AGM 2026 Minutes
In Ministry to Children (IMC) Annual General Meeting 2026
Held Online
Minutes
Attendance: 15 participants, together with Nancy Centeno (joining from Colombia).
Trustees present: Clive Booley, Jenny Booley, Seren Boyd, Penny Callaghan, Leo Guzman Aldana, and Leah Guzman Aldana.
1. Welcome and opening remarks
Clive Booley formally opened the AGM. He outlined the arrangements for participation, including how attendees could ask questions and access the agenda via the online chat.
2. Opening prayer
Penny Callaghan opened the meeting in prayer, giving thanks for God's presence and for His work through IMC among children and families in Colombia. She committed the meeting and its deliberations to Him.
3. Official Business
Approval of Minutes of the 2025 AGM
The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting were approved.
Proposed by: David Hall
Seconded by: Jeremy Burdett
Confirmation of Trustees
The following trustees were confirmed to serve for a further year:
- Seren Boyd (Chair)
- Jenny Booley (Treasurer)
- Clive Booley
- Penny Callaghan
- Leo Guzman Aldana
- Leah Guzman Aldana
No objections were raised.
Proposed by: Charles Farr
Seconded by: Joan Thraves and Liz Studd
Seren noted that there remains an open invitation for individuals who feel called to consider becoming trustees in the future. Attendees were reminded that trustee responsibilities can be adapted to reflect individual capacity and availability.
4. Treasurer's Report
Jenny Booley presented the Treasurer's Report for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Total income was slightly more than 8% lower than in the previous year. Nevertheless, supporters contributed almost £68,000 through regular giving, one-off donations, fundraising activities, Gift Aid and Give As You Live. Over 87% of this income was transferred directly to Colombia to support IMC's work.
The UK operation continued to function with minimal overheads, incurring only modest expenditure on postage, website maintenance, publicity and administration. Administrative fees paid to Links, the organisation responsible for managing IMC's banking arrangements, international transfers and financial compliance, were fully covered by Gift Aid. In addition, more than £3,000 of Gift Aid income was available to support project work in Colombia.
The year concluded with a small surplus, enabling the charity to maintain a modest reserve to assist during periods of lower income.
Jenny also reported on banking difficulties that had delayed transfers to Colombia for several months and requested prayer that future transfers would proceed smoothly.
5. Fundraising report
Clive Booley presented the Fundraising Report, emphasising the significant cumulative impact of many small contributions.
The annual Fun Day at Rams Walk, Petersfield, remains a key event in the fundraising calendar. Supported by donations of plants, cakes, tombola prizes, handmade cards and volunteer time, the event raised almost £1,300 in 2025.
The Summer Serenade, hosted by Robin and Lesina Ashfield at their home in Steep and featuring music from The Dragonflies, raised almost £1,000.
These events provide valuable mid-year income and help offset traditionally quieter periods following Christmas.
Clive also acknowledged the many smaller but important fundraising activities undertaken by supporters, including the sale of handmade cards, plants, wreaths, jams and church offerings.
Clive and Seren also highlighted the value of Give As You Live.
6. Chair's report
Seren Boyd presented the Chair's Report, setting IMC's work within the wider social and economic context of Colombia.
She noted that many communities continue to face significant challenges arising from poverty, criminality, climate-related pressures and inequality. Although national levels of extreme poverty affect approximately one in ten Colombians, rates are substantially higher in regions such as La Guajira, where child malnutrition remains a serious concern.
Against this backdrop, IMC supported 548 children and 286 adults during the year across three principal areas of operation:
- La Guajira
- Fusagasugá (Fusa)
- Los Alpes, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Bogotá
In each location, IMC works closely with local churches while focusing on psychosocial support, nutrition, education and vocational training, underpinned by spiritual mentoring and pastoral care.
Seren explained that Nancy Centeno's vision is to help families become "protective families" – families that are emotionally, spiritually and economically resilient enough to withstand the pressures of their environment.
She then shared updates from each project area.
In La Guajira, IMC now provides healthy snacks in two schools and continues to support a breakfast programme for the children of waste-picker families in Riohacha. A church building in El Brasil, funded by a UK supporter, is also being used as a training centre where Colombia's national training organisation, el SENA, is helping families establish kitchen gardens. There has also been a focusing on developing small enterprises based on traditional Wayúu crafts, including the production of mochilas.
In Fusa, IMC funds a shared community building used by two partner churches and for IMC activities. Around 50 children regularly attend for homework support, arts and sports activities, and nutritious snacks. Sophia continues to provide food and snacks despite her ongoing health challenges. SENA is also delivering baking and bread-making courses, enabling some women to establish small businesses, while a local university provides medical students to train families in first aid and run preventative health sessions.
In Los Alpes, the regular feeding programme concluded at the end of 2025. Nancy is currently exploring alternative approaches, including food-bank partnerships and vocational training opportunities through el SENA, to provide more sustainable forms of support for local families.
Seren also reported that the Granja Peniel property, IMC’s former residential children’s home, remains on the market, including in the US. It is hoped that a purchaser will be found in the near future, enabling the proceeds to strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of IMC Colombia.
7. Interview with IMC Director Nancy Centeno
Leo and Leah Guzman Aldana interviewed Nancy Centeno regarding IMC's work in Colombia and the future direction of its projects in La Guajira, Fusa and Los Alpes.
Nancy explained that IMC's work in La Guajira has evolved from a predominantly ‘handout-based’ approach towards one centred on empowerment and sustainability. Current priorities include food security, income generation, training and capacity building, enabling families to develop entrepreneurial initiatives and improve their nutrition and educational opportunities.
She highlighted the importance of el SENA as a strategic partner. Following more than 30 years of IMC's presence and credibility in Colombia, SENA now supports vocational training and enterprise development in La Guajira and Fusa.
In La Guajira, projects combine food-production initiatives with artisan craft development, with the aim of improving product quality and accessing wider markets. In Fusa, el SENA and local universities are supporting families and young people aged 14 and above through practical training in baking, pastry production and catering, helping to strengthen household incomes through small-scale enterprise.
Nancy also shared a long-term vision for Fusa, including the establishment of social enterprises such as a community bakery operated by local mothers, and the further development of Centros Integrales Familiares (CIFs), which would integrate educational support, enterprise development, sport, arts and spiritual care.
The longer-term objective is for local churches and communities to take increasing ownership of these programmes in partnership with local government, with IMC acting primarily as a supporting partner rather than a direct operator.
Regarding Los Alpes, Nancy explained that, following the closure of the feeding programme for financial reasons, the focus is shifting towards vocational training, municipal partnerships and a subsidised food-bank model designed to strengthen family resilience and economic independence.
Nancy concluded by requesting prayer for safety and protection during Colombia's current electoral period, for good health and wisdom for staff and volunteers, and for the financial resources needed to advance key initiatives, particularly the sale of the farm property, the need for clean water in the San Pablo rancheria of La Guajira, and expanded educational and sustainability programmes.
8. Any other business and closing
Clive Booley closed the meeting in prayer, asking for God's guidance and wisdom and that IMC's work would continue to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of children and families in Colombia.
Seren Boyd thanked all supporters for their continued commitment, generosity and partnership.
The meeting was then formally closed.
Posted on the 2nd July 2026 at 3:04pm.