The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The Trustees, who are also Directors of El Shaddai Charitable Trust Ltd, UK company no: 03646579, charity number 1076768 (this document will abbreviate the UK entity to ESCT UK and abbreviate the India Charity : El Shaddai Charitable Trust, Charity No 9/IV/1, to ESCT India) for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees should:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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 governing document, 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 2019).
Charitable Objectives
The UK Charity was established in 1997. The Charity's Mission Statement is defined in its Memorandum and Articles of Association:
1) The relief of poverty and sickness of children in India
2) The advancement of education of young people of India
3) The relief of sickness among the population of India by providing or assisting in healthcare.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects the Charity receives funding from monthly sponsorship and general donations; also through fundraising activities carried out by the Trustees, UK Office Coordinator, Volunteers and Donors. This funding is the basis of grants which are made to our Partner Agency in India, ESCT India which provides living accommodation, meals, education, and medical care for vulnerable and disadvantaged young children in new built or renovated houses, Day Centres, and Schools in Goa, Karnataka and Mumbai in India.
Public Benefit
In planning our activities, we have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have followed this guidance to demonstrate the charitable aims are for public benefit.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Partner Agencies
The Charity currently achieves its objectives through grant making to one Partner Agency, El Shaddai Charitable Trust, registration no 9/IV/1 a Charitable Society registered in Mapusa, Goa, India in 1996. The Charity is a Non-Governmental, Non-Political Organisation.
Communications and reporting systems between the UK and our Partner Agency are working well and UK Trustees continue to visit and monitor projects regularly. This past year, three Trustees and the UK Office Co-ordinator have visited India.
Achievements and Performance
The UK funding continues to provide the following services through its Partner Agency:-
Purpose living accommodation, meals and medical care for vulnerable and disadvantaged children in new built or renovated cottages, houses and day shelters/centres in Goa.
Education in purpose-built schools for ESCT India children, funds for local slum children to attend neighbouring schools and funds for ESCT India senior children to receive further education in Goa, vocational education for slum dwellers.
Funding to Project Partners through ESCT India to operate community Centres in Goa, Karnataka and Mumbai in India.
Work continues in the homes and school and various day centres and shelters. People in the slums are cared for by our field staff and El Shaddai continues to provide meals, food parcels and medical assistance to many who need this help.
ESCT India provides a daily feeding programme for the constant number of hungry people in the communities. We are so grateful for generous donations from supporters who have been pivotal in the funding of the feeding programme.
Homes
ESCT has five children’s homes in operation: Rainbow House, House of Kathleen, House of Norma, Victory House and Shekinah House. Total number of children staying in the homes is 176. Verna House is being used to shelter homeless men where there are currently 14 men residing. House of Hope is a shelter for homeless women and 4 are housed there at present. In Rena’s Home in Mumbai, a further 14 women are housed. Accommodation is usually in large old-style Goan properties with grounds suitable for games. They usually consist of a main room used for different functions (meals, watching TV), dormitory sleeping accommodation, toilets and shower blocks, office and storerooms. Staff are employed by ESCT India. The number of staff varies according to the size of home. There is Independent/Semi-Independent Accommodation for senior boys and girls.
This year we are pleased to have commissioned Rainbow's End Hostel which is semi-independent living for the senior girls who are attending college. The legacy left by Stephen Redford was used towards the cost of building.
Day Care Centres
Currently, our Day and Community Centres are: Asha Deep in Panjim, Ashraya Community Centre in Vasco, Albert’s Good News Community Centre in Margao, Little Acorns in Calangute, Stepping Stones in Margao, Tremara in Chimbel and Sylvia’s House Community Centre in Vasco.
These provide drop-in centres for any child in need throughout the day. The shelters act as safe havens for children, providing them with security, food, washing facilities, new clothing, basic, non-formal education and counselling. Approximately 50% of children in the Day Centres are funded to attend local state-run schools.
An extra dimension to the work of the Shelters is that of the Field Workers who work in the surrounding slum areas with the most vulnerable children. They attend to minor medical problems, give basic teaching and refer children to the Day Centres who, if necessary, may then be accommodated in a residential home. During the year, Field Workers have spent time on additional feeding projects within the slums.
ESCT India took on a new outside project, the Rene Project, in February 2022, in Badlapur, Navi, Mumbai, aiming to fight against child prostitution in the red-light district. Two of our staff members are engaged in counselling the women and their families in these areas, with 14 children residing in Rena Home.
Education
As well as providing living accommodation, meals and medical care, the educational needs of the children are also taken care of, in the purpose-built Shanti Niketan School. There are 185 El Shaddai Academy students, 35 children from our homes plus 150 day scholars.
116 children have been moved into formal schooling and 20 children who are newly admitted to El Shaddai are attending non-formal classes in Saligao.
Financial Review
The results are as set out in the attached accounts.
Grant Making Policy
The Trustees consider Grant Making an effective means of delivering aid using local partners, ESCT India who has access to facilities, expertise, staff, and other resources in the field, and they may be better placed to deliver aid speedily and effectively.
We have established a continuous review process of our Partner Agency for its track record in their field, financial transparency and operational capability.
Our Grant Making Programme is reviewed each year.
Reserves Policy
The Charity aims to hold free reserves of approximately £55,000, which equates to three months’ grant making for our Partner Agency’s charitable activities.
As at 31 March 2026 free reserves (excluding fixed assets and designated funds) were £111,822 (2025: 107,702), which is above the target level.
Financial Risks - Project Running Costs
All funding sent by the UK to our Partner Agency, ESCT India, is issued in two parts – Restricted Funds and General Funds. The UK Office has put in place procedures to ensure Restricted Funds are used for the exact purposed intended, which includes evidencing. General funds currently contribute to the running costs of the charity in India and the UK charity expenses.
We have lost some sponsors, partly due to age and financial restraints, but are gaining new sponsors. ESCT India will only embark on projects that are funded.
Plans for Future Periods
The Trustees understand we must use the resources we have wisely, effectively and efficiently on behalf of our donors and sponsors. Our grant making is carried out through ESCT India. We try to cement trust between us and our donors and sponsors by producing good quality reporting and up to date financial reporting. We wish to highlight the need for sustainability of our current projects. The Trustees whole-heartedly recognise that they are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity.
The Charity was established to support ESCT India. The trustees consider grant making to ESCT India as an effective means of delivering aid. Over the decades, ESCT India has established facilities, developed expertise and has staff and resources in Goa including children of El Shaddai who are now adults and playing their part in society and assisting ESCT India in its goals.
Structure, Governance and Management
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:
Appointment of Trustees
In recent years, persons who have played a significant role in supporting the charity along with its objectives and possess the requisite skills along with an enhanced DBS clearance, have been invited to become a Trustee.
Organisational Structure and Governance
The Registered Charity (Charity No. 1076768) is a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No. 03646579) and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Charity is managed by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for setting and implementing policies and are assisted by the Company Secretary and UK Office Co-ordinator.
Every member of the Charitable company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.
Risk Management Process and Review
The Trustees of ESCT UK undertake a routine analysis of all the risk areas relevant to the organisation. A specific procedure is implemented for the identification and management of risk. The risks are clearly identified and attributed to either ESCT UK or our partner agency. These risks areas include topics such as Governance, Operational, Financial and compliance with UK Laws and Regulations. Following risk identification, a Risk Management Review is then completed for each specific risk area.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of El Shaddai Charitable Trust Limited (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 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. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
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 Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
However I feel it necessary to draw attention to the paragraph in the Trustees Report under the heading financial risk. The UK Trustees have in place various procedures to assist with the control of expenditure in Goa, which includes evidencing of expenses. However it should be noted that inevitably responsibility for spending in Goa lies with the Trustees of ESCT Goa and the UK Trustees can only rely on reports of evidence of this spending provided to them.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
El Shaddai Charitable Trust Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 1st Floor, The Pavilion, 56 Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2SZ, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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)" (effective 1 January 2019). 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 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 £.
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.
The Trustees are not aware of material uncertainties which may cause doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors 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.
Any Gift Aid claimed on restricted donations is classified as unrestricted and is used to fund any fees/deductions from the donation platform, as well as the UK head office costs.
All expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability occurs and there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the expenditure. Expenditure includes VAT that cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Fundraising costs comprise specific costs associated with attracting the voluntary income.
Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Grants are recognised in the accounts on payment when the commitment is made.
Governance costs include those incurred in the the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities.
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, 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.
The charity's activities fall within the exemptions afforded by the provisions of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and the Income Tax Act 2007. Accordingly there is no taxation charge in these accounts.
Expenses incurred by trustees in relation to the performance of their duties on behalf of the charity have been reimbursed at cost, which includes 2 (2025: 4) trustees total travel costs of £988 (2025: £1,593).
A Edgar-Cole's mobile phone contract of £179 for the year (2025: £52) was paid by the Charity.
The charity does not have any employees. The UK Office Coordinator invoices the charity for her time at agreed rates.
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Purpose of Restricted Funds
To provide accommodation for children, usually in large old-style Goan properties, consisting of a main room used for different functions (meals, recreation), dormitory accommodation, shower blocks, kitchen, office and lockers available for the children.
To provide shelter for children during the night and a drop in centre for any child in need during the day. The shelters act as a safe haven for children, providing them with security, food, washing facilities, clothing, and basic non-formal education and counselling.
To provide separate cottages for girls and boys, accommodating groups of older children in shared rooms housing 2-3 in each room. These cottages are for those who have previously lived in ESCT Children's Homes, giving them the opportunity to move into semi-independent accommodation.
To provide support to a number of projects to ensure children are able to benefit fully from an education.
To run a number of projects for local communities both in urban and village areas.
To provide medical facilities.
To provide vehicles for use by the charity.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
Purpose of Designated Funds
The charity often receives large donations and legacies which are sometimes restricted by the donor for specific projects. Where the funds received are not specifically restricted the trustees earmark (designate) the funds for current or future building projects where the donor, legator or benefactor can be suitably acknowledged by a permanent plaque.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2025 - none).
The company is limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a share capital. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member. The company is incorporated in England & Wales.