**Charity number: 1054621** ## **Company number: 3161774** ## **Annual Report and** **Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **for** ## **WISH** **(A company limited by guarantee not having a share capital** **and a registered charity)** 1 ## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024** **Status:** WISH is a company limited by guarantee without a share capital incorporated on 20 February 1996 and was registered with the Charity Commissions in April 1996 as a charity. Its governing rules are its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Under these Articles the members of the Board of Directors are elected at the TGM to serve a period of three years, appointment of directors during the year will be subject to ratification at the TGM. **Registered Charity Number:** 1054621 **Company Number:** 3161774 **Registered Office:** 15 Old Ford Road London, E2 9PL ## **Directors and Trustees at 31 March 2024** **Chair:** Alex Phillips Ruth Lambley Christine Spooner Sarah Wilson Dr Carley Guest Dr Rachel Seoighe Helen Harcombe-Edwards **Independent Examiner:** Douglas Green Accountant 32 Darnley Avenue Bristol, BS7 0BS **Bankers:** Unity Trust Bank Plc 9 Brindley Place Birmingham B1 2HB The Trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purpose of the Companies Act, have presented their annual report of activities and the audited financial statements and administrative details for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. 2 ## **Risk Management and Finances** An analysis of risks facing WISH has been undertaken by the Director and Trustees in preparing this report. In addition to statutory service capacity, and charity-sector fundraising, the areas of highest potential risk are: - financial instability and cashflow. - competition for contracted services from similar organisations resulting in loss of revenues; - further cuts to public services/benefits resulting in increased demand for our work, but with no - additional increase in funding. - the pressure on staff and potential burnout These risks are addressed by constantly addressing the need to fundraise from diverse income streams; developing evidenced-based proposals for contracted work; ensuring that staff have ongoing support. also identified that staff working with women in distress from home and remotely need additional ongoing support. Staff working directly with women are trained to work with trauma both in person and remotely. WISH will continue to work with our staff and volunteers to understand and address the pressures on them. As with most small charities, Trustees considered that the main risk the charity can face is not being able to raise sufficient funds to continue providing its core services. While we made great strides, the year was not without its challenges. In December 2023, an unexpected financial crisis arose when a major funder withdrew a previously confirmed donation due to an internal error on their part. This setback placed WISH in a precarious position. In response, we launched the No Woman Left Behind campaign, and thanks to our supporters generosity we overcame the hurdle and continued our work without interruption. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support, which reaffirmed the collective commitment to our mission. We continued to be relentless in our pursuit of sustainable funding throughout the year. This effort culminated in 2024/25 with securing significant three-year funding commitments that have not only stabilised WISH financially but also positioned us for continued growth and impact in the years ahead. The financial position at 31 March 2024 shows total funds of £14,736, which are unrestricted funds In order to ensure the development and sustainability of WISH we are preparing to develop our next three-year business strategy for 2025-2028 A detailed overview of services is given in the WISH Year in View Report 2023/24 ## **The Board of Trustees** The following people acted on the Board of Trustees during the period: Alex Phillips Ruth Lambley Dr Rachel Seoighe Dr Carly Guest Christine Spooner Sarah Wilson Helen Harcombe-Edwards 3 ## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities** The Trustees are required under the Charities Act 2011 to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the Trustees should follow best practice and: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - follow applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable law and regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking responsible steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. So far as each director is aware, there is no relevant information, defined as “information needed by the company’s auditors in connection with preparing their report”, of which the company’s auditors are unaware; and each Trustee has taken all steps that he ought to have taken to make himself aware of any relevant matters and to ensure that the company’s auditors are aware of such information. Such steps include making inquiries of other Trustees and auditors and other steps required by the Trustees duty to exercise due care and skill. ## **Reserves Policy** The Trustees WISH to develop reserves to a minimum of six months total operating costs so as to avoid a breakdown in provision of core services in adverse conditions. As of 31st March 2024 we had £14,736 of unrestricted reserves. We have been active in raising unrestricted funds via our Standing Together donor fundraising campaign, and in making and being awarded charitable trust applications, for which there is much competition. Our current projected position for 31/03/25 is to hold reserves in excess of £50,000 ## **Approval** This report was approved by the Trustees on 30/01/2025 and by order of the Trustees, signed on their behalf, by: Alex Phillips ## hae ## **Director and Trustee** ## **30/01/25** 4 WISH (A company limiied by Ruaranlce) IndepeDdeDt F.xamiDer's Report to The Trustees ofwish I report on lh¢ ALcounts of 'fhc Chariiy for the year ended 31 March 2024 which arc set oul on Ihe following pages. Respective Responsibilities Of The Trustees 4nd Exgminer As ihe Tru51c¢s of The Charii). you arc r¢sFKinsible for ihe preparalion of the AcLounls'. you consider thal (he audit rL'quircmenls of seciion 144 uf Ihe Chariiies ALi 10 I I Iihc acll not apply. li 1% my r¢sponsibilit) lo slale. on ihc basis ol. procedures spccifiLd in Ihc General DircLtions given by 'fhe Charily Commissioners undcr gection 145 of ihe Act whether particular mallers have cum¢ to my attention. Baiij Of Examiner's St4temenl My examination was carried oui in accordance with ihe Gcncral l)ireclions givcn by Ihc Charily Commissioners. An examinalion includes a review of Ihe accounling rcLords kept by the L hrfiriiy a comparison of IhL' accounts presenlcd wilh Ihosc record5.11 als() inLludes con.siderali()n ()[ any unusual items or disclosures in ihc accounis and seeking L'xplanations from you a5 '1'rusiL'es Loncerning any such matters. I'hc proccdures undertakcn do noi pr()vidc all Ihe evidL'nce that would bc rcquircd for an audit and conscquenily I do nol express an audii opinion on th¢ view given by the accounis. Independent Examiner's UnquAlified St4temcnt In connection wilh my examinaiion, there werc no mancrs thai havc come to my aiiention.. l ) WhiLh gives me rcasonable causc lo believe ihal in any maicrial rcsrKcl the reqU1￿Men1$ 'I"o k¢¢p aLcouniing rL￿ordS in accordanLe wilh sLYtion 41 of ihe ALI as amended •'l'o prcparc acLounis which accord wilh Ihc accounling rLcords and so Comply with Ihc accounling requiremenls ofihe Aci have noi been mei.. or 2) '1'o which, in my opinion, altenlion should be drawn in ordcr to cnable a proper undC￿tandIng uf ihe accounts lu bc reached. Douglas CJrcen ACCOUn￿nt 32 1)arnley Avcnue ristol BS7 OIJS Date ## **WISH (A company limited by guarantee)** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** **Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds Funds Funds Notes 2024 2024 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds** Voluntary income **2** 52,363 52,363 90,563 Income resources from charitable activities **3** 95,774 67,448 163,522 151,128 **Total Incoming Resources** 148,137 67,448 215,885 241,691 **RESOURCES EXPENDED** Cost of generating voluntary income **5** 25,370 25,370 25,370 Charitable activities **5** 114,628 77,448 192,376 208,724 Governance costs **5** 2,575 2,575 2,575 **Total Resources Expended** 142,573 77,448 220,321 236,669 **Net Surplus/ (Deficit) For The Year** 5,564 (10,000) (4,436) 5,022 Total Funds at 1 April 2023 9,172 10,000 19,172 14,150 **Total Funds at 31 March 2024** 14,736 14,736 19,172 There were no recognised gains or losses other than those in the statement of Financial Activities. All incoming resources expended derive from continuing activities. The notes following form part of these financial statements. ## **WISH (A company limited by guarantee)** **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024** **31.03.24 31.03.23 Notes £ £ £ £** 6 |**FIXED ASSETS**|| |---|---| |Fixed assets**8**1,832 2,618|1,832 2,618| |**CURRENT ASSETS**|| |Debtors and prepayments**9**|**9**31,209 29,596| |Bank|Bank1,943 1,937| ||33,152 31,532| |**CURRENT LIABILITIES**|| |Social security 1,059 9,634|Social security 1,059 9,634| |Creditors and accruals**10**|19,189 5,345| ||20,248 14,978| |**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|**NET CURRENT ASSETS** 12,904 16,554| |**TOTAL ASSETS**|14,736 19,172| |**FUNDS**|| |Unrestricted Funds 14,736 9,172|Unrestricted Funds 14,736 9,172| |Restricted Funds**11**|10,000| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|14,736 19,172| These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 30/01/25 On behalf of the Trustees On behalf of the Trustees Alex Phillips Christine Spooner Dated 30/01/25 ## **WISH** **(A company limited by guarantee)** **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Accounting convention** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) ## **Incoming resources** Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds. 7 Income received in advance of provision is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met ## **Resources Expended** Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any Vat which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. ## **Tangible Fixed Assets** Fixed assets are stated at cost price less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated life. fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance Computer equipment 25% reducing balance ## **Restricted fund** When income is received for purposes specified by the donor the income is shown as restricted in the Statement of Financial Activities. Expenditure for the specific purposes is shown as restricted expenditure. Any unexpended balance at the balance sheet date is carried forward as a restricted income fund. ## **Allocation of Expenditure** Expenditure is allocated as follows **Charitable activities** . All direct expenditure incurred on performance of the charitable activities including total salaries less 30% of the director's salary **Costs of generating voluntary income.** 25% of the director's salary **Governance costs.** 5% of the directors salary, the accountancy fee and trustees costs **WISH** **(A company limited by guarantee)** **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **2. VOLUNTARY INCOME** Grant and donation income was received from the following sources: **2024 2023** **£ £** ## **Restricted Grants** ## **Unrestricted Grants** Stichting Anton Jurgens Foundation 5,000 Chapman Trust 1,000 First Give 1,000 8 Others (Donations) 52,363 83,563 **Total unrestricted donations** 52,363 90,563 **Total voluntary income** 52,363 90,563 ## **WISH (A company limited by guarantee)** **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 3. INCOME RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 2024 2023 £ £ UNRESTRICTED FUNDS Contracts** Riverside Healthcare 13,733 13,733 Cygnet Hospitals 79,163 79,185 **Total Contract income** 92,896 92,918 **Other** Consultancy 2,878 3,810 Student placement 1,400 9 2,878 5,210 **Total Unrestricted Funds** 95,774 98,128 **RESTRICTED FUNDS** Trust For London 40,000 The Hospital Saturday 2,000 London Catalyst 2,000 The Lottery 9,400 Wakefield Trust 3,448 Queen Adelaide 1,600 Vandeville Trust 3,000 Crucible Foundation 47,000 Hilden Fund 6,000 6,000 **Total Restricted Funds** 67,448 53,000 **Total Income Resources from charitable activities** 163,522 151,128 ## **WISH (A company limited by guarantee) Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **4. OPERATING SURPLUS** Operating surplus is stated after charging **2024 2023 £ £** Auditor's fee 380 380 Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 786 1,100 **5. ANALYSIS OF TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 2024 2024 2024 2024 2023** Costs of Charitable Governance Total Total generating activities costs voluntary income £ £ £ £ £ Staff & consultancy costs 24,170 137,436 1,500 163,106 175,344 Other direct costs 1,200 23,465 24,665 31,840 Office expenses 14,183 14,183 14,384 Premises 17,292 17,292 14,026 Governance 1,075 1,075 1,075 25,370 192,376 2,575 220,321 236,669 10 ## **6. TRUSTEE EXPENSES** During the period, no payments were made to trustees acting in a professional capacity (2023 nil). ## **7 STAFF COSTS** Total staff costs were as follows: 2024 2023 £ £ Gross salary and employers national insurance 145,984 167,517 Employers pension contributions 8,300 6,623 154,284 174,140 The average number of employees during the year was seven (2023 seven) ## **WISH** ## **(A company limited by guarantee)** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **7. STAFF COSTS (Cont)** There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.The charity does not operate its own pension fund but does contribute to the personal pension plans of seven employees (2023 seven) ## **8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** **2022 £ COST** At 1 April 2023 & At 31 March 2024 41,902 **DEPRECIATION** At 1 April 2023 39,284 Charge for the year 786 At 31 March 2024 40,070 **NET BOOK VALUE** 1,832 At 01 April 2023 2,618 **9. DEBTORS 2022 2023 £ £** Debtors 31,209 29,596 Bank 1,943 1,936 11 33,152 31,532 ## **WISH (A company limited by guarantee)** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **10. CREDITORS** **2024 2023 £ £** Sundry creditors and accruals 20,248 5,343 **11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Restricted Funds** At 1 Income Expenditure At 31 April 2023 March 2024 **£ £ £ £** Trust For London 40,000 40,000 The Hospital Saturday 2,000 2,000 London Catalyst 2,000 2,000 The Lottery 9,400 9,400 Wakefield Trust 3,448 3,448 Queen Adelaide 1,600 1,600 Vandeville Trust 3,000 3,600 Crucible Foundation 8,000 Hilden Fund 2,000 6,000 6,000 **Total Restricted Funds** 10,000 67,448 77,448 **12. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** Fixed Net current Total Assets Assets 2024 2024 2023 £ £ £ Unrestricted Funds 1,832 12,904 9,172 Restricted Funds 10,000 Total 1,832 12,904 19,172 12 WISH standing together ONE YEAR AT WISH April 2023- March 2024 ## **CONTENTS** **03** Welcome notes **04** In a nutshell How we help **05** Advocacy **08** Counselling **11** Community Link **13** Campaigning **14** Funding, partnerships & support **16** Financial report **17** A special thank you ## Dear friends and supporters, The past year at WISH has been one of resilience, and growth. Despite significant challenges, we’ve strengthened our organisation and deepened our commitment to supporting the women we serve. We are immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together. Our advocacy services ensured that women and young people in mental health hospitals across England had their voices heard. By fostering confidence and self-advocacy, service users engaged more effectively with care teams, reclaiming agency in their recovery. Our trauma-informed counselling provided a safe, supportive space for women to address mental health challenges, with many reporting reduced anxiety and depression. Meanwhile, our Community Link project tackled practical and emotional barriers, offering comprehensive support to help women achieve stability and empowerment. We also advanced key organisational priorities, including establishing the WISH Diversity Working Group to foster equality, initiating a membership review to better serve our community, and preparing for a trustee recruitment drive to increase board diversity. While we made great strides, the year was not without its challenges. In December 2023, an unexpected financial crisis arose when a major funder withdrew a previously confirmed donation due to an internal error on their part. This setback placed WISH in a precarious position. In response, we launched the No Woman Left Behind campaign, and thanks to your generosity, we overcame the hurdle and continued our work without interruption. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support, which reaffirmed the collective commitment to our mission. We continued to be relentless in our pursuit of sustainable funding throughout the year. This effort culminated in 2024/25 with securing significant three-year funding commitments that have not only stabilised WISH financially but also positioned us for continued growth and impact in the years ahead. None of this progress would have been possible without you — our supporters, donors, staff, and volunteers. Your belief in our mission and your unwavering dedication sustain our work. Thank you for being part of this journey. With gratitude, Joyce Kallevik, Director, WISH ## **IN A NUTSHELL** Women and young **ADVOCACY 139** people supported Hours of counselling **COUNSELLING 1056** delivered **COMMUNITY** Support sessions **783+ LINK** with women **COMMUNITY** Members **150 WISH TEAM 7** Part time staff Wards and units Hospitals **11 3** working with WISH commissioned WISH Women benefited Average no of free **44 24** from counselling sessions per person; Women supported Direct contact **430+ 45+** in the community support hours People subscribed People **854 4867** to our newsletter follow us online Volunteers **11 7**[Trustees] and interns - **ADVOCACY** - ~~ae~~ @ Throughout the year we have been working with 139 service users across our three sites, including both women and young people: Cygnet Bury, where our service users included: O Women detained on two dedicated wards: Upper West, a medium secure ward, and Lower West, a low secure service. O Young people either detained under the Mental Health Act (Section 2 or Section 3) or admitted as informal patients. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) unit includes four wards: Mulberry (low secure), Buttercup and Primrose (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - PICU), and Wizard (acute ward). @ Cygnet Sheffield, where we provided support for: O Women on Spencer ward, a low secure unit. O Young people detained or admitted informally across three adolescent wards: Unicorn (PICU), Pegasus (general adolescent acute), and Griffin (low secure). @ Cheswold Park Hospital, Doncaster, where our support focused on: O Women detained in Bronte, a medium secure ward. “I know that when I message my advocate, even if it is weekend, she will get back to me as soon as she is available. Even just getting a text to let me know she has picked up my message has made all the difference” L, SERVICES USER **139** **11 3** wards and units hospitals we have been commissioned working with WISH Women and young people have benefited from WISH advocacy services **ADVOCACY** ~~—~~ ‘’It has been a pleasure working with WISH for another year. WISH's Advocacy Manager goes above and beyond and continues to be dedicated, loyal and supportive of both the service users and staff at the Dunes.’’ BETH CLAMP, REGISTERED MANAGER, DUNES, CYGNET HOSPITAL BURY Our team is responsive and consistently goes above and beyond to support engagement. For example, we prioritise Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings, often meeting with women and young people multiple times in advance to help them prepare self-reports. Many have experienced past challenges with services, so we understand that trust can take time to build. WISH also continued liaising with the Children’s Commissioner to support young people in care. In one case, WISH advocated for a young person whose home team had delayed their transfer to a local area, despite efforts by commissioners and Cygnet. Direct involvement from the Children’s Commissioner ultimately facilitated the young person’s repatriation. Additionally, we engaged with the Head of Advocacy at the Children’s Commissioner’s office, as well as PALS and complaints departments, to address cases where home teams provided insufficient support. This collaborative approach resolved outstanding issues, ensuring all young people received the necessary care and services. **ADVOCACY** ~~—~~ “Before you were my advocate I would just shout and kick off, mostly I’d end up in seclusion. In my family everyone shouted so you had to shout to be heard but I have learnt that the more you shout the less likely anyone will hear you. You helped me find the words and now people listen to me.” M, SERVICE USER Our advocacy work spans a wide age range, from children as young as 12 in CAMHS units to women up to 60 years old in adult services, reflecting diverse backgrounds, languages, and needs. For example, for young people with limited English proficiency, hospitals provide interpreters, which is invaluable to communication. Additionally, we work with many service users diagnosed with autism, and we provide easy-read, pictorial information to ensure accessibility. While each journey is unique, we often see that service users are initially hesitant to raise issues with advocacy. Establishing a trusting relationship remains essential to fostering open communication and effective advocacy. Service user engagement remained strong overall. Building and maintaining trust is central to our advocacy approach. We invest time in creating consistent, reliable relationships with service users, ensuring they feel heard and empowered to advocate for their needs. We work with service users from admission through to discharge, meaning our time with each individual varies depending on their length of stay. It's rewarding to witness these journeys, with many service users ultimately returning to their communities. In 2025, we plan to implement an automated reporting system to streamline data collection, enhance our advocacy insights, and further improve the efficiency of our support services. **COUNSELLING** WISH’s counselling services continue to be a safe space for women to address life experiences without fear of judgment. ~~—~~ Between April 23 and March 24, 44 women received Trauma-Informed Counselling through WISH, marking a significant increase from the previous year with 29 more women accessing these essential services. At year-end, 27 women were actively engaged in counselling sessions. Our trauma-informed counselling approach has yielded positive results, with the majority of women showing decreases in anxiety and depression scores measured by the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. Additionally, an impressive commitment to counselling was evident, with very few missed sessions and strong overall attendance. Our counselling and support are not limited to addressing mental health. We understand that social issues, like housing and financial stress, contribute to distress. That’s why we integrate practical support through our Community Link project, helping women address these issues so they can fully engage in therapy when they are ready. **1056 44** No of hours of Women benefited counselling from WISH delivered counselling **24** Average number of free counselling sessions delivered to one person; ## **COUNSELLING** ~~—~~ Our client base is diverse, with 48% of women from racialised communities, including Bangladeshi, Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, Black African, Asian, and Pakistani backgrounds. The WISH counselling team comprises two paid counsellors and five volunteer counsellors from Bangladeshi, White British, Spanish, and Romanian backgrounds. This diversity provides a strong foundation of cultural awareness and understanding, reflecting the communities we serve. ’Attending counselling sessions with you has enabled me to converse about things that have happened in my life to someone without fear of judging or being gaslight by how I feel as I have dealt with many manipulative people in my life. ‘’ F, Service User Cultural competence at WISH goes beyond language or ethnicity; it encompasses flexible, client-centred care that honours each woman’s lived experience. Our team takes a trauma-informed, gender-specific approach, recognising the complexities of racialised trauma and cultural identity. For example, our Bangladeshi counsellor provides critical insight into the stigma surrounding mental health in South Asian communities, fostering trust and reducing barriers to care. Additionally, counselling in Bengali ensures that language is never a barrier for Bangladeshi women seeking support. Recognising that some clients prefer a counsellor from a different ethnic background to avoid cultural bias or stigma, we provide flexibility to meet their needs. By integrating culturally relevant therapy modalities, we ensure clients’ ethnic, cultural, and religious values are respected, fostering meaningful progress on their therapeutic journey. **COUNSELLING** ~~—~~ ‘’I feel I benefitted immensely from your sessions and have learnt about areas in my life I need to work in like believing in myself and self-worth not only for me to show up as my best self but limit access to toxic people who will take advantage of my weaknesses.’’ D, Service User The majority of referrals (57%) were directed to us through GP and social prescribing practices in Tower Hamlets, including our oldest partner, The Mission Practice, along with nine additional GP and social prescribing partners. Another 30% of referrals came from Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies, an NHS service which provides limited short-term counselling for women but does not provide longerterm counselling for women with complex needs. Notably, 13% of referrals were self-referrals from women encouraged by their GPs to seek longer-term, specialised support. The increase in women in counselling, our current waiting list of 40 women, and the increase in the number of referring partners shows the incredible need for our service and the necessity for statutory funding. During the year WISH also became a member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and we are now commission ready. There’s no other counselling service that we know of which provides: Free, trauma-Informed Therapy for women with complex mental health needs Extended number of sessions . **COMMUNITY LINK** ~~—~~ “My neighbour, a qualified psychotherapist, volunteers for WISH and I discovered their work through her. When I visited their office I was impressed by the commitment of the staff and their imaginative understanding of the complex needs of the women they are helping. With the NHS in such disarray the demand for their services has grown dramatically.’’ GILLIE, WISH SUPPORTER This year, our Community Link services have been a lifeline for many women facing barriers to essential support. Self-referrals increased significantly, with women reaching out directly or being signposted by organisations like MIND. Many women who sought our help were excluded from mainstream services, including GPs, A&E, and mental health support. While these situations are often complex, our team provided a compassionate listening ear, helping women reframe their approach and regain access to necessary care. Our team’s dedication, bolstered by contributions from a Youth Work student and an intern from Syracuse University, extended beyond one-on-one support. Addressing complex needs often required several hours long, in-depth conversations to fully understand circumstances before offering assistance or signposting to appropriate organisations such as Women’s Aid,Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) , Find Others – a central hub for victims of injustices, Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), MPs or local councillors. **783+** **430+** Number of Community Link direct contact support hours. **45+** Women benefited from support in the community Support sessions with women ## **COMMUNITY LINK** The service also fielded numerous calls from prisons, including HMP Bronzefield and HMP Downview, and letters from HMP Send and HMP Styal. We provided financial advice, emotional support, and assistance with release planning, alongside liaising with prison staff, families, and probation services to facilitate smooth transitions. The dominant themes for the year included managing finances, fostering meaningful activities, and improving physical health. Our support ranged from assisting with Personal Independence Payment ; (PIP) claims and securing food vouchers to empowering women to advocate for better healthcare and embrace self-care practices like balanced nutrition and improved sleep. Ann, in the WISH office Despite these challenges, we continued to support women through targeted interventions and advocacy. We provided aid via calls, social media, in-person meetings, and administrative assistance, such as drafting letters to reduce debts or applying for grants for essential items. We also supported women during outings, like a trip to the Tate Britain to see feminist art, and hosted events such as a Christmas gathering for women spending the holidays alone. Princess with WISH volunteer Georgia XXXX with XXX We have also recognised and celebrated small but impactful victories, such as helping a woman finally receive critical medical investigations after years of neglect by the NHS. She acknowledges that she has the power to speak and be heard now. ## **CAMPAIGNING** **Advocating for the Care Supporters Bill** WISH joined Care Rights UK’s campaign for the Care Supporters Bill, which aims to establish a legal right to a care supporter in health and social care settings. **Defending Democracy** WISH supported Liberty’ campaign to challenge the Government’s adoption of a new definition of "extremism," which risks silencing legitimate debate and undermining democracy. We also supported their legal challenge against protest law changes, which expanded police powers to shut down demonstrations. **Opposing the Illegal Migration Bill** We joined efforts with over 250 charities and organisations to oppose the Illegal Migration Bill, which undermines migrants' rights and international human rights commitments, helping to emphasise the Bill’s conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its potential to erode protections for all. **Advocating for Mental Health Reform** Through the Mental Health Alliance, WISH co-signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for urgent reform of the outdated Mental Health Act 1983. The letter highlighted the need for improved treatment, reduced racial disparities in detention, and greater investment in mental health care to prevent crises and inappropriate detentions. **Supporting the National Women’s Fund Campaign** We backed the Women’s Resource Centre’s (WRC) campaign for a National Women’s Fund, to address the disproportionate impact of the cost-of-living crisis on women and children. Chronically underfunded women-led organisations like us play a pivotal role in providing support, including domestic abuse services, mental health care, and childcare solutions. The petition called on the Government to allocate targeted financial resources, ensuring we can continue delivering essential services during an era of heightened economic instability. ## **Promoting Human Rights** We joined over 75 organisations in endorsing the British Institute of Human Rights’ (BIHR) Human Rights Day letter. Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we urged political leaders to protect fundamental rights and uphold the ECHR as a cornerstone of UK law. ## **FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS & SUPPORT** As for any small charity ongoing fundraising is essential to service development and core functions, and we are grateful to charitable trusts and donors for supporting WISH in its core mission. Our income is gained through a number of streams: – **Charitable Trust Funding:** Despite the competitive environment for small charities, particularly women’s organisations (which receive just 1.8% of trust funding), we secured critical grants, including: Trust for London’s Disability Justice Fund: £117,500 over three years to support membership development, communications, campaigning, and co-produced Diversity and Inclusion policies. Hilden Charitable Trust: £6,000 to develop work in three prisons: HMP Downview, HMP Send, and HMP East Sutton Park. Awards for All Lottery Funding: £9,400 for community work and trauma-informed counselling. Partners for Health (Saturday Hospital Fund and London Catalyst): £4,000 for healthcare-focused initiatives. Wakefield Trust: £3,700 to support trauma-informed counselling through GP referrals and social prescribing in Tower Hamlets. Small Grants: Vanderville £3,000, Queen Adelaide £1,600. **FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS & SUPPORT** – **Contracts** : WISH provided trauma-informed advocacy in three hospitals, with the ~~__I~~ contract directly supporting the delivery of our services ( £92,898 across the financial year) – **Donor Fundraising:** Donations remain vital as they provide unrestricted funds to ensure WISH’s survival and growth. In December 2023, WISH faced a financial crisis due to an unexpected withdrawal of assured funding on their part, which left WISH at risk of closure. In response, the "No Woman Left Behind" campaign was launched, supported by a Fundraising Working Group established in January 2024. The campaign, which continued in the next financial year, successfully reached its goal and raised funds to avert closure, thanks to the generosity of our community. Between February and March 2024, we raised £11,418. – **Consultancy:** WISH carried out research on behalf of Inclusion London’s Free Our People Campaign to develop guidelines for self-advocacy groups, and other user-led groups, to run safe and inclusive meetings for neurodivergent people who are at risk of being detained, or who have been detained in secure hospitals and ATU’s. This project contributed £6,200 to our income. – **Small businesses:** Partnerships with small businesses contributed significantly. For instance, Samsara Parlour and My Urban Trail collectively donated over £1,500 during the year. ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** Financial summary for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Our income comes from 3 major sources: £52, 363 £67, 448 Grants and Donations, Grants, Restricted Unrestricted £95, 874 Contracts, Unrestricted |||2024|2023| |---|---|---|---| ||Incoming Resources|£215, 885|£241, 691| ||Resources Expended|£220, 321|£236, 669| ||Net Surplus/ (Deficit)|(£4, 436)|£5, 022| ||For The Year||| ||Total Funds at 31
March 2023/4|£14, 736|£19, 172| ## **A SPECIAL THANK YOU** This year’s achievements were made possible by the dedication and hard work of our incredible team of staff and volunteers. Their efforts go far beyond their roles, demonstrating a deep empathy and commitment to those we serve. **Staff:** Joyce Kallevik, Director Justine Howard, Advocacy manager & IMHA Lucy Birch, Mental Health Advocate Penny Bennett, Community Link Manager Kelly Royer, Community Link Worker & Counselling Manager Diana Serban, Head of Brand, Communications and Campaigns With thanks to Kate Morgan who left in 2023. **Volunteer Counsellors:** Rebecca Sutton, Rebecca Porteous, Meera Khanna, Mercedes Belinchon, Ruxandra Zaharia. **Interns & Community Link or Administration Volunteers:** Emma Draper -Coates, Ruochen Liao, Mariana Adams, Emma Hardwell, Ashley Issak, Clarissa Cowie. **Board of Trustees:** Alex Phillips ( Chair), Ruth Lambley, Dr Rachel Seoighe, Dr Carly Guest, Christine Spooner, Sarah Wilson and Helen Harcombe-Edwards. **7 11 7** Members of staff Volunteers and interns Trustees ## **Get in touch** +44 (0)20 89803618 info@womenatwish.org.uk ## WISH 15 Old Ford Road,E2 9PL, London Registered Charity 1054621 ## **See you online?** womenatwish.org.uk donate.giveasyoulive.com/charity/wish @wishcharity #standwithWISH linkedin.com/company/wishcharity/