2025-12-31-accounts - Child In Need India

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Child in Need India

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the year ended 31 December 2025

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name

Child In Need India

Charity Number SC029591

Contact Address

Mrs Rosalind Jarvis The Old Free Kirk Baldernock Glasgow G62 6HA

Contact email: info@cini.org.uk

Current Trustees

Mrs Rosalind Jarvis (Chair) Mr Adrian Coats (Treasurer) Mrs Carol Jamieson Ms Jane Morgan

Dr Leslie Baxter (Secretary) Mrs Valerie Diederichs Mrs Freya Marshall Mrs Catherine Riches

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Child In Need Institute, referred to hereafter as CINI India, is a charity based in India. Child In Need India (‘CINI UK’), first registered as a charity on 11 November 1999, is an unincorporated charitable association the purposes and administration arrangements of which are designed to support the Indian organisation and are set out in our constitution.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

All of the charity’s trustees, none of whom are remunerated, are appointed at the annual general meeting which is normally held in May or June each year.

Management

The trustees effectively form a management committee which is responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the charity. The management committee meets on an ad hoc basis throughout the year in order to provide guidance to our part-time employee, to plan fund raising activities, to discuss the interests of CINI India and to coordinate with other branches of CINI International, the coordinating body of fund-raising branches outside India.

Objectives and Activities

Charitable purposes

Our purposes, as stated in our constitution, are the relief of poverty and the advancement of education of necessitous persons residing in India, by providing financial assistance for:

(a) the medical care and the education of infants, children and adolescents,
(b) the further education, training and counselling of young persons
(c) the provision of educational training of adults in family management, hygiene and nutrition, and
(d) the maintenance and provision of medical care of mothers and their children during and after pregnancy

About Child In Need India

Child In Need India (CINI UK) was set up in the UK in 1999 to raise funds for, and build awareness of, the work of the Kolkata-based NGO Child In Need Institute (CINI India) which was established in 1974. CINI India aims to achieve sustainable improvements in health, nutrition, education, and protection for all children – especially those that belong to the most vulnerable groups. Fundamental to all CINI’s work is centring the voices of the children it works with and encouraging their participation and leadership in effecting long term change. The scope of CINI India’s activities is vast, reaching around ten million individuals each year primarily across West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. CINI’s strength lies in recognising local need and facilitating innovative, community-led solutions. CINI works in tandem with governments and other partners to strengthen existing services and ensure that communities can access the support they need. In Kolkata CINI can be found making sure street-connected children are safe and have access to education, whilst in rural Assam its teams on tea plantations are improving maternal and child health and addressing the root causes of complex issues including child marriage, child labour and child trafficking. All CINI’s programmes are underpinned by an evidence-based framework- “The CINI Method”. This human rights-based approach involves all levels of the community, from parents to teachers to local government, taking responsibility for ensuring that children achieve their rights.

CINI India has been recognised internationally for its progress towards tackling some of the country’s most pressing health and social challenges. Full details of their

achievements for 2024-2025 can be found in their most recent annual report https://designecoder.in/annual-report-24-25/

Child In Need Institute (CINI India) and Child In Need India (CINI UK) are both commonly referred to by the acronym “CINI”. Unless otherwise stated, the activities and achievements described on pages 5 to 9 relate to CINI India.

Activities and Achievements in 2025 and outlook for 2026

Activities and achievements of CINI India in 2025 and the outlook for the future are provided in detail on pages 5 to 9. The trustees intend to continue raising funds in the UK to support the work of CINI India, with a primary focus on CINI’s work within tea plantation communities.

Financial Review

Fund raising activities in the United Kingdom raised a total of £203,598 (2024, £123,043). There was no need for support payments from CINI International. Expenses of £23,393 (2024, £22,024) left a surplus of £180,675. After reducing our reserves by £4,198 this enabled us to send £184,873 (2024, £102,305) to CINI India.

Reserves Policy

Since 1 January 2019 CINI UK has been paying the salary and expenses of a part-time UK Director who is responsible for fund-raising. This cost and the small additional running expenses are met from unrestricted donations which can be topped up, if necessary, by support payments from CINI International. Such support payments have not been required since 2020.

Given the uncertainty relating to the ability of CINI UK to continue to raise sufficient unrestricted funds to cover all its running costs the Trustees believe it would be prudent to maintain unrestricted cash reserves of at least a full year’s outgoings, thereby ensuring that support payments from CINI International would not be required.

At 31 December 2025 cash reserves were reduced slightly to £30,254 (2024, £34,452) of which £30,184 were unrestricted, being in excess of a full year’s running costs.

Approved by the Trustees on 31 July, 2026 and signed on their behalf by

A J M Coats Trustee

Annual Report 2025

Dear friends,

It is my pleasure to introduce CINI’s Annual Report for 2025.

India remains a country of stark contrasts. While there has been significant progress and development, many communities still face profound poverty and inequality. CINI’s work remains vital and, drawing on over 50 years of experience, continues to adapt to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

The scale of CINI’s activities in 2025 has been vast, covering 8 states to deliver programmes that improve health, nutrition, education and child protection. Increasingly, CINI’s work has also focused on protecting children from the growing impacts of climate change. This is an urgent priority in a country as vulnerable to extreme weather events as India, and where children are often the first to bear the consequences through disrupted schooling, disease, insecure housing and food.

CINI continues to maximise its impact through partnerships with other NGOs, local authorities and government bodies, and by sharing learning across local, national, and international forums. Central to all CINI’s work is ensuring children’s rights are respected and that their voices are heard. This year, CINI peer leaders took part in events with the Mayor of Kolkata and with the Bogota Ministerial Office on Ending Violence Against Children, providing platforms for them to influence decision making at national and international level.

CINI UK is proud to have stood alongside our colleagues in India for nearly 30 years, playing a small but vital part in their journey. This year also marked a moment of great sadness for CINI UK, as we lost our founding member and longest-standing trustee, Mrs Margie Stephen. A dietitian by profession, Margie first visited India in the 1980s and was deeply inspired by the work of CINI. On her return to Scotland she began hosting small fundraising coffee mornings, which, through her dedication, grew into the thriving charity we are today. We will honour her legacy through our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of women and children in India.

Despite a challenging global economic climate, CINI UK achieved a 65% increase in income this year. This growth reflects both the steadfast commitment of our longstanding supporters and the development of a number of new partnerships. We have continued to focus our fundraising efforts largely on tea plantation communities and climate-related initiatives. These areas reflect both historic UK connections and pressing current needs. Plantation communities are among the most marginalised globally. They experience disproportionately high levels of malnutrition, infant mortality and illiteracy, despite playing a key role in the supply of a product that is consumed throughout the world. We were delighted to continue our partnership with Ahmad Tea this year, working to create more child friendly and gender-just plantations in Assam. We also had the opportunity to hold our Annual General Meeting at Kinnettles Tea Garden in Scotland in August and extend our sincere thanks for their generous hospitality.

One of the most exciting developments this year has been our partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), addressing the critical issue of drowning in the Sundarbans. Drowning remains an under-recognised public health crisis and is a significant cause of child mortality in India. Through this collaboration, over 2,000 community members have been trained in rescue and resuscitation techniques. Already, there are inspiring examples of these skills being used to save children’s lives. This innovative programme has received recognition in both UK and Indian media as an example of best practice.

As we look ahead to 2026, our ambition is to continue growing CINI UK into a more widely recognised and impactful organisation. While we will maintain a strong focus on improving the lives of tea plantation communities, we remain responsive and adaptive, working closely with CINI India to ensure our support is directed where it is most needed.

Below is a snapshot of some of CINI India’s remarkable achievements over the past year.

To every individual, trust, and business that has supported us over the past year, we are extremely grateful. We recognise the increasing demands on charitable giving, and we sincerely appreciate the trust you place in our work. Quite simply, our progress would not be possible without your support.

With thanks,

Ros Jarvis Chair Board of Trustees, CINI UK

Key Achievements for 2025

Health and Nutrition

In 2025, CINI India continued to deliver its life cycle approach, with a particular focus on pregnant and breastfeeding women, children in the first 1,000 days of life, and adolescents. Through this approach, CINI directly reached over 28,000 mothers and 27,000 children with essential health and nutrition interventions.

Key areas of focus included improving antenatal care, promoting early and exclusive breastfeeding, and increasing access to iron and folic acid supplementation. Alongside this, CINI expanded awareness activities on non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, which are presenting an increasing burden across all groups in India.

At the community level, CINI employed innovative behaviour change tools to support families. These included the development of a crocheted doll used during one-to-one counselling sessions to demonstrate breastfeeding techniques and kangaroo mother care, as well as an interactive snakes and ladders game designed to educate mothers on health and nutrition in an engaging and accessible way.

Highlights:

In collaboration with partners including UNICEF, CINI trained over 2400 district and block-level officials on anaemia prevention.
In collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition India, CINI conducted a study on malnutrition in Kolkata slums. The results, together with input from frontline health workers and parents led to the development of a childfriendly recipe book using affordable and locally available foods.
With the support of CINI UK, community-based health interventions were delivered across 22 tea plantation communities in the Banarhat region.

Education

Education is a cornerstone of development. In 2025, CINI India supported over 32,000 children to access safe, inclusive, and quality education, with a focus on those most at risk of disengaging.

CINI’s work helps retain children in school and builds a culture of learning within underserved communities. Teams work closely with schools to identify children who are struggling and provide extra support to help them remain engaged.

CINI’s network of learning centres also creates safe spaces where children can learn and feel supported, particularly in communities where access to education can be limited. Alongside academic learning, there is a growing focus on life skills, children’s rights, and reproductive health, helping children and adolescents build confidence and knowledge for everyday life.

CINI UK continued to play an important role in supporting this work through ongoing programme funding for learning centres and mobile libraries.

Highlights:

712 government school teachers were trained in CINI’s accelerated teaching methodology, supporting improved learning outcomes for children affected by learning loss.
A digital life skills course was rolled out across 71 schools in Kolkata.
748 mothers were enrolled in CINI’s literacy programme, improving their ability to support their children’s education.
82% of enrolled children in CINI learning centres showed improvement in learning outcomes, with 22% reaching age-appropriate levels.

Child Protection

In 2025, CINI India reached over 29,000 children through its child protection programmes, with a focus on those most at risk of harm, exploitation, and neglect.

Much of CINI’s work focuses on strengthening child protection systems at community level. This year CINI helped to establish over 2000 village-level child protection committees, helping communities to identify risks early and respond effectively. Alongside this, CINI raises awareness of children’s rights and protection among parents, local government, and frontline health and education workers.

CINI also works in high-risk settings, including with children who are unaccompanied or living in vulnerable situations around railway stations. Vital for Children UK remains the primary funder of CINI’s child protection project at Mallikpur railway station, which identifies at risk children and prevents them from reaching larger, high-risk stations like Sealdah. Outreach workers provide immediate support, and children are given access to education, counselling, and recreational activities as well learning about their rights.

Highlights:

1002 children were supported to avoid unnecessary family separation through reunification and alternative family-based care.
260 at-risk children were rescued from railway stations and supported to access protection services.
383 child marriages were prevented through community-based interventions and awareness raising.
2574 adolescents were trained as peer leaders on children’s rights.

Climate Resilience

With the increasing health threats posed by climate change, CINI India is working on a range of interventions to protect communities from these impacts. The effects are far-reaching, particularly for children, contributing to poor health, disrupted education, and food insecurity.

CINI’s work focuses on building awareness, strengthening community resilience, and supporting practical actions that help families adapt to changing environmental conditions. This includes engaging children and young people as environmental leaders and ensuring they can contribute to national and global conversations on the climate response. Support from UK donors has also enabled the scaling of climate champions and community-led initiatives such as kitchen gardens for vulnerable families.

Highlights:

In partnership with the George Institute, CINI conducted a study on the wellbeing of over 750 children affected by climate change. The findings contributed to discussions at COP29 on the links between climate change and mental health.
Over 100 children participated in workshops on recycling in Kolkata.
Children from climate-vulnerable regions contributed to the UN Human Rights Office’s General Comment on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the environment.
14 women’s self-help groups diverted over 32,000 kilograms of floral waste from landfill, transforming it into eco-friendly products including fertilisers, compost, and natural dyes.
In flood prone areas of the Sundarbans, CINI is delivering a pioneering drowning prevention initiative in collaboration with RNLI, the George Institute, and the Indian Council of Medical Research. This includes operating crèches, training first responders in rescue and resuscitation, fencing ponds, and teaching water safety and survival skills.

Independent Examiner’s Report For the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Friends of CINI

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 11 and 12.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (“the 2006 Regulations”). The charity’s trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) of the 2006 regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1)(c) of the 2005 Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of examiner’s statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:-

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulations, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Regulations have not been met, or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Alan J Skilling OStJ BA CA 31 July 2026

Hillrig Touch Road Cambusbarron FK7 9NA

Child In Need India Scottish Charit SC029591 Recelpts and Payments Account forth• year ended 31 Decomber 2025 G•n•rdl Funds Rastrleléd Funds Tolal 2025 Total 2024 Recelpts Individuals and Companies (Jher Charities Interest 23,149 10.800 470 94,162 75.487 117,311 86287 470 57,938 65,105 598 Totsl Rocolpts 34,419 169,649 204,068 123,641 Payments Employèe salary and relatèd costs Fundraising expenses, admirs & travel 22,468 925 22,468 925 21294 730 Surplus from Fundralslng 11,026 169,649 180,675 101,617 Payménts to CINI In Indla 15.187 169,686 184,873 102,305 Totsl Paymonts 38,580 169,686 208266 124,330 Surplusl{Defklt) for tho year 4,161 -37 4,198 489 Stslornont of Balan¢o8 Opening Bank Balance Surplusl(Defi¢il) as above 34,345 4,161 107 -37 34.452 4,198 35.141 -689 Closing Bank Balance 30,184 70 30.254 34,452 Approved bythè Trustses on 31 July, 2026 and signed on their behalfby A JM Coats

Notes to the Accounts – for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

(1) Basis of Accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

(2) Nature and purpose of funds

To the extent that donors request the application of their gifts to specific projects then this is specified when the funds are transferred to India. The movement on restricted funds during the year was as follows:

	Balance at	Income	Sent to	Balance at
	1 Jan 2025		India	31 Dec 2025

	£	£	£	£
Maternal Health	90	18,077	18,097	70
Education	17	30,221	30,238	0
Protection	0	67,682	67,682	0
Nutrition	0	18,669	18,669	0
Adolescent Empowerment	0	30,000	30,000	0
Climate Change	0	5,000	5,000	0

Total	107	169,649	169,686	70

(3) Related Party Transactions

No trustee received any remuneration from the charity and no trustee was paid any expenses.

(4) Grants Received

The charity received no grants.

(5) Expenses

The Charity pays the salary and associated costs of one part time employee (3 days per week).