Minutes:
TRUSTS FOR AFRICAN SCHOOLS
MEETING AT PORTCULLIS HOUSE
THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2006
Present:
Norma Empringham, Ben Howland, Johnnie Morris, Luke Morris, Will Jones, Gill Marshall-Andrews
Apologies:
Heather Flint, Tim Flower, Tom Marshall-Andrews
1. Minutes of the meeting on 21 September were agreed.
2. Udate on local trusts
Eburru – the local trust has succeeded in raising more funds from Bonnik Hansen, a Danish benefactor. He has sent 20,000 Euros to finish the rainwater project and to fund the electrical wiring for the school. The East African Womens League has also raised most of the money for the first year of the bursary scheme.
The school had its first open day for parents and 98 people came. The school is really gaining a high profile and good reputation in the locality. It will, for the first time, be able to recruit students for the new intake in January on the basis of merit.
The school is hoping to link up with a south London comprehensive as part of the British Council’s Global Schools Partnership Scheme. This could involve some teacher and student exchange, and distance learning opportunities.
The success of this trust is evidence that the TAS model of sustainable support can work. Next meeting 6 January.
Green Park – the new building plans have been agreed and work could start soon. The local trust is keen to raise money locally as far as possible so no applications were received from GPST. Next meeting 6 January.
Asako – there have now been 3 meetings of this trust and much progress has been made. Three applications for funding have been received – desks, teachers and flights for Trustee meetings.
2 pre-primary teachers have been recruited from the local community and 2 female primary teachers have been identified and are being interviewed.
Next meeting in Garissa 10 January.
Bishangari – no news about this Ethiopian trust. DfID have given a contact which will be pursued.
3. Website
A newsletter was sent out to all donors and trustees in September and another will be sent in December.
All donations are now listed on a separate (private) site. The system needs to be connected with Tim’s records for ease of accounting.
4. Finance
There is £5300 in the bank. This will be supplemented by £2300 from the marathon money raised by Alex. Gift Aid will come later after the annual accounts have been prepared. They should be in the region of £3000.
5. Fund raising
The only potential corporate donor to attend the event after our meeting was Sally Collins from Best Invest. Fujitsu will be approached directly. Norma and Gill will arrange to visit them.
BH agreed to chase Bowel Cancer charity for our half of the marathon money.
GMA and NE have made presentations to schools in Richmond and Wimbledon. Some funds may be forthcoming from these sources.
6. Disbursements to trusts
It was agreed to send the following to Asako Primary School Trust:
£2650 for 4 teachers for a year.
£1400 for 90 desks (3 students sit at each)
£1900 for 4 flights (Nov, Jan, March and May )for trustees to attend trust meetings at Asako or Garissa.
Total £5950
As we only have £5300 in the bank at present it was agreed that we send out £5300 immediately and take or send the remaining £650 in January.
7. Books
The books and educational gifts from Norma and from some schools in Richmond are due to be sent out at the end of the month.
8. DfID
NE and GMA had a meeting with Richard Arden Head of Education at DfID. He was supportive of the concept of setting up trusts alongside schools and gave us several contacts. It was a useful and encouraging meeting.
9. Next meeting
6.30pm Thursday 22 February 2006 at Portcullis House
