2025-03-31-accounts

ASHIANA NETWORK

Company No. 02972903 (England & Wales) Charity no. 1042440

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Kingston Burrowes Audit Ltd 308 Ewell Road Surbiton Surrey KT6 7AL

ASHIANA NETWORK

Contents

	Page No.
Report ofthe Board ofTrustees	1-18
Report ofthe Independent Auditors	19-21
Statement of Financial Activities	22
Balance Sheet	23
Statement ofCash Flows	24
NotestotheFinancialStatements	25-36

ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The management committee presents its report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s constitution, applicable law and the requirements of the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

1. Reference & Administrative Information

Status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The board approved a change of company name at a special meeting on 22 February 2006. The name changed from Ashiana Project to Ashiana Network.

Charity Number 1042440

Company Number 02972903

Registered Office and operational address Oceanaire House, High Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 3AW

Board Members

Sabina Mahmood — Chair Anjum Bashir Urmi Medhi (resigned 04-09-2025) Rashmi Nigam Halima Zaman Professor Aisha K Gill (joined 04-06-2024) Tanoushka Kaur Treasurer (joined 04-06-2024)

Chief Executive

Shaminder Ubhi

Auditors

Kingston Burrowes Audit Ltd, 308 Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7AL.

Banker

National Westminster Bank Plc.

2. How we are fulfilling the public benefit requirements of the Charities Act 2011

As a registered charity, the public benefits of our work are directly related to our aims, which seek to improve the lives of primarily, South Asian, Turkish & Middle Eastern women, by reducing the impact of domestic violence upon them. Our housing, advocacy, legal, educational, counselling and preventative work provides direct benefit to both the recipients of our services and the public generally through contributing positively to a better society. Our services are free and open to the section of the public who we exist to help.

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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

We plan to introduce an annual audit of our charitable activities as well as consider how to promote public benefit on an ongoing basis.

In forming our objectives, the Trustees confirm that it has given due regard to the Charity Commission guidelines on public benefit. ,

3. Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Ashiana Network is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Ashiana Network’s business and governance is conducted under the framework of its memorandum of articles of association.

Recruitment and appointment of management committee/training Board members are selected on the basis of the experience, skills and expertise they bring to further the main objectives of Ashiana. The induction process for new members includes the provision of information on their roles and responsibilities, policy and procedures, meetings with the Director and staff, and site visits. One-third of the board members must resign at each annual general meeting. The retiring members are eligible for re-election.

Risk Management Ashiana is committed to identifying and managing potential and probable risks that the organisation faces. The Board of Trustees have overall responsibility for management of risk, and it is an essential part of the organisation’s effective governance. Monitoring known risks enables the Board and Senior Management Team to make informed decisions and take timely action.

The principal risks facing the charity are financial and operational.

Financial:

As asmall ‘led by and for’ specialist provider, Ashiana has limited resources and faces an increasingly competitive external environment. National research Imkaan (2020) shows that ‘by and for’ organisations faced disproportionate pressures during the pandemic with a 39% reduction in funding due to historical austerity cuts with organisations operating with one-third reduced staffing capacity. Research conducted by The Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University mapped funding for the women and girls sector and found that in 2021, a total of £4.1 billion worth of grants was awarded to charities, but the women and girls sector received just 1.8% of these (Mapping the UK Women and Girls Sector and its Funding: Where Does the Money Go?, Rosa, the National Lottery Community Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)

A recent study provided in-depth evidence about the contributions, experiences, and challenges of by-and-for organisations in England and Wales. Key findings indicate that ‘by-and-for organisations provide a critical anchor and commitment to their communities. A lack of core funding and long-term relationships with funders leads to staff burnout, a heavy reliance on volunteer time, and service precarity for the most marginalised. Resourcing is a significant and multifaceted barrier for by-and-for organisations. The specific challenge they face is that they do not emerge through traditional professional or charity routes and are operating on a shoestring, which means they are coming to an unlevel playing field in terms of securing funding’ (New Economics Foundation September 2025).

Payments by local authorities, government bodies, trusts and foundations are often paid in arrears and are based on the achievement of targets and outcomes. This has ongoing impact on cashflow and budgeting.

The on-going cost of living crisis continues to impact Ashiana and its service users. Increasingly, we are having to tap into reserves to fund existing and new initiatives as expenditure pressures mount and income remains stagnant. More recently we have reviewed our organisational structure and staffing levels to reduce the reliance on reserves; this has meant difficult decisions regarding staff redundancies.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

A significant portion of our contracts are due to end in March 2026 which poses a major financial risk. Our primary focus is to engage in recommissioning processes and to seek alternative sources of income.

Our plan to reduce and mitigate the risks include:

• e Preparing and submitting tenders/applications as necessary e Maintaining robust Quality Systems e Ensuring we meet all contractual obligations e Continue to review organisational structure and staffing e Having a spread of services by size and service type e Maintaining good relationships with commissioners/funders

• e Being responsive to changes in the market

• e Performance monitoring in place e Robust tendering for our own services e Remaining competitive in terms of quality of services, value for money and contract price e Clear messaging about our unique selling point e Building on partnerships such as the London VAWG consortium and the OYA consortium

Operational:

Operational risks range from recruitment and retention issues, safeguarding, inadequate monitoring and evaluation of projects, lack of contract compliance, inadequate business planning/continuity planning, poor response to national or global emergencies i.e., post-pandemic, cost of living crisis, data breaches, reputation, public policy. We reduce and mitigate these by implementing appropriate policies and procedures, staff induction, training, and supervision. For example, we are responding to the recruitment crisis in the sector by sharing concerns with partners and stakeholders, coming together to seek solutions and share good practice. We ensure processes are in place for all contract compliance and regulatory frameworks e.g., health and safety regulations.

Risk management is ongoing and embedded in governance and operational procedures with the following in place:-

1. Annual Risk Register

This register identifies the potential and probable risks faced by the organisation and each risk is given an impact and likelihood rating, as well as an overall net risk. The SMT monitor the Risk Register on an ongoing basis, and it is reviewed by the Board every quarter.

2. Business Continuity Plan

A Business Continuity Plan is in place that identifies the critical business processes and major risks to these. The plan identifies the control measures in place and the person responsible for ensuring the relevant actions are taken. The plan is reviewed by the SMT on an ongoing basis.

3. Annual audited accounts of the Company

The financial statements of the organisation are audited on an annual basis to ensure appropriate accounting procedures are in place, financial statements are free from material misstatement or fraudulent activity.

Structure

The Board bears overall responsibility for Ashiana Network. The Board delegates the day-to-day running of the organisation to the CEO, Shaminder Ubhi.

Remuneration of Key Management Personnel

The remuneration of the charity's key management personnel is set by the Board of Trustees, taking into account the charity’s financial position and the amount paid for comparable roles in comparable organisations.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Our Purpose:

• To empower Black and minoritised women, particularly South Asian, Turkish and Middle eastern women who are experiencing VAWG with culturally informed advice, advocacy, counselling, immigration advice and safe housing - enabling them to make positive and informed choices

• To raise awareness of VAWG and carry out preventative work with the community as a whole.

Our Vision

• For all women and girls to have the right to live free from violence and abuse.

• For VAWG to be recognised as a form of systemic violence perpetrated within a heteronormative patriarchy where Black and minoritised women’s experiences are compounded by structural inequality.

• For Ashiana to be recognised in its commitment to responding from a rights-led focus, enshrining the principles and ethos of Ashiana as an intersectional feminist, holistic, trauma-informed service.

4. OBJECTIVES

Ashiana runs six refuges with a total of 29 bedspaces; two specifically for women experiencing harmful practices. This multi award winning project was the first of its kind in the UK and is highly innovative in terms of addressing an area of significant need not met in other refuge provision. We designate a number of bedspaces for women with no recourse to public funds across these refuges and provide legal immigration advice. We offer advice, support and counselling services for women and girls who are experiencing VAWG, enabling them to make informed decisions and exit violent relationships.

We deliver a range of awareness raising workshops for people in the community and training on VAWG for professionals in the voluntary and statutory sector.

5. OUR VALUES

Our shared values are embedded in Ashiana; they set out the broad principles within which we all work, make our decisions, strive to deliver the best quality services, and hold each other to account. Our core values are:

|. CARING & COMPASSIONATE

We are a caring and compassionate organisation. We show empathy, understanding and patience to anyone who comes in contact with us, including staff, survivors, and agencies to build resilience and strength. Whatever the outcome, being compassionate and caring creates a positive impact and a feeling of empowerment for all women and girls

ll. DIVERSE

As a specialist ‘led by and for’ organisation we embed an intersectional approach and anti-racist practice in all our work. We stand for, and operate, within intersectional feminist principles, adopting a holistic and traumainformed framework that celebrates difference, respect, and representation.

' By and For refers to lived experience organisations for example, organisations representing Black and minoritised women and girls and disabled women among other groups of women with specific intersectional needs, that are not met by generic provision because of the nature ofthe services they require. Staffing, governance, and membership structures of these organisations emerge historically from grassroots struggle and reflect the women and girls they serve.

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ill. SOCIAL JUSTICE

Collectively? we address social injustice and challenge oppression, structural inequality, and systemic racism. We stand up for women and girls that are so often denied their rights and freedoms. We will always advocate for fairness and equality in all that we do.

IV. COLLABORATION

By collaborating with survivors, agencies, and each other, we can produce the best outcome for women and girls. This approach ensures the voice of women and girls is at the heart of all our work.

6. OUR ETHOS

Women Only Space

We acknowledge that many women at risk of VAWG will want to seek support from ‘women’ only services where they will also have access to ‘women’ only space. Our services are trauma informed and we recognize the emotional, psychological, and physical impact of trauma caused by violence and abuse and understanding the nuances within Black and minoritised communities. We provide safe ‘women’ only spaces to ensure women are not re-traumatised but rather supported in their recovery and resilience.

Ashiana acknowledges that not all women experience VAWG in the same ways, and that Black and minoritised often face racialised abuse, and/or abuse based on discrimination against other aspects of their identities. We also acknowledge that Black and minoritised women experience additional barriers to seeking and accessing support for VAWG. Therefore, all responses to survivors should be adapted to ensure they are safe, accessible, and appropriate for each individual woman.

We acknowledge that many women at risk of VAWG will want to seek support from ‘women’ only services where they will also have access to ‘women’ only space. We will also ensure that the needs of Black and minoritised women are addressed across all services in line with the ethos of ‘led by and for’. This provides for an environment where. women. are safer and feel as they are being listened to and heard.

The nature of our services means that, invariably, we tackle poverty, disadvantage, racism, inequality, and social exclusion. The women and girls we support present with complex and multiple needs including self-harming, suicide, depression, eating disorders, insecure immigration status, language needs. Our aim will be to support and advise them in order for them to make informed decisions and choices that enable them to exit violent relationships e.g., reporting to police, pursuing civil/criminal legal cases, taking out injunctions, access to refuges, welfare benefits, health, housing, specialist immigration advice.

Our woman-centred, holistic approach will ensure we meet the needs of our clients. Our support planning, risk assessment and outcomes framework tools are utilised by staff to make assessments, draw up appropriate action plans, manage risk, address needs and monitor progress through regular sessions and reviews; enabling clients is achieve their hopes and aspirations. Every effort is made to ensure the clients feel they are in control of the process and see it as something helpful and empowering.

2 By ‘collective’ we mean Ashiana staff working in various roles, either advocatingfor clients directly or addressing wider policy/practice through our partnerships with stakeholders and other organisations, in particular, 2" Tier organisations.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

7. ACTIVITIES & IMPACT

Ashiana delivers a wide range of specialist services to support women and girls experiencing violence and abuse.

Key activities include:

• e Providing crisis and second-stage refuge accommodation, including designated spaces for women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

• e Rehousing support and move-on preparation, helping women transition safely to independent living

• e Specialist intersectional advice and advocacy on complex cases within institutions and statutory services

• e Trauma-informed counselling and group-based peer support, promoting mental health and recovery e Immigration advice and support for women with NRPF, enabling access to legal status and related services

• e Community-based support, including educational workshops, self-help and faith groups

• e Education and awareness-raising on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), including harmful practices

Housing Services Snapshot

• e 26 women supported across 6 refuges (increase from previous year)

• e 21 had No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

• e First-stage refuges: Kyra (8-bed, forced marriage), Saranaya (5-bed, forced marriage), Zafina (5-bed), Himaya (3-bed)

• e Second-stage refuges: Ariana (5-bed), Noorah (3-bed) for lower-intensity support

• e Support provided: life skills, ESOL classes, immigration advice, counselling, advocacy, resettlement

• e Rising trend: higher levels of mental health need, including suicidal ideation

• e Renovation of Resource Centre nearing completion to enhance support delivery

Impact:

Ashiana’s refuge pathway provides a safe, culturally sensitive and structured transition for women from crisis to independence. Survivors leave equipped with practical skills, improved confidence and secure immigration status.

Advocacy & Advice Services Snapshot

• e 491 women and girls supported across a range of VAWG issues

• e 165 with NRPF, 151 with language needs, 53 with disabilities

• e 114 supported with housing, including 79 homeless e Sharp increase in high-risk cases: suicidal ideation, non-fatal strangulation, threats to kill, self-harm

• e Increase in sexual abuse disclosures and referrals from SOIT officers e £6,000 NatWest Circle Fund grant supporting women in crisis

• e 100 Vodafone SIMs distributed for survivor safety

• e Increased engagement with young women through schools and colleges

• e Ongoing advocacy with social services to secure Section 17 support for women with NRPF

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Impact: Ashiana provides life-saving advocacy for women who are too often silenced by statutory systems. We challenge systemic failures, prevent homelessness, and ensure survivors have safe, informed choices.

Legal Services Snapshot

• e 112 women supported with immigration advice e 73 achieved positive outcomes (settled status, humanitarian protection, asylum, lifting of NRPF conditions)

• e Specialist advice on complex applications, often outside Legal Aid scope e Support includes housing, healthcare, social care, police and court access e Partnerships with Family Law solicitors for divorce and non-molestation orders (often pro bono due to Legal Aid restrictions)

• e Ongoing training delivered to partner organisations on immigration law changes e Key challenges: diminished Legal Aid provision, capacity gaps in immigration & family law

Impact:

Ashiana’s Legal Service fills a critical gap, ensuring vulnerable women with insecure status can regularise their stay, access protection, and rebuild safe, independent lives.

Counselling Services Snapshot

• e 117 women supported through one-to-one trauma-informed counselling

• e 1,500+ hours of therapy delivered

• e 90% attendance rate due to hybrid model (online, phone, in-person)

• e 6 funded projects, including CouRAGEous (specialist youth counselling for 14+) e 50+ women on waiting list; referrals closed twice due to demand e Rising complex needs: multiple abuse histories, safeguarding alerts, mental health crises e Longer therapy contracts (20-30 sessions) improve recovery outcomes

Impact:

Ashiana’s counselling service offers accessible, culturally sensitive trauma therapy for women who cannot access mainstream provision. Survivors report reduced trauma symptoms, improved resilience, and stronger recovery.

Service User Feedback

' Coming to Ashiana was not an easy decision, but it tumed out to be the best decision | ever made. Here, | found safety, support, and respect — everything | needed during a very difficult time.

| want to thank all the caseworkers for their emotional and professional support. You were there for me every step of the way, and each one of you helped me overcome fear and pain.

| would like to extend my heartfelt thanks especially to my caseworker, who accompanied me to court. | was very scared that day — scared of the situation, of the confrontation, and of everything happening around me. But your presence gave me comfort and strength. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and for standing by me in that important moment. | will never forget it | am truly grateful for all the support and services | received at Ashiana. Because of you, | am now able to move forward with confidence and hope

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. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ASHIANA NETWORK

HOUSING SERVICES

Kyra, Saranaya, Noorah, Zafina, Ariana and Himaya

Ashiana currently provides safe, temporary accommodation across six schemes in Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Havering.

Eligibility and Approach

Our refuges support South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern women aged 16—35 experiencing domestic abuse, forced marriage or harmful practices. Ashiana is proudly led by and for Black and minoritised women, and our culturally sensitive, linguistically diverse approach enables survivors to disclose sensitive issues such as honourbased violence, forced marriage and harmful practices with confidence.

Specialist Refuge Provision

• e Kyra (8-bed) and Saranaya (5-bed) are the only national refuges specialising in forced marriage. e Zafina (5-bed) and Himaya (3-bed) provide high-level first-stage support.

• e Ariana (5-bed) and Noorah (3-bed) are second-stage refuges offering lower-intensity support to help women prepare for independent living.

This two-stage pathway provides survivors with stability, safety, and structured transition towards independence.

Support Provided

Residents receive confidential, culturally specific advice and advocacy on legal, financial, housing and personal matters. Support includes:

• e Life skills and independence training e ESOL classes to aid integration e High levels of emotional support tailored to each woman’s needs

• e Internal immigration advice from our in-house solicitors e Access to trauma-informed counselling

In the past year, mental health needs have risen significantly, with increasing numbers of women presenting with suicidal ideation. To meet this demand, we plan to raise funds to reinstate a dedicated Mental Health Support Worker, a role that proved vital before funding ended.

Service Use (April 2024—March 2025)

• e 26 newclients accepted (an increase on the previous year) e 21 had No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) — mainly women on spousal, dependant, student, work or visitor visas

• e Many women arrived without GP registration, bank accounts, or experience of public transport. Others were restricted from leaving home alone. Staff support them patiently to navigate these barriers and build confidence in a new way of life.

Immigration Support

The presence of two in-house solicitors has transformed outcomes for women with insecure immigration status. Survivors now liaise with a single named professional, avoiding the need to repeat traumatic experiences. Many clients have secured positive outcomes as a direct result of this holistic, in-house service.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Looking Ahead

The renovation of our Resource Centre is nearing completion and will soon provide a dedicated space for client support, training, and community building.

Impact

Ashiana’s refuge provision is more than a place of safety: it is a pathway to recovery and independence. By combining accommodation, advocacy, immigration advice, counselling and resettlement support, we empower women to heal from trauma, rebuild their confidence, and transition successfully to independent living.

Service User Feedback:

ADVOCACY & ADVICE SERVICE

Ashiana provides a trauma-informed, culturally specific advice and advocacy service for Black and minoritised women, particularly those from South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Our service is personcentred and non-judgemental, enabling women and girls to make informed decisions about their futures, whether they choose to leave an abusive situation or remain in a relationship. We provide robust safety planning and empower women to build confidence in their choices.

Service Delivery (April 2024 — March 2025)

This year, we supported 491 women and girls experiencing a range of VAWG issues, including:

• e 165 with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

• e 151 with language support needs e 53 disclosing disabilities e 114 requiring housing options support, including 79 who were homeless

Key Trends and Needs

• e Rising risk and complexity: We have seen sharp increases in high-risk cases involving suicidal ideation, non-fatal strangulation, threats to kill and self-harm. Long NHS counselling waiting lists mean our team carries significant emotional as well as practical support roles.

• e Mental health and trauma: Many clients present with deep-rooted trauma, often linked to domestic abuse or childhood sexual abuse. Too often, mainstream services silence Black and minoritised women by prescribing medication rather than addressing trauma through therapeutic support.

• e Sexual abuse referrals: We have seen a significant rise in sexual abuse disclosures and referrals from SOIT officers, showing increasing recognition of our specialist role.

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ASHIANA NETWORK REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

• e Systemic barriers: o Women with NRPF face persistent challenges in securing housing or Section 17 support. Staff frequently challenge social services on unlawful gatekeeping practices, but positive outcomes remain limited.

• Perpetrators are increasingly “using the system” to accuse women of perpetration, furthering their control.

• o Services often display “victim-blaming” attitudes, expecting women to change behaviour while failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

Practical Safety Innovations

• e A £6,000 flexible grant from the NatWest Circle Fund is enabling emergency crisis support. e 100 donated Vodafone SIMs have been distributed, helping women change numbers to avoid surveillance and stay safe when leaving abuse.

Advocacy and Partnership Work

Our advocacy focuses heavily on women with NRPF, particularly in relation to housing and Section 17 entitlements. Staff are highly skilled in challenging statutory agencies, though systemic failures continue to place significant strain on survivors and on our service. Alongside casework, we promote our work in schools and colleges, increasing awareness among young women, and continue to engage with borough VAWG leads and commissioners to ensure local responses meet women’s needs. Impact

Despite limited resources, Ashiana provides a lifeline for women who would otherwise be silenced or left unsupported. By combining practical advice, advocacy, safety planning and emotional support, we help women navigate complex systems, challenge injustice, and move towards safety, stability and empowerment.

Feedback from our advocate:

----- Start of picture text -----
fi ‘Oneof theof the client's homelessness applications had been refused by two two local authorities and and
) one was was now trying to discharge their duties and evict her from from the emergency
le accommodation as well.
Wiew long process of advocacy advocacy and repeated refusals, we linked the client with with a housing
solicitor, and the case was was taken to court for a judicial review. Today, the judge judge made an
interim order saying saying that the Local Authority cannot evict the client.
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
‘Oneof theof the client's homelessness applications had been refused by two two local authorities and and 9)
one was was now trying to discharge their duties and evict her from from the emergency
accommodation as well.
Wiew long process of advocacy advocacy and repeated refusals, we linked the client with with a housing
solicitor, and the case was was taken to court for a judicial review. Today, the judge judge made an
interim order saying saying that the Local Authority cannot evict the client.
The client Was packed and ready to leave by 2pm, thinking she had no choice — so this |
decision was a huge relief for her and her twin children. We'd been waiting since the ee
morning, and getting this news brought such a positive end to the day.
----- End of picture text -----

The Council will now need fo attend a court hearing on 24th June as the defendant.

The client has shown enormous courage in taking the case this far, and | think she should be so proud of herself for standing her ground.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

LEGAL SERVICE

Ashiana’s specialist Immigration Service provides free, high-quality legal advice and advocacy for women with insecure immigration status who cannot afford private representation and are often excluded from Legal Aid. Many of our clients are destitute and have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), leaving them highly vulnerable to further abuse and exploitation.

Delivery and Support

Our team prepares and submits a wide range of immigration applications, from lifting NRPF conditions to complex cases outside the Immigration Rules. We also support women through asylum, settlement, humanitarian protection and change of conditions applications. Alongside immigration advice, clients are assisted to access safe housing, healthcare (including mental health), social care, police reporting and the courts.

Context and Challenges

Immigration law has undergone significant changes in the past year, including the Migrant Victim Domestic Abuse Concession, the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the Illegal Migration Act 2023. These have affected eligibility, appeal rights and introduced fast-track removal processes. Despite diminishing Legal Aid provision and many firms withdrawing from immigration work, Ashiana continues to bridge this critical gap. Our staff remain fully trained and updated on all legislative changes.

Impact (April 2024 — March 2025)

• e 112 women received immigration advice

• e 73 women achieved successful outcomes, including grants of settled status, humanitarian protection, asylum and lifting of NRPF conditions

Without Ashiana’s legal service, many of these women would have remained at risk, unable to secure safety or stability.

Partnerships and Capacity Building

We have established strong links with Family Law solicitors who provide pro bono support for divorce and nonmolestation order cases, which are increasingly difficult to access due to Legal Aid restrictions. Ashiana also delivers training on immigration law changes to partner organisations, strengthening sector knowledge and ensuring women across London benefit from accurate, up-to-date advice.

Conclusion

The Legal Service is a vital lifeline, empowering survivors to regularise their status, access protection and begin to rebuild their lives free from abuse.

Service User Feedback:

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

COUNSELLING SERVICES

Ashiana provides specialist, trauma-informed counselling for women and girls aged 14+ who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, or harmful practices including forced marriage, honourbased violence and female genital mutilation. Counselling is delivered by accredited therapists and trained volunteer counsellors in multiple languages, ensuring cultural and linguistic accessibility. We are a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Reach and Impact (April 2024 — March 2025)

• e 117 women supported e 1,500+ hours of one-to-one therapy delivered e Clients from across London, with referrals from Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Tower Hamlets and pan-London partners

• e 90% attendance rate to therapy sessions, with most survivors completing their therapy contracts

Projects and Specialist Work

We currently deliver six funded projects, including the CouRAGEus Project, which provides counselling to young women aged 14+. This project focuses on early intervention, prevention and empowerment, building resilience and self-agency among young women, many of whom have witnessed or experienced violence or harmful practices. The project has enabled us to employ specialist youth counsellors with expertise in working therapeutically with young people.

Challenges and Trends

Demand for free, specialist counselling continues to outstrip capacity:

• e Awaiting list of over 50 women has forced us to close referrals twice this year. e Weare seeing rising levels of complex trauma, including women with histories of both childhood and adult abuse.

• e Increased safeguarding alerts reflect both the severity of cases and our vigilance in identifying risks. e Women often present with acute mental health distress, including suicidal ideation, requiring intensive support.

Innovations and Responses

To address these challenges, we have:

• e Adopted a hybrid therapy model (online, telephone and in-person), which has significantly reduced missed sessions and increased access for women with childcare, mobility or safety barriers.

• e Extended therapy contracts to 20-30 sessions, leading to deeper recovery and more sustained mental health improvements.

• e Strengthened counsellor training and supervision to safeguard staff wellbeing and reduce secondary trauma.

• e Continued fundraising to expand capacity and reduce waiting times, aiming to provide longer-term therapy for all who need it.

Impact

Ashiana’s counselling service providesa lifeline for women and girls who would otherwise face long NHS waiting lists or culturally inappropriate provision. By offering accessible, specialist trauma-informed therapy, we help survivors recover from abuse, build resilience, and move forward in safety and confidence.

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Service User Feedback

----- Start of picture text -----
‘| really don’t know what would have happened or what | would have done to myself without my therapist
help this past year. Time with my therapist provided me a safe space to work through the darkest
thoughts and worst parts of my mind, without judgement and shame.
| now see light at the end of the tunnel, before | received therapy, there was only a dark abyss filled
with despair. | feel hopeful about the future ahead, with a newfound desire to create a fulfilling life for
myself. | am extremely grateful for the service Ashiana has provided and am sad it must come to an
end.
| still have a lot of unresolved issues to work through, but with time and patience | hope to implement
all the tools I’ve learnt over the past year, be kinder to myself and focus on my happiness. Thank you
so much’.
----- End of picture text -----

EDUCATION & PREVENTION

Our education and training work is conducted at a variety of levels with both statutory and voluntary agencies aimed at raising awareness about VAWG. Workshops, training and support groups are provided on topics such as domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour-based violence.

Ashiana has had a busy and productive period in raising awareness of all forms of VAWG in a variety of settings and in a wide variety of ways. We delivered 6 training sessions to 130 people from educational establishments such as schools and colleges and our service users. The training focused on VAWG and in particular Harmful Practices and Immigration.

We delivered awareness raising sessions for women in our refuges on a range of issues.

8. DEVELOPMENT

We are renovating our second property in Redbridge, which we hope to use as an Office in 2026.

9. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

• « Sustain and enhance existing services to meet increasing demand

• » Review and strengthen all aspects of governance

_

• "= Develop the Experts by Experience model to involve service users in shaping services = Remodel Ashiana’s new property for use as a combined office and Resource Centre

• « Build and strengthen partnerships/consortia to improve practice and secure funding

• » Explore expansion of services for women with complex mental health needs

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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

10. STAFF RECRUITMENT, RETENTION & WELLBEING

Supporting staff wellbeing and managing staffing challenges remains a core focus. Ashiana is operating within a sector-wide recruitment crisis, which has impacted some services—for example, during the year we temporarily closed referrals to the advice. legal and counselling services to manage capacity.

To respond, we have introduced innovative roles, such as the Associate Counsellor, providing volunteer counsellors with access to training and professional development. Retention is strengthened by ensuring a positive working environment, appropriate support, and competitive benefits, including salary uplifts, annual leave, peer and line manager supervision, clinical supervision, employee assistance programs, informal weekly catchups, and team-building activities.

These initiatives aim to support staff wellbeing, prevent burnout, and maintain high-quality services despite increasing complexity of referrals and a challenging operating environment.

11. QUALITY ASSURANCE

Ashiana Network is committed to delivering safe, high-quality services across housing, advice, and counselling. We strive to be an outstanding organisation for service users, partners, and stakeholders.

Our quality framework includes:

• e Investors in People (Gold) e National Domestic Violence Service Standards e Imkaan Accredited Quality Standards (Distinction)

• e Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)

We are currently awaiting the outcome of our Level 3 accreditation. These accreditations underpin our commitment to best practice, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes for all service users.

12. ANALYSIS OF RESTRICTED FUNDS

Ascent Specialist Refuge

The Ascent Specialist Refuge project is funded by London Councils and was recommissioned in April 2023 for a three-year period to March 2026. Ashiana is the lead partner and Solace Women’s Aid, nia Project and IKWRO are delivery partners. Together the partnership provides 39 specialist refuge bedspaces for women with specialist and multiple needs, no recourse to public funds, women with mental health/problematic substance use, sexually exploited and trafficked women.

Ascent Ending Harmful Practices Strand (EHP)

The Ascent Ending Harmful Practices is funded by London Councils and is a led by the Asian Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC) and Ashiana is one of 9 delivery partners. The project provides advice and counselling services for those affected by sexual and domestic violence, specifically, Female Genital Mutilation, honour-based violence, forced marriage and other harmful practices. This work is funded from April 2022 to March 2026.

Ascent Advice & Counselling

The Ascent Advice & Counselling project is funded by London Councils and is a led by the Women & Girls Network, and Ashiana is one of the delivery partners. We provide a range of advice and counselling services to women in London affected by domestic and sexual violence. This work is funded from April 2022 to March 2026.

14

ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Casa Project

We commenced delivery of the two-year Move on Programme in October 2019. The funding allows us to support women who access move-on accommodation through this project. The project is funded until March 2026.

Advice & Counselling PLUS

We are the delivery partner in this project led by Solace Women’s Aid. This project enables us to expand on our current advice & counselling services. This is funded till 30 September 2025.

DASA — GLA & MOPAC Funded Projects

Mental Health & Webchat

This service provides 1:1 mental health support and group activities for women in our refuges and an online webchat service for women and young girls needing support to exit abusive relationships. This is funded until March 2026.

Second Stage/Move-on Safe Accommodation

This service provides an additional 5 bedspaces of semi-independent accommodation for women moving on from our crisis refuge accommodation. This is funded until March 2026

OYA Refuge, Immigration and Counselling services

Latin American Women’s Aid lead on this project with Ashiana, Asha project and LBWP as delivery partners. The two projects include:

• 1) Refuge case work, immigration and housing advice 2) Therapeutic and counselling services

Ascent GLA Safe Accommodation Project

Asian Women’s resource Centre lead on this project. Ashiana is one of the delivery partners providing support to women with NRPF. This funding ends in March 2026.

P&ACT EHP Partnership — (Prevention & Action through Community Engagement & training) Harmful Practices

We are a delivery partner in this project led by the Asian Women’s Resource Centre. This project enables us to expand our services for women experiencing harmful practices.

London Holistic Advocacy Wraparound Service — the Life Saving to Life Changing Project

We are a delivery partner in this project which is led by Southall Black Sisters. This project focuses on the provision of support, counselling, legal advice and access to accommodation for women with no recourse to public funds. This funding ends in March 2026.

CouRAGEus Project

We are the delivery partner in this project led by Women & Girls Network. As part of this project, Ashiana delivers Specialist Advocacy for women with multiple needs and BME young women and girls 14-24yrs

15

ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

WISER Project

The WiSER Project is led by Solace Women’s Aid and as a delivery partner we work with BME women who find it hard to engage with support, who are experiencing violence or abuse and are affected by severe and multiple disadvantages. This project is funded until March 2026.

MHCLG COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund via LAWA

The OYA consortium, comprising of Ashiana, Asha Project, Latin American Women’s Refuge and London Black Women’s Project, received funding to support its refuge services for the period April to September 2024.

London Borough of Waltham Forest

We were successful in our tender for the re-commissioning of our 13-bed refuge provision in LBWF. The contract is for a three-year term commencing March 2022. A one-year extension was awarded with an end date of March 2027.

Market Place- Waltham Forest

Ashiana is a preferred provider on the Waltham Forest Market Place framework which is led by Solace Women’s Aid. This enables us to deliver specialist counselling for women in the borough as and when referrals are made and payment is based on the numbers of clients and sessions delivered.

13. THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS, ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US DURING THE PAST YEAR, IN PARTICULAR:

Asian Women’s Resource Centre Charities Connected Forced Marriage Unit Homeless Link Greater London Authority GMSP Foundation Imkaan Life in London Trust Latin American Women’s Aid London Borough of Havering London Borough of Redbridge London Borough of Waltham Forest London Councils London & Quadrant Housing Association London VAWG Consortium Mayor's Office for Policing & Crime Metropolitan Police Oak Foundation OYA Consortium Public Interest Law Centre Refuge Solace Women’s Aid Southall Black Sisters Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats (Secret Santa) Women’s Aid Federation of England Women & Girls Network Women’s Resource Centre

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ASHIANA NETWORK

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

14. FINANCIAL REVIEW

There was an increase in the activities of the charity in 2024/25. There has been no significant change in the income 3.7%(21.14% 2023/24) from £2,557,158 to £2,656,350 but the expenditure increased by 14.35% (12% 2023/24) from £2,495,336 to £2,850,360..

The total funds held by the charity decreased during the year from £2,657,821 to £2,463,811. These funds are divided for accounting purposes into restricted funds, which represent the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes, and unrestricted funds that are available for the general purposes of the charity. During the year, there was an decrease in the total value of the restricted funds from £23,912 to £492 and an decrease in unrestricted funds from £2,633,909 to £2,463,319..

The principal financial policies adopted during the year are (i) the accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention; (ii) incoming resources relating to grants and material donations are recognised in the period to which they are receivable and (iii) resources expended are recognised on the accruals basis and on the basis that consideration has been received for the expenditure. Full details of the accounting policies adopted during the year are shown in note 1 to the Accounts.

Reserves policy and going concern

The policy of the charity in respect of reserves and major risks is to designate all unrestricted funds where the organisation has been able to identify a timescale for expenditure on specific projects/items. In addition the organisation has established a General Fund for unrestricted funds held by the organisation, which can be used as a contingency against emergency or unplanned expenditure. The Committee believes that by designating funds in this way, they can ensure that the long term plans of the organisation can be realised, and the organisation will be able to fulfil its contractual responsibilities to its staff, funders, users and the wider community.

The reserves fund represents unrestricted general funds which are not committed or tied to any tangible fixed assets held by Ashiana. The Trustees have considered the challenge Ashiana faces with limited, short-term contracts, lack of committed funds and some key services that remain unfunded. As a smaller ‘led by and for’ organisation we are at further risk of losing contracts, funding and services as we compete against larger generic providers. At the same time, the demand for our specialist services is ever increasing as Black and minoritized women with multiple and complex needs seek our support. Post pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated this situation. It falls on Ashiana to ensure that it has a policy to retain sufficient reserves to safeguard its financial commitments and to continue to provide essential services to Black and minoritised women in the event that funding is reduced or indeed, completely cut. We will retain sufficient funds in our free reserves to manage short term periods without funding to enable us to deliver services. This will also enable us to plan a service closure slowly so that negative impact to clients is minimised. We will also ensure sufficient funds are retained in our designated fund to enable us to achieve our strategic goal to expand property ownership. Ashiana’s forecast reserves through 2023/24 means that the Trustees consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for the 2023/24 Annual Report and Financial statements and is confident of Ashiana’s ability to remain as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

15. Future Plans

• e Sustain and develop existing services e Review all aspects of Governance

• e Develop the Experts by Experience model at Ashiana

• e Service development through remodelling Ashiana’s new property for use as Office/Resource Centre

• e Developing partnership/consortia in order to improve practice and secure funding for service

• e Explore expansion of our services for women with complex mental health

Asset cover for funds

Note 16 sets out an analysis of the net assets attributable to the various funds. These assets are sufficient to meet the charity’s obligations on a fund-by-fund basis.

17

s

ASHIANA NETWORK REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement

,

The committee members (who are also directors of Ashiana Network for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the committee members are required fo:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consisiently.

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);

:

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless if is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The committee members are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each of the committee members has confirmed that there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware; and the committee members have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

The committee members are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissémination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Auditors

A resolution proposing that Kingston Burrowes Audit Ltd be reappointed as auditors of the company will be put to the Annual General Meeting.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 Ofrelating to small companies.

21% October 2025

48

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF

ASHIANA NETWORK

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Ashiana Network (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• ° give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

• . have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• ° have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the trustees report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

19

/contd...

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF

ASHIANA NETWORK

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

° the information given in the trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• ° the directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• ° adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• . the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• ° certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• . we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

• ° the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 19, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF

ASHIANA NETWORK /contd...

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

• e Enquiry of management and those charged with governance about actual and potential litigation or claims and the identification of non-compliance with laws and regulations.

• e Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. ° Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• © Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

• ° Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.

• e Professional scepticism in course of the audit and with audit sampling in material audit areas.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.fre.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Kevin Fisher (Audit Partner) For and on behalf of Kingston Burrowes Audit Ltd Statutory Auditors 308 Ewell Road Surbiton Surrey KT6 7AL

' Date: 21% October 2025

21

ASHIANA NETWORK

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
		Funds	Funds	2025	2024
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income from:
Donations and grants Charitable activities	2 3	127,979 423,296	623,473 1,453,934	751,452 1,877,230	691,506 1,828,728
Investments	4	27,668	-	27,668	36,924
Total		578,943	2,077,407	2,656,350	2,557,158
Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities	5 6	68,398 681,135	- 2,100,827	68,398 2,781,962	61,461 2,433,875
Total		749,533	2,100,827	2,850,360	2,495,336
Net income	10	(170,590)	(23,420)	(194,010)	61,822
Transfers between funds		-	-	-	-
Netmovement in funds	15	(170,590)	(23,420)	(194,010)	61,822
Reconciliation offunds:
Total funds brought forward	15	2,633,909	23,912	2,657,821	2,595,999
Totalfundscarriedforward	15	£2,463,319	£492	£2463,811	£2,657,821

All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities.

The SOFA includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.

The notes form part of these financial statements.

22

ASHIANA NETWORK Company No. 2972903 (England & Wales)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

			2025		2024
	Notes	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets Tangible FixedAssets	12		1,060,056		545,056
Current assets
Debtors Cash at Bank	13	451,765 4,319,360		503,315 4,718,258
		1,771,125		2,221,573
Creditors: amounts
falling duewithinone year	14a	(140,566)		(108,808)
Netcurrentassets			1,630,559		2,112,765
Creditors: amounts falling due afteroneyear	14b		(226,804)		-
Net assets	16		£2,463,811		£2,657 ,821
Funds:
Unrestricted funds - Designated funds - General fund	15 15		2,076,335 386,984		1,768,435 865,474
Total unrestricted funds			2,463,319		2,633,909
Restricted Funds	15		492		23,912
Totalfunds			£2,463,811		£2,657,821

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the directors and trustees on 21% October 2025 and signed on their behalf.

kav

Tanoushka Kaur

Treasurer

The notes form part of these financial statements.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

	2025	2024
	£	£
Netcash flowfrom operating activities	(155,037)	211,832
Cash flowfrom investing activities
Interest received	27,668	36,924
Purchase of property	(515,000)	-
Net cash (used in) provided by investing
Activities	(487,332)	36,924
Cash flowfrom financing activities
Repayments of borrowing	(6,529)	-
Cash inflows from new borrowing	250,000	-
Netcash provided by (used in) financing
Activities	243,471	-
Decrease (increase) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year	(398,898)	248,756
Cash and cash equivalents
at the beginning oftheyear	1,718,258	1,469,502
Cash and cash equivalents
atthe end oftheyear	£1,319,360	£1,718,258
Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow	2025	2024
from operating activities	£	£
Net income forthe year	(194,010)	61,822
Interest receivable	(27,668)	(36,924)
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors	51,550	177,303
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors	15,091	9,631
Netcash flowfrom operating activities	£(155,037)	£211,832
	2025	2024
Cash and cash equivalents	£	£
consist of:
Cash at bank and in hand	431,820	646,162
Shortterm deposits	887,540	1,072,096
Totalcashandcashequivalent	£1,319,360	£1,469502

24

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. Accounting policies

General information and basis of preparation

Ashiana Network is a private company (No. 02972903) limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given in the “Reference and Administrative Information” on page 1 of these financial statements.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Income recognition

Items of income are recognised in the financial statements when all of the following criteria are met: ° The charity has entitlement to the funds. ° any performance conditions have been met or are fully within the control of the charity. e there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable; and e the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from performance related grants and contracts is recognised as the charity earns the right to consideration through delivery of the specified services.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount can be measured reliably. Expenditure includes all irrecoverable VAT which is included as part of the relevant cost. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

° Costs of raising funds comprises those costs associated with attracting voluntary donations and grants ° Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs associated with the delivery of the various activities and services for the charity’s beneficiaries. Expenditure includes those costs of a direct nature which can be allocated to a specific activity and also includes indirect costs, including governance costs that do not relate to a specific activity but are necessary to support those activities. Support costs are apportioned to each activity on the basis of staff time.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted general funds are freely available for use in furtherance of the objects of the charity and which have not been designated for specific purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside by the trustees for particular purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which can only be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or which have been raised for a particular purpose.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

1. Accounting policies/contd...

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and are stated at costs less accumulated depreciation.

Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost of each asset, less estimated residual value, over its estimated useful life at the following annual rates:

Computer equipment

33% Straight line

Leases

Operating lease rentals are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pensions

The charity contributes to Stakeholder Pension Schemes on behalf of its employees. These schemes are defined contribution pension schemes.

Contributions payable under these schemes are charged the Statement of Financial Activities in the year to which they relate. The charity has no liability under these schemes other than for the payment of those contributions.

Debtors and creditors

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairments are recognised in expenditure.

2. Donations and grants

Donations and grantsand grantsgrants			Total	Total
	Unrestricted	Restricted	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
The Oak Foundation	127,300	-	127,300	118,966
National Lottery Community Fund	-	-	-	-
MHCLG via LAWA	-	51,360	51,360	51,360
OYA REFUGE via LAWA	-	263,320	263,320	263,320
GLA	-	308,793	308,793	250,670
Violence Reduction Unit	-	-	-	-
Other Donations	679	-	679	-
	127,979	623,473	£751,452	£691,506

Of the £691,506 recognised in 2024, £118,966 was unrestricted funds and £572,540 was restricted funds.

In the year to 31 March 2023 we had stated that £24,768 was received from London Councils but was in fact received from the Violence Reduction Unit via Tender Unit. In the year to 31 March 2024 we had stated that £7,190 was received from London Councils but was in fact received from the Violence Reduction Unit via Tender Unit. An old grant of £24,405, included in the year ends 2019 and 2020 accounts was fully expended by year end 2022.

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ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

3. Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities
			Total	Total
	Unrestricted	Restricted	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
London Councils— Specialist refuge	-	840,000	840,000	840,000
London Councils— other	-	129,945	129,945	128,091
Solace -SLA	-	2,640	2,640	4,960
LBWEF— supporting people LB Camden	127,240 -	- 30,476	127,240 30,476	127,240 27,308
Income from rent	293,820	41,945	335,765	292,878
MOPAG		407,834	407,834	405,146
Other	2,236	1,094	3,330	3,105
	423,296	1,453,934	£1,877,230	£1,828,728

Of the £1,828,728 recognised in 2024, £382,495 was unrestricted funds and £1,446,233 was restricted funds.

4. Investment income

4.	Investment income
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
		Funds	Funds	2025	2024
	Bank interest	27,668	-	£27 668	£36,924
All	ofthe £36,924 recognised in 2024was unrestricted funds.
5.	Costof raising funds	Direct	Support	Total	Total
		Costs	Costs	2025	2024
	Fundraising activities — salaries	68,398	-	£68,398	£61,461
All	ofthe £61,461 recognised in 2024was unrestricted funds.
6.	Cost of charitable activities
		Direct	Support	Total	Total
		Costs	Costs	2025	2024
	Educational,counsellingandpreventionwork	2,716,704	65,258	£2,781,962	£2,433,875

Of the £2,433,875 expenditure recognised in 2024, £429,789 was charged to unrestricted funds and £2,004,086 was charged to restricted funds.

27

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

7.	Analysis ofdirectcosts	Total	Total
		2025	2024
		=	£
	Wages and salaries Grants paid to London Councils Partners Payments to clients with no recourse to publicfunds Housing Association charges	1,280,642 712,721 141,064 131,071	1,120,844 711,800 110,735 15,344
	Legal fees	22,060	4,423
	Loan interest paid	11,845
	Other direct housing and management costs	417,301	427,776
		£2,716,704	£2,390,922
8.	Analysisofsupportcosts	Total	Total
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Office costs	30,719	15,003
	Premises costs	24,458	10,255
	Consultancy costs Governance costs (note 9)	176 9,905	8,817 8,878
		£65,258	£42,953
9.	Governance costs
		Total	Total
		2025	2024
		Ee	ez
	Audit and accountancy fees	3,920	3,500
	Salaries	5,985	5,378
		£9,905	£8,878
10.	Net income
	The net income for the year is stated after charging:
		2025	2024
	Depreciation Auditors’ remuneration	ENil £2,395	ENil £2,425
	Trustees’ remuneration	ENil	ENil
	Operatingleaserentals	£136,748	£92,927

No trustees were reimbursed any expenses during the year (2024: none).

28

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

11.	Staff costs
		2025	2024
		£	a
	Wagesand salaries Social security costs Other pension costs	1,175,985 127,398 51,642	1,025,186 109,262 53,235
		£1,355,025	£1,187,683

The employees who received total employee benefits during the year (excluding employer pension costs) of: £60,000 - £69,999 3 (2024 — 2) £80,000 - £89,999 1 (2024 — 1)

The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £315,097 (2024 : £288,607).

Under FRS 102, employee benefits includes gross salary, employer’s NIC, employer's pension contributions and benefits in kind.

The average weekly number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents was 32 (2024: 28).

No termination payments (2024 - £Nil) were made to members of staff during the year.

12.	Tangible fixed assets		Freehold Property
			£
	Cost:
	At 1 April 2024 Additions		545,056 515,000
	At 31 March 2025		1,060,056
	Depreciation:
	At 1 April 2024		-
	Charge for the year		-
	At 31 March 2025		-
	Net Book Value:
	At 31 March 2025		£1,060,056
	At 31 March 2024		£545,056
13.	Debtors	2025	2024
	Due within one year	£	£
	Grants receivable	357,241	463,154
	Charges receivable Other debtors	72,339 22,185	35,077 5,084
		£451,765	£503,315

29

ASHIANA NETWORK NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

				/contd...	/contd...
14a).	Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year:						2025 £	2024 £
	Charges - Credit balances						20,916	27,659
	Bank loan						16,667	-
	Accruals Deferred income — Grants received in		advance				84,816 18,167	81,149 -
							£140,566	£108,808
14b).	Creditors: Amounts falling due after oneyear:						2025 £	2024 £
	Bank loan						£226 804	ENil
15.	Movement in funds			At			Transfers	At
			1	April			between	31 March
				2024	Income	Expenditure	Funds	2025
	Restricted Funds			£	£	£	£	£
	Counselling, support& advice			-	94,573	94,573	-	-
	Specialist refuge &NRPF			-	840,000	840,000	-	-
	Women against Violence Group			-	51,360	51,360	-	-
	Market Place—Waltham Forest			11,506	2,640	14,146	-	-
	Harmful practices			-	35,372	35,372	-	-
	Comic Relief— Imkaan
	OYA Refuge (via LAWA).			-	263,320	263,320	-	-
	Circle fund			167	-	-	-	167
	Noorah			11,914	41,975	53,889	-	-
	WISER project			-	31,540	31,540	-	-
	Advice & Counselling PLUS			-	50,226	50,226	-	-
	Holistic Wraparound service			-	190,787	190,787	-	-
	CASA project			-	10,160	10,160	-	-
	GLA			325	308,793	308,793	-	325
	P &ACT			-	39,935	39,935	-	-
	CouRAGEus project			-	116,726	116,726	-	-
	Total restricted funds			23,912	2,077,407	2,100,827	-	492
	Unrestricted funds
	General Fund			865,474	578,943	542,433	(515,000)	386,984
	Designated Funds - Furniture renewal			49,000	-	-	~	49,000
	- Internal decorations			10,000	-	-	-	10,000
	- Salary contingency - Property/Service development - Freehold Property			265,000 877,236 545,056	- - -	- 207,100 -	85,000 (85,000) 515,000	350,000 585,136 1,060,056
	- Supporting women with insecure immigration status			22,143	-	-	-	22,143
	Total unrestricted funds	2,633,909			578,943	749,553	-	2,463,319
	Totalfunds	£2,657,821			£2,656,350	£2,850,360	ENil	£2,463,811

Full details of the purposes of the funds can be found in the Trustees’ Annual Report.

30

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

15. Movement in funds (continued)

Comparative information for the previous financial year is as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |At|Transfers|At| |1|April|between|31|March| |2023|income|Expenditure|Funds|2024| |Restricted|Funds|£|£|£|£|£| |Counselling,|support &|advice|-|92,719|92,719|-|-| |Education|&|advice|-|7,190|7,190|-|-| |Specialist|refuge|&|NRPF|-|840,000|840,000|-|-| |Women|against Violence|Group|-|51,360|51,360|-|-| |National|Lottery|Community| |Fund|4,403|-|4,403|-|-| |Market|Place — Waltham|Forest|6,546|4,960|"|.|11,506| |Harmful|practices|-|35,372|35,372|-|-| |Comic|Relief —|Imkaan|-| |OYA|Refuge|(via|LAWA).|-|263,320|263,320|-|-| |Circle|fund|167|-|-|-|167| |Noorah|(2,702)|40,728|26,112|-|11,914| |WISER|project|-|27,308|27,308|-|-| |Advice|&|Counselling|PLUS|-|47,834|47,834|-|-| |Holistic Wraparound|service|486|190,787|191,273|-|-| |CASA|project|-|9,864|9,864|-|-| |GLA|325|250,670|250,670|-|325| |P|& ACT|-|39,935|39,935|-|-| |CouRAGEus|project|-|116,726|116,726|-|-| |Total|restricted|funds|9,225|2,018,773|2,004,086|-|23,912| |Unrestricted|funds| |General|Fund|690,631|538,385|363,542|-|865,474| |Designated|Funds| |Furniture|renewal|49,000|-|-|-|49,000| |Internal|decorations|10,000|-|-|-|10,000| |Salary|contingency|265,000|-|-|-|265,000| |Property/Service|development|1,004,944|-|127,708|-|877,236| |Freehold|Property|545,056|-|-|-|545,056| |Supporting|women|with| |insecure|immigration|status|22,143|-|-|-|22,143| |Total|unrestricted|funds|2,586,774|538,385|491,250|-|2,633,909| |Total funds|£2,595,999|£2,557,158|£2,495,336|ENil|£2,657,821|

----- End of picture text -----

Full details of the purposes of the funds can be found in the Trustees’ Annual Report

31

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

Section 37 Statement

Grant Aid of £840,000 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 - £840,000) from London Councils for the Ascent Specialist Refuge Partnership.

The following table illustrates how money was allocated across the partnership and that it has been used for the purposes outlined in the funding agreement.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Lead Partner: Ashiana Network	226,415	226,415
Delivery Partner: SolaceWomen’s Aid Delivery Partner: nia project Delivery Partner: IKWRO	272,048 277,411 64,126	272,048 277,411 64,126
Total:	£840,000	£840,000
	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Salaries Beneficiary Costs: Central Overheads:	586,547 111,732 74,742	586,805 112,653 73,551
Other Direct Project Costs:	6,314	6,326
Set Up & Development Costs: Interpretation Costs:	6,720 1,000	6,720 1,000
Lead Organisation Costs:	52,945	52,945
Total:	£840,000	£840,000

Grant Aid of £51,360 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 - £51,360) from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (covid extension), (via LAWA). The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Cover: Additional StaffCover Additional COVID-19 Related Costs	23,400 14,846	23,400 14,846
Office equipment	5,000	5,000
Other Costs:	8,114	8,114
Total:	£51,360	£51,360

.

32

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

Section 37 Statement (continued)

Grant Aid of £94,573.48 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 - £92,719) from London Councils (via Women and Girls Network) for the Ascent Counselling and Advice Strand. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Salary: Counsellor0:18 Salary: Counsellor 1:2 Salary: Specialist Advice Caseworker 0:8 Salary: Administrator 0:19 Staff travel	7,333 43,682 26,205 4,727 416	7,333 43,682 26,205 4,727 416
ICT	1,972	1,972
Clinical Supervision Mobile phones/comms Overheads	1,137 887 8,214	1,137 887 8,214
Total:	£94,573	£94,573

Grant Aid of £35,371.92 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £35,371.92) from London Councils (via AWRC) for the Ascent Harmful Practices Strand of the Ascent Strand. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

		Grant	Grant
		Income	Spent
		£	£
Salary: Salary: Venue	AdviceWorkers Counsellor and OtherCosts	21,091.92 12,480.00 1,800.00	21,091.92 12,480.00 1,800.00
Total:		£35,371.92	£35,371.92

Grant Aid of £57,399 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £57,399) from GLA/MOPAC (via LAWA) towards specialist counseling for women and children at the refuge. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Costs Other staffing & volunteercosts Indirect costs	47,667 8,060 1,672	47,667 8,060 1,672
Total:	£57,399	£57,399

33

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

Section 37 Statement (continued)

Grant Aid of £205,921 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £205,921) from GLA/MOPAC (via LAWA) towards specialist services support in the specific areas of housing, immigration, family law, and complex cases at the refuge. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

purposes.
	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Costs Other staffing & volunteercosts Indirect costs	186,743 13,180 5,998	186,743 13,180 5,998
Total:	£205,921	£205,921

Grant Aid of £125,085 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £119,115.38) from MOPAC (via GLA) towards the delivery of specialist mental health and webchat services. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Costs Other staffing & volunteer costs Direct delivery costs Indirect costs	102,435 5,775 4,725 12,150	102,435 5,775 4,725 12,150
Total:	£125,085	£125,085

Grant Aid of £80,954 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £62,604) from MOPAC (via GLA) towards the delivery of second stage accommodation. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Costs Other staffing & volunteer costs Directdelivery costs	69,404 4,200 3,150	69,404 4,200 3,150
Indirect costs	4,200	4,200
Total:	£80,954	£80,954

34

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

Section 37 Statement (continued)

Grant Aid of £102,754 was received in 2024/25 (2023/24 £68,911.32) from GLA/MOPAC (via AWRC) towards the delivery of specialist advice and accommodation for women with no recourse to public funds. The following table illustrates what the money was awarded for and that it has been used for these purposes.

	Grant	Grant
	Income	Spent
	£	£
Staffing Costs Other staffing & volunteer costs Direct delivery costs Indirect costs	45,715 4,692 33,193 19,154	45,715 4,692 33,193. 19,154
Total:	£102,754	£102,754

35

ASHIANA NETWORK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

/contd...

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund Balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:

	Unrestricted	Unrestricted
	General	Designated	Restricted	Total
	£	£	£	£
Freehold Property	-	1,060,056	-	1,060,056
Current assets	754,354	1,016,279	492	1,771,125
Current liabilities	(140,566)	-	-	(140,566)
Long term liabilities	(226,804)	-	-	(226,804)
	£386,984	£2,076,335	£492	£2,463,811

Comparative information for the previous financial year is as follows:

Fund Balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by:

	Unrestricted	Unrestricted
	General	Designated	Restricted	Total
	£	£	£	£
Freehold Property	-	545,056	-	545,056
Current assets	974,282	1,223,379	23,912	2,221,573
Current liabilities	(108,808)	-	-	(108,808)
	£865,474	£1,768,435	£23,912	£2,657,821

17. Operating lease commitments

The total future minimum lease payments due under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

			2025	2024
			Land and	Land and
			Buildings	Buildings
Within	oneyear	year	131,071	118,559
Within	two	to five years	-	-
			£131,071	£118,559

18. Taxation

As a registered charity, Ashiana Network is not liable to tax on its charitable activities.

19. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in 2025 or 2024 other than those set out in note 11 relating to key management personnel.

20. Contingent assets

The charity has been awarded some multi-year grants with specified or implied timeframes which preclude recognition of the full amount. The total amount awarded for future years but not recognised is £2,043,502.

36