Minutes:
TRUSTS FOR AFRICAN
SCHOOLS
MINUTES OF MEETING OF
TRUSTEES ON 2 MARCH 2015 AT 6 KINGLY STREET
Present: Guy Cowley, Norma Empringham, Ben Howland, Will Jones, Luke Morris, Johnnie Morris, Gill Marshall-Andrews,
Apologies: , Lissa Campell, Steve James, Tim Flower, Tom
Marshall-Andrews, Ben Taylor
Norma Empringham in the Chair.
1.Minutes of
meeting on 24 November 2015 were agreed.
2. Partnerships
The Usueni/ Norbury Manor partnership continues to
flourish. Norbury have just heard they
have got another tranche of British Council money and are debating how to spend
it.
Kimphe Langano / Heathfield partnership has stalled due
to conflict between the school and the community in Langano. This is being resolved and a new committee
has been set up, hopefully with a new bank account. When things have settled it may be possible
to return to the idea of a visit by Ethiopian teachers to UK. Luke has a new colleague who is willing to
help with the visa process.
3. Exam results
The Primary School KCPE results are out and the KCSE
(Secondary ) results are expected any day.
The KCPE results are all encouraging with Boka and
Ikathima showing a spectacular improvement.
The primary results are posted on the website and the secondary ones
will be put on as soon as they are out.
4. New Secretaries
Sarah Wright and Kim Keppels have agreed to stay
on at Asako and Madogo for a short time as we wind down financial support for
these schools as it has not yet been possible to find anyone to replace them.
For the new schools we plan to support we hope to
engage local professionals in Mwingi and Garissa as trust secretaries.
5. New schools
After an extensive selection process, Stephen,
Norma and Gill have identified 6 schools around Mwingi National Reserve and
Kora National Park which could be considered for TAS support. Stephen will be asked to visit these schools,
to undertake a basic audit of facilities and to give an assessment of each
school’s leadership and capacity for partnership. We hope to identify 4 schools to support
initially.
The schools are:
Ithoka Primary,
Ruko Primary, Kaseluni Primary,
Kimela Primary, Jarajara Primary
and Mitamisyi Secondary.
6. Finance, accounts and Gift Aid
Guy presented a summary of accounts which
indicated that 2014 had been a good year.
Ben (T) will do the Gift Aid claim soon.
7. Loldia Primary School
Getting the bank account opened for this new
trust has been a nightmare. New
regulations in Kenya have made the process a very stressful one for the trust
secretary Joan Dickie. However, we are
hopeful that the situation is being resolved.
When we have a number for the account we can begin to put up details of
the school on the TAS website and get a leaflet printed. Funds are ready to be transferred immediately
the account is open.
8. Inservice training
Guy outlined the Teacher Education in Sub Saharan
Africa (TESSA) project which has produced some on-line resources for schools. Egerton
University in Kenya is a partner in this initiative and Guy has been in touch
with them. The schools identified as most likely to be interested are Eburru
Primary and Loldia Primary. Guy will
prepare a proposal for them to consider.
9 . Proposals for funding
A schedule of projects was presented and funding of £25k
was agreed subject to certain conditions. An additional project at Green Park was discussed and agreed - an educational trip costing £290.
10. Fund raising and 2015 Marathon
Charlie Clarence-Smith is running the London Marathon for
TAS and it was agreed that he should write to trustees with the donation forms
so we could all support him.
There is a wonderful penthouse space in Ernst and Young
office which could be used for a fundraising event if anyone can think of
something. Possibly a guest speaker and
reception? All to think about this.
Again! Gill to approach Tom Holroyd for
ideas.
11. Stephen Kameti’s visit to UK
It is likely that Stephen Kameti will visit UK in
June. He will be welcomed to the next
meeting and Ben H has offered to take him to Cambridge.
12. Website
It was agreed that we should look at a website
update. Tom sent some links which showed
a more up to date look. Tom and Gill
will progress this.
13. Next meeting was agreed for 6pm on 8 June 2015 at Luke’s new office Fladgate, 16 Great Queen Street London Wc2B 5DG. Many
thanks to Ben H for hosting today’s meeting.
