The Directors, who are also the trustees for the purposes of Charity Law, present their annual report, which is also the directors' report as required by the Companies Act, and financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2023.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, Governing documents, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016) and updated by bulletins one and two.
This report also represents the directors' report as required by Company Law.
The charity's objects are to assist in the provision of basic human amenities, including education, clean water, food and healthcare for minority communities living in extreme poverty.
The charity also promotes private sector development, particularly in Nepal. It supports rural impact projects (with both sustainable business models and positive social and environmental impacts). It also supports the development of the first impact investment fund dedicated to Nepal.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Dolma continues its sponsorship of over 100 disadvantaged students in Nepal, including our on-going programme to educate Dalit (“untouchable”) caste children who suffer discrimination. After seven years of study, two Dalit children graduated from school which is some achievement, and are now studying in college in Kathmandu. We continue our focus on education and care for children with disabilities and have particularly increased the number of blind children under scholarship, while we continue our support for a home for blind children in Kathmandu.
The Dolma Ecotourism programme is open, providing visitors with an immersive cultural experience in remote Nepal, in the knowledge that their travel is directly supporting local communities and education.
The directors are happy with the financial position of the company and the level of reserves at the year end.
The directors are aiming to build up the reserves of the charity over time so that they are in a position to be able to make regular contributions towards the objectives of the company and in particular towards ongoing education costs.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
As at 31 January 2023 unrestricted and free reserves both stand at £40,656 (2022: £56,419), of which £nil (2022: £nil) is made up of designated reserves.
The charity was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 3 January 2007 and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Memorandum and Articles of Association were amended by a special resolution dated 21 January 2013.
The company applied for and received charity status with HM Revenue and Customs in February 2012 and subsequently applied for and was registered with the Charity Commission on 30 January 2013 with registration number 1150624, having previously been below the registration threshold.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The directors of the company, who are also trustees for the purposes of charity law, are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association of the company. Members may propose a director for appointment at a general meeting. The directors may appoint a person who is willing to act as a director but any person so appointed must retire at the next annual general meeting.
None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £10 in the event of a winding up.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees (who are also Directors for the purpose of company law) on my examination of the financial statements of Dolma Foundation (‘the charitable company’) for the year ended 31 January 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
designated
designated
Voluntary income
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Dolma Foundation is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 1st Floor, County House, 100 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0RG.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016) and updated by bulletins one and two. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 and 2 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Voluntary income
Provision of human amenities in Nepal
Provision of human amenities in Nepal
School fees
Promoting Access to Equity Capital in the Renewable Energy Sector of Nepal
Sundry
Bank charges
Travel costs
Bank charges
Governance costs of £6,792 Including VAT paid to the Independent Examiners include the Independent Examiners fee of £6,360 (2022: £4,702) and other fees of £352 (2022: £514).
None of the trustees received any remuneration during the year, but one trustee was reimbursed £1,670 (2022: £9,038) for travel and school fee expenses paid during the year.
The average monthly number employees during the year was:
The trustees have set aside money donated to the charity for the purpose of any necessary expenditure which relates to Highland Boarding School.
The trustees have set aside extra funds for the DFID.
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).