REPORTS

Breakfast Club Budget, 2024 (Addendum B 1)

• The Breakfast Club Budget is now based on feeding 500 children daily over 40 school weeks in the year.

• As is happening globally, South African food costs continue to rise astronomically, as do transport costs. Thus, donations of milk and fruit have been especially welcome, stretching our cash reserves further.

• As the schools have settled back further into normal operations after the 2 years of Covid related interruptions, we are seeing more children eating more, very likely the result of current pressures on family finances. In 2022 we ordered 1 ton of e’Pap twice. In 2023 we have found the need to order a ton for a third time, in September. We are aware that Econocom Foods have absorbed rising costs themselves to a great extent this year, but in January 2024 we will see price increases. However, we also know that the cost of e’Pap per child per day is at the moment just less than R2.70, which is a very reasonable price per head. This unique scientifically formulated food meets the nutritional needs of our children very well, and is very easy to prepare on site.

• We are unfortunately not able to increase our employees’ hourly rate of wages per hour in 2024. We do, however, pay far higher than the country’s recommended minimum wage.

• Three helpers at St Mary’s who left us for different reasons, have not been replaced, but the morning’s work is still completed in the allocated time with the help of volunteers. One helper at St Mary’s Primary has continued to be paid an increased salary as she continues to grow into the role of Person-in-Charge, an especially valuable role during Aletta Ashmore’s annual 3 month long absence overseas.

Smart Club Budget, 2023 (Addendum B3)

• The Smart Club Budget for 2023 is based on a 40 week school year, as there are school
assessment weeks when therapists are not able to work with the children.

• Hearing tests and the provision of Ritalin/Methylphenidate are again not reflected in the Budget, as
the former continue to be accessed free of charge at local clinics, and the latter is provided free from
the School Doctor and Nurse at the local District Six Day Clinic.

• All our therapists provide their services at a discount, as we are a registered charity, and we thank
them and specialist doctors who assess learners for accommodating the Smart Club in this way.
This allows us to support more children for the same amount of money.

• Parents are asked to make a small contribution, to the cost of professional assessments and
therapeutic treatments, if they are able. The amount contributed by parents is not material to our
budget.

• It is anticipated that in 2024 around 160 children (120 in groups, and 40 individually or in pairs) will
benefit from group and individual therapies, as well as up to 15 by assessments by an Educational
Psychologist, and Paediatric Neurologist and Psychiatrist.

Admin Budget

• We were fortunate and grateful to have received a private donation covering the rebuild and update
of our website www.goodstart.org.za Our website is now maintained by Pixel Perfect on a two
monthly basis, also covered by donation.

• A dedicated donation covered our SAGE subscription, and website hosting.

• Our auditors, L Cohen and Co, whose work has brought us our Annual Financial Statement for the
past 5 years, are unfortunately no longer able to carry out this work pro bono. We thank them for the
enormous work they have done for us to date, and understand that their circumstances in the current
economic climate have necessitated their decision.

• All the above projected costs can be seen under ADMIN in our Proposed 2024 Breakfast Club
Budget

Financial Record Keeping:

We continue to thank Paula Cohen for overseeing the monthly SAGE PASTEL entries of our financial
records, and for preparation of the General Ledger and Trial Balance for the auditors. Aletta Ashmore
continues to deal with banking, and to gather all financial records to send to Paula on a monthly basis.
Adrienne Millner has taken charge of monthly UIF contributions, and assists with administration
whenever she is able. Amy Haworth assists too when required

Section 18A Certificates:

Section 18A certificates for South African Income Tax relief for individuals
continue to be issued to donors of either cash, or goods,to which a monetary value can be assigned.
We understand the new SARS ruling that will require us to provide proof if required, for our drawing up of
18A certificates from 2024 onwards.

Annual Audit:

On 28 February 2023, Sakeenah Shroeder of L Rubin and Co came to oversee Breakfast Club stock takes
and petty cash counts at both schools. The audit of our finances has now been completed. We thank
Paul Morris and Mariette Vos for this invaluable service to The Good Start Trust. The Annual Financial
Statements for the year ending 28 February 20223 can be viewed in Addendum A.