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← West Mercia Women's Aid

2025-03-31-accounts

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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 3837084 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1078496

Cooper Parry Cubo Birmingham Two Chamberlain Square Birmingham B3 3AX

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CONTENTS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Report of the Trustees 2 to 14
Report of the Independent Auditors 15 to 18
Statement of Financial Activities 19
Statement of Financial Position 20
Statement of Cash Flows 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 22 to 33

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Trustees M Linington-Payne (Chair)
C Chima-Okereke
H Smith
J Sawyer
E Copsey-Brandon
T Boxall
R Brown
S Radley
R Sanders
L Proctor
Key management personnel S Coleman (Chief Executive Officer)
T Ashton-Jones
H Richardson
J Midgley
C Ovel
L Peplow
P Brown
E Simpson
S Langston
C Collis
Registered office Berrows Business Centre
Bath Street
Hereford
HR1 2HE
Registered charity number 1078496
Auditors Cooper Parry
Cubo Birmingham
Two Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3AX
Bankers Unity Trust Bank plc
Nine Brindley Place
Birmingham
B1 2HB

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Chair’s Summary

It is my pleasure to present the Chair’s summary for the Annual Report for 2024-2025 on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

I was appointed as Chair on November 1st 2024 and have been welcomed and supported by my fellow Trustees and staff, and for that I am extremely grateful. Since taking up the role my number one impression is the dedication and passion of everybody involved with the organisation be they staff, my fellow Trustees, volunteers or supporters. Our mission to reduce the incidence and impact of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls in the West Mercia region could not happen without the commitment of all those involved. Everybody at WMWA works to fulfil our mission by providing support, protection and prevention services to empower those affected by violence and abuse to rebuild their lives and those of their children.

Since being in post, we have appointed four new Trustees to the Board and we now have a full quorate of twelve. The recruitment process was highly successful with the largest number of applications ever, all very high quality. The selection process was comprehensive and as well as having members who have lived experience of domestic abuse, we also have members who have increased the variety of skills and experience that will support the organisation going forward.

Although our resources are limited, we were able to give all staff a pay rise in April 2024. The staff at WMWA are the lifeblood of the organisation and we see their welfare as high priority. They are on the front line and deal with numerous problems and difficulties on a daily basis and always do their best to put our service users at the front of everything they do.

During this year WMWA has reached out to a variety of organisations to mutually work for the benefit of our service users. This collaborative working is positive for staff and service users, but has led to the profile of the organisation being raised, consequently leading to more work for the staff.

As Chair of Trustees, I would like to take a moment to thank the volunteers and supporters who work tirelessly to support the organisation. Just before Christmas I was visiting one of the refuges and was overwhelmed by the number of people who donated gifts to be passed on to service users and their children. It was so heartwarming to see that the work undertaken by WMWA is appreciated and that there are others who wish to support and try to make women’s and children’s lives better.

There are always funding constraints, but all staff are to be commended for their tireless work to achieve the best they can and other ways of fundraising are constantly being explored.

I had the pleasure of listening to a concert by the WMWA Choir, a group of staff and volunteers who come together to perform to raise the profile of the organisation. A song written specifically for them will bring tears to the eyes of all who listen. It is to be hoped that they will expand and make even more impact through the forthcoming year, helping to further raise the profile of WMWA.

I would just like to once again thank all at WMWA, the staff, volunteers, supporters and fellow Trustees for their hard work and dedication to the organisation and the service users. As a feminist organisation in West Mercia we will continue to work for the benefit of women and children in the area who have been physically and mentally abused and support them to move forward to a better future where they can be safe.

Margaret Linington-Payne Chair of the Board of Trustees

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YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees, who are also Directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. In preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity the Trustees have adopted the requirements of the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) effected 1 January 2019. The financial statements also comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, and is therefore governed by the articles of association.

The Trustees/Directors shown below have held office during the period and up to the date of signing this report.

M Linington-Payne (Chair) (appointed 1/11/2024) C Chima-Okereke (reappointed 28/5/2025) H Smith J Sawyer (reappointed 31/3/2025) E Copsey-Brandon T Boxall R Brown S Radley (appointed 25/3/2025) R Sanders (appointed 25/3/2025) L Proctor (appointed 24/6/2025) V Barraclough (resigned 11/12/2024) C de Groot (resigned 31/10/2024) A Dover (resigned 24/9/2024) K Welsh (resigned 25/6/2024 R Neilson (reappointed 19/2/2025, resigned 25/4/2025) S Bennett (appointed 25/3/2025, resigned 23/6/2025) C Hadley (reappointed 31/3/2025, resigned 28/8/2025)

Trustees are appointed in accordance with West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA) ‘Trustees and Board Handbook’, which includes procedure for elections and co-options. Responses to advertisements for Trustees and/or individual expressions of interest are forwarded to the Clerk to the Board, who sends the applicant information about the organisation and an application form. Two references are taken on applicants together with a DBS check. Applicants are shortlisted by several Trustees at stage one, and interviewed by a panel of two Trustees and assessed against the Trustee role description at stage two. Any applicant recommended to the Board for appointment also attends the next Board meeting as an observer. The Board of Trustees makes a decision at the end of its Board meeting. Induction for new trustees takes place over the first 12 months following their appointment. There is a full induction and training programme for new Trustees.

The Board of Trustees governs the charity and aims for 12 members. The Board meets quarterly and is quorate with 3 members. Committee meetings also take place quarterly, covering employment, governance and risk, finance, and health and safety. Committees are working groups and relevant staff are invited to attend. Day to day responsibility for running the charity is executed by a team of paid staff, led by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer has delegated authority, approved by the Trustees and detailed in the ‘Financial Controls, Risk Assessment and Business Planning’ policy, for operational matters including finance, employment and service delivery activities.

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Structure, governance and management ( continued )

The Board of Trustees has adopted the Good Governance Code and is working toward meeting all standards. WMWA evaluates is board performance every three years by conducting a Board Performance Survey and holding a Trustee only session after every Board meeting for Trustees to discuss its performance and effectiveness.

WMWA maintains a Risk Register which is reviewed every 6 months at its Governance and Risk Committee and yearly by the full Board of Trustees. WMWA also conducts a ‘deep dive’ review of the identified risks. Risks are scored against likelihood and impact.

In relation to financial management, WMWA Trustees believe that maintaining reserves at a sufficient level to ensure business continuation and delivery of current services, combined with an annual review of the potential sources of funding and the controls over the key financial systems will provide sufficient reserves in the event of adverse conditions.

WMWA is an autonomous member of the Women's Aid Federation of England (WAFE), the national domestic abuse charity that supports the England-wide network of over 500 local projects. WAFE has a campaigning role, providing an 'expert view' to government on laws, policy and practice affecting abused women and children. It provides vital briefings, information, training and resources to its members, but has no impact on governance or operating policies, including those of WMWA. However, as an accredited member of WAFE, WMWA are committed to their national quality standards which are integrated in, and used to guide, the work we do as a charity.

Staff & Trustee Remuneration

Remuneration is the compensation an individual receives in exchange for work or services performed. Typically, this consists of monetary rewards in the form of a wage or salary.

WMWA Trustees are volunteers and do not receive any remuneration or receive any other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity. Expenses incurred in fulfilling their duties are not deemed remuneration and are fully reimbursed by the charity.

WMWA Trustees acknowledge that the proper functioning of the charity requires a variety of staffed roles. It is the Trustees’ intention that all remuneration levels are set fairly across all roles and that pay thresholds for each post are set after researching posts with similar requirements within the public and third sector. The remuneration of staff will be reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees.

All staff members, regardless of their position within the organisation, receive the same percentage of employer’s pension contribution.

Objectives and activities

WMWA adopted new articles of association which were approved on 12 November 2019. The new articles of association brought the charity into line with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, and expanded the charity’s objects to reflect its current operational activity. The objects and principal activity are:

(a) relieve the distress and increase the safety of women and children who have experienced or are exposed to domestic abuse by the provision of specialist support, advice, temporary accommodation, grants of money, items, facilities and any other services or activities that may relieve their circumstances;

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Objectives and activities (Continued )

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and that its significant activities described below, undertaken to further the organisation’s charitable purpose, contribute to the public benefit.

WMWA aims to work strategically with other agencies in order to:

WMWA strives to provide comprehensive services to women and children affected by domestic abuse throughout the counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire in order to meet their immediate needs and empower them towards a safer future.

WMWA aims to review and, when necessary, update and revise systems, structures and policies, in order to support the delivery of high quality and sustainable services, both preventative and responsive.

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Achievements and Performance

Introduction by the Chief Executive Officer

This short summary of our achievements does only limited justice to the hard work and dedication of the Board and staff at West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA). West Mercia Women’s Aid maintains a strong commitment to working both for and with women whose choices have been stolen and whose lives have been infected by the insidious and brutal reality of domestic abuse.

West Mercia Women’s Aid continues to be the ‘first port of call’ for many reaching out for advice and support, and calls to our Helpline continue to increase to an average of nearly 1000 a month. An increasing proportion of those calls are from survivors sharing their experience for the first time, and also include those who access no other specialist service. Callers are confident in relying on the advice and support of our expert Helpline staff to give them the information and reassurance that they need at that point in time.

We provided refuge from domestic abuse for over 106 women and 152 children during the year across West Mercia. Our refuges and satellite safe houses remain full most of the time.

Positive outcomes were recorded for 90% of women who stayed in refuge during the period. Service users and practitioners agreed that improvement has been achieved in:

Our Recovery Pathway groups for women have been delivered both in person and online, at weekends and evenings as well as on weekdays. Those who live in isolated communities or whose caring responsibilities are hard to juggle now a have a greater opportunity to benefit from the programmes, and from the sisterhood that our groups can promote amongst the women who participate.

Our specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisers have provided advocacy and support to over 1400 people assessed at high risk of significant harm or homicide – acting as the independent voice of the victim with partner agencies in the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process. Sadly, referrals for support from this service continue to increase, year on year. The service also provides ongoing support to women partners of perpetrators that have been identified for the DRIVE and ‘Men and Masculinity’ Perpetrator programmes across the region.

WMWA has worked to increase its capacity wherever possible to support children and young people. WMWA works across West Mercia to provide specific support to young people at risk of harm and/or poor outcomes as a consequence of their experience of living with domestic abuse at home, or because they have been the victim of abuse in their own intimate partner relationships. We have explored ways in which to expand and increase our offer of therapeutic play for younger children, and strengthened our partnership working with both primary and secondary schools to build capacity for providing support to children of all ages.

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YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Achievements and Performance (Continued)

Partnership working with Cranstoun, Rooftop Housing Group and Worcester Community Trust has continued to be a priority, and in 2024/25 we also established formal working relationships with The Right Path and Everyone’s Invited as collaborators in our preventive work with young people. Through Cranstoun and Rooftop we have been able to continue to respond to contacts from men who experience domestic with immediate advice and support, and help them to engage with their specialist services. Worcester Community Trust’s DAWN project has enabled us to reach women in communities that are less often heard. Their local networks and champions ensure that information about domestic abuse services is shared through communities.

We continue to work with former service users, survivors and local supporters and partners to further develop the therapeutic offer for WMWA, and our counselling provision has now extended into Telford and Wrekin. The placement opportunities offered to counsellors is now highly valued by local universities and colleges, and at any one time we will have at least 10 counsellors offering talking therapies to WMWA service users.

The Board and staff team worked tirelessly together to ensure that services were sustained and that the best possible value was gained from every resource at our disposal. With the help of local groups and of national organisations like the Vicar’s Relief Fund and Women’s Aid Federation England, we were able to help women to flee to safety even when they had little or no money for the taxi fare. In 2024/25 staff raised over £28,000 for individual service users to enable them to find safety and re-build their lives. Our network of supporters has responded with immeasurable generosity when the call went out for clothing, furniture, bedlinen and toys for families who we knew had very little and who needed our support. Our partnership with local food banks offers an important lifeline important for all too many women and children.

All this was against a backdrop of increased violence against women and girls, as the misogynist narrative that has been popularised through hidden media channels has continued to grow and increasingly found ways to garner mainstream endorsement. Our work has never been more important.

The summary below charts some of our achievements in 2024/25, but we already have our sights very firmly set on the future. Ahead we see continued challenge but – hopefully – yet more opportunities to make a difference for women and children for whom ‘home’ is not a safe place to be. We could not do this without the support of so many people across West Mercia, and for this yet again - we thank each and every one.

Sue Coleman Chief Executive Officer

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Achievements and Performance (Continued)

Strategic Priorities for 2024 – 2027

In April 2024 we published our Strategic Plan for 2024 – 2027 which built on the work we did in 2022/23 to mark our 40[th] year and re-affirmed our identity as a woman-led and empowering organisation.

Our Plan sets out our priorities for the three year period, and our Business Plan for the 2024/25 focussed on the key projects identified by the Board and staff team together, that would enable us to ‘hit the ground running’ in each of these priority areas.

1. Advocating for Trauma-informed Support and a better understanding of the trauma of domestic abuse for women and children.

We have done this by:

Using the evidence drawn from our work to build a narrative for the traumatic impact of domestic abuse to share with the wider public sector. Partnering with West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC) to deliver an in-depth programme of training to professionals and communities in Herefordshire that specifically includes the development of the knowledge and understanding essential for working in a trauma-informed way with survivors.

Reviewing our Helpline and out-of-hours support - making sure that every contact counts. Survivors continue to remind us of the importance of an accessible and reliable Helpline for those living in rural communities and with the isolation that comes with control and coercion. More and more are using Helpline as a source of support in its own right – not just as a way to access other services. Our Helpline is central, but the capacity to sustain and enhance this crucial service is limited. We have reviewed the way that we offer Helpline and re-shaped our staffing to make sure that we have the greatest staff cover at the busiest times. We are also using new technology to maximise the caller experience, and deploying AI to record the text of calls and thus free up Helpline staff to enable them to spend more time answering the ‘phone lines.

2. Prioritising Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People

We have done this by:

Developing an ‘Outcomes Framework’ for our work with Children and Young People

Limited dedicated funding for this vital work has meant that a number of our services and projects are funded by small grants and fund-raising projects. Having a single, over-arching ‘Outcomes Framework’ draws all of this work together in a consistent and common reminder of the changes that we want our work to achieve in outcomes for children.

Building our capacity to deliver therapeutic work with children of all ages.

We secured small but significant grant funding to enable us to extend our offer of play therapy to young children in Herefordshire.

Created an online resource for children, young people and their parents/carers. This is then made available for parents/carers to use as and when there is a delay in being able to offer them a service.

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Achievements and Performance (Continued)

3. Coming Together to Change the Narrative - Championing prevention and shifting the emphasis from that of asking the victim to change, to one of challenging male violence against women and girls.

We have done this by:

Encouraging and supporting men to call out misogyny and male violence against women . Calling for, and supporting the active engagement of men and men’s organisations in prevention projects that expose and confront misogyny and male violence against, and abuse of women and girls. From bikers to businessmen, MPs to ex-footballers – we have helped make it possible for men to stand up against domestic abuse.

Championing the rights of women from all communities to live with respect, dignity and freedom from abuse – ensuring that the women that we work with understand their rights.

Walking the walk in our own services – ensuring that the women that we work with understand their rights and are supported in exercising them as they build a future free from abuse. Enabling women to feel safe and supported by other women, knowing that their support as peers comes from a place of understanding through lived experience.

Confronting the attitudes that legitimise violence against women and girls in partnership with other organisations that share our values.

Working alongside other organisations also committed to promoting positive attitudes and a good understanding of healthy relationships, and leading a partnership to deliver the West Mercia Young People’s Prevention programmes in schools and communities across the region.

4. Assertive and Persuasive Partnership Working - Supporting and challenging public services, commissioners, employers and communities to be outcome-focussed and empowering

We have done this by:

Shaping local strategy. We continue to provide data to inform the domestic abuse statutory needs assessments of West Mercia local authorities, and to assist the Police and Crime Commissioner with auditing the impact of services. We are pro-active representatives on each of the four local Domestic Abuse Partnership Boards, and on their sub-groups.

Lobbying for improved recognition of the impact of domestic abuse by the Family Courts.

Working as part of a local forum to ensure that survivors are treated fairly by the Family Courts, and that survivors feel informed and supported through this, and other formal Justice System processes.

Training and supporting GP practice staff to better recognise and respond to patients who disclose. Working with those in General Practice using the national IRIS model of training and support for GPs and their staff with training and support staff to better recognise and respond to patients who disclose domestic abuse, or about whom there is a concern that they are being controlled and abused.

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Achievements and Performance (Continued)

Building on our relationship with the garrison in Hereford and the opportunity to engage with women whose partners are serving in the Armed Forces. We now offer a comprehensive service for those affected by domestic abuse who live or work at the garrison in Hereford, and at the base in Ternhill in Shropshire. This work is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

5. Amplifying the Voice of those with Lived Experience of domestic abuse - ensuring that their views are listened to and influence local plans and strategies, and that they shape service responses that best meet the needs of survivors from all communities.

We have done this by:

Enabling those with Lived Experience of domestic abuse to influence local decision-making

Expanding the participation of those with Lived Experience of domestic abuse in engagement and consultation with local Domestic Abuse Partnership Boards – making sure that their views inform local strategies and priorities. This has included in-depth work to inform the development of local Domestic Abuse strategies.

Working with survivors to develop therapeutic projects based on evidence of impact Victim/survivors have approached us with a range of ideas on how they can work with us to assist others in their recovery journey. They have written advice in our newsletter, organised well-being workshops, and composed poems and prose for sharing at events with professionals and the wider public.

Using the evidence drawn from our work to build a narrative for the traumatic impact of domestic abuse to share with the wider public sector. Our monthly newsletter includes an article based on the real experience of one of our service users, and uses her own words to describe that experience and its impact upon her and her family. This feature is entitled ‘One in 12’ – reminding us that the National Police Chief’s Report published on 23[rd] July 2024 predicted that one in twelve women or girls t in the UK would experience violence and abuse over the coming year.

6. Co-production with Survivors and Communities for the continued delivery of services that make a real difference for the survivors of domestic abuse

We have done this by:

Embedded a targeted approach to the recruitment of volunteers from local communities which has seen a doubling of the number of volunteers joining WMWA and working as part of our team in a range of roles that have been specifically advertised to those who register an interest in supporting us through volunteering.

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Achievements and Performance (Continued)

Strengthening effective partnership with a range of groups and organisations so that survivors with protected characteristics can shape their own domestic abuse responses.

Working closely with community-based agencies like AGE UK and Action for Deafness to empower those who are felt to be under-represented in the groups that approach WMWA for advice and support in dealing with domestic abuse. By engaging with and through ‘trusted professionals’, we have learnt more about the service responses that would make the most difference to survivors with protected characteristics and explored how we can change to be more effective in helping them. Or indeed, how we can help and empower them to develop their own service responses.

Learning from the experience of victim/survivors and working with experts from the IT sector to better understand ‘cyber-enabled’ abuse and to tackle the use of online technology to harass and abuse women and girls.

Online technology is developing faster – and with greater impact – all the time and it is impossible for an organisation like WMWA to keep pace with advances in the functionality of apps, trackers and spyware which can be used as tools by abusers. We will seek to establish a partnership with those from the world of technology itself who can alert and advise us – so that we in turn can advise and support our service users and help them to protect themselves.

7. Securing the sustainability of WMWA.

We have done this by:

Exploring the potential for social investment to enhance our current safe accommodation and other services and enable us to develop new services that can self-sustain and safeguard the future of support for the survivors of domestic abuse in a climate of pressure and uncertainty for public sector funding. We are developing a strong business case for the social investment to enable us to expand our offer of safe accommodation and extend shelter to those from more marginalised communities.

Raising awareness and show-casing the social value of our work . Being pro-active in demonstrating the value of WMWA’s work for local communities – for the economy, for education and skills, and for the wellbeing of local people. In 2024/2025 our website had 165,730 from 24,115 users and the video content produced of our choir singing ‘Still Strong’ which was commissioned for our anniversary has been seen by over 3,000 people and earned us ‘runner-up’ spot in the national ‘Smiley Awards’ competition for creative videos produced by charities.

Building a strong network of supporters who will promote and invest in our work to confront and defeat domestic abuse. Every year, more and more people ask us how they can help WMWA in its work. We have built a growing network of supporters who each receive a copy of our monthly newsletter and have become a part of our organisation. On average, one person a day signs up to join our supporters’ network. We know that we can reach out to them when we have a specific need and they will come through for us if they can. Our future sustainability will become healthier as this network continues to grow.

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Financial Review

WMWA has achieved a net surplus of £824 (2024: £61,296). This breaks down to a net deficit of £14,108 on unrestricted funds and a net surplus of £14,932 on restricted funds.

West Mercia Women’s Aid was successful in securing contracts during the year to deliver additional services. These included the development and co-ordination of a prevention programme with young people across West Mercia, and a new project offering support for those that work in the military, or are the partners of serving military personnel. Funding for the delivery of the IRIS programme in Hereford was due to conclude in 2024/25 but the local authority and the Integrated Care Board found the resources to enable this vital work with GPS to continue.

Delays in decision-making by central government departments about key areas of public expenditure meant that the latter part of 2024/25 was a time of significant uncertainty as local commissioners were uncertain about their budgets and contract discussions were held at the very last minute. However, performance in terms of the out-turn for the year gave us a sound base on which to develop plans for 2025/26.

Fundraising

This year we have continued to grow our mailing list providing those who are interested in supporting our work to sign up and receive – and then share with others - a monthly bulletin of news and articles about the work that we do. This allows us the opportunity to promote various ways to support our work including fundraising events, online donations, requests for needed items and our regular giving programme. Our regular giving programme has continued to grow and provides a means of promoting our financial sustainability at a time when public funding is under considerable pressure.

In 2024/25 23.6 % of our donations from fundraising were made by individual donors making one-off or regular donations or supporting us through their own fundraising activities: their generous support has made an enormous difference to the work that we do.

Legacies from those who wanted to support our work from their estate made up 20.1% of our total income from community-based fundraising.

Local groups that have supported us through the year include Worcester Musical Theatre Company, St Oswold Parish Church, Upton Warren Community Group, Evesham Rotary and Mitton, Wellington, Apperley and Marden Women’s institutes. 14.6% of this year’s income was achieved through community organised events including events where a representative from WMWA attended and spoke about our services. Donations from local businesses accounted for 9.7% of our income.

Our thanks to others who donated to support our work: these include:

Reserves Policy

West Mercia Women’s Aid have set a target level for reserves to reflect the closure costs at the end of each year. Calculations have taken into account the financial implications of staff redundancies, where roles are unlikely to be subject to TUPE transfer in the event of the loss of contract(s) to deliver services. Calculations have also included detailed analysis of contractual obligations in relation to premises and service contracts.

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Reserves Policy (Continued)

Refuge expenditure is excluded on the basis that should the organisation need to be wound up, responsibility for the refuges would be transferred to another provider and therefore continue but at no further expense to WMWA.

The amount held in free reserves at 31 March 2025, being total unrestricted funds less the net book value of fixed assets held in unrestricted funds is £757,642 (2024: £700,936). Included within free reserves are designated funds of £420,000 (2024: £420,000). The designated funds (contingency funds) represent WMWA’s minimum reserves level, which is set aside to meet the closure costs of the company. The Trustees regularly review the appropriateness of the reserves policy with regard to the current environment that

WMWA operates in and are satisfied that the current level of free reserves are appropriate for the charity.

Therefore a minimum reserves level of £420,000 has been set for the 2024/2025 financial year.

Investment Policy

WMWA receives funding throughout the year from a variety of sources and most of the funding is expendable within a twelve-month period. Ease of access to liquid funds is necessary to maintain cash flow and therefore the Board of Trustees does not consider long term investments to be appropriate. Surplus funds are currently placed on deposit in accordance with the Charity Commission’s Guidance on Investment.

Going concern

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue its operational activities for the foreseeable future, being a period of twelve months after the date on which the report and financial statements were signed. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in the financial statements.

Tangible fixed assets

Details of the movements in the fixed assets are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Directors and Trustees

All the Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity, and there are no other Trustees.

Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also Directors of West Mercia Women’s Aid 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.

13

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN’S AID

CONTENTS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Trustees’ Responsibilities (Continued)

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which 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 Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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.

Disclosure of information to the Auditors

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

Auditors

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

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Margaret Linington-Payne Chair of Trustees

14

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Opinion

year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es, the Statement of Financial Posi�on, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accoun�ng policies. The financial repor�ng framework that has been applied in their prepara�on is applicable law and United Kingdom Accoun�ng Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoun�ng Prac�ce), including Financial Repor�ng Standard 102 'The Financial Repor�ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoun�ng Prac�ce).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Interna�onal Standards on Audi�ng (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibili�es under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibili�es for the audit of the financial statements sec�on of our report. We are independent of the 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 responsibili�es 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

accoun�ng in the prepara�on of the financial statements is appropriate.

or condi�ons that, individually or collec�vely, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to con�nue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibili�es and the responsibili�es of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sec�ons of this report.

15

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Other informa�on

The other informa�on comprises the informa�on included in the Report of the Trustees, other than the financial statements and our Auditor’s Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other informa�on. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other informa�on 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 informa�on and, in doing so, consider whether the other informa�on 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 iden�fy 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 informa�on, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other ma�ers prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

Ma�ers on which we are required to report by excep�on

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 iden�fied material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following ma�ers where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibili�es of the trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees Responsibili�es, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the prepara�on of the financial statements and for being sa�sfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the prepara�on of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

16

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

Responsibili�es of the trustees (con�nued)

con�nue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, ma�ers related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accoun�ng unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the en�ty or to cease opera�ons, or have no realis�c alterna�ve but to do so.

free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors 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

Irregulari�es, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regula�ons. We design procedures in line with our responsibili�es, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregulari�es, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detec�ng irregulari�es, including fraud is detailed below:

Our assessment focussed on key laws and regula�ons the charitable company has to comply with and areas of the financial statements we assessed as being more suscep�ble to misstatement. These key laws and regula�ons included but were not limited to compliance with the Companies Act 2006, Chari�es Act 2011, taxa�on legisla�on, data protec�on and an�-bribery legisla�on.

We are not responsible for preven�ng irregulari�es, including fraud. Our approach to detec�ng irregulari�es including fraud, included, but was not limited to, the following:

17

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Use of 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

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.

For and on behalf of Cooper Parry Group Limited Statutory Auditors Cubo Birmingham Two Chamberlain Square Birmingham B3 3AX

22 October 2025

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

==> picture [459 x 398] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2025 2024
Note £ £ £ £
INCOME FROM
Donations and legacies 2 32,435 9,748 42,183 81,538
Charitable activities 3 3,791,324 29,949 3,821,273 3,336,489
Trading activities 4 - - - 50
Investments 5 10,025 - 10,025 9,557
TOTAL INCOME 3,833,784 39,697 3,873,481 3,427,634
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds 6 1,215 - 1,215 66
Charitable activities
- Refuge, support and advisory 7 3,846,677 24,765 3,871,442 3,366,272
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 3,847,892 24,765 3,872,657 3,366,338
NET (EXPENDITURE)/ INCOME (14,108) 14,932 824 61,296
Transfers between funds - - - -
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (14,108) 14,932 824 61,296
FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD 21 771,750 285 772,035 710,739
FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 21 757,642 15,217 772,859 772,035
----- End of picture text -----

Continuing operations

All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 22 to 33 form part of these financial statements

[19]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

BALANCE SHEET

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Note
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets
15
Intangible fixed assets
16		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
60,565
-
60,565
68,107
1,655
-
1,655
2,707
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
17
Bank and cash
18		 62,220
-
62,220
70,814
347,062
-
347,062
242,360
704,368
15,217
719,585
693,787
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors
19		 1,051,430
15,217
1,066,647
936,147
(356,008)
-
(356,008)
(234,926)
NET CURRENT LIABILITIES
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT		 695,422
15,217
710,639
701,221
LIABILITIES 757,642
15,217
772,859
772,035
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
21
Restricted funds
21 & 22		 757,642
-
757,642
771,750
-
15,217
15,217
285
757,642
15,217
772,859
772,035

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

…………………………………… Margaret Linington-Payne Chair of Trustees

The notes on pages 22 to 33 form part of these financial statements

[20]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

==> picture [459 x 326] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Note £ £
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Cash generated from operations 24 53,279 (41,756)
NET CASH GENERATED BY/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES 53,279 (41,756)
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Interest received 10,025 9,557
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (37,506) (25,925)
-
Purchase on intangible fixed assets (2,410)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (27,481) (18,778)
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS IN THE
REPORTING PERIOD 25,798 (60,534)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE REPORTING PERIOD 693,787 754,321
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE
REPORTING PERIOD 719,585 693,787
----- End of picture text -----

The notes on pages 22 to 33 form part of these financial statements

[21]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

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.

Going concern

The trustees continue to adopt the going concern assumption as the basis of preparation of the charity's financial statements. In doing so, the trustees confirm they believe that no material uncertainties exist in the forseeebale future regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. In forming this conclusion, the trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from the date of authorising these financial statements.

Income

All income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds or is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be identifies and measured reliably.

Income generated via legacies is recognised before receipt. The income is recognised once it has become probable and the value can be identified, this will usually be at point of confirmation that probate has been granted or when intention to distribute has been received.

Donated income is recognised upon receipt unless the charity has prior knowledge of the donation and is able to identify the amount reliably. West Mercia Women's Aid is supported by the involvement of several appreciated and passionate volunteers in addition to the board of trustees. Volunteer time is not recognised as donated income as per the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

Income received through contracts and grants is recognised from the point in which the charity has entitlement to the funds, contract/ grant conditions has been fully met or it is probable that the income will be received.

Interest receivable

The charity does not have any investments apart from bank deposit accounts. Interest is paid in relation to funds held in these accounts. Interest is recognised when received as up until this point it is not possible for the charity to identify and measure the income reliably. The interest received is highlighted though bank statement reconciliation.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

[22]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.

Allocation of support costs

Support costs are the cost of the functions that are essential to assist and support the work of the charity but do not directly undertake in the charitable activities. Support costs include salary cost for employees covering a range of back office costs including payroll, finance, human resources and governance. Non salary costs are also included again covering a range of expenditure for example rent, ICT, legal fees and audit cost.

The support costs have been allocated according to project location, where the function is shared across projects the costs have been allocated according to the number of direct hours per project.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the costs of the fixed assets, less their residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:

Office equipment 25% straight line method Furniture and fixtures 25% straight line method

It is the Charity's policy to capitalise individual items over £500.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

Amortisation is recognised so as it write off the cost of the assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis:

Website 25% straight line method

Pensions

The pension scheme offered to all employees is a defined contribution scheme with Royal London. The scheme is auto-enrolment compliant and West Mercia Women’s Aid staged during 2015-16. The current contributions are 5% employee and 3% employer. The total employer's contribution of £63,041 and employee's contribution of £91,774 were paid in this financial year.

[23]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Fund accounting

The charity's funds are split into 3 categories, unrestricted, designated and restricted.

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Debtors

Debtors include amounts owed to the charity for the provision of services, this includes amounts receivable relating to grants or contract funding. Debtors also include the amounts that the charity has paid in advance for goods or services they will receive past the year end date. All debtors are measured using their anticipated recoverable amounts.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand is primarily held to meet short term cash commitments as they fall due rather than for investment purposes. Currently the charity does not have any investment accounts.

Provisions and creditors

Provision for liabilities are made where the charity has a present obligation at the end of year date as a result of a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the value due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. The provision is recognised at the fairest settlement value.

Creditors include expenditure that has a legal or constructive obligation that commits the charity to make payment to a third party or it is probable that settlement will be required. This expenditure will relate to good or services provided in the past however the settlement has not taken place before the year end reporting date. Creditors also include any deferred income the charity has received for services not yet provided.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the financial statements has not required the Trustees to make significant judgements or estimates.

There are no key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

Leasing commitments

Rentals payable and receivable under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

[24]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

==> picture [473 x 438] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£| |Herefordshire Project Donations|- 607|2,189|1,582|2,240| |Worcestershire Project Donations|-|1,861|4,695|2,834|9,775| |Regional Project Donations|25,547|2,864|28,411|22,445| |Telford and Wreckin Donations|-|-|-|325| |-| |Legacies|9,356|9,356|46,753| |32,435|9,748|42,183|81,538| |3|INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2025|2024| |Refuge, support and advisory|£|£|£|£| |Herefordshire Projects|806,094|877|806,971|667,049| |-|-|-|-| |Gloucestershire Projects| |IDVA Projects|1,370,232|325|1,370,557|1,325,983| |-| |Worcestershire Projects|1,091,344|1,091,344|1,041,840| |-| |Telford and Wreckin Projects|111,253|111,253|87,895| |Regional Projects|412,401|28,747|441,148|213,722| |3,791,324|29,949|3,821,273|3,336,489| |4|OTHER TRADING ACTIVITES| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£| |Fundraising|-|-|-|50| |-|-|-|50|

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

West Mercia Women's Aid do not have a trading subsidiary or a charity shop however do participate in fundraising events such as local stalls and the sale of domestic abuse related literature.

5 INVESTMENT INCOME

==> picture [454 x 59] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
||||| |---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£| |-| |Unity Trust bank interest|10,025|10,025|9,557|

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

[25]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

==> picture [471 x 643] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
6 EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fundraising expenditure 1,215 - 1,215 66
7 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Direct Support Total Total
costs costs 2024 2023
Total project activities costs: £ £ £ £
Refuge, support and advisory 3,305,063 566,379 3,871,442 3,366,272
8 DIRECT COSTS
Total Total
2025 2024
Project delivery: £ £
Staff costs 2,378,921 2,068,338
Other costs 926,142 667,669
3,305,063 2,736,007
9 SUPPORT COSTS
Total Total
2025 2024
£ £
Staff costs 304,057 321,377
Other staff costs 1,296 2,267
Rent 36,238 45,553
ICT costs 91,262 124,392
HR and recruitment 11,645 11,277
Health & safety 4,652 461
Subscriptions 13,818 15,194
Legal & Professional fees 7,708 7,604
Insurance 10,540 4,428
Telephone and mobile charges 12,292 19,998
Marketing costs 4,466 1,798
Depreciation 46,101 50,322
Other support costs 6,650 12,784
Governance costs (note 10) 15,654 12,810
566,379 630,265
----- End of picture text -----

[26]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

10 GOVERNANCE COSTS

Audit and accountancy fees
Bank charges
Trustee travel & meeting expenses
STAFF COSTS
Gross wages
National insurance costs
Pension costs		 Total
2025
£
13,495
468
1,691
15,654
Total
2025
£
2,429,345
195,761
57,873
2,682,978		 Total
2024
£
11,000
462
1,348
12,810
Total
2024
£
2,136,082
195,761
57,873
2,389,715

11 STAFF COSTS

The number of employees who received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs of more than £60,000 is as follows:

£60,001 - £70,000
Staff Numbers
Average monthly head count
FTE		 2025
No.
1
1
2025
97
83		 2024
No.
1
1
2024
88
76

[27]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

12 TRUSTEES' AND KEY MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration or any other benefits from employment during the year (2023: £Nil).

==> picture [457 x 160] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |Trustee expenses|2025|2024| |Travel expenses|1,348|1,348| |Number of trustees|4|4| |Key Management Personnel|2024|2024| |£|£| |Gross wages|452,848|421,767| |National insurance costs|48,696|44,501| |Pension costs|13,481|12,079| |515,025|478,347|

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

The Charity's key management personnel comprise the management team listed on page 1.

13 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

==> picture [452 x 103] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |Total|Total| |2025|2024| |Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):|£|£| |Depreciation - owned assets|45,048|49,269| |Amortisation - owned assets|1,052|1,053| |Auditors remuneration|9,495|7,250| |Auditors remuneration - non-audit work|4,000|3,750|

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

[28]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

14 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

INCOME FROM
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Trading activities
Investments
Other activities
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
Charitable activities
- Refuge, support and advisory
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between funds
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD
FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
80,443
1,095
3,336,489
-
50
-
9,557
-
-
-
3,426,539
1,095
66
-
3,364,484
1,788
3,364,550
1,788
61,989
(693)
-
-
61,989
(693)
709,761
978
771,750
285		 Total
2023
£
81,538
3,336,489
50
9,557
-
3,427,634
66
3,366,272
3,366,338
61,296
-
61,296
710,739
772,035

[29]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

==> picture [474 x 652] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
15 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Office Furniture &
Equipment Fittings Total
£ £ £
COST
At 1 April 2024 156,960 135,426 292,386
Additions 31,581 5,925 37,506
- - -
Disposals
At 31 March 2025 188,541 141,351 329,892
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2024 118,143 106,136 224,279
Charge for the year 29,724 15,324 45,048
- - -
Disposals
At 31 March 2025 147,867 121,460 269,327
At 31 March 2025 40,674 19,891 60,565
At 31 March 2024 38,817 29,290 68,107
16 INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Website Total
£ £
COST
At 1 April 2024 4,210 4,210
Additions - -
At 31 March 2025 4,210 4,210
AMORTISATION
At 1 April 2023 1,503 1,503
Charge for the year 1,052 1,052
At 31 March 2025 2,555 2,555
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2025 1,655 1,655
At 31 March 2024 2,707 2,707
17 DEBTORS
2025 2024
£ £
322,292 226,007
Rents receivable 1,192 -
Prepayments 23,578 16,353
347,062 242,360
----- End of picture text -----

[30]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

18 BANK AND CASH
Current account
Deposit account
19 CREDITORS
Suppliers payable
Accruals
Deferred income
Taxation, social security and pensions
Deferred income:
At 1 April
Provided during the year
Released during the year
At 31 March		 2025
£
338,960
380,625
719,585
2025
£
177,750
40,044
75,445
62,769
356,008
47,674
75,445
(47,674)
75,445		 2024
£
323,187
370,600
693,787
2024
£
85,283
40,963
47,674
61,006
234,926
98,420
33,447
(84,193)
47,674

Deferred income relates to grant received in advance of service delivery. Where performance related conditions have not been fulfilled as at the year end, amounts are deferred to future periods.

20 LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

Within one year
Between one and five years		 2025
£
4,790
20,310
25,100		 2024
£
19,160
4,790
23,950

[31]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

21 FUNDS

Unrestricted - general
Unrestricted - contingency fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 2025
£
351,750
420,000
771,750
15,217
786,967		 2024
£
351,750
420,000
771,750
285
772,035

Contigency fund

The contingency funds represent WMWA’s minimum reserves level, which is set aside to meet the closure costs of the company.

22 RESTRICTED FUNDS

Davenport
Natwest-Circle Fund
Bewdley Civic Society Donation
The Eveson Trust
NRPF
Herefordshire Council White Ribbon
First Give Grant
Donations <£1,000
Total		 Balance
Incoming
Resources
Balance
b/f
resources
expended
Transfers
c/f
£
£
£
£
£
285
-
(285)
-
-
-
4,000
(2,644)
-
1,356
-
3,250
(1,779)
-
1,471
-
10,000
(8,656)
-
1,344
-
13,747
(4,525)
-
9,222
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
1,000
-
5,699
(4,875)
-
824
285
39,696
(24,765)
-
15,216

Purpose of restricted funds

Glasspool, League of the Helping Hand and Davenport

Donations received to be used for repairs and renewals.

Natwest-Circle Fund

To provide financial support through grants to victims of economic abuse and to help

survivors move forward and promote recovery and resilience.

Bewdley Civic Society Donation

For Kidderminster Refuges.

The Eveson Trust

Children and Young Persons’ services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

[32]

Docusign Envelope ID: 2A4903D2-E211-412D-8E0E-C245ACE5D41C

WEST MERCIA WOMEN'S AID

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

22 RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)

Purpose of restricted funds

NRPF (no recourse to public funds)

Fund to support victims needing refuge who are ineligible for public funding.

Herefordshire Council White Ribbon

Funding towards White Ribbon Day event.

First Give Grant

Children and Young Persons’ services.

23 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions other than those disclosed in Note 12.

24 RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Depreciation
Amortisation
Interest income
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/ (decrease) in creditors		 2025
£
824
45,048
1,052
(10,025)
(104,702)
121,082
53,279		 2024
£
61,296
49,269
1,053
(9,557)
(75,726)
(68,091)
(41,756)

25 COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up during the time that he or she is a member or within one year afterwards for payment of debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he or she ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expense of winding up the same and for the adjustment of the rights of contributors amongst themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding, in the case of any member, the sum of £10.

26 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

There were no contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2025, nor at 31 March 2024.

27 ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

The charitable company is under the control of the board of trustees.

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