2003 a record year for spending on our projects Record income and record spending on projects was reported at the annual meeting of Wilmslow Wells for Africa on 6 October 2003. Chairman Joanna Southgate said: "This is wonderful news and it is very encouraging that our friends continue to show such generosity and give us such tremendous support." Since its formation, the charity has raised £259,484, of which just £5,116 has been spent on running costs and administration, leaving £254,368 available for direct project work - that's 98% of the funds raised. Of this, we have spent £245,108 on 60 projects, helping to provide clean water for communities.

Productive: new water supply allowed vegetables to be grown to feed children and sell to help maintain Aids orphanage in Zimbabwe. click on the photo to enlarge

Mrs Southgate added: "The funds we have not spent reflect the time it takes to identify and evaluate projects. We have to obtain information on projects, ensure they appear to be properly researched as to cost and feasibility and have appropriate on-going maintenance programmes in place, and satisfy ourselves that they represent reasonable value in terms of the number of people who will be helped. "We request reports on the progress and completion of projects to provide evidence that the funds were used appropriately and to enable us to monitor the project against the proposal." Activities in financial year August 1 to July 31: Income for the year was £44,454 - a record by far in terms of fund-raising events and donations. Payments amounted to £41,291, which included £40,669 on seven projects in Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. We held our regular Garden Day, during which local supporters kindly allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of their gardens; two Souperdays, a barn dance, a holiday cottage auction and concerts. Runners in the London Marathon raised £6,000 for our charity, thanks to Martin Ashcroft and Fiona Winterhalder. We also received funds in memory of supporters who sadly died during the year - Keith Mottershead, Joyce Wilkinson, Jeremy Horne, Violet Harris, Rene Barclay, and T Luzmore. On a happier note, we had donations to mark the golden and ruby wedding anniversaries of two couples who are regular supporters.