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← Blackburn And Darwen District Without Abuse Limited

2025-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 05834929 Charity registration number: 1116444

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

KM 1st Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 20
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 21
Independent Auditors' Report 22 to 25
Statement of Financial Activities 26
Balance Sheet 27
Statement of Cash Flows 28
Notes to the Financial Statements 29 to 37

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Reference and Administrative Details

Trustees Jonathan Phillip Atkinson
Margaret Elaine Cairns
Gillian Clarke
Rabiya Gangreker
Pauline Geraghty MBE
Sophia Isa
Sarah Jane Miranda Lynas
Angela Mary McDonagh-Kelly
Christine Marie Southworth
Joan Whittaker
Senior Management Shigufta Khan, Chief Executive Officer
Charity Registration Number 1116444
Company Registration Number 05834929
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office Unit 21 Business Development Centre
Eanam Wharf
Eanam Old Road
Blackburn
BB1 5BL
Auditor KM
1st Floor, Block C
The Wharf
Manchester Road
Burnley
Lancashire
BB11 1JG
Solicitors: Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors
25-29 Victoria Street
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 6DN
Bankers NatWest Bank plc
35 King William Street
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 7DL

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements and auditors' report of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Trustees

Jonathan Phillip Atkinson

Margaret Elaine Cairns

Gillian Clarke Rabiya Gangreker Pauline Geraghty MBE Sophia Isa Sarah Jane Miranda Lynas Angela Mary McDonagh-Kelly Joan Whittaker

Trustee appointed following the year end

Christine Marie Southworth (appointed 24/4/2025)

Patron

Graham Liver

Achievements and performance

We are privileged to share the highlights from the year and our future plans. Our report will outline the outcomes achieved and the differences we made to services users (this phrase will be used throughout the report to denote everyone who accesses our services, our beneficiaries). The phrases victim, survivor and perpetrator will also be used to talk about service users dependant on the support they receive. The working name the Wish Centre will be used throughout the report. Our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is coming to an end and trustees, staff and service users are working on our new strategy that will identify the direction and developments for the next three years.

The past year has once again highlighted the vital importance of our services in supporting those who have been affected by domestic abuse. For over 37 years we have provided much needed support in our community, advocated for change in legislation and practice and challenged the barriers that prevent people living lives free from abuse.

Across our services we have supported 3,700 people throughout the year. This is an increase from the previous year. There were 7,500 instances of abuse reported to the Wish Centre. Our aim is always to provide high quality services that are trauma informed and directed to the individual needs of people who require support. It is based on a whole family approach that addresses complex needs, promotes wellbeing and achieves better outcomes for everyone involved. We pride ourselves on the excellent work we undertake and will therefore be reapplying for Women’s Aid accreditation and working towards One Small Thing trauma quality mark over the coming year.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Our work is constantly reviewed to ensure it achieves the best outcomes, for example our children and young people’s programmes have been developed over the year to better respond to participants needs and we have refined the way we measure counselling outcomes. Safelives, a national domestic abuse charity is undertaking an evaluation of the young people’s programmes we provide so we can learn from positive interventions and undertake any redesigns required. We have made a significant investment in how we collect appropriate data and individual feedback across all services so we can improve the way we evaluate our direct work, understand ongoing need, address gaps in service and focus on funding opportunities. We have used new evaluations tools, made use of AI to both inform ongoing developments and report on success and gaps, ensuring staff are equipped to manage these evolving processes. We are in the process of developing a CRM system that we know will make our processes more efficient and effective. In the coming year we will be working towards Cyber Essential certification so we can further demonstrate our commitment to cyber security.

We have appointed a specialist health and safety company that is supporting the Wish Centre to manage health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace and to ensure our processes, buildings, staff support, care for the public comply with necessary legislation and guidance. They act as our competent person enabling us to meet all our obligations.

We have a dynamic, focused and professional workforce with staff and volunteers highly committed to the task of supporting those who need our interventions. It is crucial to value our staff and having a lead senior leadership team (SLT) member whose role it to ensure the well-being and development of staff and create a positive organisational culture has proved very effective over the past year. Our HR policies have been reviewed through the year and we have made positive adjustments to significant policies that affect staff well-being. We have also continued to respond to new legislation and guidance, for example, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act. 2010) Act 2023. Without our dedicated staff and volunteer team we would not be able to provide the crucial services we do. We have achieved IIP accreditation for many years and continue to be focused on ensuring staff are supported to do the best job they can, able to develop to their skills and feel valued in the workplace. Our CEO, Shigufta Khan, who has led the organisation for many years, is an expert in the field of domestic abuse and commands respect for her knowledge, approach and leadership both internally and externally with partners. She works with the SLT and trustees to ensure the effective delivery of our strategic plan and to achieve our mission and live by our values.

We started the financial year in a positive position and were encouraged that employing both a consultant bid writer and fundraiser were successful in raising funds. Staying true to our focus of tackling domestic abuse we were able to secure funding to add benefit to our services. Given the success of our consultant fundraiser the Board agreed to create a specific post to add to our staffing structure. This post has now been recruited to. There is no doubt that the funding landscape is becoming more challenging and consequently we have looked at ways to reduce our reliance on grants and commissions and boost our unrestricted funding. This gives us opportunities to use this money to develop new initiatives that fit with our core business. We were pleased to receive a grant for four years from The Leathersellers and we successfully re-tendered for the Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authority Domestic Abuse commission. In the coming year we want to explore new funding avenues that would enable us to create additional provision that will strengthen and complement our services. We also want to develop our engagement and partnership model so that we build relationships with corporate sponsors, local businesses and the community. We have already made some valuable links with businesses and companies who want to support our cause and their involvement has been priceless. We held our first fundraising ball and raised an amazing £10,000. The ball was sponsored by Haydock Finance a local business who has supported us for many years. We also raised over £3,000 from a lunch organised by the women’s business network. Individuals and groups have taken on sponsored challenges too, the Morecambe Bay Walk and Walk the Big One at Blackpool are two such events. This type of support is invaluable to us and ensures we can continue to support people in our community. We had hoped our charity shop would contribute to our fundraising efforts but unfortunately it has not proved as successful as we expected. Whilst it has been a positive community asset in raising the profile of the Wish Centre it has not raised the expected funds. We therefore made the decision to close the shop and invest in other areas of direct work. We believed this was a more productive way of supporting our beneficiaries.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

We have begun a review of our financial processes to ensure we have the most effective approach going forward, enabling us to demonstrate accountability, transparency and rigour. A working party comprising of senior staff members and trustees is taking the lead in this and will report to the Board. This work will shape how we develop our financial strategy for the future. Following a tendering process we have contracted with a new accountancy firm and new auditors. We continue to manage an investment portfolio with the support of a financial advisor. The Finance and Audit Committee meets on a regular basis to scrutinise our financial security and sustainability and reports to the Board.

Our communication strategy has continued to develop throughout the year and we are proud of our social media profile. Reaching our partners, colleagues and the wider community is vital in publicising the services we offer, getting information about domestic abuse into the public domain and building our supporter base. Developing our advocacy role links well with our communication strategy and having a defined post holder role within the organsiation has been very productive. It has expanded our reach at a local level through positive media engagement and has boosted our training offer. Training and education have been a focal point for the Wish Centre for many years and this year has seen this develop further by forging new links with individuals, statutory and voluntary agencies, companies and sponsors.

Engaging with victims and survivors of domestic abuse is very important to us and using social media we have been able to achieve this and further develop it. Championing co-production means we develop services and activities that are meaningful to service users, for example, our recently relaunched peer support group, tailored events and groups within our refuges and young people taking part in local partnership activities. Learning from people with lived experience is vital to ensuring our services remain relevant to those who seek support.

Working for the benefit of the community and specifically those people who are suffering or at risk of suffering from domestic abuse is and always has been our focal point. We have not strayed from the mission of listening, supporting, empowering people across Lancashire to be free from abuse. We have a clear view of the services we want to provide and develop and the values we want to demonstrate in all our work. Identifying funding and partnerships that will promote this is key to our continued success and sustainability. We want a safer community; we want to be part of achieving this and we believe we have shown over many years the drive and commitment to do this.

Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime and horrendously affects the lives of adults and children/young people. For the year ending March 2024 the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that 4.8% of people over the age of 16 experienced domestic abuse in the previous year (2.3 million people). However, the Office of National Statistics using newly designed survey questions estimated that for the same period 8.0% of people over 16 had experienced domestic abuse (3.9 million people) We know it is a gendered crime with women disproportionally affected. The statistics highlight that 1:4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. In domestic abuse cases 84% of victims are female whilst 93% of defendants are male. 20% of children have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse. 41% of girls in the UK, aged 14 to 17 in an intimate relationship experienced some form of sexual violence from their partner. On average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex partner every five days in England and Wales. We are aware of the links between domestic abuse and the impact on mental health and research is showing the significant links with suicide. In the year 2023-24 there were 262 deaths in England and Wales recorded as being related to domestic abuse by the Domestic Homicide Project with 98 classified as suspected suicide. These figures shock but they are factual, and this is why the Wish Centre is a vital service, here for those who need support.

Behind the statistics are real people who we support each day, people who have had the courage to come forward to share their experiences and make the journey to live a life free from abuse. People who recognise they want their children to live in safe households, people who know they need to change their abusive behaviour and seek help to do so.

We must thank our staff and volunteer team for the amazing work they undertake day in, day out, to our supporters and donors who make our work possible and to our partners who work side by side with us.

We dedicate our report to the victims and survivors of domestic abuse, adults, children and young people, past and present. Your courage and strength mean we carry on.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

The Wish Centre services

This is what we currently offer in our communities:

Safe accommodation - safe accommodation provided in Blackburn with Darwen consists of five individual houses with a staffed support block as well as 9 flats with a staffed flat. Emotional and practical support is provided to enable women to live a life free from abuse. Victim programmes and programmes for children are provided on site as well as counselling services. Resettlement support is provided to support residents to move-on into their own accommodation and settle into their new communities.

IDVA / Advice service - support is offered to anyone who is impacted by domestic abuse and we welcome self-referrals, agency referrals and referrals from the police. Risk assessments and safety planning are undertaken with victims who may have been impacted by physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic abuse including forced marriages, so called honour-based abuse or female genital mutilation. To best serve the communities we work in and ensure that we can meet the needs of our service users we employ specialist ethnic minorities IDVAs, a specialist stalking ISAC case worker and an IDVA focusing on older people’s needs and a CHIDVA a specialist IDVA supporting young people in abusive relationships. We have added to the team an Emotional Health & Well-being Practitioner recognising the emotional and psychological needs of service users from an early stage of engagement. We also work closely with the police delivering Operation Provide, a direct service to victims where police colleagues are responding to domestic abuse call outs. IDVAs and police officers will work hand in hand to support victims.

Sanctuary Scheme - as well as supporting victims to access alternative accommodation we also provide support to ensure that victims living in their own homes are safe. A range of safety measures are available, for example, personal alarms, window & door alarms, lock changes and CCTV that can be provided to individuals to make their homes safer.

Programmes for adults - we offer a range of interventions for victims including AIM - a therapeutic programme that educates victims on domestic abuse and the impact that it can have on them and the way they parent. In addition, we offer The Recovery Toolkit which is a programme that supports women to move on from an abusive relationship. The programme helps women to develop their own strengths, resources and healthy coping strategies.

Programmes for perpetrators - The Wish Centre has been delivering interventions for perpetrators since 2011 in Blackburn with Darwen and this has been extended to cover Lancashire. Group programmes and 1:1 interventions are being delivered across the geographical area. The Make the Change© programme has been developed over many years and the evidence shows the effectiveness in changing men’s abusive behaviour. Gateway to Change© has been developed to precede our main programme and this raises awareness of domestic abuse. This helps some people who believe they do not require an intervention assess how Make the Change© could be beneficial.

Project CARA (cautioning and relationship abuse) - This strand of work is delivered by specialist staff. It is an early intervention programme aimed at perpetrators of domestic abuse and sits within the criminal justice system. People referred to the programme will have met specific criteria to be issued with a Conditional Caution. Under the new two-tier policing framework CARA will be used for offenders receiving a Diversionary Caution. The programme consists of two workshops held 4 weeks apart focusing on supporting perpetrators to make better behaviour choices in their relationships. It is hoped through this work people will be directed to access our Make the Change programme. Like our perpetrator programmes there will be a focus on ensuring the safety of victims and specialist CARA staff will link with victim services to ensure safeguarding and support for victims is at the forefront of the project. We are currently working with partners to embed this work.

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Trustees' Report

Programmes for children & young people - a range of therapeutic programmes for children and young people are being delivered in our refuges and in the community. These include:

Young People’s Recovery Toolkit, a therapeutic programme for young people that is informed by Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Expect Respect which is a programme aimed at empowering young women to expect respect in their relationships. Through a range of engaging activities and discussions, this programme aims to enable participants to learn about domestic abuse and identify healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Growing Together addresses the challenging issues of personal space, awareness of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, and safety planning. Three themes, called Protective Behaviours, are reinforced throughout the programme.

Parachute Programme is aimed at young people who have been identified as needing help in managing conflict in their relationships. Parachute is aimed at young people who may already have a history of resorting to violence to try and solve conflict. They may have a history of frequent conflict at home, in their relationships, or at school. This programme is being delivered in schools in Blackburn, Darwen and across Lancashire.

RYPP (Respect Young People’s Programme) is a programme for families where children or young people aged between 10 and 16 are abusive or violent towards the people close to them, particularly their parents or carers. This abuse may be physical, verbal, financial, coercive or emotional and may include behaviour like hitting, making threats or causing damage in the home. The parent or carer and the young person both complete the programme.

IRISi - this programme which is new to Lancashire is in collaboration with Lancashire Victim Services, Fylde Coast Women’s Aid and clinical leads from the NHS Lancashire and Cumbria Integrated Care Board. The programme embeds identification of domestic abuse and referral pathways in primary care ensuring victims are identified at an earlier stage and offered the right interventions and support.

Counselling - we have developed a counselling service that proactively responds to individual needs, especially where people have long waits for other counselling provision. Counselling is provided by both paid staff and trainee counsellors and is available for all adult service users. We now have therapists who can offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We also offer counselling for children and young people where appropriate. Within our refuges we have an Animal Therapist who undertakes sessions with families. We have recently appointed a Counselling Co-ordinator who is overseeing all our counselling provision.

Communication with our communities - Using social media channels and our website we are committed to raising awareness within our local areas about domestic abuse. Enhancing people’s knowledge about domestic abuse so people can recognise it and find support is crucial to individual and community safety. We have developed a communication strategy that ensures we use social media productively to distribute meaningful information, messages and ways of finding support. This has been valuable in helping people support friends and family, giving people the knowledge to recognise they are being abused and signpost people to support services. Our communication also helps those who want to change their abusive behaviour access support too. Year on year by communicating with our communities we increase the likelihood of people reaching out for support.

Where appropriate we will join with campaigns to influence social policy, raise awareness and call out wrongful practices.

Trauma informed practice - As previously stated all our staff team and volunteers are trained in trauma informed practice.

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Support to colleagues from local agencies - alongside our direct support to people in the community we also act as a point of contact for professionals who require support whilst working with those affected by domestic abuse. Our well-respected staff team offer timely, well-researched advice and guidance to colleagues from the voluntary and statutory sectors. Many of our staff team also contribute to professional training locally, regionally and nationally. Many of our volunteers offer advice and guidance from the perspective of having lived experience.

Supporting strategic development - managers and staff members contribute to the strategic development of services, policy, guidance and legislation relating to violence against women and girls. Our Chief Executive sits on local and national forums ensuring positive responses to victims of domestic abuse, identifying ways to prevent abuse and developing partnerships across local agencies. She sits on the advisory panel for Children in Need. She also contributes to regional and national developments, for example, representing the VCF sector on the Safeguarding Adults Board and in the Primary Care Network meetings (PCNs) as well as representing the organisation at the Home Office.

Volunteers - as an organisation we are committed to enhancing the services we provide to the community by recruiting volunteers. We provide training and support for our volunteers and endeavour to offer them opportunities that will be fulfilling and enjoyable. Our volunteers get involved in many different aspects of our work.

The Wish Centre purpose and objectives

Our charity’s purpose is set out in the objects contained in the company’s memorandum and articles of association. The trustees believe we continue to act within our defined objects.

Our 2022-2025 strategic plan which is coming to an end has enabled our work to continue and develop.

Strategic themes:

Strategic priorities:

In assessing our strategic progress, we believe we have demonstrated how we have met our objectives, achieved our priorities, stayed true to our core values and principles and offered benefit to the public.

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Trustees' Report

Reflecting on the year

Reviewing the past year provides us with an opportunity to look back, recognise our achievements, and reflect on our performance. We have continued to support large numbers of individuals and families and enabled many to leave abusive situations or change abusive behaviours.

In the last 12 months we have reviewed our organisational structure and governance, investing in improvements that strengthen our foundations for the future. We have remained alert to external factors influencing domestic abuse nationally and regionally and have played an active role in partnerships that shape social policy and drive positive change. We have kept abreast of devolution and are actively seeking to strengthen our local partnerships in readiness. We have continued to promote a culture where equality, diversity and inclusion are central to all that we do and our annual IIP review report reflects our determination to ensure we listen to our staff, review our wellbeing offer as well as our reward and recognition policy. We remain committed to the green agenda striving to minimise our environmental impact.

What follows is a summary of some of the year’s key highlights.

Delivery of High-Quality Services

We have continued to deliver our core services, embedded our wellbeing service and strengthened our counselling offer. We have continued to support our families in refuge by ensuring that they are prioritised for counselling and families continue to receive support from the animal therapist.

Our IDVA service supported 2095 individuals, all of whom received safety plans. Of these, 415 were identified as being at the highest risk of serious harm or death. Every person who needed help was offered support. We have continued to collaborate with Lancashire Constabulary on Operation Provide, ensuring that first response visits to victims include both a police officer and an IDVA. Our IDVA team has offered dedicated support to victims who do not have recourse to public funds, older people, victims of stalking and younger victims who needed additional support with safety planning.

There were 399 referrals to our victim programmes, AIM and Recovery Toolkit. These programmes are a lifeline for many victims helping them to understand the abuse they have experienced, rebuild confidence, and move towards lives free from violence.

A total of 431 children and young people took part in our programmes, benefiting significantly from our interventions. We have moved our programme delivery from a community base to local schools and this has increased our reach and we have been able to support more young people.

We received 21 referrals for our behaviour change programmes, designed to stop abusive behaviour as part of a holistic approach to ending domestic abuse. These programmes continue to achieve positive outcomes and real behaviour change.

We received 130 referrals for safe accommodation and were able to house 30 women and their 52 children. Families and individual women continue to stay with us longer than needed due to a shortage of housing.

Our counselling service supported 60 people this year, and with its continued development, we expect to reach even more in the future.

We have seen an increase in the number of people presenting with additional needs and of those referred 1114 had mental health needs and 765 had issues related to drugs or alcohol. Strong links with local services have been vital in ensuring people receive comprehensive, joined-up support.

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Trustees' Report

Partnership working remains essential to our approach, and we have continued to strengthen collaborations that enhance the support available to those who need it most.

Our training offer continues to grow and in the last 12 months we have delivered training to 560 people. This has included staff from Blackburn & Darwen Borough Council, Lancashire Police, BwD Foster Carers, NSPCC staff, GP’s and practice staff and frontline practitioners and managers employed by Lancashire County Council.

Raising Awareness and Building Support

It is crucial that we can raise public awareness of domestic abuse and the services available to support victims and all those affected by the abuse. Our communications team has surpassed all expectations this year and we have increased our reach through our various social media channels. We have reached 155,200 through Facebook and Instagram. Interactions with our content has surpassed 11,000. For Facebook that is a 306% increase from last year. On LinkedIn we have reached 14,700 individuals. We have been invited to take part in media interviews with BBC Radio Lancashire and Bauer Media Group, podcasts and conferences and all these give us a platform to share knowledge and resources and share our perspective on “hot topics” in national and local media, such as the trial relating to the tragic death of Kiena Dawes, funds being released by the OPCC to tackle VAWG and the prisoner early release scheme. More reach means more information about our services is disseminated, support from donors is increased and there is more awareness about issues related to domestic abuse.

It is becoming increasingly challenging to secure sustained funding, we have therefore prioritised how we do this by ensuring we have a dedicated bid writer to support our funding applications. We have continued to invest in a fundraising consultant who has helped us with various events. These have included a Christmas Crafts evening; a Ladies Lunch; Morecambe Bay walk; Walk the Big One; Run for Wish to commemorate those lost through so called “Honour” based abuse and lots of supermarket collections (thanks to Forbes solicitors for support). We have gained excellent sponsorships from local firms, including Haydock Finance, Watson Ramsbottom solicitors, Blackburn Chemicals, Eco Giant and Cartwright King Solicitors to name just a few.

Sustaining our services requires ongoing funding. Investing in a dedicated, experienced fundraiser has significantly increased our unrestricted income, expanded our local networks, and strengthened relationships with businesses and the community. This year’s fundraising initiatives included a fashion show, Walk the Big One (Blackpool), the Morecambe Bay Walk, our first charity Ball, and multiple supermarket collections-supported by Forbes Solicitors.

Organisation, governance and managing risk

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Responding to external drivers

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Green agenda

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Delivering public benefit

The trustees confirm they have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning the Wish Centre’s activities. All our services and specific projects are geared to advancing our charitable objects, namely, to support adults and children who are suffering or at risk of suffering domestic abuse. Alongside this we made the decision over 14 years ago that to safeguard women who were victims of abuse we should tackle male violence and abuse head on. To this end we developed programmes that supported men to change their abusive behaviour. These programmes have proved beneficial in helping participants of our groups and 1:1 interventions to stop being abusive. Whilst this is positive for the men involved and to their current or future partners and children it is also of benefit to wider community safety.

Alongside the direct work we undertake with families and individuals we take pride in the development of our educative role through our work with children and young people in schools, colleges and our refuges, our training offer and work with local partners and our social media presence. Again, we believe this raises people's awareness and leads to safer communities. We have also undertaken campaigning in the year so that we can add our voices and those of service users to issues relating to violence against women and girls, social policy and legislative change.

We are advocates for co-production and ensure we work alongside services users to develop new services and projects, improve our refuge provision and come together to campaign for change. We have gained the Investing In Children Award for our participation work with children and young people. We have many processes in place to gather feedback on the services we provide, we hold consultation sessions, have regular meetings in refuge, have peer support groups run by volunteers with lived experience - all ways to make people feel able to give their views. We also ensure we learn from any complaints, comments and compliments that people want to share. We capture data that helps us to know what works and what needs reviewing and use all this information to improve our provision.

Having feedback from those who use our services is the best way to show what differences we are making to people’s lives. Here are some examples of direct quotes and some narrative from case studies to show what has been beneficial to people.

Children and young people’s programmes

Feedback we receive from schools and young people we support highlights the importance of the work we deliver. The Head teacher at the Primary school has said she “does not want the Growing Together programme to end”.

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Some examples of the difference the Parachute Programme has made are highlighted below:

A young girl we have worked with witnessed domestic abuse between her parents, she no longer has any contact with her father. The impact of the trauma she had suffered meant she felt depressed and isolated. Her attendance at school had deteriorated. The practitioner who worked with her helped her to use safe coping strategies to manage her emotions, listened to her and provided emotional support. As a result of the interventions the young person has developed a better relationship with her mother and her attendance at school has improved.

Another example is when we worked with a young man, W, who had witnessed physical abuse between his mum and her partner. They had to leave and access refuge accommodation. W was angry and verbally and physically abusive towards his mum. Mum was heavily pregnant when the referral was made. In addition, there was an ongoing court case in relation to the domestic abuse the family had fled where mum and W had to give evidence. W engaged well on the programme, the delivery started when he was in refuge and the sessions ended as the family moved into their own home. Mum was very positive about the changes she had seen in W. The abusive behaviour had ceased, and they had a more positive relationship.

“I [now] stay away from conflict and concentrate on my education and building my future career” (Parachute)

“I’ve learnt that I need to be a better role model for my sibling. I can’t let my mum down as she’s been through a lot” (Parachute)

“It has worked [the programme] which proves it’s better than the rest...it helped me be a better person with my mum. I’m not broken any more. I just needed to know where it all came from” (RYPP)

“I have future goals and plans to become successful” (Parachute)

Adult victim programmes

Q. What was the main learning point from this programme?

“The programme gave me a lot of knowledge and a huge amount of awareness”

“I was able to talk about my situation and recognise the signs and triggers of abuse. I enjoyed the programme”

Q. How will the programme help you in the future?

“It will stop me being blindsided and help me make my own choices”

“I will definitely be more confident and recognise when a relationship is unhealthy. I will stop blaming myself for everything that happened in my relationship”

“I have completed the programme which I failed to do a few years ago as at that time I was in an abusive relationship. Completing this programme has opened my eyes to how serious abuse is and how it can happen to anyone”

“I enjoyed these sessions very much and I learned a lot about self-confidence and more red flags for toxic partners and narcissistic personalities. I learned how to protect myself and my daughter from them”

“Looking at signs of trauma and signs you’re healing from trauma. Thinking about changes I can make to improve my own mental health and reduce my anxieties”

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Behaviour change programmes

Q. Do you feel you have a better understanding of other people’s feelings and perspectives?

A. “Yeah - I can see that people have their own feelings on things and not everyone feels the same way”

“In my relationship I said things because I really wanted to hurt her bad things that didn’t even make sense we sat down we’ve talked about these issues in a nice calm talk and hearing from her really hit home what I was actually like” “I look back at it (my behaviour) and it was wrong. I could have gone a whole different way about it. I hold accountability for what took place”

“I feel like I can better put myself in someone else’s shoes. The videos that we watched showed the effects that other people were experiencing, it was upsetting”

“Since learning from the programme I am now able to understand my feelings and can regulate my moods more positively than previously”

“For the future I want to be the best I can for my partner and for kids. Not going to react to stuff I’ve overreacted to in the past, leave it walkaway”

IDVA service

“I just want to thank you so much for your help. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to go through all this. We are not there yet but everything seems to be going in the right direction”

This woman had to leave the family home and was found safe accommodation. The children moved with her and ultimately a new home was found for them all. She was supported to report the abuse to the police and manage the ordeal of court proceedings. A Prohibited Steps Order and Non-Molestation Order were put in place. The woman felt safe enough to go back to work.

From our Emotional Well-being Practitioner work - during the sessions the client became increasingly optimistic about her ability to work through her traumatic experiences and believed that she would ultimately be able to heal and move forward with her life. Client believed she would be able to have a home life with her child and they would be able to move on.

“There are millions of ways that Wish have been useful for but having the support from the Wish Centre made me feel safe and secure. My Wish worker went all out to make sure I had the protection me and my children needed. I came out of an abusive relationship and was so low, scared, wouldn’t go out of the house but with the help of the Wish Centre I built my confidence, had equipment provided to keep me safe and also they helped financially. They were there when I needed someone to talk to”

The counselling service

“Anger was a problem for me but I have found ways to control it with J’s guidance”

“Improvement in my relationship has been a big one and even other people are noticing I am calmer”

Refuge

“Thank you for helping me navigate my way through my darkest days here to keep us safe. You gave us hope. We are so thankful for everything you have done for us. You will always be a huge part of our story”

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

One woman’s journey in refuge - risk identification checklist (RIC) undertaken, referral made to MARAC, referral for an in-house counsellor, registration with a GP, School places applied for, supported with school appeal, attended AIM, attending You And Me Mum, medical records locked down, DWP records secured, deed poll name change completed, referred for debt advice, attended weekly support sessions, attended animal therapist sessions, went to coffee mornings and other activities organised by refuge staff, made a Clare’s Law application, supported to report abuse to the police, obtained WA Flea Fund, staff attended child protection meetings with the resident, the children were all supported too with their individual needs.

Training offer

“The session was fantastic. Really engaging session. Thank you” - Employer & HR Training

“The training was very informative, useful to my job role and well presented, facilitator was very knowledgeable” - Understanding Coercive Control

“Excellent session and would highly recommend all professionals have this to support their role. Brilliant delivery. Thanks” - Understanding Coercive Control

“The trainer was a great speaker and really helped to get discussions going and improve our understanding” - Enhancing Skills & Knowledge When Determining Primary Aggressor

It is invaluable to have feedback from people who use our services. It identifies the benefits to individuals and our communities and enables us to improve or develop services. It is always a privilege to hear about and see the impact we can have and how we can empower people to make changes in their lives that influence their future wellbeing.

Financial review

Trustees are aware of the deficit incurred during the year, which has arisen as a result of planned investment in the future growth of the charity. With the support of funders, we have continued to deliver services across Lancashire. We want to stay true to our core mission of supporting people suffering or at risk of suffering domestic abuse, however where we see opportunities to deliver better services, we look at ways to do this. This innovation often relies on securing the finances to carry it through. We are grateful therefore for all the individuals, organisations, grant bodies and commissions that help us maintain services and build on them.

Our financial strategy is regularly reviewed, and the Finance and Audit Committee oversees our budget, financial development, contracting and risk. We have successfully secured diverse funding streams that spread the risk to the organisation. Local fundraising and corporate support have helped us to create this diversity. It is very pleasing to report that we still end the year in a positive financial position.

As we look to implement our three-year strategy we want to ensure we maintain our services and continue to be a sustainable organisation.

The financial statement for the year ended 31 March 2025 shows a net deficit in funds of £84,258 (2024: surplus of £304,132). As outlined above the organisation is in a stable position and able to sustain the valuable work we deliver.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Policy on reserves

The Wish Centre is required to hold reserves to achieve its charitable objectives. Reserves enable current activities and liabilities to be met in the event of a significant drop in funding.

The Trustees have reviewed the reserves of the Charity. This review encompassed the nature of the income and expenditure streams, the need to match variable income with fixed commitments and the nature of the reserves.

Reserves at 31 March 2025 amount to:

Designated reserves £2,157,954

Unrestricted reserves £300,000

Total Funds £2,457,954

Having taken into account economic uncertainties being faced by some of our funders, the Trustees have undertaken an assessment of need to support our current and future clients. This should ensure service users and clients are supported in a caring and structured manner if exiting from our services. As in recent accounting periods, the Trustees have balanced the longer term property investment ambitions with their commitment to service delivery. This is evidenced by the direct allocation of reserves to staffing posts that enable meeting the increasing demand for our services.

The Trustees have a stated long-term strategy to build up a sufficient level of reserves to enable The Wish Centre to enter into its next development stage of looking to build a portfolio of 'move-on' properties in the 2025-26 financial year. This initiative is now coming to fruition. The strategy is designed to enhance the charity’s ability to provide safe, stable accommodation for individuals transitioning out of crisis situations, aligning with our core mission and strategic objectives. The Trustees are now confident that we have the processes and structures in place to deliver this next stage of development. To this aim, we have embarked upon a feasibility review of the options and this is may see a potential property investment in excess of 70% of our current free cash reserves, In addition to the capital outlay required for this venture, the trustees are further cognisant of the associated fees and costs of this venture and that is reflected in the reserves.

Restatement of reserves

Following a discussion between the trustees, a conclusion was drawn that the accounts for 31 March 2024 represented the charity having more restricted funds than it realistically had, due to an underreporting of expenditure allocated to these funds.

A decision has been made to look back at the costing for the 2024 funds and restate the costs allocated towards them, in order to better represent the balances left at the end of the year and the implications this would have for the carried forward funds at the end of the current year being audited.

The redistribution of costs between those originally shown as unrestricted to restricted was done by looking at employees during the year ending 31 March 2024 and what projects they would have worked on. This formed the basis on which then the total staff costs, including employer National Insurance and pension contributions, could be calculated by reviewing the payroll reports.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Going concern

The Trustees have assessed the financial position of The Wish Centre and are confident that the organisation remains a going concern. The charity has maintained a strong financial foundation, with reserves significantly above the minimum threshold required to sustain operations.

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the organisation has adequate resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. Over the next couple of years, a number of existing contracts will end which is why the Board has decided to increase the reserves held to ensure that the organisation can continue to deliver outstanding services whilst seeking additional funding. Given this, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Principal funding sources

We are very grateful to the following funders and donors who enable us to deliver our vital services. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Ministry of Justice, Children in Need, Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, Garfield Weston, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Reaching Communities and Spring North.

We are also grateful to the many local groups, significant local employers and individuals who have donated money, goods and services throughout the year.

Investment policy and objectives

The Trustees regularly review funds and designations of reserves. The Articles of Association contains powers to invest funds and the trustees and senior managers work with an investment advisor to develop an investment strategy. Funds have been duly invested having identified the most appropriate means of securing a good return and securing our money.

Structure, governance and management

The Wish Centre is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 1 June 2006. It is also a registered charity, number 1116444.

The principal object of the company is to assist in the relief of women, men and children who have suffered or are at risk of suffering domestic abuse, through the provision of support, advice and accommodation. The organisation’s principal beneficiaries are women and children.

Our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide a framework for the Wish Centre to conduct organisational business. It structures the way the Trustee Board functions and sets out the rules we abide by. The trustees worked with a lawyer, experienced in charity law to review our Articles and they were approved by resolution on the 10 October 2024.

The trustees delegate day to day running of the Wish Centre to the CEO, Shigufta Khan who, with the leadership team, determines the operational processes we need to have in place so that service users get the best provision possible. A goal of the Board is to ensure we offer a non-judgemental, non-discriminatory and inclusive service to individuals. Our senior leadership team also ensure that staff and volunteers are supported to undertake their roles and this is done with their welfare in mind.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

There are ten trustees at present. We have had a stable Board over the past 12 months with one new member. All trustees are also Directors of the Wish Centre given we are a charitable company. Trustees have all committed to achieving the vision and mission of the Wish Centre and are well versed in the responsibilities of being a trustee. In November 2024 we appointed a new SLT member whose responsibilities included supporting trustees and governance. This has resulted in some new ways of working, for example, new processes in place for managing risk, delegated authority, data collection, board reports, and holding meetings.

Our board is diverse, having members with a variety of backgrounds, knowledge and skills. We have people with lived experience who can speak with authority about domestic abuse. We continue to hold trustee days where we can review board effectiveness, skills gaps and consider developments for the future.

The board continues to meet bi-monthly, alternate meetings taking place face to face at a community venue with other meetings utilising Teams. This has proved successful in enabling trustees who live a distance from our offices to take part. It also helps trustees who are working. It is another way too that we can fulfil our commitment to reducing our carbon footprints by limiting travel. We have a Finance and Audit Committee which amongst other things undertakes a yearly pay and pension review, assesses financial risk and investments. Recommendations are passed to the board for approval. We have working groups that focus on particular areas such as HR and direct work. We are currently considering our committee structures to make changes to the way trustees are involved in decision making, risk management, action tracking and policy development.

Trustees work closely with the CEO and SLT and where appropriate the wider management team. The CEO has regular 1:1 catch up sessions and formal supervision with the Chair. Staff members are welcome to attend board meetings and contact trustees if required. There is a very open culture regarding communication. Service users can also attend meetings if they choose to. Trustees will attend team meetings and events that take place across the organisation where appropriate. The CEO undertakes a yearly consultation with refuge residents with feedback reported to board and other feedback from services users comes to board. Following a staff survey work has taken place on how best to communicate with staff and new things have been put in place, for example, SLT monthly updates, whole team drop in sessions on line. Communication is something that the trustees want SLT to keep under review so that staff feel connected to the organsiation.

Appointment or election, induction and training of trustees

The recruitment process for new trustees is well embedded in the organisation. An interview is undertaken, references requested, a disclosure and barring check carried out and any further checks required that determines suitability to hold office. An induction pack is given to new trustees that include roles and responsibilities of a trustee, information from the Charity Commission, the Charity Governance Code and information about the organisation. They spend time with the CEO, Chair and staff to familiarise themselves with the Wish Centre activities. They can also undertake a volunteer training programme. Recruits are asked to attend three board meetings, excluding any confidential sections, before being confirmed by existing members. Our new Articles of Association determine the number of meetings that are required in the year and we now hold an annual meeting rather than an AGM where trustees who have reached the end of their term will step down. We now have fixed terms for trustees. The board chair also has a fixed term.

All trustees commit to declaring any personal interests and this is updated each year.

Trustees undertake a set of e-learning safeguarding training and Information Security and GDPR training to equip them for their role. Each member of the Board is encouraged to undertake additional training so they can contribute fully to the Board. There is a training budget to facilitate this.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Decision making

Trustees understand their strategic role within the organisation and that of the CEO who manages day to day operations. There is a clear board meeting structure where decisions are made and recorded. Reports are tabled by the CEO/SLT and managers which give an overview of the work taking place. Each board meeting has a financial section where the budget is formally approved, reviewed and scrutinised, a section regarding risk and one that offers an overview of relevant data, policy ratifications and decision papers. The strategic plan is reviewed at appropriate points in the year. Where there are any special resolutions to be considered a meeting of the whole membership is called. At present the membership exists solely of the trustees/directors. Our audited accounts are presented at the annual meeting, having been approved by the board.

Where decisions are made in an emergency, outside of normal board meetings trustees have the authority to do so. Where possible there are always at least three trustees who consult on the matter to be decided and this is then taken to the next board meeting for ratification. If needed the Chair will make an executive decision and update the other trustees as soon as possible. These processes are regularly reviewed.

Risk management

There is a process in place for managing risk within the organisation and on a day to day basis the CEO is responsible for overseeing this. We have undertaken a review of how we manage, record and review risk and have a process in place now where we have risk leads who have the responsibility to review risk on a quarterly basis. It is a dynamic process that each lead manages. Our risk register is freely available for trustees to scrutinise at any point. We are currently reviewing our financial processes and internal controls. We have a new HR database that allows trustees to see metrics relating to employees, for example, sickness rates and staff turnover.

The trustees are assured that we have a robust risk management process in place that ensures staff, stakeholders, services users and the organsiation are secure and a process so that we can regularly review this.

Looking ahead

The focus of our new three year strategy is to provide quality services, demonstrate impact, increase our influence and reach and accelerate progress. We see the priorities as continuing to build the positive culture across the Wish Centre and our communication strategy, funding our future, caring for our environment, strengthening our systems and creating the best staffing and support structures we can. Alongside this, as always, we want to continue to provide high quality services. Our aims and priorities can be defined using three strands.

People: embed a well-being culture; ensure professional and informed support to service users; be a flexible employer; empower managers.

Performance: work within an accountability framework; have shared and measured KPIs and OKRs; utilise digital and AI systems; improve knowledge management. Improve environmental sustainability.

Reach: influence and develop our advocacy role, champion co-production and partnerships; ready ourselves for local government reorganisation and regional devolution.

We are excited to be looking ahead, resolute in our commitment to continue to support the community, provide services that people need and work towards our vision of seeing a world free from domestic abuse. We look forward to working with survivors, partners, supporters and funders to achieve our goals. We know there is still much more to do but our staff team and trustees are eager to do all in their power to achieve this. We know the coming years will hold many challenges and we have developed strategies to manage these. We welcome the new Charity Code of Governance and will use this to further develop governance of the Wish Centre.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

We know one of our priorities is to maintain funding for the valuable services we provide so diversifying our income streams is vital. We want to be ready for devolution and local government reorganisation. We understand the importance of working with partners and developing collaborative relationships so we can support each other, cooperating rather than competing. We want to continue to learn from all our stakeholders to make our services have meaning to the people who need to access them.

Our staff and volunteer team is crucial to the Wish Centre success, and we want to ensure they are cared for in the best possible way so they can carry on doing the amazing work they do.

We want to stay true to our values as we continue to work for and with people in our community. We want to listen, support and empower.

A final word

This has been an exciting year and one where we have been able to make a significant difference to people’s lives. Referrals to our services increased again and with a real effort from our staff/volunteers we rose to this challenge. Feedback from services users and other organisations we work closely with gave us the information we needed to know we had made that difference.

We know the challenges that lay ahead and we are ready for them. We are in a strong financial position which means we can look at creating new opportunities for supporting people in our communities. We can focus on strengthening our existing core offer and developing new work strands. However, we are never complacent about our position and trustees and senior staff will work tirelessly to continue to achieve excellence. We have invested in valuable support staff to help us in our journey.

We are incredibly proud of our achievements over the past year, but these have only been possible because we have such an outstanding team. New staff have joined well-established, highly experienced practitioners and managers which has created a perfect mix. New staff with new ideas has again invigorated the team. We thank them all for their contributions, dedication and passion.

Our year has seen families and single women safely housed in our refuges, we have kept victims of abuse safe in our communities, helped men to change their abusive behaviour and provided individually focused support to children and young people. We have cared for people’s mental health and wellbeing and at the core of all this we have listened, supported and empowered. Alongside our direct work we have also supported colleagues through our training and advocacy offer.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout the year. From the child who brought in some Easter eggs to the companies who have donated thousands of pounds. It all makes a huge difference and means we can carry on our work, but it also says to victims and survivors we care about you. That is a powerful message.

Please do remember all those victims and survivors and all the women and children who have lost their lives through domestic abuse.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Trustees' Report

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each trustee has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditor is unaware.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 18 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... Rabiya Gangreker Trustee

......................................... Pauline Geraghty MBE Trustee

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

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

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

Approved by the trustees of the charity on 18 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... Rabiya Gangreker Trustee

......................................... Pauline Geraghty MBE Trustee

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for opinion

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' Report.

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

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (set out on page 21), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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

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

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, 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 charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

...................................... Mark Heaton FCCA DchA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of KM, Statutory Auditor

1st Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG

18 December 2025

Page 25

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

(Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income from:
Donations
4
Charitable activities
5
Investment income
6
Other income
7
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
8
Charitable activities
9
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
20		 Unrestricted
funds
£
55,341
842,760
48,995
6,480
953,576
(18,121)
(872,025)
(890,146)
63,430
397,967
461,397
1,996,557
2,457,954		 Restricted
funds
£
-
495,354
-
-
495,354
(310)
(642,732)
(643,042)
(147,688)
(397,967)
(545,655)
545,655
-		 Total
2025
£
55,341
1,338,114
48,995
6,480
1,448,930
(18,431)
(1,514,757)
(1,533,188)
(84,258)
-
(84,258)
2,542,212
2,457,954		 Unrestricted
funds
£
27,955
905,812
19,008
6,346
959,121
(36,630)
(486,780)
(523,410)
435,711
-
435,711
1,560,846
1,996,557		 Restricted
funds
£
-
694,242
-
-
694,242
-
(825,821)
(825,821)
(131,579)
-
(131,579)
677,234
545,655		 Total
2024
£
27,955
1,600,054
19,008
6,346
1,653,363
(36,630)
(1,312,601)
(1,349,231)
304,132
-
304,132
2,238,080
2,542,212

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 20.

The notes on pages 29 to 37 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

(Registration number: 05834929) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
15
Current assets
Debtors
16
Investments
17
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
18
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
20		 2025
£
598
178,898
1,552,297
795,954
2,527,149
(69,793)
2,457,356
2,457,954
-
2,457,954
2,457,954		 2024
£
1,949
46,507
1,506,693
1,049,831
2,603,031
(62,768)
2,540,263
2,542,212
545,655
1,996,557
2,542,212

The financial statements on pages 26 to 37 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 18 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... Rabiya Gangreker Trustee

......................................... Pauline Geraghty MBE Trustee

The notes on pages 29 to 37 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 27

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Note
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash (expenditure)/income
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items
Depreciation
8
Investment income
6
Working capital adjustments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
16
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
18
Net cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest receivable and similar income
6
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
15
Cash deposit investments
Net cash flows from investing activities
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March		 2025
£
(84,258)
1,667
(48,995)
(131,586)
(132,390)
7,025
(256,951)
3,391
(317)
-
3,074
(253,877)
1,049,831
795,954		 2024
£
304,132
3,117
(19,008)
288,241
108,939
(17,458)
379,722
19,008
-
(1,506,693)
(1,487,685)
(1,107,963)
2,157,794
1,049,831

All of the cash flows are derived from continuing operations during the above two periods.

The notes on pages 29 to 37 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 28

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: Unit 21 Business Development Centre Eanam Wharf Eanam Old Road Blackburn BB1 5BL

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the trustees on 18 December 2025.

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

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

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd 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 notes.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

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 the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

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Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class

Furniture and equipment

Depreciation method and rate 33% per annum straight line basis

Current asset investments

Current asset investments are included at the lower of cost and net realisable value / market value.

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due for services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Page 30

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

3 Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

Judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both periods.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

There are no critical accounting estimates and judgements.

Page 31

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

4 Income from donations

Donations
5
Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
Housing benefit
239,233
Rents received
23,900
Government grants
555,489
Grants from other institutions
24,138
842,760
6
Investment income
Interest receivable on bank deposits
7
Other income
Shop income		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
55,341
55,341
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
383,531
111,823
495,354
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
48,995
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
6,480		 Total
2025
£
55,341
55,341
Total
2025
£
239,233
23,900
939,020
135,961
1,338,114
Total
2025
£
48,995
Total
2025
£
6,480		 Total
2024
£
27,955
27,955
Total
2024
£
230,642
22,410
1,260,512
86,490
1,600,054
Total
2024
£
19,008
Total
2024
£
6,346

Page 32

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

8 Expenditure on raising funds

a) Costs of trading activities

Shop expenditure
Other direct costs of generating
voluntary income		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
3,213
14,908
18,121		 Restricted
funds
£
310
-
310		 Total
2025
£
3,523
14,908
18,431		 Total
2024
£
12,147
24,483
36,630

9 Expenditure on charitable activities

Note
Charitable activities
Depreciation
Governance costs
10
Staff costs
12		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
262,564
1,668
13,050
594,743
872,025		 Restricted
funds
£
106,596
-
-
536,136
642,732		 Total
2025
£
369,160
1,668
13,050
1,130,879
1,514,757		 Total
2024
£
290,861
3,117
7,850
1,010,773
1,312,601

10 Analysis of governance and support costs

Governance costs

Audit fees
Audit of the financial statements
Legal fees		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
11,250
1,800
13,050		 Total
2025
£
11,250
1,800
13,050		 Total
2024
£
7,850
-
7,850

Page 33

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

11 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

12 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2025
£
1,009,270
88,960
32,649
1,130,879		 2024
£
906,451
76,360
27,962
1,010,773

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:

Employees

2025 2024
No No
41 41

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £112,618 (2024 - £109,148).

13 Auditors' remuneration

Audit of the financial statements
14 Taxation		 2025
£
11,250		 2024
£
7,850

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

Page 34

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

15 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
16 Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
Other debtors
17 Current asset investments
Current asset investments
18 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Accruals		 Furniture and
equipment
£
150,182
317
150,499
148,234
1,667
149,901
598
1,948
2025
£
135,262
10,239
26,807
6,590
178,898
2025
£
1,552,297
2025
£
7,803
5,385
56,605
69,793		 Furniture and
equipment
£
150,182
317
150,499
148,234
1,667
149,901
598
1,948
2025
£
135,262
10,239
26,807
6,590
178,898
2025
£
1,552,297
2025
£
7,803
5,385
56,605
69,793		 Total
£
150,182
317
150,499
148,234
1,667
149,901
598
1,948
2024
£
17,485
6,600
15,832
6,590
150,499
148,234
1,667
149,901
598
1,948
2025
£
135,262
10,239
26,807
6,590
178,898
2025
£
1,552,297
2025
£
7,803
5,385
56,605
69,793
46,507
2024
£
1,506,693
2024
£
935
3,280
58,553
62,768

Page 35

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

19 Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £32,649 (2024 - £27,962).

20 Funds

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Designated fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Designated fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance at 1
April 2024
£
245,163
1,751,394
1,996,557
545,655
2,542,212
Balance at 1
April 2023
£
362,846
1,198,000
1,560,846
677,234
2,238,080		 Incoming
resources
£
953,576
-
953,576
495,354
1,448,930
Incoming
resources
£
959,121
-
959,121
694,242
1,653,363		 Resources
expended
£
(890,146)
-
(890,146)
(643,042)
(1,533,188)
Resources
expended
£
(523,410)
-
(523,410)
(825,821)
(1,349,231)		 Transfers
£
(8,593)
406,560
397,967
(397,967)
-
Transfers
£
(553,394)
553,394
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2025
£
300,000
2,157,954
2,457,954
-
2,457,954
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
245,163
1,751,394
1,996,557
545,655
2,542,212

Following a discussion between the trustees, a conclusion was drawn that the accounts for 31 March 2024 represented the charity having more restricted funds than it realistically had, due to an underreporting of expenditure allocated to these funds.

Further information can be found within the Trustees' Report.

Page 36

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

21 Analysis of net assets between funds

21 Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,949
2,057,376
(62,768)
1,996,557		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
598
2,527,149
(69,793)
2,457,954
Restricted
funds
£
-
545,655
-
545,655		 Total funds at
31 March
2025
£
598
2,527,149
(69,793)
2,457,954
Total funds at
31 March
2024
£
1,949
2,603,031
(62,768)
2,542,212

22 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

Page 37