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← Worthing Women's Aid

2024-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Registered number: 04691516 Charity number: 1098726

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Unaudited

Trustees' report and financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Contents

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 19
Independent examiner's report 20
Statement of financial activities 21
Balance sheet 22 - 23
Statement of cash flows 24
Notes to the financial statements 25 - 43

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees of Safe in Sussex are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP2019) Accounting and Reporting by Charities FRS102, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

Reference and Administration details of the Charity

Charity number: 1098726 Registered Number: 04691516 Principal Office The Rear of 1 to7 Elm Park Ferring Worthing West Sussex BN12 5RN

Directors/Trustees

The Directors of the company are its Trustees for the purpose of Charity Law. The Trustees who served during the year were as follows:

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Trustee Trustee Role Appointment Date Resigned
Leslie Groves Williams Chair 13/1/2020
Sam Walker Policy Trustee 14/4/2015 26/3/2024
Karen Brown Treasurer 19/4/2021
Company
Tana Jackson Secretary 19/7/2021
Liz Hall Deputy Chair 7/9/2022
Deborah Binks-Moore Trustee 30/11/2022
Katrina Haines HR Trustee 22/2/2023
26/8/2024
Celine Thomas Legal Trustee 17/11/2023
Property
Manisha Patel Investment 20/3/2024
Sandra Abbey Safeguarding 20/3/2024
Trustee
Charlotte Carp 20/3/2024
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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Mia Motter Trustee 19/10/2022 8/12/2023
Jennifer Ashton Trustee 28/4/2023 17/11/2023
Suzanne Kropf Trustee 21/11/2011 17/11/2023

Structure, governance and management

The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It has no share capital and is therefore governed by a memorandum and articles of association which is dated 10[th] March 2003. The Articles and Memorandum of Safe in Sussex were reviewed and updated in 2022 and amendments were approved by the Charity Commission. The liability of each member in the event of the winding up is limited to £1.

The Charity is administered by the Trustee Board, which allows for up to 12 elected Trustees (Directors) who currently meet every six weeks. Others attend the meeting on invitation of the Trustees and are non-voting observers. The Trustees are elected by the members and hold office for three years and are eligible for re-election. The Trustees have the power to co-opt further members to serve on the Trustee Board up to a maximum of three terms.

Three new Trustees joined the Board this financial year with excellent relevant skills and experience. They replaced trustees who had reached the end of their term or who stood down for other reasons. The focus of recruitment has been on ensuring that each Board member brings a specific area of expertise required for delivery of our Strategic Plan. A skills and diversity audit was conducted in 2022 and this has continued to be used to guide recruitment as Board members retire from their roles. There is one position for a former service user on the Board (currently vacant as we seek to replace our former trustee who has timed out) and nearly all trustees bring lived experience of domestic abuse either from within their immediate family or through supporting extended family members or close friends.

Induction for new Trustees is subject to a formal procedure, targeted at the specific needs of the organisation, using REACH volunteering and local volunteer sites to attract the right candidates with the right skills and backgrounds.

The Trustees continue to work hard and make good progress regarding the review of their governance effectiveness against principles as set out in the Charity Governance Code. The charity has formally signed up to the code and will continue with an annual self-assessment at an annual away day. All trustees receive an induction and continuing development programme. One or two away days are now held each year to monitor and set the broad direction for the

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

organisation, as well as to monitor the working of the Board and to provide ongoing capability building to ensure trustee knowledge and skills are kept up to date. Furthermore, we have introduced mandatory in-depth safeguarding training for trustees, alongside our existing induction training package. Trustees have also committed to making the most of free or low cost training to take one additional trustee training per year after their first year.

Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and the production of the overall strategic policy, in consultation with the senior management team. The Trustees ensure that any major decisions and developments are made in line with the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance, Safe in Sussex’s Strategic Plan or are in sympathy with the overall aims and objectives.

Administrative procedures continue to have been improved to ensure that all decisions made and actions required are systematically followed up on both between and at each Board meeting. All Trustee decisions are minuted and tracked as an integral part of the governance process. Operational decisions are delegated to the CEO and senior management team who are required to regularly report to the Trustee Board.

The Board continues to regularly input into and review an overarching Risk Register for all areas of the organisation. A section is planned to be reviewed at each Board meeting, meaning all sections will be reviewed on an annual basis. The Board has also updated our committee/working group areas of focus to reflect changing organisational needs.

The Board has continued to conduct an annual staff engagement survey and follow up pulse survey. Feedback by staff has allowed governors and management to take appropriate actions to improve staff engagement and to improve our learning and impact. Trustees continue to review organisational policies on rotation to ensure that policies remain up to date, appropriate and relevant.

The organisation remains vigilant of any potential conflicts of interest. No conflicts of interest have arisen during this financial year.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities

Established in 1977, Worthing Women’s Aid, now trading as Safe in Sussex, has the following objectives:

  1. Increase community knowledge of domestic abuse and healthy relationships (service providers, businesses, schools, general public); and i ncrease community ability and capacity to take action to prevent and respond to domestic abuse (including schools, frontline public service professionals)

  2. Increase awareness of our services to ensure that those who need to access our services are able to get support in a timely and holistic way.

  3. Deliver holistic, services with a whole family approach. This encompasses prevention (schools, outreach) , crisis response (helpline, refuge) , support, including peer support, (refuge, community groups) and recovery (groups)

  4. Improve inclusivity of Safe in Sussex services (through reducing barriers for male and female victims/survivors, including minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and those with complex needs as well as through engaging clients systematically in quality assurance, and, for example, in translation of core literature).

These objectives are being reviewed in 2024 as one 3-year planning cycle comes to an end, with the next due to commence in 2025/26.

Outcomes

Safe in Sussex managed 1,068 referrals in 2023/24 providing ongoing support to 630 adults and children.

Demographic data

We ask our clients to provide demographic information so we can assess the extent to which our services reflect the local community and to identify any potential barriers to our service.

Sex of adults supported

As our refuge and group services are available only to women, it is not surprising that women make up 92% of those who use our service. Our 1-2-1 community outreach service is also available to men. We work closely in partnership with other services where we cannot meet need e.g. with Mankind on

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Sex
7% 1%
92%
Female Male Non-binary
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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

services for men and with Paragon who provide dispersed safe accommodation in West Sussex for when our communal refuges are either full or would not effectively meet a potential resident’s needs.

Ethnic Origin

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Ethnicity 3% 2% 2% 4%
5%
a>
84%
= Black/African/Caribbean Asian heritage
Mixed heritage White British
White Other Other
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84% of those seeking help from Safe in Sussex were happy to provide data on their ethnic origin.

The profile of those we supported broadly reflects the make up of West Sussex, a county in which the 2021 census recorded that: 91% of the population was white, 4.3% of Asian heritage, 1.3% identified as Black/African/ Caribbean, 2.4% of mixed heritage and 1% other.

A 2024-25 priority is to make better links with minoritised communities and the services who support them to ensure our services are culturally appropriate and sensitive to diverse needs.

Health

There is an established link between domestic abuse as a causative factor of poor mental health. Nearly 1 in 3 of our clients reported poor mental health requiring support. 71 clients were managing poor physical health, 27 were living with a long-term disability and 40 reported a learning disability.

Age & Parenthood

The age of those who have used our services over the past year have ranged from 17 to over 80.

The majority of clients are in their 20s40s. Between them our clients were caring for 819 children. While we only provide services directly to children within our refuges, parents benefitting from any of our services have access to

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Age Profile
40
30
20
10
0 Ads...
16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 +
Age range
% of clients
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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

information, advice and support on the impact of domestic abuse of children and on parenting issues.

The vast majority of those who use our services do so through our community groups – 486 people. In addition to our trained facilitators, we now have a dedicated support worker attending groups on a regular basis so that participants who need additional one to one outreach support can receive it quickly.

We supported 161 people through our 1-2-1 community outreach service and 86 women and children in our refuges.

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Number of people accessing each of our services
2% 3% 3%
7%
4%
7%
21%
31%
22%
S&S
Refuge 7% Dispersed Refuge/Resttlement 3%
Children's services 4% Outreach 21%
Freedom Programme 22% Freedom Programme online 31%
Recovery Toolkit 7% Recovery Toolkit Online 2%
Other recovery programmes 3%
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Our strategic plan highlights the outcomes that Safe in Sussex seeks to achieve. The strategic plan is supported by a monitoring and evaluation framework that provides results indicators for each outcome. The tables below highlight the principal indicators under each of our service outcomes. The subsequent text provides qualitative and quantitative data to demonstrate progress towards meeting out strategic outcomes.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Outcome 1: People living in West Sussex have increased knowledge about domestic abuse and healthy relationships

Directors’ and Trustees Report
For the Year Ended 31 March 2024		 Directors’ and Trustees Report
For the Year Ended 31 March 2024		 Directors’ and Trustees Report
For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
Outcome 1: People living in West Sussex have increased knowledge about domestic abuse
**and healthy relationships **
Outputs Output indicators Numerator
People accessing SIS community
group
programmes
report
increased knowledge of domestic
abuse		 Percentage of Freedom programme
participants who reported increased
knowledge of domestic abuse and its
impact and said they could now identify
abusive behaviour		 100%
People in the community have
increased knowledge on types and
impact of abusive behaviour		 Number of times SIS invited to present
at community groups such as WI, etc.		 20

During this year we have continued to deliver our Community Group programmes across the county of West Sussex with a combination of online and face-to-face available. We will be resuming an in-person group in Mid Sussex in 2024/25.

The 10 week Freedom Programme is open to any woman who wants to find out more about domestic abuse. 412 women attended sessions in 2023/24. 100% of programme participants said the programme had helped them understand domestic abuse and its impact and enabled them to identify abusive behaviours. 95% said the programme had had a positive impact on their lives and would enable them to identify the early warning signs of an abusive relationship while 90% said that their self-esteem and confidence had improved.

Women who have completed programme evaluations told us of the positive impact they have experienced through attending the group programme:

“Mentally and emotionally I am stronger now.”

After completion of the Freedom Programme, women who have left an abusive relationship may go on to attend our 12 week Recovery Toolkit sessions. 74 women attended this year. Again the response to the programme was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of participants reporting improved confidence and self-esteem:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

“I have done things for myself and not felt guilty about it. I can set boundaries and can say no to things I don’t want to do.”

We have continued to be proactive in sharing understanding of domestic abuse in the local community, including awareness events at supermarkets and talks at community groups, directly engaging with over 500 people.

“I have done things for myself and not felt guilty about it. I can set boundaries and can say no to
things I don’t want to do.”
We have continued to be proactive in sharing understanding of domestic abuse in the local
community, including awareness events at supermarkets and talks at community groups,
directly engaging with over 500 people.		 “I have done things for myself and not felt guilty about it. I can set boundaries and can say no to
things I don’t want to do.”
We have continued to be proactive in sharing understanding of domestic abuse in the local
community, including awareness events at supermarkets and talks at community groups,
directly engaging with over 500 people.		 “I have done things for myself and not felt guilty about it. I can set boundaries and can say no to
things I don’t want to do.”
We have continued to be proactive in sharing understanding of domestic abuse in the local
community, including awareness events at supermarkets and talks at community groups,
directly engaging with over 500 people.
Outcome 2: People living in West Sussex have increased awareness about where people can
go for help and that they are entitled toget help as victims/survivors
Outputs Output indicators Numerator
People living in West
Sussex recognise that
they are in an abusive
relationship and make
informed choices
moving forward		 Number of referrals made to SIS 1068
Number of referrals made by SIS
to other DA services		 70
CYP/Adults who have
accessed support from
SIS share their
experiences across
various mediums to
encourage others to
take up support &
reduce stigma of
askingfor help		 Number of attendees attending
the Lived Experience Group of
former clients who advise us on
our services		 8
Survivors give permission to
share anonymised stories		 36
West Sussex residents
know that SIS can
provide help		 Increased
interaction
on
website referral page, social
media,
public
events
e.g.
fundraising, knowledge of what
help provided and how to access
it		 Facebook
Reach 95,113 an increase of 191.3%
over 2022/23
Followers 2,514 – a 6% increase
Posts 303 – a decrease of 37.8%
Median Facebook post interactions
– 7, an increase of 40%
Link clicks 617, increase of 48.3%
Instagram
Reach 1,905 an increase of 17.2%
Followers 663 - an increase of 20%
up from 554
Posts 216 – a decrease of 35.9%
Median interactions – 5, an increase
of 25%

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

West Sussex residents report
knowledge of SIS services with
up-to-date information on what
services are provided and how
to access support		 Local referral sources 158
42
58
7
3
7
56
20
16
14
5
328
16
63
11
Worth Services (Sussex
County Council
Domestic Abuse
Service)		 158
Other Sussex Domestic
Abuse services		 42
Mental Health Services 58
Adult Social Services 7
District Councils 3
Sussex Voluntary
sector services		 7
Children’s Services 56
GP/other health
services		 20
Housing/homelessness 16
Sussex Police 14
Probation 5
Self – Referral 328
Friends/Family 16
Other 63
National Domestic
Abuse Helpline		 11

Our referral sources demonstrate that the value of our services is widely known among our partners. In addition, the high proportion of self-referrals shows that people who need support, know we are there. The high number of referrals from West Sussex County Council’s high risk domestic abuse service demonstrates the value of Safe in Sussex as a step down service, with referrals to our Freedom Programme also made through the Council’s single front door to its adult social care and children’s services.

The high volume of referrals from both statutory and voluntary mental health services reflects the increasing complexity of mental health need we are seeing amongst those who seek our support: this will be a priority for staff training in 2024/25. Complexity of need has been a factor in the length of time residents have been staying in our refuges with residents staying on average 15% longer than in 2022/23.

While we have reduced the number of posts made on Facebook and Instagram, we have focused more on the quality such as shout outs for specific needs in our refuges and promoting events

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

and services, especially the positive work done with children – this has resulted in higher levels of interaction with our content despite fewer posts.

Our Lived Experience Group of former clients who advise us on our services continues to meet quarterly. The safe dating guide the group have produced will be launched in October 2024 as part of Domestic Abuse Awareness month and the group have also fed into the development of a revised Safe in Sussex website.

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Outcome 3: People living in West Sussex who have been affected by domestic abuse take
action
Outputs Output indicators Numerator
People in West Sussex have Participants of Freedom 95% of those who completed
increased confidence & Programme report they are the evaluation form stated
empowerment to not revert able to identify the early they would be able to
to an abusive relationship warning signs of an abusive identify the signs of an
relationship abusive relationship
People who come through Number of applications for Support for 24 applications
refuge and outreach services court orders/orders made. for court orders was given.
go through the judicial 18 orders were made
system
People affected by domestic Number of self-referrals to 328 – this is a 22% increase
abuse contact SIS SIS services on 22/23
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We have seen a 22% increase in self-referrals, reflecting the prevalence of domestic abuse in West Sussex and the visibility of the charity. Self-referrals accounted for nearly all of the referrals to our 1-2-1 community outreach service.

This increase in volume has been difficult to manage and briefly required the closing of our 1-21 outreach service waiting list. The outreach team responded to this challenge by developing and trialing a triage process. This successfully reduced waiting times and ensured clients were directed to the right service more quickly. Partial funding has been secured from the Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner to maintain the triage process for 2024/2025.

“I feel like I have had a comfort blanket of support around me. I have learnt that what I thought was normal for 30+ years, was actually abuse. I now feel empowered to …. actually stand up for myself and move forward.”

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

“[My support worker] has been my strength my voice when I needed her, she is an inspiration to the world,…..[she] has inspired me to be strong and have my voice heard, be brave, be who I want to be and shown me the support that is available out there. No words can describe how incredibly amazing [she] is. If I'm ever feeling down I will always think of who empowered me again.”

Increasing victim confidence in the criminal justice system is the area where we find it most difficult to make a positive impact, able to achieve this in only 25% of cases where clients completed an evaluation form. Issues such as a lack of prosecutions, enforcement action and court delays are all factors. We supported 100 clients with family law proceedings, 36 with civil justice outcomes and 51 with criminal justice proceedings – but only 18 orders were made. Despite an average of 7 breaches of court orders, no successful prosecutions were recorded.

Outcome 4: People living in West Sussex are able
to access an effective co-ordinated statutory and
voluntary serviceprovision		 Outcome 4: People living in West Sussex are able
to access an effective co-ordinated statutory and
voluntary serviceprovision		 Outcome 4: People living in West Sussex are able
to access an effective co-ordinated statutory and
voluntary serviceprovision
Outputs Output indicators Numerator
Services in Sussex
(e.g. GP, social
care, housing etc.)
have increased
understanding on
how to support
people affected by
domestic abuse		 SIS represented
at and
contributes to
other agency
meetings		 53

We are continuing to develop our partnership working with statutory and voluntary services to promote an effective provision in West Sussex. This includes participating in the Sussex Police Victim hubs which seek to ensure there is clear leadership in the support for complex cases requiring multi-agency support and attending strategic West Sussex multi-agency meetings covering issues such as homelessness and early help.

Outcome 5: SIS is an inclusive survivor led organisation with a whole family approach survivor led organisation with a whole family approach
Outputs/outcomes Output indicators Numerator
Clear mission statement
about who SIS works with		 Publicity material, social
media, website with
accessibility tool		 Website has accessibility tool
and funding secured for
development of new
website.

Between them our clients in 2023/24 were parenting over 800 children. Our community group programmes include sessions on parenting and the impact of domestic abuse on children. In our

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

refuges our children’s workers ensure that children are treated as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, providing supported play and arts and crafts activities to help children express their feelings, come to terms with their experiences and explore coping mechanisms.

Again, feedback from clients on the impact of this support is positive:

“Mummy, I know you’re getting better, because when I talk, you look at me”

“She’s more open now – she comes to talk to me – before she kept everything bottled up”

Outcome 6: SIS has the financial(and human) resources to meet the core strategic objectives Outcome 6: SIS has the financial(and human) resources to meet the core strategic objectives Outcome 6: SIS has the financial(and human) resources to meet the core strategic objectives
Outputs Output indicators Numerator
Repeat funding secured Number of successful grant
applications		 12 (11 were repeat funders)
Independence
financial
stability improved		 Number of paid training
sessions delivered		 Training
Co-ordinator
employed April 2023, but not
maintained.

Funding from the Ministry of Justice for domestic abuse services, which we have relied on for the past 3 years, comes to an end in March 2025. Future funding levels and allocation methodology are as yet uncertain, so our priority for 2024/25 is developing a fundraising strategy, which can support the long term sustainability of the services we now offer.

We have not been able to sustain the Training Co-ordinator post. This is partly because West Sussex County Council now offer free domestic abuse awareness training to public and voluntary sector staff, along with free online advice and guidance for employers. While welcome, this move has reduced the potential pool of customers for our training offer. We are now implementing a scaled back offer which includes a quarterly online offer and the opportunity to develop bespoke courses on request, which will be delivered on a freelance basis.

We completed our plans to improve/renovate the refuges we own, with updated bathrooms and a kitchen refit now installed. Following our energy review, solar panels are now in place at both owned properties. Addressing staff capacity and capability is a priority for 2024/25 given that staff have been reporting feeling stretched on current staffing levels, especially given the increased complexity of need they are now supporting.

Priorities for 2023-24

We targeted a number of specific priorities in 2023/24

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Directors’ and Trustees Report
For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
Funding for prevention work: secure
funding for our work with children
and young people in schools.		 We were only able to secure limited funding for
this work and have had to refocus fundraising
activities on maintaining our core support
services.
Training:roll out our training offer to
non-domestic abuse professionals,
businesses, voluntary organisations
and community groups.		 We have had to revise our approach as employing
a training officer was no longer a sustainable
option financially (see above).
Refuge:purchase dispersed refuge
accommodation
to
provide
for
people who may not be suitable or
find
communal
refuge
living
challenging.		 We have had to refocus our strategic direction on
refuge provision as significant increase in the
rental charges for one of our two rented
properties has demonstrated that a rental model
is unsustainable in the current rental market. We
have therefore given notice on the rented
propertyinquestion.
Client involvement: grow our Lived
Experience
Group
and
client
involvement
offer,
including
recruitment
of lived experience
trustees and a range of opportunities
including volunteering and training.		 Our lived experience group has flourished and
members have developed a dating card to help
people identify the early warning signs of a
potentially abusive relationship. We have taken
on a number of new volunteers with lived
experience – whose initial focus will be on fund
and awareness raising.
Governance:Continue to balance
continuity and refreshment of the
Board of Safe in Sussex to ensure an
active and fully competent Board able
to
effectively
lead
strategy
implementation
and
the
wider
governance of Safe in Sussex.		 We have recruited 5 new Board members over the
course of the year with expertise in: housing, the
law, safeguarding and voluntary sector business
development. We have expanded our training
requirement for all trustees and held two Away
Days. Each year we conduct a governance review
and have seen consistent improvements across all
performance requirements.

Priorities for 24/25

Our focus in 24/25 will be on ensuring we can manage the increasing demand we have seen in the first part of the 2024/25 financial year, along with the increased complexity of our clients’ needs.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Financial Situation

We are pleased to report that we have ended the year with a healthy positive result, having budgeted for a small surplus.

Once again, the generosity of individuals and local organisations who have contributed through donations and fundraising continue to surprise us even in these challenging economic times. Very special thanks goes to The Wickens Family Foundation who continue to support us and to Helen Hitchcock, our Patron, who promotes our charity and has raised thousands of pounds in doing so. Our Fundraising team continue to build relationships in the community and have increased our social media presence.

Our community group work has continued through the support from the MOJ. When this support draws to a close, we will continue to fund this vital work from our reserves for a limited period of time, if we are unable to fund this from other sources.

The children’s refuge service funding from Children in Need is drawing to a close early 2025. This provides for two salaried staff to support the children in the refuge. We are very grateful for Children in Need’s continuing support and hope that they will be able to fund us for a further 3 years.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

At the start of 2024 we began the process of looking into securing a new property to provide refuge accommodation to replace an existing rented refuge which was not going be financially viable due to a large rent increase. It became clear that our ambition to provide dispersed refuge accommodation or independent facilities in the west of the county would have to take a back seat for the time being. The Trustee Board are always conscious of the temporary timelimited nature of our funding streams and continue to be aware of the constant need for vigilance and caution in their spending plans. Although our financial reserves are secure, we have prepared ~~for~~ a large deficit budget in 2024 in our unrestricted funds. This takes into account a short delay in refuge service provision while one refuge is wound down for closure and the next is ready to take clients. The uncertain financial and political climate at the start of the year make future service delivery of projects dependent on statutory funding beyond 31 March 2025 extremely difficult to predict. The Trustee Board is mindful of managing our resources prudently and for best value during this uncertain period.

After preparing the budget for 2024/25 and reviewing the organisation’s financial results for the first six months of the year (to 31[st] August 2024), the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the next twelve months. Although the budget is anticipating a net deficit and results to date are in line with this, the Charity has sufficient free reserves to fund the difference between income and expenditure. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

The renumeration of the organisation's senior leadership team was externally benchmarked in 2022. The senior leadership team’s pay is reviewed l in line with the rest of the organisation. Every 3 - 5 years the salaries will be benchmarked again to ensure they remain in line with market trends.

The Board are committed to paying for key strategic services from our unrestricted reserves for up to six months until alternative funding can be secured. If those outcomes do occur, it will absorb some of the surplus achieved in previous years. The Board are very aware of this and the continually changing situation and are looking at our long-term plan to develop other unrestricted funding streams to provide resilience in our finances.

The Trustees are very grateful to all the organisations, groups and individuals who have raised funds and given donations during this financial year.

Conclusion: The board of Trustees would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to ensure the delivery of a safe and high-quality professional service. The enthusiasm and commitment of both staff and volunteers is appreciated by the

15

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Board of Trustees and reflected in the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from service users through our evaluations.

Financial Review

The results of the year are set out in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 20 A surplus of £76,921 (2023 £52,452) was earned in the general unrestricted fund. A deficit of £7,326 (2023 £39,298 surplus) occurred in the restricted funds

Reserves Policy

The agreed basis of the reserves policy of Safe in Sussex is that it should protect the continuity of our core work if funding streams, especially short-term grants, are not renewed. This is to give our staff and service users confidence that the charity can continue to provide services. It is also intended to ensure that the organisation can continue to operate during periods of general financial instability such as high wage and cost inflation. Finally, the policy also considers the long-term objectives of the charity to hold designated funds for expanding services and investing in assets.

To achieve these aims, the reserves requirement is split into several categories (see table 1). This includes a designated reserves category the “Capital Purchase Fund” (CPF) which is a ringfenced amount set aside for a deposit on a new communal refuge to replace the rental property we have given notice on.

In the year-end report to March 2023 the CPF had been ringfenced to fund a project to purchase a dispersed accommodation. However, as mentioned earlier in this report the previous rental property in the west of the county is no longer financially viable due to the increase in rent proposed by the landlord, the Board have agreed that the priority for the organisation should be to purchase a new multiple occupancy refuge in a similar area.

The total reserves requirement calculated for 2024/25 based on the annual budget and the longer term planned spending commitments is £410,067. This is split into general requirements of £210,067 and designated requirements of £200,000.

The unrestricted fund as at 31st March 2024 totalled £1,282,378 (2023 £1,205,457) of which £747,901 (2023 £704,320) was invested in tangible fixed assets. The charity therefore had free reserves of £534,477 (2023 £501,137) of which £200,000 has been designated to future projects. The charity therefore has operational reserves of £534,477 (2023 £501,137), £334,477 allowing for the designated fund. This is greater than the calculated requirement for the year commencing 1[st] April 2024, so the Trustees are satisfied that the level of reserves

16

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

is sufficient. Whilst the reserves exceed the calculated requirement, the Trustees do not consider this excessive due to the potential uncertainty over future income streams.

----- Start of picture text -----
Level of reserves Value for
Reason What might happen?
required 2024/25
Properties need
Unforeseen significant maintenance;
General fund suggested £10,000
emergencies need to employ extra staff
due to sickness etc
The current budget does
The full value of current
not cover the expected £106,769
deficit to be maintained
expenditure;
Annual salary review
Budget deficit /
(planned for 1st October
budget 3% of salary costs £12,150
2024) cannot be funded
contingency
from income
Costs increase during the Keep 5% of expenditure
£30,248
year vs budget budget as a contingency
WSCC contract income Contract now extended
£0
ends to 31/03/2026
Current occupancy in
Refuge housing benefit &
budget is 81%.
service charge income is £30,900
10% contingency of
lower than expected
£309k
Future income For grants of less than 12
uncertainty months duration, keep a
further 6 months in
Grants are not renewed
reserve.
leading to need to fund £0
activity from reserves
All grants as at 1 [st] April
2024 are over 12 months
duration
Significant work has been
Further maintenance of done in 2023/24.
Refuge
buildings needed over and Maintain reserves of £20,000
maintenance
above budget £20k due to potential
damp rectification
SUB-TOTAL GENERAL EXPENDITURE RESERVES REQUIRED £210,067
----- End of picture text -----

17

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Designated fund to
Capital Purchase communal enable organisation to
£200,000
purchase refuge building purchase a communal
refuge instead of renting
SUB-TOTAL DESIGNATED RESERVES REQUIRED £200,000
TOTAL RESERVES REQUIRED AS AT APRIL 2024 £410,067
RESERVES BALANCE AS AT 31 [ST] MARCH 2024 £534,477
SURPLUS / (SHORFALL) IN REQUIRED RESERVES £124,410
----- End of picture text -----

Risk Management: As part of the extra governance meetings held, the Trustees have continued to identify the major risks to which the charity is exposed and constantly review the systems which are in place to mitigate those risks. The over-riding risk management policy document and risk register has been updated to include a more comprehensive operational, governance and financial risk policy document, which is regularly reviewed.

Public Benefit: The current activities of the charity are detailed in the Annual Report. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the company’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

Trustees' Financial Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also Directors of Worthing Women's aid for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Directors' and Trustees report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (generally accepted accounting practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women’s Aid (trading as Safe in Sussex) (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Directors’ and Trustees Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

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

Approval

The report of the Directors and Trustees has been prepared taking advantage of the small company exemption in Section 415A of the Companies Act 2006

The report was approved by the Trustees on and signed on their 27th November 2024 behalf by

Leslie Groves-Williams (Chair of Trustees)

19

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Independent examiner's report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex ('the company')

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the company's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

This report is made solely to the company's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the company's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Signed: Reto Eeewe¢ Lb? Dated: 5 December 2024 Lucy Hammond BSc FCA

Kreston Reeves LLP

Chartered Accountants 9 Donnington Park, 85 Birdham Road, Chichester, PO20 7AJ

Page 20

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Statement of financial activities (incorporating income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Note
Income from:
Grants, Donations and Legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
6
Investments
7
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
8
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
114,860
488,115
35,672
11,587
650,234
45,625
527,688
573,313
76,921
1,205,457
76,921
1,282,378		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
305,588
-
-
-
305,588
-
312,914
312,914
(7,326)
194,843
(7,326)
187,517		 Total
funds
2024
£
420,448
488,115
35,672
11,587
955,822
45,625
840,602
886,227
69,595
1,400,300
69,595
1,469,895		 Total
funds
2023
£
420,764
484,938
40,941
5,141
951,784
59,091
800,943
860,034
91,750
1,308,550
91,750
1,400,300

Included within unrestricted funds are £200,000 of designated funds, please see note 17 for more detail.

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 25 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

Page 21

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee) Registered number: 04691516

Balance sheet As at 31 March 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
13
Current assets
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
15
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
16
Unrestricted funds
16
Total funds		 22,362
720,309
742,671
(20,677)		 2024
£
747,901
747,901
721,994
1,469,895
1,469,895
187,517
1,282,378
1,469,895		 24,213
780,472
804,685
(108,705)		 2023
£
704,320
704,320
695,980
1,400,300
1,400,300
194,843
1,205,457
1,400,300

Page 22

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee) Registered number: 04691516

Balance sheet (continued) As at 31 March 2024

The company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

................................................

Karen Brown

Treasurer

Date: 27th November 2024

The notes on pages 25 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

Page 23

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 March 2024
Note
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities
18
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of borrowing
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
19
The notes on pages 25 to 43 form part of these financial statements		 2024
£
(15,746)
11,587
(56,004)
(44,417)
-
-
(60,163)
780,472
720,309		 2023
£
178,249
5,141
(7,188)
(2,047)
(115,478)
(115,478)
60,724
719,748
780,472

Page 24

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a private company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales within the United Kingdom. The Trustees of the company are the members of the company named on page 1. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.

The address of the registered office is Rear of 1-7 Elm Park, Ferring, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 5RN.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Worthing Women's Aid trading as Safe In Sussex meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held for 12 months from authorising these financial statements

2.3 Income

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Donated services or facilities are recognised when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use of the company of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the charity is not recognised and refer to the Trustees' report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount it would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

Page 25

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the company and include project management carried out at Headquarters.

Costs of generating funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the company apportioned to charitable activities.

2.5 Government grants

Government grants relating to tangible fixed assets are treated as deferred income and released to the Statement of financial activities over the expected useful lives of the assets concerned. Other grants are credited to the Statement of financial activities as the related expenditure is incurred.

2.6 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing £1,500 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives.

Depreciation is provided on the following bases:

Freehold property - 2% straight line
Office equipment - 25% straight line
Property improvements - 20% straight line

Freehold land is carried at cost and is not depreciated.

Page 26

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.7 Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.

2.8 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

2.9 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

2.10 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

2.11 Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2.12 Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the company to the fund in respect of the year.

2.13 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company 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 company for particular purposes. The costs 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.

Page 27

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

3. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
2024
Restricted
funds
2024
£
£
Donations
26,002
480
Grants
88,858
305,108
114,860
305,588
Unrestricted
funds
2023
Restricted
funds
2023
£
£
Donations
45,956
-
Grants
13,952
360,856
59,908
360,856
4.
Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Refuge and Community Groups
488,115
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Refuge and Community Groups
484,938		 Total
funds
2024
£
26,482
393,966
420,448
Total
funds
2023
£
45,956
374,808
420,764
Total
funds
2024
£
488,115
Total
funds
2023
£
484,938

Page 28

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

5. Analysis of income from charitable activities by type of income

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Refuge - Housing Benefit
340,944
Refuge - other income
5,181
Training income
1,440
Service charge
17,241
West Sussex County Council Contract
123,309
488,115
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Refuge - Housing Benefit
304,388
Service charge
14,396
Refuge - Household Support
39,274
West Sussex County Council Contract
126,880
484,938		 Total
funds
2024
£
340,944
5,181
1,440
17,241
123,309
488,115
Total
funds
2023
£
304,388
14,396
39,274
126,880
484,938

6. Income from other trading activities Income from fundraising events

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Fundraising income
35,672
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Fundraising income
29,916
Charity shop income
11,025
40,941		 Total
funds
2024
£
35,672
Total
funds
2023
£
29,916
11,025
40,941

Page 29

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

7. Investment income

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Interest receivable
11,587
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Interest receivable
5,141		 Total
funds
2024
£
11,587
Total
funds
2023
£
5,141

8. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Refuge and Community Groups
527,688
Children support services
-
527,688
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Refuge and Community Groups
478,843
Children support services
-
478,843		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
276,463
36,451
312,914
Restricted
funds
2023
£
289,911
32,189
322,100		 Total
2024
£
804,151
36,451
840,602
Total
2023
£
768,754
32,189
800,943

Page 30

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

9. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Refuge and Community Groups
Children support services
Refuge and Community Groups
Children support services		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
418,228
1,952
420,180
Activities
undertaken
directly
2023
£
378,964
1,179
380,143		 Support
costs
2024
£
385,923
34,499
420,422
Support
costs
2023
£
389,790
31,010
420,800		 Total
funds
2024
£
804,151
36,451
840,602
Total
funds
2023
£
768,754
32,189
800,943

Analysis of direct costs

Staff costs
Sundry
Office expenses
Travel
Training
Outings/Activities
Supervision		 Refuge and
Community
Groups
2024
£
399,210
2,711
2,279
3,971
7,757
-
2,300
418,228		 Children
support
services
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
1,302
650
1,952		 Total
funds
2024
£
399,210
2,711
2,279
3,971
7,757
1,302
2,950
420,180

Page 31

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of direct costs (continued)

Staff costs
Office expenses
Travel
Training
Outings/Activities
Supervision		 Refuge and
Community
Groups
2023
£
364,862
1,536
4,611
5,885
-
2,070
378,964		 Children
support
services
2023
£
-
-
-
-
709
470
1,179		 Total
funds
2023
£
364,862
1,536
4,611
5,885
709
2,540
380,143

Analysis of support costs

Staff costs
Depreciation
Telephone
Legal fees
Establishment costs
Light and heat
Insurance
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning
Computer costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Equipment
Office expenses
Travel
Governance costs		 Refuge and
Community
Groups
2024
£
118,011
12,423
12,048
4,854
87,710
28,106
7,202
58,440
2,922
23,663
3,957
9,154
7,758
4,408
5,267
385,923		 Children
support
services
2024
£
33,657
-
152
-
469
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
221
-
34,499		 Total
funds
2024
£
151,668
12,423
12,200
4,854
88,179
28,106
7,202
58,440
2,922
23,663
3,957
9,154
7,758
4,629
5,267
420,422

During the year, of total costs £312,914 were restricted (2023: £321,558).

Page 32

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of support costs (continued)

Staff costs
Depreciation
Telephone
Legal fees
Establishment costs
Light and heat
Insurance
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning
Computer costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Equipment
Office expenses
Travel
Training
Loan interest
Governance costs		 Refuge and
Community
Groups
2023
£
116,936
9,707
12,657
13,076
89,217
20,878
6,216
54,967
3,079
25,877
3,131
15,294
5,020
6,040
-
2,923
4,772
389,790		 Children
support
services
2023
£
30,809
-
151
-
115
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
32
(97)
-
-
31,010		 Total
funds
2023
£
147,745
9,707
12,808
13,076
89,332
20,878
6,216
54,967
3,079
25,877
3,131
15,294
5,020
6,072
(97)
2,923
4,772
420,800

10. Independent examiner's remuneration

The independent examiner's remuneration amounts to an independent examiner fee of £2,880 (2023 - £2,640).

Page 33

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

11. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2024
£
541,058
34,665
18,331
594,054		 2023
£
511,581
34,097
16,815
562,493

The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was as follows:

2024 2023
No. No.
Total 28 28

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The total remuneration of key management personnel was £48,442 (2023 - £46,530).

12. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - £NIL).

During the year ended 31 March 2024, expenses totalling £155 were reimbursed or paid directly to 5 Trustees (2023 - £NIL).

Page 34

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

13. Tangible fixed assets

Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
Debtors
Due within one year
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 Freehold
property
£
749,276
-
749,276
54,262
6,294
60,556
688,720
695,014		 Office
equipment
£
17,297
5,567
22,864
14,487
1,048
15,535
7,329
2,810		 Property
Improvements
£
38,061
50,437
88,498
31,565
5,081
36,646
51,852
6,496
2024
£
15,564
6,798
22,362		 Property
Improvements
£
38,061
50,437
88,498
31,565
5,081
36,646
51,852
6,496
2024
£
15,564
6,798
22,362		 Total
£
804,634
56,004
860,638
100,314
12,423
112,737
747,901
704,320
2023
£
16,775
7,438
24,213
22,362

14. Debtors

Page 35

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

15. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2024
£
8,829
5,541
6,307
20,677		 2023
£
7,907
97,606
3,192
108,705

Page 36

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

16. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current year

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Capital Purchase Fund
General funds
General Funds
Total Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Children's Support Service
The 7 Stars Foundation
Children in Need Covid Response
Another Way Women
Garfield Weston
PCC Intervention & Recovery Programme
PCC Safe Spacing Funding
Sussex Community Foundation
Eaton Fund
PCC - Community groups
PCC Womens IDVA
The Big Give
PCC IDVA Provision
Total of funds		 Balance at 1
April 2023
£
200,000
1,005,457
1,205,457
5,317
-
10,875
-
-
76,779
-
9,952
3,191
15,855
21,665
10,287
40,922
194,843
1,400,300		 Income
£
-
650,234
650,234
34,673
2,500
-
3,890
25,000
110,943
10,468
-
5,000
-
39,000
6,160
67,954
305,588
955,822		 Expenditure
£
-
(573,313)
(573,313)
(32,770)
(136)
(10,875)
(2,200)
(19,000)
(105,740)
(10,468)
-
(5,692)
(15,855)
(39,756)
(10,287)
(60,135)
(312,914)
(886,227)		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£
200,000
1,082,378
1,282,378
7,220
2,364
-
1,690
6,000
81,982
-
9,952
2,499
-
20,909
6,160
48,741
187,517
1,469,895

Page 37

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

16. Statement of funds (continued)

Statement of funds - prior year

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Capital Purchase Fund
General funds
General Funds
Total Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Children's Support Service
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government Grant
Children in Need Covid Response
Lloyds Bank Foundation
PCC Intervention & Recovery Programme
PCC Safe Spacing Funding
Sussex Community Foundation
Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO
The National Lottery Community Fund
Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
Eaton Fund
PCC - Community groups
PCC - Women's Specialist Worker
PCC Womens IDVA
The Screwfix Foundation
RSA Community Grants
The Big Give
PCC IDVA Provision
WSCC		 Balance at
1 April 2022
£
200,000
953,005
1,153,005
1,618
41,450
23,497
16,897
-
6,252
-
15,275
-
2,259
-
-
4,701
-
-
2,757
-
40,839
-
155,545		 Income
£
-
590,928
590,928
35,888
-
-
-
110,944
-
9,952
-
5,831
-
5,000
20,000
-
40,000
5,000
-
10,287
67,954
50,000
360,856		 Expenditure
£
-
(538,476)
(538,476)
(32,189)
(41,450)
(12,622)
(16,897)
(34,165)
(6,252)
-
(15,275)
(5,831)
(2,259)
(1,809)
(4,145)
(4,701)
(18,335)
(5,000)
(2,757)
-
(67,871)
(50,000)
(321,558)		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
200,000
1,005,457
1,205,457
5,317
-
10,875
-
76,779
-
9,952
-
-
-
3,191
15,855
-
21,665
-
-
10,287
40,922
-
194,843

Page 38

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

16.
Statement of funds (continued)
Total of funds		 1,308,550 951,784 (860,034) 1,400,300

Page 39

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

16. Statement of funds (continued)

Designated Fund

The designated fund represents £200,000 for a Capital Purchase Fund. This is to fund the purchase of a property to be used as refuge accommodation.

Restricted Funds

Children's Support Service

BBC Children in Need - We were delighted to have a further 3 year grant awarded to fund this service which will take us up to 31 January 2025. The service is aimed at supporting the children at the refuges, and the grant covers in the main the salaries and other staffing costs for two child support workers as well as a contribution towards some of the outings and activities the staff carry out with the children.

This fund also represents other donations etc given towards the running of the children's service, but in particular to fund larger activities and toys and equipment for the playroom. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Grant

This grant has been used to fund our Womens Groups delivered in the community, and has now ended. Children in Need Covid Response

This is a fund of money given to support children and young people in the community who are affected by domestic abuse and as a result of the pandemic. This project was finished in the year. Lloyds Bank Foundation

This grant enables us to continue employing a Refuges manager, and provides a significant contribution towards her salary costs. This grant is now complete. Police and Crime Commissioner - Safe Space Funding This was a grant awarded and spent in the year that enabled us to have specific training on management development, enhance our database and provide some laptops for our staff. Sussex Community Foundation

This grant is for one year to provide for a sessional children's worker across our refuges. Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO

The society has very kindly supported us with a grant for one year for a refuge support worker. The grant has now finished. Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

This funding has enables some addtional hours to be specifically dedicated to trust and grant funding applications. The grant is now complete. Eaton Fund

We are delighted to continue with the purpose of this grant which enables us to buy essential items for the women that we work with. A second amount of £5,000 was secured, and we are very fortunate to secure a third amount of £5,000 in May 2024.

Police and Crime Commissioner - Community Groups

This was given to us as a one-off grant to support our community group work. This was completed in the year. Police and Crime Commissioner - Women's Specialist Worker The funding for a Women's specialist worker on domestic abuse has now finished. Police and Crime Commissioner - Women's IDVA

Our local Police and Crime Commissioner has granted us a final one year of funding in August 2023 to enable us to employ a Women's IDVA.

The Screwfix Foundation

We were delighted to receive this grant which has greatly helped in the refurbishment of the kitchen at one of our refuges.

RSA Community Grants

This grant will be used to assist women and children coming into or moving on from our refuges, and is now finished.

The Big Give

The Christmas 2022 campaign enabled us to cover some the costs for a refuge worker for one year. This was used up in the year. We were successful in another campaign for 2023 and this time we have secured some funding for our Community Groups which will be used from April 2024.

Police and Crime Commissioner - IDVA provision

Page 40

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex

(A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

16. Statement of funds (continued)

The grant provides for 2 specialist IDVA positions and to support our work in the Community. The funding has been agreed until March 2025.

WSCC

This was given to us a one-off to support our community group work. This is now complete. Police and Crime Commissioner - Intervention & Recovery Programme

This grant funds our IDVA led outreach service and supports our work in the community. The funding has been agreed until March 2025.

The 7 Stars Foundation

We were grateful to receive this grant which means we can support our families to undertake exciting activities outside of the refuge.

Another Way Womens' Foundation

This grant was to enable us to train some of our staff to deliver a specific Domestic Abuse programme to support the women in the refuge. We will train the last few members of staff in Autmn of 2024.

17. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current period

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Tangible fixed assets
747,901
Current assets
555,154
Creditors due within one year
(20,677)
Total
1,282,378		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
187,517
-
187,517		 Total
funds
2024
£
747,901
742,671
(20,677)
1,469,895

Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
704,320
609,842
(108,705)
1,205,457		 Restricted
funds
2023
£
-
194,843
-
194,843		 Total
funds
2023
£
704,320
804,685
(108,705)
1,400,300

Page 41

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

18. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income for the period (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Decrease in debtors
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
19.
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents
20.
Analysis of changes in net debt
At 1 April
2023
£
Cash at bank and in hand
780,472
780,472
21.
Capital commitments
Contracted for but not provided in these financial statements
Property improvements		 2024
£
69,595
12,423
(11,587)
1,851
(88,028)
(15,746)
2024
£
720,309
720,309
Cash flows
£
(60,163)
(60,163)
2024
£
2,700		 2023
£
91,750
9,707
(5,141)
17,233
64,700
178,249
2023
£
780,472
780,472
At 31 March
2024
£
720,309
720,309
2023
£
-

22. Pension commitments

The company operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held

Page 42

Docusign Envelope ID: 97238AC0-9968-47CF-B883-AFAD502AE36A

Worthing Women's Aid Trading as Safe In Sussex (A company limited by guarantee)

Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

22. Pension commitments (continued)

separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £18,331 (2023 - £16,815). Contributions totalling £nil (2023 - £nil) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet.

23. Operating lease commitments

At 31 March 2024 the company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:

Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years		 2024
£
45,016
98,471
143,487		 2023
£
65,938
119,190
185,128

24. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year that require disclosure under SORP 2019 (FRS 102).

Page 43