30 September
Friends In Action Intl (NI) Ltd Annual Report 30 September 2021
2021p99
This report aims to keep the Board and its members up to date with ministry activity, developments, future plans and needs. We praise the Lord for the amazing things that He is allowing us to be part of as we serve Him in the UK and W. Africa.
Charity Commission Report FIA NI 2021
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Contents: Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] September 2021
Achievements and performance…………………………………………………………… 2-3 Financial Review…………………………………………………………………………………… 4-4 Reference and administrative details…………………………………………………… 5 Objectives and Activities……………………………………………………………………… 6 Charitable Objects …………………………….………………………………………………… 6 Public benefit statement……………………………………………………………………… 6
Charity Commission Report FIA NI 2021
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Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] September 2021
The trustees of Friends in Action International NI are pleased to submit their annual report and accounts for the period 1[st] October 2020 to the 30[th] September 2021.
Achievement and performance
West Africa 2020-2021
Water well project work continued throughout the year.
A total of 63 boreholes were drilled with 28 successful wells completed during the year. The wells were established in the central, west, south and east of Burkina Faso. The majority of these wells were drilled to provide drinking water in remote village communities across W Africa.
Water towers
6 water towers were constructed converting hand pump wells providing water for 500 people to small scale water distribution networks each meeting the water needs for up to 3000 people.
Refurbishment
28 non-functioning wells were refurbished and recommissioned with new pumps and associated well head improvement works.
There remains a great need for fresh potable water throughout the country of Burkina Faso and a well will provide fresh water to around 500 people.
The charity continues to operate from our base in the nation’s capital city Ouagadougou where our equipment is stored and a field office maintained.
The charity continued to direct its water projects across W Africa both remotely and through field visits as possible through the global pandemic.
The charity continues to develop and maintain close working relationships with other missionary organisations serving in Burkina Faso and in the UK
Due to ongoing terrorism and incidences of kidnapping in Burkina Faso there has been ongoing focus on risk assessment and risk management which has prohibited the drilling of wells in predominantly the northerly and easterly parts of the country.
The charity having moved drilling equipment into Ivory Coast, W Africa, has commenced limited well drilling works, delivering and supporting various water projects in partnership with other missions. Works to develop a field base in Ivory Coast are continuing.
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there has been only limited travel to W Africa by the missionary family in the 2020-21 year. Since the start of the pandemic the charities focus shifted to continuing to delivering water projects and supporting mission organisations in W Africa through the development of in-country services, training and remote project management.
In compliance with UK guidelines on travel and terrorism, the charity did not send any volunteer teams to Burkina Faso from the UK during the period of reporting.
Operationally there continues to be an increased use of in country services to replace volunteer teams. There has also been an increase in the demand for the provision of Water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, project management and service delivery supporting internally displaced peoples (IDPs) in Burkina Faso.
The season has been very successful in the number of wells achieved with the charity working hard to increase the success rate of good wells. It is estimated approximately 40,000 people have been provided with access to fresh potable water.
The increased water supply will benefit many people, projects and activities.
Guinea
The charity made a donation of £2000 to support the Tanda peoples in Guinea through the work of New Tribes Mission.
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Financial Performance
Financial performance in the year to March 30[th] September 2021 has been broadly consistent with the trustee’s forecasts and expectations; a deficit of income to expenditure of £23,708 was achieved for the year
The year ended with a general (and sole) fund balance of £229,326 (compared £253,036 for the same date last year). Detailed accounts attached.
Income receipts for the year totalled £138,848 – an apparent decrease of £670 (.005).
Expenditure also decreased to £162,557 compared to £215,101 a decrease of £52,544 (24) in the previous year mainly due to reduced operational activity resulting from pandemic restrictions and the ongoing establishment of a second work in Ivory Coast.
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Reference and Administrative Details Charity Name Friends in Action International NI
Charity Number
Registered Charity Number Northern Ireland NIC103865
Principal Address
93 Carsonstown Road, Saintfield Ballynahinch BT24 7ED
Charity Trustees as of 30[th] September 2020.
Nigel Reid Chairman
Thomas McCormick Secretary
Michael McClean
Mark Collier
James McCann
Banking First Trust 34-36 Market Square Lisburn BT 28 1AG Insurance Broker and Marsh Ltd Underwriter Bedford House 16-22 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7DX
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Objectives and Activities
Charitable Objects
The object of the charity as set out in our Constitution are to support by means of voluntary work and financial assistance any charitable projects for the protection and preservation of health, the relief of poverty, or the advancement of education and Christianity in West Africa and similar needy areas throughout the world.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees of Friends in Action International N Ireland confirm that they have complied with their duty under the Charities Act (NI) 2008 and the Charities Act NI (2013) to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the Society in the year to September 30th, 2021.
In evaluating public benefit, the trustees note that the provision of publicly available potable drinking water through well drilling, well refurbishment and water tower construction; continues to clearly demonstrate the fulfilment of this public benefit requirement. It is estimated that through the charities work in the year ending 30[th] September 2021 approximately an additional 40,000 people living in W Africa will have access to safe drinking water supplies.
NR Reid Chairman
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