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Congo Initiative - UK
Directors’ and Trustees’ report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The Directors and Trustees present their report and the unaudited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is an incorporated body and is under the control of the Directors and Trustees as detailed out in the charity constitution. The charity is recognised as a charity under the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland as at the date of registration being the 6 February 2019.
Organisation
The Directors and Trustees who have served during the year are detailed out on page 3. The Directors and Trustees are expected to play several key roles in the running of the charity including fundraising, governance, financial budgeting and auditing, evaluation and assessment of the organisation’s mission and strategic goals, resource development, public policy and advocacy, and marketing and communication,
Public Benefit
The directors and Trustees believe that both the purposes and the activities undertaken in this last financial year clearly satisfy both elements of the public benefit requirement.
Funds have been raised from small trusts and foundations in the UK, churches and individuals, David McAllister CEO has also established relationships with various French churches and Congo Initiative UK has received some donations from these churches.
Work in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been curtailed due to continued ethnic violence and insecurity. With the armed interventions of the armies of Kenya and Uganda in support of the national army, there is the danger of increased military activity. However, in spite of these difficulties, various Congo Initiative-UK funded projects have continued such as the two primary schools, the counselling centre, the Mangina trade school, the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC), women's voices and women of hope. A campus-wide clean water system has been completed at UCBC with a deep well water pump. Land has been purchased for the Mangina trade school with money from the Bob McAllister Memorial Fund.
Congo
Initiative UK has also been able to provide support for the following activities during the year:
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Funding for a Counselling Centre and trauma Counselling for women and girls.
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- _ Providing support and capacity building to the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) and encouraging new relationships between the UK, Churches and UCBC.
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Being able to provide UK scholarships for two UCBC graduates.
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- David McAllister, CEO has been able to focus on building the capacity of Congo Initiative UK and also establishing and strengthening new networks within the UK.
Statement of Public Benefit
The charity is organised and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literacy, education and religious purposes and to foster the prevention of cruelty to children, gender abuse and actively support environmental protection. These benefits are evidenced by regular and substantial support, both financial and practical for a number of key projects. Currently the Charity is actively engaged in developing a trade school in addition to continued support of La Charité primary school and the UCBC university. The charities beneficiaries are all those whose needs bring them within the ambit of the charity's support. Any private benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the organisation achieves the charities purpose. All funds received by the charity shall be dedicated and invested solely for such purposes.
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Congo Initiative - UK
Aims and Objectives
The vision of the charity is to model, nurture and shape an authentic community of Christ's followers whose Calling is to transform society in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The charity hopes to train and develop strong indigenous leaders to transform their communities in their nation of Congo by building civil society on Christian principles of socials justice for the common good.
The overall purpose of Congo Initiative UK is the transformation of the Democratic Republic of Congo through holistic development of Christian and ethical leaders, who bring hope and healing to individuals, communities and the nation.
Financial Review and Reserves
The principle sources of income are mainly from gifts and donations. The annual accounts show a surplus for the year of £21,095, The trustees still believe that the charity is in a good financial position. The Directors and Trustees will continue to actively seek financial support in order to commence new projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By order of the Board
4) Mr Eric Clarke Director and Trustee
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17/03/2026
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Date
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Congo Initiative - UK
Statement of Directors’ and Trustees' Responsibilities
The Directors and Trustees are responsible for preparing the Directors’ and Trustees’ Annual Report and the Accounts in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the directors and trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have prepared the financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in the United Kingdom (accounting standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK, including Charities SORP (FRS 102). Accounting and Reporting by charities: Statements of recommended practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and promulgated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom Law). Under that law the directors and trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the financial activities of the charity for that period.
In preparing these accounts, the directors and trustees are required to follow best practice and:
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e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; e - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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e _ state whether the application of accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained the accounts;
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e prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The directors and trustees are responsible for keeping 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 accounts comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. They 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.
Directors and Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charities website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
By order of the Board
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17/03/2026
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Mr Jonathan Birnie Director and Trustee
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