Christian Hope Uganda (UK)
(Referred to throughout this document as CHU)
1. Charitable purpose and objective
1.1 The trustees apply the funds of Christian Hope Uganda (UK) at their discretion and in accordance with the charitable purposes and objectives of the charity.
2. Priorities for support
2.1 The amount of work or number of projects that can be supported by the trustees is necessarily limited to the amount of funds that are available for distribution each year. The trustees have determined that the current priorities for funding are:
The advancement of the Christian faith within local communities and across the world, but particularly in Uganda;
​
The relief of poverty within local communities and among the world’s deprived and needy peoples, with particular focus on Uganda or as determined by the trustees from time to time and in accordance with this policy;
The advancement of education especially amongst those in need, across the world
but particularly in Uganda.
2.2 The priorities for support will be reviewed by the trustees at least every three years and may be changed depending upon circumstances and the perceived effectiveness of the application of funds. Any change to these priorities must still fulfil the charitable purpose and objectives of the charity.
3. Principles applied in determining support
In awarding grants, the trustees will apply the following principles:
3.1 The trustees will consider any requests or known situations that are eligible for consideration:
From any area in Uganda or the surrounding region; From organizations and individuals alike.
3.2 Each request or situation will be considered on its own merits. Where situations have been previously considered (whether successful or not) any due diligence undertaken to reach an earlier decision will be made available to the trustees.
​
3.3 The trustees will carry out sufficient due diligence to ensure that the request or situation meets both the charitable purposes, and the priorities for support set out in this policy.
3.4 The trustees are content to work in partnership with other grant-making bodies where funding of an entire project is beyond the scope of any single organization. This includes, but is not limited to, national and international relief operations in the wake of natural disasters.
4. Applicant and partner due diligence
4.1 The trustees will carry out sufficient due diligence on any potential beneficiary to ensure:
The identity of the beneficiary;
That funds are applied in accordance with the charity’s charitable purpose;
That funds are not knowingly used for:
Money laundering in accordance with the operative Money Laundering regulations;
Terrorist financing in accordance with the Terrorist Act 2000;
Bribery in accordance with the 2010 Bribery Act.
4.2 In cases where the charity is not the only supporter of the work or project, and to protect its reputation, the trustees may choose to extend any due diligence beyond the proposed beneficiary and to include other partner supporting organizations.
4.3 The trustees will adopt a risk rated approach to due diligence. Risk factors will include; the size of the grant; the country of residence of the proposed recipient; the geographical location in which the grant will be applied; the nature of the relationship between the charity and the applicant.
4.4 Grant size will be an important risk factor and the following scale will apply to the level of due diligence undertaken.
Single Grant Max per beneficiary per Proposed level of due
annum diligence
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
​
Up to £100 Up to £500 Light touch
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
£100 to £1000 Up to £2500 Standard
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Over £1000 Over £2500 Full
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.5 Where the proposed beneficiary is well known to the trustees and the relationship has been long standing and well established the amount of due diligence undertaken will be reduced.
​
4.6 The results of any due diligence will not last indefinitely. In cases where beneficiaries are supported for a significant period of time, additional due diligence will be undertaken on a change of circumstances that might impact the beneficiary, or in any case after a period of no longer than three years.
5. Administration
5.1 For grants sizes requiring light touch due diligence (see 4.4 above), requests may be made informally. Where specific needs or situations are known, grants may be made at the discretion of the trustees without any form of request.
5.2 For grant sizes in excess of those requiring light touch due diligence, trustees should be confident:
Of the purpose of the proposed grant including an understanding of the work and the way in which the grant will be managed and applied;
Of the person(s) responsible for the management of the grant and for overseeing the work;
That all local applicable laws and working practices associated with the work are fully and properly applied;
That suitable policies are in place in cases where the applicant works with children or vulnerable adults.
5.3 For grant sizes requiring full due diligence, in addition to the requirements set out in 5.2, trustees would expect a written report (on request) setting out the progress and achievements for the period covered and detailing any forthcoming changes to either the nature or the location of ongoing work.
5.4 With the agreement of the charity and the beneficiary, grants will be provided by means of an electronic banking transfer or a cheque. The charity’s normal payment authorization process will be applied to any payments.
5.5 Where the grant is for a specified project or purpose, and in situations where that purpose does not proceed or where any grant or part thereof remains unused, unused funds must be returned.
5.6 Where formal written applications have been received, or other records maintained, these will be stored and subsequently disposed of in accordance with the charity’s policy on data protection and prevailing Data Protection legislation.
6. Decision-making
6.1 The decision of the trustees on whether to award a grant is final.
6.2 The trustees are not obliged to provide an explanation to applicants in the event that their application is not successful.
This policy was adopted by the trustees at their meeting on 12th October 2021.
It will be reviewed annually at the time of the Annual General Meeting.