maru-a.pula Ilk Iiusl Trustees Report 1st January to 31st December 2024 Registered Charity Number: 313929 Registered Address: 25 Common Mead Avenue Gillingham Dorset SP84NB 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 establlshed 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 70% 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 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 now 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 26 students on OVC Scholarships at Maru- a-Pula {January 2025). The UK Maru a Pula Trust has a bank account with Barclays. Donations are also made through CAF Bank (charity Aid Foundation) and the charity giving platform wonderful.org Donations through CAF Bank and wonderful.org are paid directly into our Barclays account. Receipts and Payment5 It has been an active year for the UK Map Trust with two successful London based reunions and another year of solid donations.
Oiir reiii)lon5 h.Ive beeii ai) eflecllve method of connectln8 with the 8rowlng iietwt)Ik of UK b.i%ed .IlLimnl. We ¢ire Increaslngly attractln8 more recent Map .?liiiiini tc) tliest, eveiits Posslbly dlie to the Increase of Batswana students Ixiiiiiiig to stLidy In the UK biit <ilso due to the encouragement of the MaP Developiiient office. Our most recent reunlon In September 2024 saw a record attend,Ince of over twenty alumnl. The UK M.IP Trust niade its annual transfer of funds to MaP In July wlth a total of £21 (0 sent over to Botswina. A further donatlon to Trust after thls transfer me4ins we now have a balance of just over £4700 in our account. All funds donated to the Trust are allocated to the OVC Scholarshlp Fund in accordance with the aims of the UK MaP Trust. We look forward to another successful year In 2025. Income". Bonk balon ot the start of 2024 Capital Group individual donations wlth Matchlng Glft Individual donations through charity glving platform Wonderful. Org Donations from alumni reunions held in 2024 Total Income for 2024 £601.36 £24 281.60 £682.00 £175.00 £25 138.00 Payments: Annual transfer to the School's OVC Scholarship Fund Bank Charges £21000.00 £25.00 Total Payments 2024 £21025.00 Balance at end 2024 £4714.96
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the Irusteesl members of IWA&LL A PWUA T(lgr On accounts for the year ended Charity no {If any) 3131LI Set out on pagas I to the truste8s on my examination of the aCCnts of the atM)ve charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year endj Responslb1lltl and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requiremerts of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Acr). I reM in respect of my examinalN)n of ts Trusfs accounts carried out nder s8CtK)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryiNJ out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity CommissK)n under section 145{51(b) of the Act. I have completed my eXaminan. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in conneckn'on with the examination whKh gives me cause to believe that in. any material Indapendant examlnerfs statement accountiThJ records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the aCCnts do not accord with accounting rectxds I have concerns and have c(xne across m olher matters in COnon with the examinati( to which attention stKxJkl be drawn in order to enable proper under5tandiro of the acc(NJnts to be reaCtrd. ' Please delete Ihe words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Data: Slgned: Name: Relevant professlonal qua15ficatioh(s) or body (11 any): Addros6: fT) Section B DisclosLire Only compkne rf the examinr needs to highlight matters of cern (see CC32, IrKdependent examination of charty accounts: directS *xl guidance for examiners). IER October 2018