ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Welcome to our 2015 Annual Review. This is the third year I have had the privilege of introducing the Annual Review as Chairman, and once again there has been a lot of activity to report on.

Everything that we do is underpinned by our shared vision; a world free of poverty, where people can use their skills and energies to meet their needs and aspirations. Working with our partners in Africa, we have provided vocational training and tools to just over 4,000 people in some of the most disadvantaged areas, enabling them to change their lives, and that of their families and communities too. You can read more about how it has directly impacted individuals through some of the stories in this review.

We would not be able to carry out the work that we do without our dedicated and committed team of over 750 volunteers across the UK. From collecting and refurbishing tools, to holding fundraising events and giving talks, it is no exaggeration at all to say that they make our work possible. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my personal thanks to each and every one. I would also like to thank our many funders, without whom we would not be able to provide tools, or support training programmes.

I very much hope that you will enjoy reading this review and learning more about the work that we do. We know first-hand from our visits to Africa the difference our projects make in changing people’s lives. I am proud to share this with you.

Michael Bell, Chairman

WELCOME FROM OUR CHAIRMAN...

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

During my time with Tools for Self Reliance – 15 years and counting – I have seen the way in which we work evolve, and the impact our support has on people’s lives grow.

Our holistic training model provides not only practical skills, but also business and financial management, literacy and numeracy, life skills and health awareness. Running alongside this the provision of quality tools ensures that practical training can be delivered effectively, that small businesses can use their news skills to boost production and that trainee graduates can walk away from their training equipped to work.

From visiting many of our projects in the six countries we work in, I have seen first hand that the support we offer provides people with a real opportunity to secure a sustainable income long term, and to empower them to be financially independent.

As we approach the last year of our current organisational plan, we are planning for a future that will have to take environmental, social, and financial factors into account. Our challenge is to manage these factors and continue to meet the needs of people in Africa in a meaningful and effective way.

I am proud to lead such an enthusiastic and dedicated team of staff and volunteers, who embrace these challenges and are passionate about ensuring we can continue our work in Africa. Having built up a wealth of experience and knowledge of livelihood development over the 35 years since Tools for Self Reliance started, in the future we are keen to share our knowledge and to work in partnership with a wider range of organisations, disseminating the knowledge we have built up over the years.

I look forward to the future, and in the meantime I hope this review of the very recent past gives a real sense of the importance of our work.

...AND FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

As part of our organisation strategy we have set ourselves the target of reaching 3,000 – 6,000 people per year through our work in Africa.In the main our projects are implemented over 12 months, which means that some projects may start in one year and end in another.

Between 2014 and 2015 we ran 31 projects in Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. These projects provided 4,053 people with the opportunity to take part in training to develop or improve practical skills alongside business and life skills.

AFRICA

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

I have learned to depend on myself. Now I know how to fund money for my own means.

Eliza, Malawi.

“I don’t need to ask my husband for money anymore. Now people here admire me.” Susan, Malawi

Susan Langa and Eliza Kambavi took part in a tailoring training programme run in partnership with local Malawi organisation YOHAD. Neither were working before starting the training, but saw posters advertising the project locally, and thought it sounded like an opportunity to learn skills and earn money.

They learned how to cut and sew material, how to make different garments, including dresses, skirts, and blouses, and how to knit. Alongside these practical skills, they took part in training on health awareness, financial management, and business skills, such as how to advertise, and keep customer records.

After the training ended, Susan and Eliza formed a business with three other women, and were immediately busy taking orders. They now plan to purchase another machine to expand their business, and invest in more materials. Their income is higher, and Susan has been able to pay her children’s school fees – investing in their future. Both women feel more independent, and are looking forward to the future.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

“ THERE HAVE BEEN REAL CHANGES. THEY ARE NOW KEEPING RECORDS, HAVE IMPROVED THEIR WAYS OF OPERATING, HAVE REGISTERED THEIR BUSINESSES, AND HOPE TO GET GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS IN THE FUTURE. ”

In 2015, staff from Tools for Self Reliance visited Tanzania to evaluate a project we carried out with local organisation SIDO.The aim of the programme was to train existing tradespeople, who had never received any formal training, in improving their trade, and business management skills, and to provide them with quality, fit for purpose tools. We met with Michael Mkanula, a founder of a small metalwork enterprise called Makong’oto Workshop, named after his grandfather. As a result of the training, Michael reports that there have been real changes. They are now keeping records, have improved their ways of operating, have registered their

business, and hope to get government contracts in the future. They are making new products, such as gates and table saws (adapted from existing designs to be operated by rotovator type machines in the villages); their production is up, as is the number of trainees they have, and their income has also increased, enabling Michael to send his children to school – he was unable to afford the fees before, but thanks to this project, they have the chance of a better future.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Tools for Self Reliance Volunteers and Groups.We have focused on developing a more professional relationship with our volunteer support groups across the UK and have continued to diversify the roles that volunteers can perform across the whole organisation.

We continue to have 43 active groups meeting on a regular basis and during 2015 34 of these groups were visited to offer advice and support as well as feedback on projects in Africa. Strong networks between groups continue to develop in some regions.

across the UK, 114 of these are based in our Netley Marsh headquarters and 658 are working independently or in groups across the UK from Jersey in the South to Aberdeen in the North.

We have a total of772 VOLUNTEERS

UK PROGRAMME

A particular highlight in 2015 was an increase in group fundraising that saw our groups raise £25,000 to fund three projects with our partner organisation SIDO in Northern Tanzania. In addition the same groups produced 75% of all the tool kits for these three projects.

We continue to source through donations, the good quality tools and equipment which remain the key to success of the projects we support. These tools and machines are sorted, refurbished and packed by our UK volunteers at our headquarters and in a network of 43 workshops around the country.

In addition to the kits provided for projects directly supported by Tools for Self Reliance, we have again supplied tools and equipment to other organisations which are running vocational training programmes. In total 25,445 tools with an estimated value of £173,819 were sent to projects in Africa in 2015

UK PROGRAMMEANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Volunteer numbers include our young Long Term Volunteers who come from Europe to spend 12 months with us funded by the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport Erasmus +.During 2015 we had six volunteers from Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Austria. We continued to offer work experience and extended work placements for pupils from local schools at our workshop at Netley Marsh, providing them with experience of a work environment and enabling them to learn new skills. We also offered placements for young people on the Job Centre plus scheme.

UK PROGRAMME / LTVANNUAL REVIEW 2015

THE FUTUREWe have now completed the fourth year of our Organisation Strategy 1 - Building Better Futures, which set out the activities and objectives for our work in Africa and the UK. The main thrust of the strategy is the ongoing development of our work in Africa, whilst continuing to grow our programme and supporter base in the UK. As we start the fifth and final year of delivering these plans, we are looking into the long term future, and thinking about 2017 and beyond – what challenges we will face, and how can we develop to best meet the needs of the people in Africa with whom we work.

IN THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT LONGER TERM VISION – THINKING ABOUT CHANGES SUCH AS DEMANDS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOOLS, INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION IN AFRICA, AND THE NEED FOR TRAINING IN NEW AND ADDITIONAL TRADES, SUCH AS ELECTRONICS AND MOBILE PHONE REPAIR. WE WILL WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN ORDER TO FIND THE BEST WAYS OF ADAPTING TO THESE CHANGING NEEDS.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Once again, we are grateful for the support of the many charitable trusts and foundations who have invested in our work this year. Their support not only enabled the delivery of our projects in Africa, it also impacted on our UK activities – volunteering, tool refurbishment, and raising awareness of our work.

Several of these funders have been supporting our work for many years, and have made a significant contribution to the lives of hundreds of people in the countries we work in. We have also secured the support of some new funders, and some multi-year funding, giving us the security to plan projects into 2016 and beyond.

Individuals, companies and community groups have also provided generous support, giving both their time and money – donations, sponsorship, and fundraising events have all helped us to raise the money we needed to meet the costs of our work this year.

In 2016, we plan to grow our income, enabling us to do more, and to plan for the future as we meet the evolving challenges of working towards our mission of reducing poverty in Africa.

RESOURCING OUR PROGRAMMES – FUNDING

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

Governance 2%

Africa Programme 41%

Donations in kind 24%

UK Programme 22%

Fundraising and publicity 11%

Total reserves amount to £643,175, including fixed assets of £462,962. The fixed assets of Tools for Self Reliance are the Netley Marsh workshop site, including that used as investment property (craft shop rentals) and the value of workshop, warehouse and office equipment.

FINANCES

Grants from trusts 24%

Other donations and grants 36%

Gifts in kind 24%

Income from rent, sales, and investments 16%

TOTAL INCOME FOR 2015 WAS £728,934

TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR 2015 WAS £730,541

At the end of the financial year the audited accounts show that we had net current assets of £199,713 (2014 - £202,061) including £88,960 (2014 - £99,425) of restricted funding.

reflecting a decrease of £97,911 from the 2014 income of £708,724.

Funds from rents, investments, sales and

events were higher than in the previous year.

Income for the year from donations and grants was

£610,813,

£173,819

Expenditure was £730,541, which is £63,189 less than the 2014 spending of £793,730.

Included in the above figures are the value

of tools shipped (donations in kind) of

The 2014 figures include both income and expenses of the site refurbishment, which inflated figures for that year. (2014 - £155,097).

Our Annual Report and Accounts 2015 are filed with the Register of Companies and the Charity Commission. You can request a copy by calling 023 80869697 or emailing info@tfsr.org

PATRONS:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop of York, John Sentamu

DIRECTORS / TRUSTEES:

Mr M J de H Bell ....... Chair

Mr I Care

Ms A Fender-Brown

Mr S Hitchmough

Mr B A Miller

Mr I D New

Mr J P N Payne

Mr K B Powers

Ms K Mallik .................. (co-opted)

Dr E Grimble .............. Secretary

Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, Hampshire, SO40 7GY

023 80869697

info@tfsr.org

www.tfsr.org

/toolsforselfreliance

@tfsr

/toolsforselfreliance

This Annual Review has kindly been printed by Draper Tools, who are proud to support Tools for Self Reliance

STAFF

Sarah Ingleby............. Chief Executive Officer

Ian Limbrick ............... Group Support and Deputy CEO

Clare Nolan ................. Head of Africa Programme

Jemma Chambers .... Head of Fundraising

Jon Dunkley ............... Operations Manager

Jo Shannon................. Programmes Facilitator

Alan Large .................. Partnership Development Officer

Nuisha Russo ............. Trust and Community Fundraiser

Sam Northcott .......... Administrator

Lydia Stallard ............. Finance