Kindfund

(A charity HM Revenue and Customs ref. No. XR72718 and in Kenya Reg. No.26316)

Jeremiah 9:24 I am the Lord who exercises kindness Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another

email: Tel: +254(0)723944534 or +44(0)7802894380

Treasurer’s Report for Thirteenth year to 31st January 2017

I’d like to start by giving thanks to God for having cared for his flock enough and delivered the funds to our Kenyan Team to do the work that has been done and is still to be done so let’s pray for his continued generosity.

I’d like to thank the Team that make these numbers work – among whom Ken for the work in the UK and in the field, to Maurice for his ever-bountiful commitment and energy and to Norman who supports us with his Audit and kind pointers on direction.

If we reflect on last year’s review, we had witnessed the natural drop off in funds after the Children’s visit by 30% from the peak in 2015, so I’m pleased to note the increase this year by 43% to £125k for the year. I’ll address this later but thanks for the inspirational work of some people and pray that the Lord will touch more for our work.

It is estimated that the running costs of the Kenyan operation now stand at £6000 a month to meet food, wages and other revenue items with the balance of our costs being deployed in projects such as Student finance and Specialist education. Ongoing need for infrastructure work in the Homes remains constant with the provision of classroom’s etc.

The Year in Numbers:

·  Income including Gift Aid was £140k (£98K 2016)

·  4 main sources: Regular donors, M&S project £28k, Ardbarron Trust £3k & €7k of Euro donations

·  Gift Aid is up almost 30%

·  There are approximately 183 people regularly donating down slightly on 2016

·  Funds sent to Kenya was £125k (£95k in 2016)

·  Closing funds in the Bank are £25k (£12k)

·  Management Cost down 47% at £2472

·  We care for 350 and give employment to 60 poor pastoralists-from baby orphans to blind and handicapped and elderly through food and education programmes in one of the toughest areas in Kenya

·  We have 120 kids in our 3 Homes and support 2 homes where there are 20 visually impaired and 2 physically and mentally challenged children. Seven of our children are living with HIV.

What do the numbers mean?

·  The Income increase in the Year was sourced from 1 off sources and harder to replace but yet the needs have not diminished

·  It’s critical that we need to engage and lobby funds like Ardbarron to continue the work

·  The Gift Aid remains at 10% of Total funds and we need to keep up this level

·  Management charges are down and believe that this is down to frugal management by the NI Team. Almost all this amount is itself covered by specific donations.

·  The Kenyan operation has a regular need of £72k per year simply to feed and house the children and we need to ensure that this is a minimum for the Board to focus the fundraising efforts

·  We need to recognise that there are infrastructure projects to be completed and we need to identify and focus some of fundraising lobbying on Charitable organisations such as Ardbarron on a specific basis.

Challenges and Opportunities

·  As we move to improve the local Team in Kenya both in terms of Management and Teaching we will need to accept higher costs

·  The Exchange Rate is over the medium term reducing the value we transfer, so ideally, we need to focus on Kenyan based income generating ideas

·  We have more children and they are getting older so the needs in the Medium Term will increase and we need to provide for this in our planning

·  There is merit in assessing if a dedicated fundraising sub-team could focus on generally improving local regular giving and specific opportunities

·  As we develop the special areas – we need to determine if we can get Sponsors or Donors or Patrons

·  Ken has been active to increase the platforms where we can receive donations and that has resulted in increased Euro’s and capacity to donate in $’s and other currencies. Can we use Social Media to increase funds from these areas?

·  As our fundraising increases and the bookkeeping becomes more complex in terms of sources, currencies, regulation and reconciliation issues. I bless Ken and Maurice for their sheer hard work on a virtually manual system but would push for the implementation of the Paxton computerised bookkeeping package to ease the burden on them and to meet the challenges.

Thanks

·  To those who have helped in anyway to donate from their resources for our work

·  To the few exceptional people like Stephen Hilland who heard the quiet call and inspired his M&S to act with kindness and energy in ways which were inspirational and heart-warming in their own way

·  To Ken and Pamela and more recently Gillian for their labours in Managing the Kenyan Team whether in the Field or virtually every day from Kesh

·  To the Team in the Field – please pass on our Thanks and prayers for their Love for our Children and Stewardship with our Talents as we loosen the reigns

·  To Maurice for his quiet devotion to the daily things of Banking and Bookkeeping which are so vital

·  To Gerda in the Netherlands who has taken up the cause of the children.

·  To our Auditor Norman Carson FCCA, who gives from his busy schedule to our work and gently steers us in new waters of Charity Commission’s

·  To all the Board members who represent and lobby for the Charity every day and don’t let fundraising fatigue slow them in their endeavours

I will be happy to answer any questions

John Steen Treasurer 7th June 2017

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