2. 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...
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. “ 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.
”
7. 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
8. 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 of
772 VOLUNTEERS
UK PROGRAMME
9. 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 PROGRAMME
ANNUAL REVIEW 2015
10.
11. 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 / LTV
ANNUAL REVIEW 2015
12. THE FUTURE
We 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.
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
