**Charity Commission No: 100329**
**ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**
**FRIENDS OF AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024 CHARITY INFORMATION**
|**Board of Trustees**||
|---|---|
||Ciaran McShane|
||Dearbhla McGuone|
||Aoife Heaney|
||Grainne Kelly|
||John Toner|
||Claire McGinn|
|**Chair**|Claire McGinn|
|**Secretary**|Grainne Kelly|
|**Registered Office**|Accidental Theatre Company|
||12-13 Shaftesbury Square|
||Belfast|
||County Antrim|
||BT2 7DB|
|**Principal Bankers**|Danske Bank|
||PO Box 183|
||Donegall Square West|
||Belfast|
||BT1 6JS|
|**Charity Commission Number**|100329|
**FRIENDS OF AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024 CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Trustees’ Annual Report**|1|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|3|
|**Statement of Receipts and Payments**|4|
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities**|5|
## **FRIENDS OF AFRICA TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**_
The Trustees’ present their report for the year ended 31[st] August 2024.
## **Objective and Activities**
The objectives of Friends of Africa are:
- Educate the beneficiaries (beneficiaries refers to young people in Africa and Ireland) in any charitable way, but in particular by creating opportunities for young people in Ireland to take part in voluntary work in Africa on projects that will benefit young people in Africa;
- To assist the beneficiaries to help develop their physical, mental, and spiritual capacities so that they may develop to full maturity as individuals;
- To provide assistance to our beneficiaries so that their conditions of life may be improved and by developing qualities in our beneficiaries through service to the community in Africa;
- To promote racial harmony between young people in Ireland and Africa by promoting awareness of diverse issues, spirituality, and culture;
- To assist in the advancement of community development programmes for people living in Africa, which will enhance their future opportunities and conditions of life; and
- To support the means of voluntary work and financial assistance to various charitable projects for the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of education, and the preservation and protection of health in Africa.
## **Trustees**
The following Trustees served during the year ended 31[st] August 2024:
- Ciaran McShane
- Dearbhla McGuone
- Shannon Heffron (resigned February 2024)
- Aoife Heaney
- Grainne Kelly
- John Toner
- Claire McGinn
## **Achievements and Performance**
Friends of Africa has continued to grow in terms of impact and membership. There have been many areas of development such as Racial Justice Training, developing a framework to address racism as members and an organisation which was a pivotal focus point for the charity throughout the year.
We undertook a Moderation and Evaluation trip to South Africa and Botswana to visit established partners in Tsholofelo and potential new partners in Botswana. Whilst we didn’t manage to align with any new partnerships, at the end of June our Chair stepped down and committed to 6 months, volunteering within the Tsholofelo community.
The Global Solidarity programme (GSP), which involved 6 members heading to South Africa to facilitate a youth work camp in the Tsholofelo community alongside local volunteers, was a great success. Individual fundraisers generated much needed funds to be passed on to our partners.
There were various activities throughout the year. 16 members completed their OCN youth level 2. In the Christmas gift appeal, 42 backpacks and vouchers were delivered to people living in temporary accommodation in Belfast on 20th December. Individual members organised fundraisers, raising £5,000 for the Tsholofelo community projects which focus on skills development for adult learners. The annual Fundraiser took place in Achill were members and friends took on the “Tri-achill on” challenge, cycling, hiking and Kayaking.
Grants secured included Dungiven parish, Belfast Harbour, and the Big Lotto fund of £19,950 which will fund the “Warm Welcome Programme.”
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**FRIENDS OF AFRICA TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**_
As it stands, we have 131 members, which is continuously growing and allows the organisation to keep moving forward and supporting people at home and in Africa.
The board continues to meet regularly and deal with all the legal and statutory requirements for charities.
The Trustees of Friends of Africa have complied with their duty to have due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
## **Financial Review**
Reserves are at a level to meet the working capital requirements of the charity.
Neither during the year nor at the balance sheet date, was any fund in deficit.
## **Structure, Governance, and Management**
The charity is governed by its constitution.
Trustees are appointed as required, and in accordance with the constitution.
## **Responsibilities of the Trustees**
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable legislation. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees on ……………………. and signed on their behalf by:
…………………………
## **Secretary**
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## **FRIENDS OF AFRICA INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION**
I report on the accounts of Friends of Africa for the year ended 31[st] August 2024, which are set out on pages 4 to 5.
## **Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner**
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to our attention giving us cause to believe:
1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act;
2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records;
3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act; and
4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Independent examiner’s qualified statement**
I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, which is one of the listed bodies.
## **Richard Whan FCA**
Chartered Accountant
Date: …………………………
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## **FRIENDS OF AFRICA STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds
Note Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments
from:
Donations and legacies 3,764 10,000 13,764 17,965
Charitable activities - 42,194 42,194 44,228
Other trading activities 45,120 - 45,120 12,105
Total 48,885 52,194 101,078 74,298
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 17,232 - 17,232 10,455
Charitable activities 1 - 66,637 66,637 98,857
Total 17,232 66,637 83,869 109,312
Net income /
31,653 (14,443) 17,210 (35,014)
(expenditure)
Transfers between funds (34,393) 34,393 - -
Net movements in funds (2,740) 19,950 17,210 (35,014)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought -
86,964 86,964 121,978
forward
Total funds carried
84,224 19,950 104,174 86,964
forward
**----- End of picture text -----**
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**FRIENDS OF AFRICA STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**_
||**31st August 2024**|**31st August 2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Bank and cash balances**|||
|Danske bank current|106,805|83,835|
|BOI volunteer account|-|2,457|
|AIB account|672|672|
|Danske credit card|(204)|**-**|
||**107,273**|**86,964**|
|**Liabilities**|||
|Creditor balances|(3,099)|**-**|
||**(3,099)**|**-**|
|**Net assets**|**104,174**|**86,964**|
Approved by the trustees on …………………….. and signed on their behalf by:
…………………. ……………………… **Chair Secretary**
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## **FRIENDS OF AFRICA NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024**_
## **Note 1 – Expenditure on charitable activities**
|_Direct costs_
Direct expenditure on projects
_Costs in support of charitable activities_
Staff costs
Insurance
Website costs
Telephone and internet
Training
Rent
Audit and accountancy fees
Software
Printing, postage, stationery
Bank fees
**Total expenditure on charitable**
**activities**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds 2024**
**Restricted**
**Funds 2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
28,735
28,735
62,644|
|---|---|
||-
28,735
28,735
62,644|
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Restricted**
**Funds 2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
29,311
29,311
27,260
-
958
958
1,602
-
613
613
527
-
757
757
694
-
2,723
2,723
1,944
-
2,035
2,035
3,050
-
780
780
-
-
90
90
180
-
-
-
648
-
635
635
308|
||-
37,902
37,902
36,213|
||**-**
**66,637**
**66,637**
**98,857**|
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