## maru-a-oula luk trust 

# Trustees Report 1st January to 31st December 2023 

## **Registered Charity Number: 313929** 

Registered Address: 

25 Common Mead Avenue 

Gillingham Dorset SP8 4NB 

## **Trustees:** 

Mr Jeremy Long 

Mrs Helen Long 

Mr James Gardener 

Ms Malebogo Tlhajoane 

Megan Ellen Sands 



About the work of the Maru a Pula Trust
Founded in Botswana in 1972, Maru-a-Pula School was established as a non-
profit trust, built on 50 acres of land donated by the Botswana Government. The
founding Head launched the school based on multiracial ideals, with community
outreach as a core principle. The school aims to nurture students who are deeply
committed to helping their communities, both locally and globally. Maru-a-Pula
is a co-educational, independent day and boarding secondary. Around 70Yo of
students are from Botswana. a significant number of whom are on some form
of scholarship or bursary.
The UK Maru a Pula Trust was registered with the Charities Commission in 1971,
one year before the school was opened. In 2012 a new group of trustees were
appointed with a particular focus on raising funds for Maru-a-pula's Orphan and
Vulnerable Children Scholarship Fund.
The Maru-a-Pula OVC Scholarship Program was established in 2005 to provide
opportunities for local children who have been impacted by the effects of
HIV/AIDS and poverty. The OVC Programme provides full scholarships to
orphans and vulnerable children who demonstrate the academic ability but who
cannot afford the costs of a Maru-a-Pula education. OVC Scholars come from
minimum wage households therefore the OVC Scholarship is comprehensive
and provides for all the child's needs. The scholarship covers tuition, boarding,
all meals, uniform and clothing, medical expenses. stationery and other living
expenses. Students from all over Botswana have been recipients of the OVC
Scholarship and alumni of the scholarship have gone on to study at tertiary level
around the world. There are currently 28 students on OVC Scholarships at Maru-
a-Pula (January 2024).
The UK Maru a Pula Trust has a bank account with Barclays. Donations are also
made through CAF Bank (charityAid Foundation) and the charity giving platform
wonderful.org
Donations through CAF Bank and wonderful.org are paid directly into our
Barclays account.
Receipts and Payments
2023 has been a particularly good year for the Trust with a total of £31, 368
being deposited into our Barclays account. This represents a significant increase
in income from recent years. A former employee of Capital Group together with

- the company's matching gift scheme, continues to be our major source of income. In March 2023 the Principal of Maru-a-Pula and the Director of Development visited London and gave a presentation to a group of current Capital Group employees. This presentation resulted in an additional £5,850 of income from current employees of Capital Group. £500 of income came from two donations paid through our giving platform, Wonderful.erg, and £18 from a scheme that was run by Amazon that donated a small percentage of money from individual purchases to registered UK charities. 

On the 21[st ] _at_ June 2023 we carried out our annual transfer of funds to Maru-a­ Pula School in Botswana from our Barclays account. £31,000 was transferred with an additional £31 to cover bank charges. All this money was allocated to the OVC Scholarship Fund at Maru-a-Pula in accordance with the aims of the UK Maru a Pula Trust. 

The balance in our Barclays account at the end of 2023 was £601.36 

## **Income:** 

|**Income:**||
|---|---|
|_Bank balance at the start of 2023_|_£263.95_|
|Capital Group individual donations together with Matching Gift||
|From Capital Group|£30,850|
|Individual donations through charity giving platform||
|Wonderful. Org|£500|
|Donations from Amazon Core|£18.41|
|Total Income for 2023|£31,368|
|**Payments:**||
|Barclays Transfer to Maru-a-Pula School|£31000|
|Bank Charges|£31|
|Total Payments 2023|£31,031|
|Balance at end 2023|£601.36|





The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above. 

Signed on behalf of the Maru a Pula Trust trustees. 

-- . (_)Ct_ pre Jeremy Long 

Chair of the Maru a Pula Trust 

1[st] February 2024 



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## **CHARITY COMMISSION** FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES 

## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** 

- - - -- - Section A Independent Examiner's Report A PULA TRUST | .___ _ ______________________ __, **Charity no** 3 \ I q i \ e__ C- 2-CJ Ll **(if any)** 3> 2- I **On accounts for th:J:C: Set out on pages** (remember l<1 include 1h':! paqe r,t,rnbers of add1!Jvrn1 sheets) **members of K \IV\ V'\ Chanty** 1n **t Report to the trustees/ I A.** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 

- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). 

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

- **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention (other than that disclosed below*) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

   - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or 

   - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ ' **Signed: D[at] e:** I +- I _4--_ **Name:** | PU rcatAee _y_ Giry, _N_ Ge **I - (if any):** _________________________ **1** .__ ___, **Address:** _F_ A-R c6T'fl#t-66 -n _Ce--c.-8_ Wee _**-r**_ NIGP E. _&, 1-L-/_ 


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**Name: qualification( s) or body Relevant professional** 

**Section B Disclosure** aacaAak em AMMEN ION, ean SUT ALT. Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). 

**IER** 

1 

**October 2018**