Annual safe Report 24/25 www.thesafefoundation.co.uk ## Year Overview **24/25** ## **OUR TRUSTEES** **==> picture [405 x 19] intentionally omitted <==** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Mark Hannah Rae Rhiannon Rick
Dickenson Fitt Luxon Gamble Stratton- Thomas
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Always proud, Always SAFE Time to take stock and look back over another year! It’s always difficult to know where to begin as I’ve got to be objective, realistic and (just for a little while) separate myself from SAFE. A few thigs strike me immediately: the wonderful people who’ve joined us as staff are so in tune with the whole SAFE ethos, and our volunteers are so committed (and ever growing in numbers!) At the very heart of SAFE it’s always been about people, and I think we deserve a collective pat on the back for getting it consistently right. Our incredible directors, trustees, staff and volunteers doing so much to help each and every beneficiary at home and overseas. It’s been such a thrill to finally feel the pandemic is behind us with our first volunteer trip to India after a loooong break. It’s been so satisfying to see SAFE become much more involved in the Railway Gardens community, It’s been hugely rewarding to watch our UK activities evolve and grow. As our twentieth anniversary approaches, I’ve been inclined to reflect on the last twenty years, how we’ve grown, what we’ve achieved, as all of us begin to look forward to the challenges to come in the next twenty. I can honestly say I’m blown away by what everyone has done and I know, without shadow of a doubt, that everyone will continue to give SAFE the time, energy and love that makes it such a special thing. If you love someone, tell them! Dicko x ## **Mark Dickenson** (Chair of Trustees) _A huge thanks to Rick for serving as a trustee for the last year and a half, Rock has n0w gone on to start his own non-mainstream education project Digging Deep CIC and we look forward to collaborating with him in the future,_ ## Year Overview **24/25** ## **OUR STAFF** Angela Bettany Operations Director Caz Clark Finance Director Sophie Lewis Volunteer Coordinator Cardiff Hannah Canning Ethical Boutique Area Manager Tacha Huber Global Citizenship Trainer Swansea Rhys Bell Volunteer Coordinator Swansea Rach Sheldon Conscious Coffee Trainer Sypsy Marsh-Cuthoys EB2 Supervisor Phillip Jenkins EB2 Supervisor ## Ethical Boutique **24/25** ## **31 WHITCHURCH ROAD, CARDIFF** This was our last full year at our flagship location on Whitchurch Road, with our lease coming to an end, it's been 6 fantastic years of outreach, volunteer development and diverting clothes and household items from landfill. This store put SAFE on the map in Cardiff for ethical shopping and over the years we grew a loyal following, the store brought an income for our international work but we have now outgrown the space and its time for the next adventure. We will be taking on a new multi-space unit in Cardiff city centre in May 2025. ## **10 CATHEDRAL WALK, ST DAVIDS SHOPPING CENTRE** We are now in our second year at 10 Cathedral Walk, thanks to the ongoing support from Landsec, we are still benefitting from a rent-free unit in the city centre. Phil and Sypsy have grown a team of volunteers and we are reaching new audiences. Along with the two shops we have also taken the Ethical Boutique to events and markets around Cardiff, we have hosted swap shops and mending events ## Around The World **24/25** ## **OUR WORK IN MASINAGUDI, INDIA** This year we increased out support to MYWA allowing them to employ an additional 3 teachers. By funding the salaries of 8 teachers and educational support staff across three schools in Masinagudi, we help ensure stable, high-quality education for children. This support reduces class sizes, and enables more individualised learning. Through our partnership with MYWA, this investment delivers lasting benefits for both students and the wider community. ## **OUR WORK IN MUGAIYUR, INDIA** In November 2024 we took 9 young people on a volunteering and cultural exchange thanks to funding from TAITH and the RSA. On this trip the young people learned to sew cook bags and make sun cookers with 20 women from Mugaiyur and the surrounding villages. Together they build sewing skills and each took home a cook bag which will help reduce their reliance on burning wood for cooking. WCDT ran the training for an additional 20 women after the visit, the concept was very well recieved. This year the centre has run a 12 month sewing skills training for rural women and also hosted eye clinics for the community. It’s great to see the centre benefitting the local people. ## **OUR WORK IN LUMPA, SIERRA LEONE** This year saw Enda Lombe-King become headmistress of Kankalay Islamic Primary school. The school continues to be very under-resourced and has had multiple break-ins. Alongside Ms King and Mr Bangura, we are exploring how SAFE can help secure the school so we can invest in it in the future. Costing is underway for the building of a perimeter wall, which would secure the school and improve the site for the children and community. 24125 '::' safe Visits sa li wP4 ## **24/25** ## Around The World ## **OUR WORK IN TORORO, UGANDA** This year we have supported ACET to pay for the school fees and medical needs of 12 children with varying disabilities. Without support these children would not be able to go to school. ACET partner with teachers to identify children who are missing out on schooling due to poor health, consultations and treatment is covered by the support and the teachers help to select the school that would best support the needs of the child, these fees can be unaffordable for families with low income. ## **WORLDWIDE PROJECT - RSA ECO-COOKERY PROJECT** We have continued to deliver our RSA funded project developing cook-bags with IAR STUDIOS. 40 households in Mugaiyur have now completed the training and are using their bags to cook rice. We will be taking a team to Sierra Leone to make cook bags and sun cookers with the community in 2026. ## **RAILWAY GARDENS - SPLOTT** Another great year being based at Railway Gardens, this year we have continued to host Eco Markets, helping to found the Eco-Market Collective on which we sit on the board, Sophie and her volunteers secured a Youth Led Grant with C3SC which involved the design and development of BELONG “A Celebration of Culture in Cardiff”. The event was a huge success, bringing together hundreds of people in a culltual exchange filled with positive community energy, ## **24/25** ## Work in Wales ## **GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN ACTION** This year, we expanded our programme of intensive workshops for young people, further developing our Responsible Retail and Conscious Coffee sessions. These workshops help participants explore global issues and culture while empowering them to make positive changes in their own lives and communities. We delivered 132 Global Citizenship workshops for 264 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds whilst the volunteer development element of the project supported 2840 hours of volunteering. We are seeing young people build their confidence, get jobs and engage in meaningful volunteering activities. ## **SAFE O’GYMPAS CYMRU** SAFE O GYMPAS CYMRU (SAFE AROUND WALES) - a project funded by WCVA saw 25 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds recruited and trained in events management skills. Workshops around event design, marketing, budgeting, inclusion and sustainability gave young people meaningful insight and training in the world of events. The young people gained first aid and food hygiene certificates along with practical experience in barista skills, stewarding and retail at 20+ events over the year, ## **CONSCIOUS COFFEE TRAINING** The Conscious Coffee project launched this year thanks to funding from Landsec! This 3-year fund has allowed us to employ a part-time trainer, Rach, who is delivering Global Education through coffee. The fund has purchased us two mobile machines that allow us to deliver the training across Cardiff, volunteers led a coffee shop pop up at railway gardens and we have turned Betty Bus in to a mobile cpffee shop to provide work experience for the learners whilst also fundraising for SAFE! ## **OVER 2840 SUPPORTED VOLUNTEER HOURS** **6 NEW PLACEMENT PARTNERS** **39 NEW VOLUNTEERS INDUCTED** **==> picture [147 x 28] intentionally omitted <==** **----- Start of picture text -----**
3 YOUTH LED
PROJECTS / EVENTS
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## **12 NEW SKILLS PARTNERS** **5 PEER2PEER TRAINERS** ## **22 NEW REFERAL PARTNERS** **132 GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP IN ACTION WORKSHOPS DELIVERED** **264 LEARNERS TRAINED 264 LEARNERS TRAINED** ## Financial Overview **24/25** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** Income increased by £58,317 and expenditure increased by £106,154 compared with last year. Income exceeded expenditure by £4,194. This means that the reserves at the year-end have increased from £134,486 at 31 March 2024 to £138,680 at 31 March 2025. ## **RESERVES POLICY** The Reserves Policy is to maintain a sufficient level of reserves, excluding any restricted reserves, to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of 3 months should a shortfall in income occur and to take into account potential risks and contingencies. The trustees have calculated that for 2024/25, this should be around £47,000. The balance on the unrestricted reserves minus funds allocated for project delivery at the year-end currently stands at £126,303. ## **CONCLUSION** We have been very fortunate to have received support from many different sources, from our funders, individual givers, supporter members to people supporting the ethical boutique with clothing donations and shopping face to face or online. We have managed to end the 2025 financial year with a healthy amount of reserves to see us into the forthcoming financial year with energy, passion and the means to support people around the world and in the UK. ## **Organisations we worked with this year:** MOL Education Whitmore High School Culture Weaver Idrissa Camara Oasis Oasis One World choir Menna Buss Ffrili Jilli Climate Cymru Into Works Cardiff Careers Wales C3SC C3SC Youth Led Panel Green Squirrel Eco Market Collective Cardiff Met University DWP Llamau Sustainable Studios Hapus Training Family Pathways STAR Youth Action Group Fairtrade Wales Good Sheds Benthyg Cymru ## **A SPECIAL THANKS** **to our supporters, partners, funders, trustees, staff and volunteers. Together we continue to make our world a fairer, SAFER place to live.** This past year has been an exceptional one for SAFE, made possible by the continued commitment of our funders, volunteers, partners, staff, and wider community. During 2024/2025, we were proud to be recognised as Trader of the Year at the St Fagans Food Festival for our sustainability efforts, secure a pitch at Green Man Festival for the first time, and deliver a highly successful summer of festival fundraising through our Conscious Coffee programme. Highlights also included a volunteering trip to support our partners WCDT in Mugaiyur and the continued growth of our teachers programme in Masinagudi, strengthening access to quality education. With an expanding team and a growing presence at cultural and community events, SAFE is reaching new audiences, generating vital unrestricted income, and creating meaningful opportunities for engagement both locally and internationally. While there is still much work ahead, we feel the strength of our community behind us more than ever. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who continues to support and believe in our work. Angela Bettany **ANGELA BETTANY** OPERATIONS DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF THE S.A.F.E FOUNDATION I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year 5t ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5){bl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. Philip Harris FCA Gordon Down & Company Ltd 144 Walter Road Swansea SAI 5RW 30 January THE S.A.F.E. FOUNDATION RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 2025 Unrestricted RestrScted 2025 Total 2024 Total Receipts Grants and donations Investment income 138,535 68 153,198 291,733 68 233,208 277 138,603 153,198 291,802 233,485 Expenditure Fundraising costs Project costs Staff costs Bank charges Insurance 48,427 29,825 36,430 385 922 48,427 82,811 154,536 385 922 32,515 38,677 104,139 451 52,986 118,106 95 Accountancy Professional costs Office costs Sundry expenses 32 159 336 116,515 32 159 336 287,607 200 4,938 438 181,453 171,092 Net Receipts 22,088 -17,894 4,194 52,032 Transfers between funds -377 377 Cash funds brought forward 104,590 29,896 134,486 82,454 Cash funds carried forward 126,301 12,379 138,680 134,486 THE S.A.F.E. FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF ASSETS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Assets: Bank current account Bank reserve account 115,022 23,658 138,680 111,174 23,312 134,486 Representing balances on the following: Unrestricted funds: Restricted funds. Note I Note 2 126,301 12,379 138,680 104,590 29,896 134,486 We confirm that the receipts and payments account and statement of assets are a true reflection of the charity's activities and financial position for the year ended 31 March 2025. 301011202 6 These accounts were approved by the trustees on ........................ and signed on their behalf by: Mark Dickenson Trustee THE S.A.F.E. FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Note l. Unrestrirted Funds Balance at I April 2024 104,590 Fund Expenditure Transfers 116,515 -377 Balance at 31 March 2025 126,301 Income General Funds 138,603 Note 2. Restricted Funds Balance at I April 2024 Fund Expenditure Transfers Balance at 31 March 2025 Income BIG Lottery Grants: People and Places Track 2000 RSA 242 209 1,976 105,538 97,590 8,190 209 603 284 1,373 711 28.630 23,181 19,173 435 C3SC Taith Landsec WCVA Volunteering Wales Access to Work 18,007 -1,769 11,235 10,246 25,000 11,235 180 377 51 3,298 -255 29.896 153.198 171,092 377 12,379 Negative restricted fund balances arise due to timing differences between expenditure and income receipt.