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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Tools For Solidarity

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £89.3K

  • Spending

    £82.3K

Charity no. 100614 Date registered. 13/10/2014

Public benefits

Purpose 1 – The relief of poverty The benefit that we provide is the relief of poverty through the provision of tools and other equipment to people in the developing world that enables them to improve their level of income. These benefits are evidenced through the volume of tools and equipment collected by Tools for Solidarity from the UK,

Ireland and the Isle of Man, refurbished and then provided by Tools for Solidarity to projects in the developing world. The Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre (MSTC) was opened by Tools for Solidarity in Tanzania in 2007 in collaboration with SIDO (The small industries development organisation - a parastatal body). It has provided 2300 sewing machines since that time. Our feedback indicates that the increase of income of those in receipt of a sewing machine as provided by the MSTC is about 50% year on year. There is no harm flowing from our purposes. The charity’s beneficiaries are people in the developing world - the primary focus being on projects in Tanzania and Uganda. The only private benefit flowing from the work of TFS is we provide volunteers an opportunity to repair tools and equipment that we send to the third world. The volunteers benefit by learning repair skills and get satisfaction in seeing that their efforts help people in the third world. This is incidental and necessary because we need to send good quality tools and equipment and the repair work is conducted in Belfast. Purpose 2 – The advancement of education The benefit that we provide is the advancement of education through the provision of education for sustainable development programme. The benefits which flow from this programme are better local understanding of sustainable development issues such the importance of prevention, reuse, minimisation and recycling of goods. These benefits can be identified through feedback provided by local schools and colleges that have participated in the programme. The benefits can be identified by behavioural change brought about in people who have been exposed to the programme in particular and the work of Tools for Solidarity more generally. There is no harm flowing from our purposes. The charity’s beneficiaries are people in the developing world and in the UK. Tools for Solidarity UK based volunteers benefit from learning repair and maintenance skills for tools and sewing machines. Local people involved with the education for sustainable development programme benefit through a better understanding of the impact of individual actions on the environment and how to mitigate against these. The only private benefit flowing from the education for sustainable programme work of TFS is the experience gained by those involved in the delivery of the programme. Those involved in the delivery of the programme may learn skills that improve their employability. This is incidental and necessary as the programme is an interactive learning programme.

What your organisation does

TFS collects, refurbishes and ships out hand tools, sewing machines, machinery and accessories to communities, women's groups, people with Disabilities and Vocational training colleges primarily in sub Sahara Africa. We provide volunteer placements for all but have a particular emphasis on providing sheltered placements for people with extra

support needs and for international volunteers. We also promote awareness of sustainable development issues such as waste, over-consumption, appropriate aid etc. To this end we run a programme with schools and youth groups called Education for Sustainable Development

The charity’s classifications

  • The prevention or relief of poverty
  • The advancement of education

Who the charity helps

  • Overseas/developing countries
  • Volunteers

How the charity works

  • Education/training
  • Environment/sustainable development/conservation
  • Overseas aid/famine relief
  • Relief of poverty
  • Volunteer development

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2024

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2022

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

The Company is established to relieve poverty and advance education in any part of the world and in particular to collect, refurbish and distribute tools to countries in the Third World (the "area of benefit")

Governing document

Memorandum and Articles

Other name

TFS
  • 6 Trustees
  • 4 Employees
  • 31 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Mr John Wood, 55A Sunnyside Street, Belfast, BT7 3EX

Trustee board

Trustee
Ms Dorit Reppert
Ms Nancy Graham
Mr Geoff Noble
Ms Boglarka Benke
Ms Angeline Balland
Ms Laura Rio Fernandez

Areas of operation

List of regions

  • In Ireland
  • In Northern Ireland
  • Internationally
  • Malawi
  • Tanzania