2025-09-30-accounts - Faith Welfare Trust

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Faith Welfare Trust Annual Report 2024-2025

FAITH WELFARE TRUST

THE OLD VICARAGE  ACKLINGTON  NORTHUMBERLAND  NE65 9BL TEL 01670 760620

E-mail: fwt.news@gmail.com Web: www.faithwelfaretrust.org

Registered Charity number 327557

Faith Welfare Trust

Annual Report for year ending September 30, 2025

Introduction

Faith Welfare Trust (FWT) is constituted by Trust Deed, established in 1987. The objects of the charity are: to promote the welfare of disadvantaged and/or destitute children and young people in the area of benefit (India); and to support disadvantaged children and young people in the area of benefit in their education and training. To fulfill these objects, it provides support to 2 homes (one for girls, one for boys) for deprived children near Chennai, South India, and Faith School in Rajahmundry (also known as Rajahmahendravaram), Andhra Pradesh state, India, 350 miles to the North.

The trustees have regard to both the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and prevention and relief of poverty for the public benefit. FWT’s work is in accordance with both these guidelines and the main objects set out in the trust deed.

Governance

The Trustees of FWT for the year 2024-25 comprised:

Brian Tugwell, Elsie Tugwell, Alistair Coomer, Chris Sayers, Tessa Sayers, John Fisher, Rachel Fisher, Joanne Hutchison, David Shipley.

Tessa Sayers is the chair of trustees and she and Chris Sayers have the role of “managing trustees”. They arrange the twice-yearly trustee meetings and oversee the financial affairs of the charity and contact with supporters, both to acknowledge donations and for information, though much of this work is carried out by other trustees (see below). They carry out the annual return for the Charity Commission.

The treasurer, David Shipley, manages the charity’s financial affairs and record keeping, including acknowledgement of donations, Gift Aid claims and preparing the accounts for the independent examiner. He is a signatory to the bank account (along with Chris and Tessa Sayers). His experience working with similar charities in the past and his competence and thoroughness in handling charity finances are a huge asset to the board.

John and Rachel Fisher manage the FWT website and update FWT’s FaceBook account with regular posts which encourage supporters and gain interest from elsewhere. Until recently they prepared the newsletter but it was decided that this was not an effective use of the charity’s funds and their time and effort, and that alternative ways to keep in touch with regular donors and publicise the charity’s work to potential donors would be better.

Brian and Elsie Tugwell play a major role in liaising with the charity's projects in India as they are based in India for several months each year. They attend the meetings of Nambikkai Illam Trust whenever possible and are in regular contact with the staff at the children's homes and Faith School. They keep the other trustees informed of any changes or developments.

Alistair Coomer has been on the board of trustees from the charity's inception and this long-term view, together with financial and managerial experience, is very beneficial to the governance of FWT.

Joanne Hutchison has visited the children’s homes and Faith school. She (with David) ensures that online gifts are individually acknowledged and she contributes to the FaceBook page. As a person living with a disability she brings an additional very valuable perspective to board discussions.

The trustees meet twice a year (spring and autumn). Due to their geographical dispersal in the UK, it is not always practical to meet in person and all meetings in 24-25 were conducted over Zoom. Correspondence is conducted by WhatsApp and email on relevant matters arising between meetings, to inform and consult with trustees. When vacancies on the board of trustees arise or when there is an opportunity to recruit a valuable new board member, potential new trustees are invited by the existing board. The trust deed does not specify the maximum number of trustees.

Each year, some trustees usually visit the school and homes in India to see for themselves how things are and make contact with the staff and trustees of the Nambikkai Illam Trust (NIT), the Indian charity that manages the homes and school. In the year from Oct 2024 to Sept 2025 Brian and Elsie Tugwell were able to visit India in autumn 24 and spring 25 and Brian visited again in July 24. Contact with trustees and staff at the homes and school was also conducted by phone and via email and WhatsApp.

None of the Trustees of FWT received any remuneration for their services.

The homes are managed locally by the trustees of the Nambikkai Illam Trust (NIT), based in Chennai, who normally meet approximately every 2 months to deal with strategic and practical issues as they arise. Trustees in 2024-25 comprised Chair Dr Livingstone (retired teacher at Madras Christian College), Dhyaneswar, Dr Esther (a GP), Brother Anthony and Dr. P. Samuel Asivartham. Mrs Sunithy resigned from the board. Dr Samuel is a new member (joined Sept 25) and is the former head of physics at MCC Christian College. NIT holds a bank account at ICICI bank for day to day transactions. To comply with new government regulations, an account was set up with the State Bank of India in Delhi for the receipt of foreign funds, which are then transferred to the usual ICICI account. Minutes of the trustee meetings are sent to FWT trustees as well as copies of their bank statements and their audited accounts. The manager of the homes, Chandra Rao, sends a monthly breakdown of income and expenditure to both NIT trustees and FWT trustees as well as regular updates of what has been happening at the homes, mainly via WhatsApp.

Faith School is managed locally by Dr Samuel Moses and his wife Kamala and operates under head teacher Mrs Mercy. The school's management and finance arrangements are overseen by trustees of Nambikkai Illam Trust who arrange for appropriate funds to be sent from the main Nambikkai Illam bank account to the school to pay staff salaries, food for lunches and other overheads.

Nambikkai Illam Children’s Homes

FWT supports 2 children’s homes near Sriperumbudur, just outside Chennai, Tamil Nadu State, South India. The accommodation comprises:

Junior and Senior Boys Home at Vengadu village
Junior and Senior Girls Home at Navalur village

The two homes are less than a mile apart. Most daily activities are conducted separately in the respective homes but the children get together regularly on free days and for special events and activities. This ensures regular contact for siblings living in the two homes, of whom there are quite a few. During the 24-25 school year there were 18 girls (aged between 6 and 16) and 24 boys (aged between 5 and 18). Two older boys who are at college continue to live at the homes and provide help and support to the warden.

The school year runs from June to end April and the annual intake is at the start of June. In May, children return to their home area if there are relatives who can take care of them for a month’s holiday. If not, the children stay at the homes but these are very few. The children normally attend the local primary school in Vengadu village and secondary schools in Vengadu (boys) and Sriperumbudur (girls), where they are taken by bus each day. The older children are found appropriate further education or training if they wish to continue their education beyond school age and, where appropriate, continue to live at the homes. At the end of the 24-25 year there were 3 older girls being supported in degree level education and 2 in vocational training and 3 older boys in degree level education and 2 in vocational training.

Ruth continued as warden of the girls home assisted by Miss Ramala as assistant wardens. Chandra Rao is warden of the boys’ home and also overall manager, helped by his wife Sumathi who is assistant warden. Chandra and Sumathi have held these posts for around 15 years and in 2021 Chandra gained a masters degree in social work. Dr Esther, a NIT trustee who is a GP, held a medical camp and thoroughly checked all the children’s health.

New roofing was installed over outdoor areas adjoining both boys’ and girls homes which expand the areas where children can play outdoors in the shade and the dry (depending on the season!).

Members of the Church of God in Pernampet normally assist with the spiritual development of the children and visit the Homes regularly. In addition, other Christian activities take place from time to time, such as a weekend “camp” run at the homes by a local Scripture Union group, which is much enjoyed by the children. When FWT trustees visit the homes they also help with talks, activities and singing.

SIPCOT, the development agency, had informed NIT in April 2015 that they would require a plot of land adjacent to the boys' home where the boys currently have small gardens. As last year, there has still been no activity by SIPCOT on this plot of land in the current year and it now seems that the land will not be required. As ever, the situation is being monitored closely by NIT trustees, in order to get maximum notice of any new developments.

Faith School, Rajahmundry

The Faith Public School opened at the start of the academic year in June 2004, with the aim of providing a free English medium education for poorer students who would not otherwise be able to afford to go to this kind of school. Those who can afford it pay the normal fee but they are a small minority. Faith School’s classes range from lower kindergarten to 7th standard, providing a high standard of education for children from the ages of 4 (lower kindergarten) to 13 (7th standard).

All pupils are provided with a nutritious free lunch every day. The children are mainly from Hindu families, with some Muslim children also attending. They receive some Christian teaching and singing at their assembly every day and the ethos of the school is generally Christian.

The number of students in the 24-25 school year was 240, of whom 55% were girls. The school continues to be very popular in the local area.

A printer and 2 new computers have been provided and the internet is working. Repainting of the school was done in May 25. The allowance for daily food costs was increased for the school year starting June 25.

There was online contact between staff and children at Faith School and a first school in Scotland where trustees John and Rachel Fisher’s children attend. It is hoped that there can be further exchanges between the schools to help the children learn about those from different cultures.

Fund raising

The vast majority of FWT’s funds continues to be raised through standing orders from individual supporters and one-off donations by individuals (or legacies) and collections from various churches in the United Kingdom and North America, together with boxes in shops, stalls at fetes, sponsored walks and the like. All oneoff donations are acknowledged with a personal letter of thanks. There is a website and a Facebook page which are updated regularly with news of activities at Faith School and Nambikkai Illam homes. Online donations are collected using People’s Fundraising (successor to Golden Giving) which has comprised an increasing share of the income. FWT does not operate any individual child sponsorship scheme.

FWT receives updates from the Fundraising Regulator and observes their guidance in fundraising practices.

Over the year from October 2024 to September 2025, income was £92,304, of which £43,341 was a legacy gift, £6,585 was a gift aid payment from HMRC and £2141 was bank interest. Outgoings were £115,303, of which £115,000 went directly to India to fund the school and homes and the remainder was spent on administrative costs. Funds in FWT bank accounts at the end of the financial year 2024-25 total £165,512.

Locally, the children’s homes have been attracting increasing amounts of support from individuals and businesses – money (including a generous gift from a former student now living in Canada), gifts (informed by a list of needs compiled by the manager – for example kitchen equipment, sports equipment) and treats for the children (for example a special meal to celebrate the birthday of a local community member). These are encouraged and greatly appreciated by NIT and FWT trustees.

Reserves

The policy of the Trustees is to hold adequate reserves of funds to ensure that standing commitments to support the trust’s projects can be met for at least a year. This extended period is because if it were decided to stop funding the homes or school, alternatives would have to be found for all the children currently supported and this could not be done quickly.

It is important that a regular flow of funds to the projects is maintained as a high proportion of the disbursed funds go towards essential expenditure on food, salaries, clothing and medical costs. After consideration, trustees decided that reserves sufficient to fund the homes and school in India for a year should be held. If FWT were unable to continue raising funds, this would allow alternative accommodation/schooling to be found for our beneficiaries or alternative funding to be sought. A shorter period would risk leaving vulnerable children without suitable homes or education. The amount spent to maintain the homes and school in 2024-5 was £115,000 .

This reserve can also act as a contingency fund against major disasters, as the region around the Nambikkai Illam children’s homes has been subject to earthquakes on more than one occasion. There is also a risk of damage during the monsoons, which occur each year. While insurances are maintained, in the event of a natural disaster it would be many months before the homes could be repaired and re-built, so it is deemed prudent to retain a reserve against this eventuality.

In addition, no written guarantee has yet been received from SIPCOT that they will not require some or all of the land currently occupied by the boys' home, although nothing has been heard from them for some years. It is therefore prudent to keep reserves to at least cushion that eventuality until such a guarantee can be obtained.

The current balance is substantially higher than the reserve amount, which enables longer term plans to be made for the work in India and protects against exchange rate fluctuation. Indian regulations for charities that receive foreign contributions mean that money sent to India has to match very closely with their ongoing expenditure or risks being taxed, so the reserves are held in the UK. Trustees are mindful that money held should be spent appropriately according to FWT’s charitable objects.

Future Developments

Trustees plan to carry out the following development of FWT’s work:

Continue to encourage trustees in India to consider alternative models of support which may enable children to remain with their families.
Monitor the effectiveness of the Board of trustees of Nambikkai Illam Trust and the advisory committee at Faith School and recommend courses of action to improve, if appropriate.
Increase regular donations over the next 2-3 years to meet increasing expenses.
Continue to strengthen online information and giving which is an increasingly important part of FWT’s work with supporters, widening the demographic of the people who can be reached with news of our work.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the FWT annual report for 2024-25.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees: Signature Full name Tessa Sayers Chris Sayers Position Chair of trustees Trustee Date 22[nd] June 2026

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 FAITH WELFARE TRUST

FAITH WELFARE TRUST GENERAL INFORMATION for the year ended 30 September 2025 Addrou: 18 Field Hcxjse Close Acklington MORPETH NorthumberlarKI NE65 gPE Independent Examlner: 5 Park Vwi Felton MORPETH Northumberland NE65 9DQ Nots8: 1. These ac(x)unts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordan with the SORP 2015 Accounting arKI Reporting by Charities and the Charities Act 2011. 2. Al funds received from donors are unrestricted.

FAITH WELFARE TRUST Independent Examinerfs rewl lo the Trustees of Faith Welfare Trust I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. are set out on the folk>wing pages. Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The CharTty's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's Trustees ¢on&der that an audit is not required this year under Section 144 {2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent •xamination is all that is required. It is my responSibty lo: - examine the ac¥>)unts under Secaion 145 of the Charities A(# 2011. - follow the procedures laid in the general direction given by the Chanty Commission under Section 145 {5)(b} of tho Act, and - 8tste whether any particular matters h8ve come to my attentK)n. 8asl8 of Independent Examlnerfs Report My examination was carried out in accordance the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examinatK)n indudes a reviow of the accounting records kept by the Chanty and a compari80n of the accounts presented with those records. It a180 indudes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts, and seeking expLqnations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provKle all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no Option 18 given as to whether the accounts present a Irue and fair view, and the report 18 limited to those matter8 8et oui in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs Statement In connection Vith my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. 1. whh gives me reasonae cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements.. - to keep aCUnting records in ac%ordance ith Secbon 130 of the Atx, and - to prepare accounts in accord wth the accounting records and to comply wrth the requirements of the 2011 Aca have not been met., or 2. To which, in my oniOn, attentions should be drwi in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 2 SK D£c6M Swo2025 Roger Watts Independent Examiner 5ParkW Fellon MORPETrI Northumbertand NE65 9DQ

FAITH WELFARE TRUST RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS ACCOUNT for tho year ended 30th Septembor 2025 2025 2024 GENERAL FUND Income Receipts From Voluntary Sources.. Legacy Donations Donations under Gfft Aid Gif 'd.. Tax Claims £43,341 £11,384 £28,854 £6,585 £120,000 £11,346 £25,596 £6,570 From Assets: Deposit Interest TOTAL RECEIPTS £2,141 £1,195 £92,304 £164,707 Payments.. Charitsble Activity Direct Expenditure Transfers to Nambikkai Illam Trust £115.000 £115,000 Management and Administration Telephone. IT, Postsge & Ststionery Travel Accountancy Bank Charges £220 £0 £0 £83 £411 £0 £75 £75 £303 £561 TOTAL PA YMENTS £115 303 £115 561 Net Receipts (Payments) Opening Bank Deposrt and Current Ac£ount Balances as at 30 September Opening Bank Deposit arKI Current Account Balances as at 30 September £49,146 £192,512 £143.365 £169 512 £192 512

FAITH LFARE TRU8T STATEMENT of ASSETS and LIABIUTIES at 30th S•pt•mb•r 2025 2025 2024 MONETARY ASSETS: Bank Current Ae£ount £37.825 £145 403 £154 687 £169,512..: £192.512 DEBTOR: Tax on G Aid Claim made Nov 25 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS: £176 827 £199 097 LIABILITIES: £countancy £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 Th• stat•m•nt of Pthxnts 1$ approv•J by the Board of TnBte8S: Chris Sayern: Trustse Oavid Shipl•y: Trng8ur Datod:

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 FAITH WELFARE TRUST