Finance Score: 3

Governance Score: 6

Support Score: 1

Low unrestricted reserves: -2
Strong growth: +2
Fundraising costs low: +3

Dynamic board: +3
Gender balanced board: +3

Grant maker support: +1

Overall GiG Score: 10

SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICA

SoA is focused on the relief of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks to do this not only by providing financial assistance, but also by promoting the exchange of expertise, learning and friendship with the communities that it works with. The formal objectives of SoA are to advance education, alleviate poverty & unemployment and protect & preserve health for people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

The charity has received modest backing from a grant maker
There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
Fundraising costs are low relative to funds raised
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Financial issues to consider:

Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end

Established: 17 years

www.spotlightonafrica.co.uk

secretary@hsoa.org.uk

07779387557

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E		Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/03/23		£663	£713	£-50	£43	£363	£74	1.2	0	25
31/03/22		£697	£416	£281	£9	£413	£19	0.5	0	25
31/03/21		£215	£145	£70	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	20
31/03/20		£213	£244	£-30	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	18
31/03/19		£150	£147	£3	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	19
31/03/18		£162	£228	£-66	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/17		£176	£123	£53	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/16	*	£105	£114	£-9	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/15	*	£142	£154	£-12	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/14	*	£353	£282	£70	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/13	*	£227	£171	£55	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/12		£100	£204	£-103	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/11		£116	£56	£59	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/10		£53	£21	£31	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/09		£28	£25	£3	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/08		£14	£7	£6	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 6.5%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 6%
Highest pay band: Less than £60,000
Liabilities/Assets: 1%
Liabilities/Income: 1%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 20%
Reserves/Spending: 1.2 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 6 months
Quick Ratio: 71

Asset Split ?

Listed activities

Economic/Community Development/Employment
Education/Training
Overseas Aid/Famine Relief
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

How it operates

Other charitable activities
Provides buildings/facilities/open space
Provides services

Where it operates

Hertfordshire, Throughout London, Uganda,

Who it helps

Children/Young People
Elderly/Old People
The General Public/Mankind

Who works here?

Unknown number of employees
25 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
The Funding Network - "Boda-boda" Village Ambulance Service
£6,466	12/06/2019	To start a “Boda-Boda” Ambulance Transfer service at a Village Health Clinic in Bukasakya sub-county, Mbale District, Eastern Uganda local term for motorcycle taxis

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (10)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Based on 9/10 persons

NADIN PLAMENOVA KANEVA Appointed: 2022

DR BETHAN REES Appointed: 2018

HEFIN REES KC (Chair) Appointed: 2021

LAURA BAILEY Appointed: 2019

PHILIP LEE HARVEY Appointed: 2022

SCOTT DAVID COWAN Appointed: 2022

SIMON JAMES TAYLOR Appointed: 2022

WENDY HOWSON Appointed: 2013

WENDY JANE BAMPTON Appointed: 2022

WILLIAM MILES TREASURE Appointed: 2020, Other trusteeship: THE ST ALBANS & HARPENDEN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROJECT,

Legal constitution

Charity registered in England & Wales on 15/01/2007, number: 1117585

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

16 returns made; AR16: 0 days late, AR15: 2 days late, AR14: 1 days late, AR13: 20 days late,

Main office

Annables Grange
Annables Lane
HARPENDEN
AL5 3PR

Objectives

TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, RELIEVE POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND PROTECT AND PRESERVE HEALTH FOR PEOPLE IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY BUILDING LINKS BETWEEN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE OF HARPENDEN AND BY PROVIDING AND ASSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL AND/OR PRACTICAL HELP AND BY ASSISTING LOCAL INITIATIVES.

Defined Area of Benefit:

SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

Data Sources