people with the least access to books and developed new ways to support education.
**Objective three: Continue our work to encourage children’s reading by establishing more than 150** _**Children’s Corners**_ **in public and community libraries**
In 2021, we opened two new _Children’s Corners_ – one at Siilaanyo National Library in Somaliland and one at the Accra Central Library in Ghana.
These bring us to a total of 150 _Children’s Corners_ established since 2016.
## 150
_**Children’s Corners**_ **opened**
A child enjoying reading in the Siilaanyo National Library _Children’s Corner_ in Somaliland
Our performance against our five key objectives is outlined here.
## **Objective one: Increase the number of books we send every year to 1.5m**
Between 2016 and 2018, the number of books we provided grew annually, and in 2018, we sent 1,286,538 books around the world.
Since 2020, our ability to send books has been reduced due to the pandemic, so we have not been able to reach the initial targets we set ourselves.
However, we provided more than one million books in 2021 and, looking to the future, we still hope to achieve our 1.5 million book target.
## **Objective two: Donate an estimated 35% of books specifically to five priority beneficiary groups**
Our focus for this strategy has been on reaching people who have been displaced or who live in fragile states, pupils in poorly resourced schools, learners in the community, healthcare providers and educators and excluded or disadvantaged groups and individuals.
We have made significant progress in meeting this goal. In 2016 we were working with 42 partners which supported these priority groups and provided them with a total of 151,164 books. In 2021, those numbers rose to 119 partners and 609,096 books.
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1.28m
books sent in
2018
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A shipment of books leaving our London warehouse
59.8% **of books donated to priority groups in 2021**
Books being unloaded in Syria
**Objective four: Support more than 250,000 school pupils with reading resources through** _**Inspiring Readers**_ **, our schools outreach programme**
We were pleased to have exceed this target. We have now reached 290,883 children through _Inspiring Readers_ across seven African countries.
Through this programme, we have also trained 113 librarians and 880 teachers, provided 290,883 372,473 books across 53 libraries and 297 schools, and funded the purchase of more than **pupils reached** 50,000 locally published books.
A student in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, reads a donated book thanks to _Inspiring Readers._ © KB Mpofu/Book Aid International
**Objective five: Advocate for the value of reading and be able to demonstrate that we have helped to support and develop a culture of reading**
Our _Reading Promotion_ campaign now spans 12 countries across Africa, compared with five in 2016. Through the campaign, our library 12 partners run events to engage children and partners with reading. **countries involved in** We have also built partnerships with NGOs that exist to promote reading, most recently _**Reading**_ in Bhutan, The Gambia, Ghana, Lebanon, _**Promotion**_ Palestine and Somaliland.
A speech by Hayford Siaw, director of Ghana Library Authority, at a _Reading Promotion_ event in Ghana. © Ghana Library Authority
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **14** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **15**
## Meet our supporters
We are only able to give millions of people the opportunity to read because we are supported by thousands of people in the UK. Some give £6 a month, others make multi-year grants. But they all contribute to a world where everyone has access to books.
## **Books brought me so much joy.**
We are incredibly grateful to our community of individual donors and the members of our Reverse Book Club who recognise the transformational power of books and want to share that with others.
**“Books brought me so much joy when I was a child. I know that they can bring a valuable escape in difficult situations and be incredibly empowering, especially for women.”**
_Carol Whitworth, donor, Book Aid International_
## **Our Trustees are very proud of their long partnership with Book Aid International.**
Trust and foundation support is vital in helping us deliver so many of our projects and we are very grateful to both our long-standing supporters and those who are new to us.
**“The Bernard Sunley Foundation has supported Book Aid International for over 30 years and has particularly focused on helping to fund** _**Children’s Corners**_ **in libraries across Africa. Our Trustees are very proud of their long partnership with Book Aid International that has improved the quality of life – through books and a love of reading – for many thousands of children.”**
## **Book Aid International’s mission clearly aligns with Postcode Education Trust’s vision.**
People’s Postcode Lottery has stood beside us since 2015 – offering funds, advice and connections with charities with whom we can collaborate. Their funding comes from the many thousands who play the lottery every month – and to them we offer our heartfelt thanks.
**“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £3 million for Book Aid International since 2018. Their mission clearly aligns with Postcode Education Trust’s vision for all children to have access to an inclusive and quality education whilst promoting sustainable and lifelong learning opportunities.”**
_Laura Chow, Head of Charities, People’s Postcode Lottery_
## **We are indeed very lucky.**
While in 2021 our warehouse remained closed to volunteers in line with Covid restrictions, we welcomed remote volunteers who donated 118 hours supporting our communications and fundraising teams. Their work freed up staff time to deliver essential services, and gave volunteers a sense of connection to readers around the world.
**“While I was transcribing interviews as a Book Aid International volunteer, I was struck by the joy the children experience when receiving something as simple as a colourful story book. My two young boys have shelves full of them but to a child in Uganda they’re a game changer, a chance to take pride in learning and a window into something magical. We are indeed very lucky.”**
_Chris Buck, volunteer, Lexis Nexis_
_Sue Davies, Director, Bernard Sunley Foundation_
## **Blackwell’s is a supporter of Book Aid International because we believe that books are powerful.**
Working with corporate supporters whose values align with ours allows us to ensure more people benefit from the power of books. We are very grateful to organisations which choose to support us in this way.
**“Blackwell’s is a strong supporter of Book Aid International because, like them, we believe that books are powerful. We are thrilled to be continuing our support of this wonderful organisation. It is a rare joy to be in a partnership where our values are so closely aligned.”**
## **Books and libraries have such a vital role to play.**
Authors, celebrities and influencers are an essential part of our efforts to raise awareness of our work and of the need for books around the world. They represent us at high-profile events, help us spread the word online and are vital to our press coverage ever year. We cannot thank them enough for their support.
**“Books and libraries have such a vital role to play after conflict, and it has been my privilege to be a part of the Siilaanyo National Library’s story. I have seen how brand-new books provided by Book Aid International have helped to develop the Siilaanyo National Library into what it is today, and so I’m delighted to be a part of this Book Aid International event at the Hay Festival.”**
_Rageh Omaar, journalist, author and broadcaster_
_Kate Stilborn, Operations and Customer Service Director, Blackwell’s_
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **16** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **17**
## Our book donors
The support of the publishing industry is critical to our work. All of the books that we send from the UK are donated to us brand-new and free of charge, and 99.2% of those books are donated by publishers.
The brand-new books that we receive are highly valued by our partners and by readers, and the generosity of our book donors in the UK gives millions of people around the world the opportunity to read.
## **The value of the books we receive**
In 2021, the books that publishers donated to us were worth £10,013,273. This is less than 2020 and 2019 when we received large numbers of high-value medical and law texts.
## **Our publisher partners**
**Value of donated books 2019–21**
Last year, 106 publishers donated 889,644 books to our charity.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
£18,558,955
£12,850,101
£10,013,273
2019
2020
2021
**----- End of picture text -----**
We are supported by many of the world’s leading publishers, some of which donated more than 100,000 books to us last year. We also receive books from a range of independent publishers who donate a smaller number of books but still have a huge impact on readers worldwide.
Publishers donate a wide variety of books to us – from picture books for the youngest readers right through to advanced law and medical texts. This generosity allows us to support readers of every age and from every walk of life.
We value our books based on Nielsen Bookscan prices and we apply an overall 30% discount from the full Recommended Retail Price to allow for the estimated market discount for third-party commercial buyers.
In 2021, we were especially grateful for the significant support from: Bloomsbury Publishing, Cambridge University Press, Coordination Group Publications, Hachette UK, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan, Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House, RELX Elsevier, Sage Publications, Taylor & Francis and Wiley.
Because publishers donate books to us free of charge, it costs just £2 to receive, store, select and send a book worth an average of £13. That average is calculated using the value of the books we have sent over the past five years as shown in the table below.
**“Donating to Book Aid International is an important part of our CSR programme and we are proud to support them. We know that when we send them books they will have a direct and positive impact on children and adults who need them most around the world.”**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Books sent Value books Discounted
Year (no.) sent cost per book*
2021 1,007,449 £13,279,151 £13
2020 867,567 £11,066,372 £13
2019 1,211,423 £18,229,466 £15
2018 1,193,263 £16,047,872 £13
2017 938,330 £10,300,049 £11
Running average £13
**----- End of picture text -----**
_Sarah McPhee, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Events, HarperCollins_
*Rounded to nearest pound
## **Connecting with publishers**
We maintain strong relationships with the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the Publishers Association to ensure that we stay involved in industry conversations and understand publishers’ concerns and priorities.
## **We know that when we send Book Aid International books they will have a direct and positive impact on children and adults who need them most around the world.**
International book fairs provide an invaluable opportunity to stay connected to our friends in the book trade. This year we were delighted to be invited to take part in a panel at the Sharjah International Book Fair Publishers’ conference.
_Sarah McPhee, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Events, HarperCollins_
We also held our own seminar at the London Book Fair. We were joined by Sarah Odedina, editor-atlarge at Pushkin Children’s Books, Pam Dix, Chair of IBBY UK, and Sita Brahmachari, award-winning writer, to discuss why access to children’s books is part of creating a fairer future for millions. The panel was chaired by Bodour Al Qasimi, President of The IPA, who commented on the event:
## **Financial support from book donors**
Some publishers donate funds to us as well as books. In 2021, publishing partners gave £20,263 to create an _Explorer Library_ in Kenya, send books to refugees in South Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to support some of the world’s most vulnerable readers.
“Access to a choice of relevant, good quality books can make all the difference to a child’s life and prospects, which is why it is a priority issue for the IPA. It was very interesting to hear about the work being done by our panellists to address book access inequities, and to share the IPA’s experiences around the initiatives it is leading in this field, in particular in developing countries.”
We were also delighted to receive a grant of £27,533 from The Africa Publishing Innovation Fund (APIF), which is a trust developed through a collaboration between the IPA and Dubai Cares.
_Bodour Al Qasimi, President, IPA; Founder and CEO, Kalimat Group; Founder, Emirates Publishers Association_
This enabled us to establish a _Community Container Library_ in the town of Dunga in Zanzibar, giving the city’s 76,000 residents local access to books for the first time.
We also regularly secure coverage of our work in the BookSeller, BookBrunch and Publishing Perspectives which raises awareness of the need for and value of books. Last year these publications covered our work 15 times.
## **Access to a choice of relevant, good quality books can make all the difference to a child’s life and prospects.**
_Bodour Al Qasimi, President, International Publishers Association_
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **18** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **19**
## Financial overview 2021
At Book Aid International all of our income is voluntary – we receive no government grants.
## **Total income**
There was also an increase in unrestricted income from trusts, major donors and legators. However, community fundraising continued to feel the effects of Covid restrictions and income from this stream was lower than we have seen in previous years.
In 2021 our total income was £12,567,896, of which £2,554,623 was cash and £10,013,273 was the value of books donated to us by UK publishers.
2021’s cash income was £2,554,623. This was a significant increase of £597,272 from 2020’s income of £1,957,351.
We received restricted income of £1,065,533 in 2021 compared to £763,287 in 2020.
Of cash income in 2021, £1,489,090 was unrestricted income compared to £1,194,063 in 2020. This funded our work providing books around the world.
This income was used to support project activity working with our partners around the world to train teachers and librarians, establish school libraries and support public and community libraries.
This increase in unrestricted income was primarily a result of continued growth and investment in our individual giving programme which performed strongly despite the pandemic.
This significant increase is because of a substantial rise in trust funding for the year, some of which was a one-off. Restricted income from major donors and corporate supporters remained steady.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Breakdown of
cash income
Individuals
£1,322,751
Total
income
Cash
£12,567,896 income
£2,554,623
Trusts
£1,103,816
Corporate £84,236
Value of
donated books Community £26,539
£10,013,273 Other £17,281
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Total expenditure**
programme as a result of the additional trust income received in the year.
Our total expenditure was £15,587,726, of which £2,308,575 was cash expenditure and £13,279,151 was the value of the books we provided around the world.
We continued to invest in fundraising, particularly in the area of new donor acquisition, to ensure the future sustainability of the organisation.
2021’s cash expenditure of £2,308,575 was substantially higher than the 2020 figure of £1,902,852.
The relatively large increase also results from lower expenditure in 2020, when our activities were affected by UK and international Covid restrictions.
The majority of this additional expenditure was a result of increased project spending and an expanded
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Breakdown
of cash
expenditure
Book
provision
£1,004,720
Total
expenditure
Cash expenditure Restricted
£15,587,726 £2,308,575 projects &
training
£704,416
Raising funds
£599,439
Books out
£13,279,151
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Maintaining reserves**
We maintain sufficient unrestricted cash reserves to ensure that we can deliver our planned commitments in the event of unforeseen financial challenges. The minimum level of reserves we must hold is agreed by our Board of Trustees and monitored regularly.
We ended 2021 with £571,106 in free reserves, higher than anticipated as a result of better than anticipated funding results in 2021.
For more information on our finances, including our full audited accounts, see pages 36 to 57.
In 2021, the minimum level was confirmed at a range between £500,000 and £550,000.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **20** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **21**
Alison Tweed Chief Executive, Book Aid International
**The work we have done to date, the partnerships we have developed and the support we have generated will be the foundation for everything we will do in the years ahead.**
## The future
In 2021 the global pandemic continued to impact millions of children in their learning, push more people into poverty and further erode progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Global displacement through conflict and climate change reached new levels, with more than 80 million people displaced from their homes at the end of the year.
For people living in these very challenging situations access to books and education became even less attainable in 2021. Yet the need for books in people’s lives has never been greater.
At Book Aid International we know books give people power. A book offers information, inspiration, hope, joy. And so much more. We are committed to sharing the power of books with even more people in the years to come because we know that books help build a more equal world.
The work we have done to date, the partnerships we have developed and the support we have generated will be the foundation for everything we will do in the years ahead.
In 2022 we launch our new strategy for 2022 to 2025: _The Power of Books_ . It is based on four key goals: equity, engagement, partnership and advocacy.
To ensure equity of access to books we will focus our work on the places with fewest resources, and on the most marginalised communities. To get people engaged with reading we will support school, public and community libraries, and anywhere where people can access books and read. And we will take every opportunity to advocate for the power of books to improve and change lives.
To do all this we will call on the support of publishers and donors, the skills and determination of our partners and the encouragement of our many friends who believe, as we do, in the power of books.
Thank you for helping us work towards our vision of a world where everyone has access to books. I do hope you will continue to support us in the years ahead.
## Our partners
## Below is a full list of all our overseas partners to whom we sent books directly in 2021. We thank them all for their hard work.
## **Uganda**
## **South Sudan**
## **Bhutan**
## **Malawi**
## Education Community
Khesar Gyalpo Hope & Opportunity African Parks University of Medical Iliaktida College of Medicine, Sciences Merimna University of Malawi READ Bhutan Open Cultural Centre Malawi College of Royal University of Solidarity Now Health Science Bhutan Soup & Socks Malawi Leaders of **Cameroon** Starfish Foundation Learning Malawi National Education Information Wave of Hope for the Services International Future Library Service Solar Aid Street Child **India** St John of God College **Ethiopia** Rochun of Health Science British Council **Iraq** Volunteer Service CODE Ethiopia Mosul University Overseas Ethiopia Knowledge Yezidi Emergency **Occupied Palestinian** and Technology Support **Territories** Transfer Society **Jordan** Gaza Health Science Ethiopia Reads Blumont International Library Hawassa University Itijah Youth Jesuit Refugee Services **Kenya** Organisation Voluntary Services Akili Trust International Board on Overseas AMREF Health Africa Books for Young People **Gambia** Dandora Dumpsite Tamer Institute of Binti International Rehabilitation Group Community Education Dignitas Gambia National **Rwanda** Exposing Hope Library Service Girls’ Dignity for I Choose Life Unique Foundation Nation Jesuit Refugee Ineza Foundation **Ghana** Service Kenya Afrikids Justice Defenders Kigali Public Library Street Child Biblionef Kenya Medical University of Rwanda Community Action Training College VSO Rwanda Edu-Spots Ghana Kenya National Ghana Library Library Service **Sierra Leone** Authority Lutheran World EducAID Humanitas Services Save the Needy International Board on Rescue Wing Sierra Leone Library Books for Young People St Joseph the Worker Board Rainbow Trust Parish Development Street Child Programme Sabre USL Institute of Public Windle Trust Street Children Administration and Empowerment **Lebanon** Management Foundation Assabil Association **Somalia** Teach 2 Teach International Board Iftiin Education and The Olinga Foundation on Books for Young
African Revival, All Saints University Lango
Bishop Mazzoldi African Revival, Memorial Primary All Saints University School Lango Ibba School Butabika National Jesuit Refugee Service Mental Referral Hospital Kuajok Community Fortportal International College Nursing School Mary’s College of Gejja Women Foundation Nursing and Midwifery Good Samaritan Uganda Medicins Sans Inspire Lives Africa Frontiers International Board on Save the Children Books for Young People St John’s College Wau Jango International St John’s Yambio Jesuit Refugee Service Campus of the Justice Defenders Catholic University of Kyambogo University South Sudan National Library of St Mary’s College Uganda Save the Children School of Hygiene Mbale South University of SALVE International Medicine Science Soft Power Education University of Juba SOS Children’s Village Windle International Street Child Women Relief Rwamwanja Rural Organisation Foundation **Syria** Tusome Africa Action for Humanity Uganda Community
Action for Humanity Uganda Community Libraries Association **Tanzania** Uganda Prison Service Child Support Tanzania Uganda Protestant Evangelical Lutheran Medical Bureau Church of Tanzania Volunteer Services Muhimbili University Overseas of Health and Allied **Zambia** Sciences
African Parks Copperbelt University University Teaching Hospital Lusaka Zambia Library Service
New Chapter Development for Youth
Refugee Youth Empowerment Network
## **Zimbabwe**
State University of Zanzibar
Bulawayo Distribution Committee
Assabil Association **Somalia** International Board Iftiin Education and on Books for Young Development People **Somaliland**
Sumait University Tanzania Library Services Board
Harare Distribution Committee International Board on Books for Young People Volunteer Service Overseas
**Greece** Danish Refugee Council A Drop in the Ocean Echo 100 Plus
Tanzanian Training Centre for International Health Zanzibar Library Services
## **Liberia**
Edna Adan University Street Child Hospital University of Liberia Siilaanyo National We Care Library
Zambesi Schoolbook Project
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **22** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **23**
## With thanks to…
We would like to thank the following supporters in particular as well as those who wish to remain anonymous.
## **Our book donors and corporate partners**
Practical Action Publishing
Fane Productions
Princeton University Press Profile Books ProQuest Publishers Licensing Society Pushkin Press Quarto Publishing Group Quentin Blake Reed Business Information Ltd RELX Elsevier
Gale, A Cengage Company Golden Oak Press Government Legal Deposit Library Green Bean Books Griffin Books Hachette UK HarperCollins Publishers Haven Books
## Agatha Christie Ltd
Agency for Legal Deposit Libraries Aggreko PLC Al Saqi Bookshop
## ALCS
Alice Dartnell
Amazon.co.uk Arcturus Publishing BackList Books Baker Books Barrington Stoke
Heath Educational Books Human Kinetics Publishing
Roger Lane Royal National Institute of Blind People
ICE Publishing Innova Press
Royal Society Sage Publications Sandstone Press Scholastic Corporation Scion Publishing Ltd Scribe Publications Shared Services Connected Limited Silver Jungle SOAS University of London Taylor & Francis Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation Teeth Relief
Ituri Publications Kube Publishing LBA Books Letterbox Library Little Tiger Group Macmillan
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Beaux Books
Blackrock
Blackwell’s Bookshop Bloomsbury Publishing
Bonnier Books Book Harvest BookLife Publishing BookMachine Bookpoint
Make Believe Ideas Marylebone Books Maverick Arts Publishing McGraw Hill Education
Mending House Publishing Inc Michael O’Mara Books Miles Kelly Publishing Moleskine Foundation Multilingual Matters National Book Tokens National Library of Wales Nick Hern Books
BookTrust
British Library
Buckman Agency
The Accenture Foundation The Blair Partnership The Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd The Reading Agency
Cactus TV
Cambridge University Press Capsules Book
Chartered Management Institute Christopher Fielden
The Society of Authors Think Publishing Tropical Health Technology Ulverscroft United Agents Usborne Publishing Walker Books Watkins Publishing What on Earth Books White Fox Publishing Wiley Wiley Europe Ltd Willoughby Book Club WME Agency
NMCN Plc
Class Professional Publishing
Nosy Crow O’Reilly UK Ltd Oundles Bookshop Out of the Ark Music Outland AS
Clinical Pocket Reference
Comparative Research Programme on Poverty
Coordination Group Publications
Crooks Creative
Crown House
Owlet Press Oxford University Press Peak Volumes
Daunt Books David Fickling Books Derby Book Festival Dunedin Academic Press
Pearson Education Ltd Penguin Random House Peters Bookselling Services PG Online Publishers Phaidon Press Picaresque Books
Eland Publishing Ltd Elwin Street Productions Entertainment One UK Limited Everymans Library
## **Our trust supporters**
The Michael and Anna Wix Charitable Trust
Robert Farrer-Brown Rosie Glazebrook Sarah McCullough
Africa Publishing Innovation Fund Alan Cadbury Trust Arthur Stevens Charitable Trust Beatrice Laing Trust Corton Hill Trust D R Fine Charitable Trust Dubai Cares
The MuchLoved Charitable Trust The People’s Postcode Lottery The Rest-Harrow Trust
Sir Mark and Lady Moody-Stuart Stephanie and Roderick White Susan Warren
The Rhododendron Trust
The Tony and Audrey Watson Charitable Trust
The Eddie Dinshaw Foundation Zainab Umar
The Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust Unwin Charitable Trust
Eva Reckitt Trust Fund Fresh Leaf Charitable Foundation GMC Trust
## **And also thanks to**
Chris Wormell Chris Riddell Cliveden Literary Festival Danyl Johnson David Nicholls Edmund De Waal Emily Maitlis Hay Festival John Simpson Jonathan Dimbleby Konnie Huq Levison Wood Onjali Q Rauf Paul Cooper Rageh Omaar Sir Michael Palin Sita Brahmachar
## **Our volunteers, ambassadors and individual supporters**
Intouch Global Foundation Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust Merriman Charitable Foundation Mona Hatoum Foundation Montier Charitable Trust Peacock Charitable Trust Scotland Community Foundation The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust
Caroline Burton
Christopher and Gilda Haskins David Brewer
Dhivya O’Connor Diana Hardman Eleanor and David Holloway Emma and Graham Defries Francis Crewdson
Gillian Goss
The Ardwick Trust The Beit Trust
Harriet Hewitson Helen Esmonde Jacobs Ladder Charity Fund Jane Jewell
The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
The Bhutan Society Trust The Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust The E Alec Colman Charitable Fund Limited
Jane Penson Jane Tappuni
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition World Book Day Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook
Jeremy and Dora Warren Kathy Rooney Louisa Symington
The Earlswood Charitable Trust The Fulmer Charitable Trust The GivingForce Foundation The Henry and Rebecca Tinsley Charitable Trust
Malcolm Farrer-Brown Matt Nixon Peter Goodwin Peter Waller and Erica Zimmer Philip Walters MBE
In addition to all those named above, we would like to thank all of those who supported us anonymously in 2021.
The Law Society Charity The Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust
## **Patrons, trustees and officials**
> **Patron Board** HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM (until April 2021) **Chair**
**Chair** Lord Paul Boateng
**Trustees** Dhivya O’Connor Jonathan Hargreaves Zainab Umar Pam Dix Charly Nobbs Robert Sulley
**President** Nigel Newton
**Honorary Treasurer** Nicholas Allen
**Vice President** Professor Kingo Mchombu
**Chief Executive and Company Secretary** Alison Tweed
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **24** Strategic Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Strategic Report **25**
## Our fundraising
## In 2021 we raised £2,537,342 against an original budget of £2,025,914.
## **Commercial partners and fundraising agencies**
Income shortfalls in community giving were more than made up by increased Trust and Individual Giving income, including an additional award from players of People’s Postcode Lottery of £425,000.
The commercial participators with which we exchanged supporter data included print management (DMP), email marketing (MailChimp), payment processing (including Access Paysuite, WooCommerce, PayPal, Stripe, JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving), database software (Blackbaud), Gift Aid claims (HRMC) and IT support (Wanstor).
## **Our standards**
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in our fundraising in line with our Supporter Promise, which is displayed in the footer of every page on our website: bookaid.org. In 2021, we remained registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Fundraising Regulator.
Each of these organisations has a privacy policy, which is available on its website, and we maintain a data processing agreement with each, as required by GDPR regulations.
We adhere to the standards of both organisations and respond to changes in the regulatory framework. We also maintained our Treating Donors Fairly policy which identifies groups of individuals who may be vulnerable and defines our approach to treating these individuals with respect and care.
## **Fundraising feedback**
In 2021 we did not receive any complaints about our fundraising. Seven donors unsubscribed from our communications through the Fundraising Preference Service.
We continue to place our donors at the centre of our fundraising programmes, offering flexibility in how they hear from us in line with GDPR regulations. There were no reported data breaches in 2021.
## **Investing in the future**
In 2021, donor acquisition activities took place largely through unaddressed media inserts in publications. Complete return on investment through these campaigns does not occur in the year of the activity, but is based on taking a longer-term view of the lifetime value of each new donor, many of whom continue their support for years.
## Managing our finances
We are committed to outstanding financial management that safeguards the money we receive and ensures that our organisation is sustainable in the long term. By providing full details of all our financial management, how we comply with all relevant regulation and how we manage our funds, we aim to ensure that we earn the trust placed in us by our partners, beneficiaries and supporters.
In 2021, the free reserves level set by the Board was between £500,000 and £550,000. Our free reserves were £571,106 (2020: £677,146) thanks to strong Individual giving funding and low attrition. The relatively high free reserves is also as a result of better than anticipated funding in 2021. Restricted reserves are not available for general purposes and are for restricted programmes spanning two or more financial years. There was a balance at the end of 2021 of £326,061 (2020: £189,947).
## **Staff and staffing costs**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Reserves 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20
Total unrestricted reserves 8,014,522 10,375,816
Less donated books reserve -4,824,275 -8,090,153
Less unrestricted net fixed
-2,016,126 -1,280,502
assets
Less designated reserves -603,015 -328,015
Free reserves 571,106 677,146
Restricted reserves 326,061 189,947
**----- End of picture text -----**
In 2021, we employed an average of 31 (27.6 FTE) staff based in Camberwell who are divided into five teams: Operations, Fundraising, Communications, Programmes and Finance. The numbers include two staff members in Nairobi, Kenya, who are part of our Programmes team. This table details our salary costs:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Team Salary costs FT
Book Provision £380,647 10.96
Restricted Projects and Training £193,568 4.60
Fundraising £237,398 6.46
Management and Operational £279,195 5.18
Total £1,090,809 27.6
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Donations in kind**
In 2021 99.2% (2020 – 99.9%) of the books we sent were donated as Gifts in Kind by the UK publishing industry. The following table expresses the value of the books we received, retained and supplied in 2021 compared with preceding years:
## **Pension liability**
We are part of The Pensions Trust scheme, a multiemployer scheme that provides benefits to some 638 non-associated participating employers. The scheme is a defined-benefit scheme subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30th December 2005. The provision in respect of the deficit repayment plan is £45,786 (2020: £153,000) and this has been recognised in the accounts as required by FRS 102. Please see note 16 on page 50 for more detail.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Book stock 2021 2020 2019
GIK book
stock start £8,090,153 £6,306,425 £5,976,936
of year
Books
£10,013,273 £12,850,101 £18,558,955
received
Books sent -£13,279,151 -£11,066,372 -£18,229,466
GIK book
stock year £4,824,275 £8,090,153 £6,306,425
end
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Reserves policy and actuals**
Our Board meets annually to consider the resources that will be required to meet our long-term objectives and fulfil our commitments. The Board also considers the risks we face and sets a minimum free reserves policy at a level it believes would sustain our work while we recovered from any future shortfalls in income or unforeseen expenditure. The reserves have been set to ensure we have the time to adjust to a serious issue or a drop in funding and are more than required for the management of a closure.
## **Ongoing impact of Covid**
In response to the Covid pandemic and its ongoing impact, the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) conducted an exercise to arrive at an opinion on the funds of the organisation up to and beyond the end of 2023. Based on the information supplied and the modelling performed, the FAC reported to the Board that in their opinion the organisation was sufficiently resourced to operate on a going concern basis.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **26** Finances, Governance and Administration
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Finances, Governance and Administration **27**
## Structure, governance and management
## We are a company limited by guarantee, governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Our purpose, as set out in our Articles of Association, is to advance education and literacy by:
The Trustees are actively engaged with strategic direction and policy. They discuss and approve a strategic plan every three years, an annual budget each November and staff report regularly on progress against the plan.
- procuring and distributing reading and information materials to developing and other countries for educational purposes
The Board meets quarterly and reviews strategy, finances and the organisation’s charitable activities and approves matters reserved for the Board.
- distributing these materials to public and community libraries, universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, youth and children’s centres and other charitable institutions according to local needs and priorities
These include issues relating to strategy and management, structure of the charity, financial controls, internal controls and risk management, contracts, communication, board membership, remuneration, delegation of authority, corporate governance, policies and any other matters of importance for the charity.
- promoting and supporting any training or other activity which is designed to enhance the use of books, reading and other information material in developing countries.
Two committees formed by the Board meet and report back regularly to the Trustees: the Finance and Audit Committee, which meets three times a year to review internal controls, the risk register, going concern assumptions and the annual accounts, budgets and audit findings and is chaired by the Honorary Treasurer; and the Remuneration Committee, which meets annually to approve salary recommendations and other human resources matters and is chaired by the Chair of Trustees.
The Board has considered the legislative and regulatory requirements for disclosing how its charitable objectives have provided benefit to the public and has complied with the duty set out in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011. The strategic report on pages 4 – 25 outlines how our achievements during 2021 have benefited the public, either directly or indirectly.
## **Our Board of Trustees**
## **Our Senior Management Team**
The members of the charitable company are also the members of the Board, which consists of between five and 15 members. New members with specialist relevant skills and experience are appointed from time to time and their appointment is ratified at a meeting of the Board.
Our Senior Management Team consists of the Chief Executive and Heads of Programmes, Fundraising, Finance, Communications and Operations and this team communicates regularly with the Board. The Trustees have delegated the day-to-day operations of the charity to this Senior Management Team, while reserving for itself ultimate decision-making on the matters listed above where deemed necessary.
Members serve a three-year term, renewable for up to two further terms by re-election. New Trustees receive an induction and information pack and spend time in the offices and warehouse in London.
Salaries for the Senior Management Team are
reviewed biennially along with those of other staff and approved by the Remuneration Committee. The Chief Executive is currently the only staff member receiving a salary of between £70,000 and £80,000, with the Head of Finance being the only staff member receiving a salary between £60,000 and £70,000.
Our Trustees bring a range of experience from both the corporate and the not-for-profit sectors and individual members contribute expertise from publishing, finance, fundraising, librarianship, administration and international development.
## **How we assess and manage risk**
Our Trustees, led by the Risk Committee, formally assess risks annually using Charity Commission guidelines. Our position is regularly reviewed against this assessment and mitigating actions taken as necessary.
External risks to the charity in 2021 consisted primarily of the continuing impact of the pandemic on the organisation’s ability to deliver its projects and programmes in the context of ongoing disruption to libraries and schools in Africa. In late 2021 an increase in the risks posed by the political, economic and social structures of the countries and environments in which Book Aid International operates was identified, and the need for heightened due diligence processes agreed.
Areas of ongoing internal risk were identified as the reliance of Book Aid International for its model on donated books from the publishing industry, the need for an effective fundraising strategy to support Book Aid International’s growth plans, the charity’s dependence on a small number of large donors for its projects and programmes, and the limitations on capacity of the Camberwell site to support the expansion of the charity’s activities.
The Trustees are satisfied that measures have been put in place to mitigate external and internal risks to the charity as far as possible.
## **Protecting the environment**
At Book Aid International we are committed to helping to build a more sustainable future for all.
Climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately impact people in poorer communities. These communities include many readers we support and we have a responsibility to them to reduce our environmental impact. To that end, we have been working to understand and reduce our carbon footprint.
## **Our environmental impact**
We recognise that there are environmental costs to our work. We ship the books we provide by sea and overland around the world – a process which creates emissions. Wherever possible we use shipping companies which take steps to reduce carbon emissions for the books we send. By supporting a greener journey for our books, we can help to reduce our contribution to climate change.
We also keep our London office and warehouse as green as possible by working with utility suppliers that are committed to an environmentally
sustainable approach to their business. In-house we raise awareness and have a code of practice which includes recycling, responsible use of resources and purchasing.
## **Our environmental benefit**
While there is an environmental impact to our work, there is also a benefit. Our work creates environmental benefit in four ways.
## **Extending the life of books**
There is a carbon cost to every book that is printed, and so it is vital that we get the longest life possible out of each book. Many of the books we receive would be recycled were we not able to extend their lives by donating them to our partners. By keeping them from being recycled, we reduce waste and the carbon used in the recycling process.
## **Quality education**
We enrich classroom learning by providing books to existing school libraries, creating new school libraries and training teachers in how to use books to support classroom learning. This work improves the quality of education that children receive and, in the long-term, education enables people to make more informed life choices and creates awareness about environmental issues.
## **Awareness raising**
We provide books in schools and libraries around the world about the climate crisis and the urgent need to protect the natural world. These range from picture books for the youngest readers through to universitylevel texts on sustainable farming practices for agriculture students. These books inform and raise awareness of the need for change at a global level and how, together, we can safeguard our shared future.
## **Conservation support**
We also work with organisations that have environmental protection at the heart of their missions. In Malawi we are working with SolarAid to create _Solar Libraries_ where families can borrow books and solar lights – reducing emissions from kerosene lamps and enriching education. In Zambia, we’re working directly with conservation NGO African Parks to support its work in schools improving the quality of education that children living around national parks receive and increasing their understanding of conservation.
We know that the time to act to protect our shared future is now, so in the months and years ahead we will continue to seek out opportunities to reduce our environmental footprint and deliver a direct environmental benefit.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **28** Finances, Governance and Administration
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Finances, Governance and Administration **29**
## Reference and administrative details
## **Patrons and officials**
**Patron** HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM (until April 2021) **President** Nigel Newton **Vice President** Professor Kingo Mchombu
The following served as members and Board members throughout 2021:
## **Senior management**
## **Trustees**
## **Chair**
**Chief Executive**
Lord Paul Boateng
Alison Tweed
## **Head of Programmes**
**Honorary Treasurer** Nicholas Allen
Samantha Thomas Chuula
Dhivya O’Connor
## **Head of Operations**
Harry Boughton
Jonathan Hargreaves
## **Head of Communications**
Zainab Umar
Emma Taylor
Pam Dix
## **Head of Finance**
Charly Nobbs
Ade Soremekun
Robert Sulley
**Head of Fundraising** Laura Smith (joined May 2021)
## **Address and registered**
## **Solicitor**
## **office**
Stone King LLP Boundary House 91 Charterhouse Street London EC1M 6HR
39–41 Coldharbour Lane Camberwell London SE5 9NR
## **Auditors**
## **Charity number**
Sayer Vincent LLP Invicta House 108–114 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0TL
313869 (England and Wales)
## **Company number**
880754 (England and Wales)
## **Directors and members**
**The directors and members of the company are the Board members named on the preceding page.**
## **Statement of responsibilities of the trustees**
The trustees (who are also directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report including the strategic report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which 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 the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware
- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31st December 2021 was £8 (2020: £8). The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.
## **Auditor**
Sayer Vincent LLP was reappointed as the charitable company’s auditor during the year and has expressed its willingness to continue in that capacity.
The Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the strategic report has been approved by the trustees on 28 June and signed on their behalf by
Dr Alice Prochaska Nicholas Allen Chair Honorary Treasurer Book Aid International Book Aid International
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **30** Finances, Governance and Administration
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Finances, Governance and Administration **31**
## Independent auditor’s report
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Book Aid International (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31st December 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 _The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland_ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31st December 2021 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Book Aid International’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the Trustees’ Annual Report, including the strategic report, has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report including the strategic report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **32** Independent Auditor’s Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Independent Auditor’s Report **33**
## **Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities**
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
- We enquired of management and the finance committee, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the charity’s policies and procedures relating to:
- identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance
- detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud
- the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations
- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience.
- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of noncompliance throughout the audit.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
- This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
- We reviewed any reports made to regulators.
- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business.
Judith Miller (Senior statutory auditor) 21st June, 2021
for and on behalf of
Sayer Vincent LLP Statutory Auditor Invicta House 108–114 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0TL
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Independent Auditor’s Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Independent Auditor’s Report **35**
**34**
## Audited accounts
## **Balance sheet**
As at 31st December 2021
## **Statement of financial activities**
## (incorporating income and expenditure account)
For the year ended 31 December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Value of
Unrestricted donated books Restricted Total Total
Note £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 2a 1,471,809 - 1,065,533 2,537,342 1,887,628
Value of donated books received - 10,013,273 - 10,013,273 12,850,101
Other trading activities 4 11,960 - - 11,960 61,177
Investments 5,321 - - 5,321 8,546
Total income 1,489,090 10,013,273 1,065,533 12,567,896 14,807,452
Expenditure on:
-
Raising funds 568,351 31,088 599,439 534,718
Charitable activities:
-
Book provision 810,805 193,915 1,004,720 832,275
Value of donated books sent 3a - 13,279,151 - 13,279,151 11,066,372
Restricted projects and - -
704,416 704,416 535,859
training
Total expenditure 5a 1,379,156 13,279,151 929,419 15,587,726 12,969,224
Net income / (expenditure) for
7 109,934 (3,265,878) 136,114 (3,019,830) 1,838,228
the year
Net income / (expenditure)
before other recognised gains 109,934 (3,265,878) 136,114 (3,019,830) 1,838,228
and losses
Gains on revaluation of fixed - - -
723,000 723,000
assets
Gain on pension scheme 16 71,650 - - 71,650 -
Net movement in funds 904,584 (3,265,878) 136,114 (2,225,180) 1,838,228
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 2,285,663 8,090,153 189,947 10,565,763 8,727,536
Total funds carried forward 19a 3,190,247 4,824,275 326,061 8,340,583 10,563,763
**----- End of picture text -----**
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 19a to the financial statements.
The notes on pages 39 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 11 2,016,126 - 2,016,126 1,280,502
-
2,016,126 2,016,126 1,280,502
Current assets:
Stock – donated books 12 4,824,275 - 4,824,275 8,090,152
Debtors 13 129,985 179,500 309,485 193,975
Investments 14 201,718 - 201,718 301,715
Cash at bank and in hand 14 1,025,100 161,089 1,186,189 1,428,108
6,181,078 340,589 6,521,667 10,013,950
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 15 (136,896) (14,528) (151,424) (575,689)
Net current assets / (liabilities) 6,044,182 326,061 6,370,243 9,438,261
Net assets excluding pension asset /(liability) 8,060,308 326,061 8,386,369 10,718,763
Defined benefit pension scheme asset / (liability) 16 (45,786) - (45,786) (153,000)
Total net assets / (liabilities) 8,014,522 326,061 8,340,583 10,565,763
The funds of the charity: 19a
Restricted income funds - 326,061 326,061 189,947
Unrestricted income funds:
Fixed assets 280,126 - 280,126 267,502
Revaluation reserve 1,736,000 - 1,736,000 1,013,000
Free reserves 1u 571,106 - 571,106 677,146
-
Designated funds 603,015 603,015 328,015
Total charity funds without stock 3,190,247 326,061 3,516,308 2,475,610
Value of donated books 4,824,275 - 4,824,275 8,090,153
Total unrestricted funds 8,014,522 - 8,014,522 10,375,816
Total charity funds 8,014,522 326,061 8,340,583 10,565,763
**----- End of picture text -----**
The increase in the 2021 grants sent value is due to increased activity as a result of better than expected funding and release of unrestricted Book Aid International funds to support increased activity.
Approved by the trustees on 28th June and signed on their behalf by:
**Dr Alice Prochaska** Chair of the Board of Trustees
The notes on pages 39 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **36** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **37**
## **Statement of cash flows**
For the year ended 31st December 2021
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Note £ £ £ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (expenditure) for the reporting period
(3,019,830) 1,838,228
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges 39,236 32,345
(Gains)/losses on pension scheme 16 71,649 -
Dividends, interest and rent from investments (5,321) (8,546)
Decrease/(Increase) in stocks 3,265,877 (1,783,727)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors (115,510) 107,852
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (424,265) (36,747)
(Decrease) in provisions (107,214) (30,000)
Net cash provided by / (used in)
(295,378) 119,405
operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 5,323 8,546
Purchase of fixed assets (51,861) (37,420)
Net cash provided by / (used in)
(46,538) (28,874)
investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year (341,916) 90,531
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
1,729,823 1,639,292
year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 14 1,387,907 1,729,823
**----- End of picture text -----**
The notes on pages 39 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
## **Notes to the financial statements**
For the year ended 31 December 2021
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **a) Statutory information**
Book Aid International is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address is 39-41 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London SE5 9NR.
## **b) Basis of preparation**
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) – (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
## **c) Public benefit entity**
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **d) Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Key judgements that the charitable company has made which have a significant effect on the accounts include the valuation of donated books as explained below.
The trustees have reviewed the activities of the charity in light of Covid and have adjusted estimations for uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. It is the view of the Trustees that the charity will continue to be a going concern for the current year up to and including 2023.
## **e) Income**
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Entitlement to income from legacies is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **38** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **39**
## **f) Donated books**
Donated books are valued at fair value on receipt. This is determined using Nielsen Bookscan for identifying published prices and then applying a 30% discount from the full RRP to allow for the estimated market discount for third-party commercial buyers. This discount rate is reviewed by an independent expert on an annual basis. Where at year-end books could not be opened and scanned into stock, an estimate of the value of these books is made in relation to the type and class of books remaining unopened.
Books held are recognised as expenditure at the point they are dispatched from the Book Aid International warehouse. Books in transit at the year-end are accounted for as expensed as it is deemed highly probable that they will reach their intended beneficiaries in good condition. Any material damage or loss of stock would be adjusted in the accounts in the following year. There was no damage or loss of stock in transit at year-end 31st December 2021 to be reflected in these accounts.
Donated books held at year-end are measured at their fair value using the same measure as explained above. Provision is made where necessary for obsolete, slow-moving and defective stock. Where books are not able to be opened and booked into stock by the finalisation of the accounts, the value of these is estimated using averaged price per class of book based on books received and recognised in the accounts.
## **g) Interest receivable**
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.
## **h) Fund accounting**
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
## **i) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of book provision and restricted projects and training undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs.
- Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading.
## **k) Allocation of support costs**
Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned based on staff time and book delivery attributable to each activity.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Raising funds 22% 20%
Book provision 60% 64%
Restricted projects and training 18% 16%
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **l) Operating leases**
Rental charges are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
## **m) Tangible fixed assets**
Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.
Where fixed assets have been revalued, any excess between the revalued amount and the historic cost of the asset will be shown as a revaluation reserve in the balance sheet.
The increase in the 2021 grants sent value is due to increased activity as a result of better than expected funding and release of unrestricted Book Aid International funds to support increased activity.
Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Building 50 years 2% per annum on costs
Fixtures and office equipment 4 years 25% per annum on costs
Plant and machinery 10 years 10% per annum on costs
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **n) Stocks**
Donated books held at year-end are valued as explained in policy (f) above. Purchased books are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **o) Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against book provision.
## **p) Short-term deposit investments**
## **j) Grants payable**
Grants payable are made to third parties in furtherance of the charity’s objects. Single or multiyear grants are accounted for when either the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition, or the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and that any condition attaching to the grant is outside the control of the charity.
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.
Short-term deposits includes cash balances that are invested in accounts with a maturity date of between three and 12 months.
## **q) Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **41**
**40**
## **r) Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **s) Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **t) Pensions**
The charity contributes to a pension scheme administered by the Pensions Trust, as an independent company. The pension cost charge indicated in note 8 represents the contributions payable to the fund for the year, and note 16 gives details of the movements during the year of the agreed deficit repayment plan liability, which has been included as a liability under the requirements of FRS 102.
## **u) Free reserves**
The minimum level of free reserves confirmed by the Board of Trustees for 2021 was set at a range between £500,000 and £550,000.
## **2a Donations (current year)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Charitable trusts and NGOs (106,220) (997,596) (1,103,816) (735,184)
Companies (45,736) (38,500) (84,236) (81,944)
-
Community sources (26,539) (26,539) (74,166)
Individuals (1,293,314) (29,438) (1,322,751) (996,334)
Total donations (1,471,809) (1,065,533) (2,537,342) (1,887,628)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **2b Donations (prior year)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2020
Unrestricted Restricted Total
Charitable trusts and NGOs (51,774) (683,409) (735,184)
Companies (35,993) (45,951) (81,944)
Community sources (73,283) (882) (74,166)
Individuals (963,289) (33,045) (996,334)
Total donations (1,124,340) (763,287) (1,887,628)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **3a Gifts in kind (current year)**
The table below shows the discounted value of the 1,007,449 donated books distributed to partner organisations in 2021 (2020: 867,567). The process of valuation is described in note (1f) and the total adjusted value of books distributed in 2021 was £13,249,151 (2020: £11,066,372).
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2021
Total number Total £
Children's and teenagers' 468,125 2,999,197
Leisure reading (fiction, non-fiction and literature) 113,535 1,033,274
Reference 1,595 19,178
Secondary textbooks 87,387 1,077,379
Vocational skills and development 31,018 376,139
Professional 12,089 321,730
Higher education 59,784 2,312,496
Education and teacher training 15,052 291,605
English as a foreign language 37,393 355,235
Health and medicine 87,339 4,313,981
Law 3,164 149,089
916,481 13,249,304
Stock adjustments 90,968 29,847
Total expenditure of donated books sent 1,007,449 13,279,151
**----- End of picture text -----**
Stock adjustments relate to adjustments in book, sets, values and location of individual books.
## **3b Gifts in kind (prior year)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2020 2020
Total number Total £
Children's and teenagers' 399,867 2,488,700
Leisure reading (fiction, non-fiction and literature) 86,035 767,229
Reference 1,905 19,776
Secondary textbooks 83,749 1,108,974
Vocational skills and development 28,457 311,181
Professional 14,075 435,942
Higher education 46,473 1,719,532
Education and teacher training 16,543 342,450
English as a foreign language 25,943 324,635
Health and medicine 73,120 3,172,776
Law 5,147 185,729
781,314 10,876,924
Stock adjustments 86,253 189,448
Total expenditure of donated books sent 867,567 11,066,372
**----- End of picture text -----**
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **42** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **43**
**4 Income from other trading activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Events 2,251 - 2,251 1,757
UK book and card sales 9,644 - 9,644 13,102
Other 65 - 65 46,318
Total donations 11,960 - 11,960 61,177
**----- End of picture text -----**
All trading income received in 2021 and 2020 was unrestricted. Prior year figure includes £46,000 HMRC income for furloughed staff.
## **5a Analysis of expenditure (current year)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charitable activities
Restricted
Value of projects Pension
Raising Book donated and Govern- Support scheme
funds provision books sent training ance costs costs gain/loss 2021 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
- -
Staff costs (note 8) 237,398 380,647 193,568 146,125 133,070 1,090,809 1,021,064
Other staff costs 18,754 30,071 - 15,291 11,544 10,512 - 86,172 50,243
Travel and 228 4,008 1,919 - 6,155 13,593
workshop costs
-
Book purchase 18,428 18,428 15,795
Value of donated -
13,279,151 13,279,151 11,066,372
books
Overseas project -
100,601 309,517 410,118 193,083
partners (note 6)
Shipping and book -
146,397 146,397 128,685
disposal
Fundraising, PR and -
191,270 22,898 22,898 237,066 220,499
design
Professional fees -
40,730 40,730 28,873
and irrecoverable VAT
Other direct costs 2,956 - 2,956 386
Other project and - -
26,360 26,361 52,721 21,557
training costs
Governance cost 14,738 - 14,738 10,813
-
Support cost 202,287 202,287 198,260
-
447,650 564,584 13,279,151 587,982 172,407 535,952 15,587,726 12,969,223
- - - - -
Support costs 117,308 329,795 88,849 (535,952)
Governance costs 34,481 110,341 - 27,585 (172,407) - - - -
Gain/Loss on pension scheme - - - - - - - - -
Total expenditure - - - -
599,439 1,004,720 13,279,151 704,416 15,587,726
2021
Total expenditure - - - -
534,718 832,275 11,066,372 535,858 12,969,223
2020
**----- End of picture text -----**
Of the total expenditure, £14,658,308 was unrestricted (2020: £12,165,273) and £929,420 was restricted (2020: £803,950).
## **5b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charitable activities
Restricted
Value of projects Pension
Raising Book donated and train- Govern- Support scheme
funds provision books sent ing ance costs costs gain/loss 2020 2019
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
- -
Staff costs (note 8) 201,228 361,301 191,593 147,347 266,943 1,021,064 1,005,604
Other staff costs 9,902 17,778 - 9,427 10,322 13,136 - 50,243 92,228
Travel and 129 6,736 6,728 - 13,593 74,465
workshop costs
-
Book purchase 15,795 15,795 14,045
Value of donated -
11,066,372 11,066,372 18,229,466
books
Overseas project -
7,577 185,507 193,083 284,495
partners (note 6)
Shipping and book -
128,685 128,685 152,968
disposal
Fundraising, PR and -
194,040 13,230 13,229 220,499 254,634
design
Professional fees and -
28,873 28,873 47,427
irrecoverable VAT
Other direct costs 386 - 386 2,295
Other project and - -
11,513 10,045 21,557 45,986
training costs
Governance cost 10,813 - 10,813 15,476
-
Support cost 198,260 198,260 214,477
-
405,299 418,134 11,066,372 432,323 10,813 636,282 12,969,224 20,433,566
- - - - -
Support costs 127,256 407,220 101,805 (636,282)
Governance costs 2,163 6,920 - 1,730 (10,813) - - - -
Gain/Loss on pension scheme - - - - - - - - -
Total expenditure - - - -
534,718 832,275 11,066,372 535,858 12,969,224
2020
Total expenditure - - - -
588,963 832,275 18,229,466 648,080 20,433,566
2019
**----- End of picture text -----**
Of the total expenditure, £12,165,273 was unrestricted (2019: £19,488,530) and £803,950 was restricted (2019: £945,036).
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **44** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **45**
## **6 Grant payments to project partners**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Partners £ £
Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust 2,000 25,096
Alusine Jalloh 1,740
Baroda Trading 1,027
College Press 5,363 711
Consultus Publishing 2,853
EISERVI 600
Zimbawe Publishing House Ltd 1,981
DLIGHT Limited 2,298
Gramsol Trading 1,928
CODE Ethiopia 600
Malawi National Library Service 39,113 17,258
Gambia National Library Authority 600
Oldship Enterprise Ltd 2,688
Maiden Publishing House and Stationers 4,160
National Library of Uganda 16,849 790
Ghana Library Authority 2,376 7,413
EISERVI Information Services International 1,500
Sierra Leone Library Board 14,173 52,133
Kenya National Library Services 40,623 29,730
Uganda Community Library Association 5,600
Uganda Children's Writers and Illustrators 18,217
Siilaanyo National Library 5,378
Solar Aid 3,896 3,158
Street Children Empowerment Foundation 32,750 26,220
Rainbow Trust Foundation 16,596
Richard Luhanga 2,824
Save the Needy 4,040
Zambia Library Services 28,843 770
Grace Rwanda Society 34,109
Green Chilongo 8,635
I Choose Life Africa 5,673
IBBY 27,103
Innovate Bookshop 973
International Uganda 2,813
MYSA 2,800
We Care Liberia 600
Windle International 27,784 8,891
Weaver Press 1,110
Lutheran World Federation 8,355
Maiden Publishing 4,160
Publishers Ltd 8,240
Milward Tobias 2,911
Africa Parks 32,034 2,067
Grants to other institutions 154 893
At the end of the year 410,118 193,083
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **7 Net income / (expenditure) for the year**
This is stated after charging / (crediting):
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2021
£ £
Depreciation 39,236 32,345
Interest payable 6,322 9,274
Operating lease rentals:
- -
Property
Other 10,583 9,353
Auditors’ remuneration (excluding VAT):
Audit 11,125 10,800
Other services 1,100 -
Foreign exchange (gains) or losses 2 176
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **8 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel**
Staff costs were as follows:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2021
£ £
Salaries and wages 884,498 837,686
Employer's NI contributions 87,720 64,697
Pension contributions 53,171 50,560
Overseas staff costs 65,420 68,121
1,090,809 1,021,064
2021 2021
No. No.
Average head count 31.0 26.0
Full-time equivalent 27.6 25.3
Number of staff whose emoluments were between £60,000 – £70,000 1 1
Number of staff whose emoluments were between £70,000 – £80,000 1 -
**----- End of picture text -----**
The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £397,943 (2020: £387,045).
Trustees received no remuneration during the year (2020: £nil). No trustees received any payments for professional services during the year (2020: £nil).
There were no expenses reimbursed to trustees in 2021 (2020: £nil).
The increase in the 2021 grants sent value is due to increased activity as a result of better than expected funding and release of unrestricted Book Aid International funds to support increased activity.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **46** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **47**
**12 Stock**
## **9 Related party transactions**
## Aggregate donations from related parties were £1,318 (2020: £1,325).
Robert Sulley is a director at Hodder Education (part of the Hachette Group). This trustee related organisations donated the following to Book Aid International during the year.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
Value of 2021 Value of
books Cash books 2020
donated donated donated Cash donated
Trustee related organisations £ £ £ £
- -
Hachette Group 631,975 376,067
- -
631,975 376,067
**----- End of picture text -----**
||**2021**
**£**|2020
£|
|---|---|---|
|Donated books|**4,824,275**|8,090,153|
At year-end there are unopened pallets of books stored in our warehouses. We endeavour to open as many of these as possible by the time the accounts are finalised. The value of any unopened pallets is estimated by using the average value of pallets for that class of book received and opened in the year. Included in the Closing stock value of £4,824,275 are 233 pallets of books (2020: 366) which could not be opened and booked into stock at year-end. These have been estimated using an averaged price per class of book and are valued at £2,324,732 (2020: £4,567,624). The reduced closing stock balance is due to the increased number of books sent to partners as well as a reduction of higher-value medical books received in the year.
## **10 Taxation**
## **13 Debtors**
The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is deemed charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
## **11 Tangible fixed assets**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Fixtures
Freehold Plant and and office
property machinery equipment 2021 Total
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
At the start of the year 1,275,000 26,533 62,712 1,364,245
Gain on revaluation 723,000 - - 723,000
-
Additions in year 19,900 31,961 51,860
-
Disposals in year (19,855) (12,361) (32,216)
At the end of the year 1,998,000 26,578 82,312 2,106,890
Depreciation
At the start of the year 32,000 22,445 29,298 83,743
Charge for the year 16,000 2,658 20,580 39,238
-
Eliminated on disposal (19,855) (12,362) (32,217)
At the end of the year 48,000 5,248 37,516 90,764
Net book value
At the end of the year 1,950,000 21,330 44,796 2,016,126
At the start of the year 1,243,000 4,088 33,414 1,280,502
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Trade debtors 1,411 13,568
Other debtors and prepayments 75,152 50,769
All trading income received in 2021 and 2020 was unrestricted.
33,794 31,888
Prior year figure includes £46,000 HMRC income for furloughed staff.
Accrued income 199,128 97,750
309,485 193,975
**----- End of picture text -----**
All of the charity’s financial instruments, both assets and liabilities, are measured at amortised cost.
## **14 Bank and short-term investments**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Cash and bank 1,186,189 1,428,108
1,186,189 1,428,108
Short-term investments 201,718 301,715
Total cash and short-term investments 1,387,907 1,729,823
**----- End of picture text -----**
Short-term investments are funds invested in 12 month fixed term deposit accounts.
The original (1987) cost of the charity’s freehold premises in Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell was £230,000. The premises have been revalued five times. The most recently detailed valuation was in December 2021. The revaluations were undertaken by an independent valuer and give current open market valuations of the freehold interest in the charity’s property. The Land and Building were valued at £780,000 and £1,170,000 respectively based on Existing Use value.
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **49**
**48** Audited Accounts
## **15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Trade creditors 78,784 72,820
Staff tax and social security 38,395 39,224
- -
VAT payable
Other creditors and accruals 34,245 463,646
151,424 575,690
**----- End of picture text -----**
Reduced figure for other creditor and accruals in 2021 is due to a change in way a donor funds for activity. Previously funds for the following years activity were received at the end of the prior year. Now funds will be given in tranches in the year of the activity.
## **16 Pension scheme**
The company participates in the scheme, a multi-employer scheme which provides benefits to some 638 non-associated participating employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.
The scheme is subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30th December 2005. This, together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council, sets out the framework for funding defined benefit occupational pension schemes in the UK.
The scheme is classified as a ‘last-man standing arrangement’. Therefore, the company is potentially liable for other participating employers’ obligations if those employers are unable to meet their share of the scheme deficit following withdrawal from the scheme. Participating employers are legally required to meet their share of the scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on withdrawal from the scheme.
A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30th September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m.
To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee has asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:
From 1 April 2022 to 31 January 2025: £3,312,000 per annum (payable monthly)
Unless a concession has been agreed with the Trustee the term to 31 January 2025 applies.
Note that the scheme’s previous valuation was carried out with an effective date of 30th September 2017. This valuation showed assets of £794.9m, liabilities of £926.4m and a deficit of £131.5m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee has asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:
Where the scheme is in deficit and where the company has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement, the company recognises a liability for this obligation. The amount recognised is the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement that relates to the deficit. The present value is calculated using the discount rate detailed in these disclosures. The unwinding of the discount rate is recognised as a finance cost.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
£ £
Present value of provision
Reconciliation of opening and closing provisions: 153 183
Provision at start of period 1 2
Unwinding of discount factor (interest expense) (36) (35)
Post year-end adjustment (1) 3
-
(71)
Provision at end of period 46 153
Income and expenditure impact
Interest expense - 2
Remeasurements – changes in assumptions (1) 3
Remeasurements – amendments to contribution schedule (71) -
Contributions paid in respect of future service - 35
Costs recognised on SoFA - 51
**----- End of picture text -----**
This includes defined contribution schemes and future service contributions – that is, excluding any deficit reduction payments – to defined benefit schemes which are treated as defined contribution schemes.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2021 2020
% per annum % per annum
Assumptions:
Rate of discount 31st December 1.18 0.27
**----- End of picture text -----**
The discount rates shown above are the equivalent single discount rates which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions.
The estimated contingent liability for the charity as at September 2020 in the event of withdrawal for the Growth Plan was £498,600 (less the £45,786 provided above). There is no intention at present to cease participation or to wind up the Growth Plan.
## **Deficit Contribution**
From 1st April 2019 to 30th September 2025: £11,243,000 per annum payable monthly and increasing by 3% each on 1st April.
The recovery plan contributions are allocated to each participating employer in line with their estimated share of the Series 1 and Series 2 scheme liabilities.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **51**
**50**
## **17 Detailed comparatives for the statement of financial activities (prior year – 2020)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2020
Value of
Unrestricted donated books Restricted Total
£ £ £ £
Income from:
-
Donations and legacies 1,124,340 763,287 1,887,628
Value of donated books received - 12,850,101 - 12,850,101
- -
Other trading activities 61,177 61,177
Investments 8,546 - - 8,546
Total income 1,194,063 12,850,101 763,287 14,807,452
Expenditure on:
-
Raising funds 487,346 47,372 534,718
Charitable activities:
-
Book provision 611,555 220,720 832,275
Value of donated books sent - 11,066,372 - 11,066,372
- -
Restricted projects and training 535,859 535,859
- - - -
Loss on pension scheme
Total expenditure 1,098,901 11,066,372 803,951 12,969,224
Net income for the year 95,162 1,783,729 (40,664) 1,838,228
Transfers between funds - - - -
Net movement in funds 95,162 1,783,729 (40,664) 1,838,228
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 2,190,501 6,306,425 230,610 8,727,536
Total funds carried forward 2,285,663 8,090,154 189,946 10,565,763
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **18 Detailed comparatives for the balance sheet (prior year – 2020)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2020
Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Fixed assets:
-
Tangible assets 1,280,502 1,280,502
-
1,280,502 1,280,502
Current assets:
Stock – donated books 8,090,152 - 8,090,152
Debtors 96,225 97,750 193,975
Investments 301,715 - 301,715
Cash at bank and in hand 880,423 547,685 1,428,108
9,368,515 645,435 10,013,950
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (120,201) (455,488) (575,689)
Net current assets / (liabilities) 9,248,314 189,947 9,438,261
Net assets excluding pension asset /(liability) 10,528,816 189,947 10,718,763
-
Defined benefit pension scheme asset / (liability) (153,000) (153,000)
Total net assets / (liabilities) 10,375,816 189,947 10,565,763
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds - 189,947 189,947
Unrestricted income funds:
Fixed assets 267,502 - 267,502
Revaluation reserve 1,013,000 - 1,013,000
Free reserves 677,146 - 677,146
-
Designated funds 328,015 328,015
Total charity funds without stock 2,285,663 189,947 2,475,610
Value of donated books 8,090,153 - 8,090,153
Total unrestricted funds 10,375,816 - 10,375,816
Total charity funds 8,015,822 326,061 10,565,763
**----- End of picture text -----**
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **52** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **53**
## **19a Movements in funds (current year – 2021)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
At 1 January Income and Expenditure At 31 Dec
2021 gains and losses Transfers 2021
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds:
Book Links 1,458 7,950 (9,408) - -
Inspiring Readers Projects 14,067 45,232 (17,957) (559) 40,783
- - -
Impact Assessment Project 4,064 4,064
- - -
Reading is Basic GHN02 (63) (63)
- - -
Reading Club ZIM01 (301) (301)
-
People's Postcode Lottery 2021 253,924 (126,405) 2,424 129,943
-
MAL/ZAM/ZIM – BP (SAF BEIT) 75,094 75,000 (74,908) 75,186
ZAM – STEM STD Hubs01 - 25,702 (23,478) - 2,224
- - -
GHA – STEM Hubs – Agrekko 2,479 2,479
KEN - STEM HUBS 2,189 - (2,189) - -
GHA - Children’s Corner 02 338 - (338) - -
- - -
Reading Promotion 8,154 (8,154)
KEN - Mini Solar Homework Project 6,078 - (6,000) - 78
-
Discovery Book Box Projects 1,255 10,000 (10,000) 1,255
- -
UGA – Shared Reading 02 32,864 (30,850) 2,014
KEN – Solar Homework Project 02 79 - - (79) -
KEN – Solar Buy Back 15,926 - (15,238) - 688
UGA – Solar Homework Project Rhino Camp 10,007 - (9,413) - 594
-
Explorer Library Projects 8,316 66,268 (53,943) 20,641
SL02 – Children’s Corner - - (18) - (18)
SOML – Children’s Corner - - - - -
MAL – Solar Libraries 01 4,621 - (3,521) (1,100) -
UGA – Reading for All SEC-Intouch 3,277 - (348) - 2,929
UGA – Reading for All ECD PRIM-PPL 3,521 - (1,655) - 1,866
KEN02 – Reading for All Solar - - - 79 79
UGA01 – Reading for All Palabek - - (45) - (45)
MAL – Reading around the Reserve 2,789 - (1,641) (1,149) (1)
MAL02a L&M – Reading around the Reserve - 70,121 (71,255) 1,134 -
MAL02b M – Reading around the Reserve - 26,362 (12,790) - 13,572
ZAM – Reading around the Reserve - 42,504 (35,848) - 6,656
ZIM – Reading around the Reserve - 10,000 - - 10,000
TNZ – Quality Schools for All 750 9,000 - (750) 9,000
Books To Go Projects - 107,804 (109,272) - (1,468)
L4L PPL KEN01 - 62,855 (62,855) - -
CCL ZNZ01 - 27,533 (27,107) - 426
KEN01-I C Reading - 15,000 (14,083) - 917
Education PRG CAM01 - - (9) - (9)
Africa Story Box Projects - 90,710 (89,772) - 938
- -
Africa and other book provision 32,006 42,150 (74,156)
Children's Book Provision - 1,400 (1,400) - -
Law Book Provision - 5,000 (5,000) - -
Medical/Health Book Provision - 30,000 (30,000) - -
- - -
Other legacies/activities 1,633 1,633
Total restricted funds 189,947 1,065,533 (929,420) - 326,061
Unrestricted funds:
Fixed asset reserve 267,502 - (7,021) 19,645 280,126
Revaluation reserve 1,013,000 723,000 - - 1,736,000
Stock reserve 8,090,153 10,013,273 (13,279,151) 4,824,275
Free reserves 677,146 1,560,739 (1,372,134) (294,645) 571,106
-
Designated reserves 328,015 275,000 603,015
Total unrestricted funds 10,375,816 12,297,012 (14,658,306) - 8,014,522
-
Total funds per balance sheet 10,565,763 13,362,545 (15,587,726) 8,340,583
Pension reserve 153,000 - - (107,214) 45,786
Total funds adding back pension fund 10,718,763 13,362,545 (15,587,726) (107,214) 8,386,369
-
Total unrestricted funds (less stock) 2,285,663 2,283,739 (1,379,155) 3,190,247
Total funds including pension fund (less stock) 2,628,610 3,349,272 (2,308,575) (107,214) 3,562,094
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Projects with negative balances**
Funding for these projects is expected in 2022 with applications for funders already sent or being sent in 2022. Failure to receive this funding will result in the projects being funded from unrestricted funds.
## **2021 transfers between funds**
## **There were no transfers between Restricted and Unrestricted funds in 2021:**
* Any transfers are treated within parameters allowed by funders, and any external excess funding transferred to other projects or unrestricted funds will always be agreed with funders.
## **Purposes of designated funds**
The total designated funds increased from £328,015 to £603,015 by a net £275,000 increase as at 31/12/2021 made up of the following:
- At the 16/12/2021 Board meeting the Trustees confirmed £53,000 of designated funds to test a range of options to acquire new regular supporters through digital fundraising activities. The designated fund will be spent in 2022 after which digital donor acquisition will become part of the charity’s regular investment in fundraising.
- At the same meeting the Board approved a further £55,000 and at the March 2022 meeting a further £250,000 for the costs associated with planning and delivering options to increase warehouse capacity, thus enabling the charity to increase its operational reach through storing, processing and sending more books. Costs associated with the total designation of £500,000 (£195,000 having been designated in prior years) include consultancy, agency, professional fees and equipment and rental costs.
- At the same meeting the Trustees approved a £50,000 designated fund to develop required projects where funding may not have been raised or raised in total, this includes match-funding initiatives, or projects Book Aid International deem beneficial where funding may be needed to top up the project or get it off the ground.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **55**
**54** Audited Accounts
## **19b Movements in funds (prior year – 2020)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
At 1 January Income and Expenditure At 31 Dec
2020 gains and losses Transfers 2020
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds:
Book Links 1,330 7,975 (7,848) - 1,457
Inspiring Readers Projects 30,058 123,798 (146,038) 6,250 14,068
- -
Impact Assessment Project 5,022 (958) 4,065
- -
People's Postcode Lottery 2020 195,236 (210,172) 14,936
-
Malawi/Zambia/Zimbabwe – BP (SAF BEIT) 74,919 75,000 (74,826) 75,093
Zambia – Children's Corner 3,064 - (1,649) (1,414) -
- - -
Ghana – STEM Hubs – Agrekko 2,479 2,479
- -
Kenya - STEM HUBS 11,153 (8,964) 2,189
Malawi – Children’s Corner 20,496 - - (20,496) -
Ghana – Children’s Corner 01 8,106 - (4,621) (3,485) -
Ghana - Children’s Corner 02 9,279 - (8,940) - 339
- -
Kenya - Mini Solar Homework Project 10,700 (4,622) 6,078
Kenya – Library in a Camp. Secondary PPL - - (620) 620 -
-
Pioneer Book Box Projects 6,224 13,713 (18,683) 1,254
Kenya – Solar Homework Project 02 789 15,251 (15,341) (620) 79
- -
Kenya – Solar Buy Back 24,298 (8,372) 15,926
- -
Uganda – Solar Homework Project Rhino Camp 12,671 (2,664) 10,007
Explorer Library Projects 49,357 41,750 (84,391) 1,600 8,316
Malawi – Solar Libraries 01 - 32,166 (27,545) - 4,621
Uganda – Reading for All SEC-Intouch (2,662) 12,539 (6,600) - 3,277
Uganda – Reading for All ECD PRIM-PPL (12,358) 47,389 (31,510) - 3,521
Malawi – Reading around the Reserve (17,959) 54,624 (33,876) - 2,789
-
Ghana – Reading is Basic – SCEF 3,600 23,787 (35,595) 8,207
Tanzania – Quality Schools for All 750 - - - 750
-
Africa and other book provision 29,733 65,890 (63,616) 32,007
Children's Book Provision - 6,500 (6,500) - -
- -
Other legacies/activities 7,230 (5,598) 1,632
Total restricted funds 230,610 763,287 (803,951) - 189,947
Unrestricted funds:
Fixed asset reserve 251,804 - (12,758) 28,456 267,502
Revaluation reserve 1,023,624 - - (10,624) 1,013,000
Stock reserve 6,306,425 12,850,100 (11,066,372) - 8,090,153
Free reserves 682,058 1,194,063 (1,086,143) (112,832) 677,146
- -
Designated reserves 233,015 95,000 328,015
Total unrestricted funds 8,496,926 14,044,163 (12,165,273) - 10,375,816
-
Total funds per balance sheet 8,727,538 14,807,450 (12,969,224) 10,565,763
Pension reserve 183,000 - (30,000) - 153,000
-
Total funds adding back Pension fund 8,910,538 14,807,450 (12,999,224) 10,718,763
-
Total unrestricted funds (less stock) 2,190,502 1,194,063 (1,098,901) 2,285,663
-
Total funds including pension fund (less stock) 2,604,111 1,957,350 (1,932,853) 2,628,610
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Unrestricted income funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the charity’s objectives. Unrestricted funds include designated funds, fixed assets and revaluation reserves representing the excess of the net book value of the property at acquisition. The remainder of the unrestricted funds are the charities free reserves.
## **2020 Transfers between funds**
## **The total £1,000 net transfers between Restricted and Unrestricted funds is made up of the following:**
Uganda Gilead medical books project was funded through unrestricted funds until sourced funding was received in 2019. The excess funding of £1,000 has been returned to unrestricted funds.
**Designated funds** are unrestricted funds ‘earmarked’ by the trustees for use against specific future activities and commitments.
**Restricted income funds** are subject to specific restrictions imposed by donors or by the purpose of an appeal. Details of all restricted funds held are in note 19a above.
## **20 Operating lease commitments**
The charity’s total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods.
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Equipment
2021 2020
£ £
Less than one year 8,149 9,633
One to five years 37,523 11,998
45,672 21,631
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## **21 Legal status of the charity**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each of the eight members in the event of winding up is limited to £1.
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report **56** Audited Accounts
Book Aid International 2021 Trustees’ Annual Report Audited Accounts **57**
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BookAid International 2021Tru5tee5'Annual Report
Audited Accounts
BookAid International 2021Tru5tee5'Annual Report
ALiditcd Account5
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Teacher Naluca Mwitelela during a reading session in class. © Jason J Mulikita
## **Every time a child turns the page of a book, they’re taking another step towards a happier and better future.**
_Naluca Mwitelela, Teacher, Rosa Mystica Community School, Zambia_
## **bookaid.org**
© Book Aid International. Book Aid International is a charity and limited company registered in England and Wales. Charity no: 313869. Company no: 880754. Registered office: 39–41, Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NR