SHANTHONA WOMEN’S GROUP
TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2024
| LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE | INFORMATION |
|---|---|
| Registered Charity Number: | 1133117 |
| Trustees: | Saheli Begum |
| Forida Chowdhury – Resigned 22/11/2023. | |
| Rajbin Naher | |
| Janet Montgomery – Appointed 01/12/2023. | |
| Registered Office: | Hockwell Ring Community Centre |
| Mayne Avenue | |
| Luton | |
| Bedfordshire | |
| LU4-9LB | |
| Bankers: | NatWest |
| Market Hill Branch, | |
| 31 George Street, Luton | |
| Bedfordshire | |
| LU1 2YN | |
| Project Co-Ordinator: | Fatima Nessa |
The Trustees presented their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the financial statements and comply with the charity's trust deed, applicable law and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in October 2005.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Constitution :
Shanthona Women’s Group is a registered charity. The organization was established in 2004 when it was run on a completely voluntary basis.
Organizational Structure:
The Charity is wholly UK based with its registered office and projects based in Luton, Bedfordshire. The trustees meet regularly during a year to determine the policy and strategy of the Charity. The charity’s management is carried out by staffs and the trustees for the dayto-day decisions.
Wider Relations:
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Alzheimer's Society UK, Autism Bedfordshire
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Work with Victim support, Domestic Violence Unit, Local Authorities. Various Network Groups
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Work with range of community voluntary and third sector organizations on family and community health, learning, support and engagement
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Other funders and partner organizations where contracts require delivery targets to be met and working practices applied.
Decision Making:
The Trustees of the charity who served during the year are listed with the legal and administrative details. Policy and Strategy are decided by the Board following consultation with staff. Decisions regarding daily delivery of services in line with Board decisions are delegated to the staff. Trustees expect staff to keep them informed of potential opportunities and challenges which may lead to new developments.
Statement of Trustees responsibilities:
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustee(s) to prepare financial statements for each financial year which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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observe the methods and principal of Charities SORP
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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state whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the Charities SORP, and that applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures, disclosed and explained in the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and enable them to ascertain to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Risk review:
The trustees review these risks on an ongoing basis and satisfy themselves that adequate systems and procedures are in place to manage the risks identified. Where appropriate, risks are covered by insurance. The following framework is central to ensuring adequate risk assurance:
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Regular monitoring of major risks, annual review of Risk Management Policy and development of action plans to ensure services deliverability and/or proper closing procedure if required for the organisation.
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Embedding risk identification and assessment within operating procedures.
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A clear structure of delegated authority and control.
Trustee Recruitment & Training:
Shanthona is a voluntary sector project which is managed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction, management and resourcing of the organization. The Board of Trustees meets at least 4 times a year to consider and transact business. Trustees identify and undertake regular opportunities to develop skills to enable them to fulfill their roles effectively and each Trustee has taken on a key area of responsibility to ensure the Board fulfills its role.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Principal activities and objects of the charity:
The principal activity of the registered charirty is to give people a better chance in life, economically and socially, promote stronger communities, by developing healthier, more active people and communities, provide support and advice to women and families from asian and bme communities, especially in the Leagrave, Hockwell Ring and surrounding area’s in particular with the following purposes:
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To provide support and befriending to women who live in Leagrave and surrounding wards of Luton.
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To protect and preserve women’s health and wellbeing, access to learning and skills, to provide support, social engagement and signposting for women
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To promote best practice and encourage strong partnership working models in the community, through linking key stakeholders with our local community in project engagement cycles; providing key opportunities for project beneficiaries from the hard to reach communities, such as: BME communities, lone parents, people over 50, people with disabilities, migrant workers, asylum seekers and those unemployed
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To work in partnership with other agencies
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To encourage and empower the local community to be involved in local projects to enhance their personal abilities and well-being through activities delivered in a safe and friendly atmosphere
Aims:
The prime aim of the organization is any charitable purpose for the benefit of inhabitants of Leagrave Ward and other districts where disadvantage or deprivation affects quality of life for Asian and BME women, in particular, and families, in particular to protect and preserve public health, training, provide and assist in the provision of information and advice and develop a self-support group for women of all ages to enhance their quality of life relating to
health, educational and social opportunities. We aim to continue providing Free quality information to service users.
Strategies for achieving Principal Aims and Objectives:
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Recruitment and retention of appropriate staff and volunteers
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Ensuring training and development of 1) above
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Ongoing research and networking with community, voluntary and statutory organizations and providers to identify issues plus opportunities for developing service delivery to address same
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Identifying and providing information and resources to users on wide range of subjects
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Obtaining and developing sources of funding, support and resourcing for organization
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Development of appropriate procedures and policies for the organization with regular reviews
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Ensure good management and financial management of the organization.
Objectives for the year 2023-2024
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Support
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Establish range of support groups arising from advice and information needs, health promotion & awareness needs, learning & employment needs, social support, and other issues as identified,
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Health Promotion and Awareness
Establish range of programs for delivery of health awareness and health information,
- Community Development:
Work with Luton Borough Council and Third Sector organizations as opportunities arise.
- Learning and Employment :
Be a part of network of referral organizations and program of delivery to encourage and support people into training, both formal and informal, and employment. Provision of informal pre-entry learning activities with IAG support for clients to assist them in progression to other learning, employment or services.
- Marketing and PR
Print new information leaflets, updating information on Facebook and website, ongoing advertising activities and services. Attend Networking meetings, ensure profile of organization raised. Redevelop Website and/or identify funding for new site.
- Leadership and management:
Consolidate roles of Board Members
Review and update Policies Strategic Review - Risk Review and exit strategies.
Develop new business plan for 3 -year periods addressing above. Increase funding from other sources.
Contribution of Volunteers
Shanthona continues to be grateful for the support of volunteers: who have helped to run the activities, one-off events, administration and various other roles.
Achievements and Performance in March 2023- March 2024
We re-started our pre ESOL classes, Yoga and Design & Sewing Classes. We are currently holding our sessions at Hockwell ring community center, Luton.
We have been running monthly Health & Awareness Wellbeing sessions within our ESOL classes which have been very beneficial and well attended.
We have applied for several funding; we are in the process of hearing back from our founder.
We held women's community celebrations events for Eid, Design and Fashion shows for the Sewing group and for other cultural purposes such as Seasonal celebrations, International Women's Day etc. Links have been established with Alzheimer's Society UK and Autism UK for developing long term program of visits at health and wellbeing events, also contacts and promotional materials have been distributed to local GPs, Luton Borough Community Support Officers, in order that they may refer women with need to our activities.
We have had provision of Sessions of non-accredited First Aid course via Active Luton/Luton Adult Education.
We have had volunteers progress to employment locally and have provided information of learning providers (including Training 4 You Services Luton, Barnfield College, Luton Adult Learning) to others seeking to do Basic computer skills, foundation level English, and identified learners needs for courses promoting employability and education, as well as ongoing adaptation of Pre Esol to encourage Women speaking No English to participate in our activities.
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Year Ending 2022 |
Year Ending 2023 |
Year Ending 2024 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | Funds | Funds | Total Funds | |||||||||
| £ | £ | |||||||||||
| Balance brought forward from previous year March 31st, 2024 |
+ £4,205.35 | + £13,874.27 | + 6,279.21 | |||||||||
| London Luton (ESOL/ Arts & Crafts Received 01/03/2022 |
+£3,500 | |||||||||||
| Awards for All (Sewing) received 28/01/2022 |
+ £10,000 | |||||||||||
| Warm Hubs 2022/2023 | + £1,000 | |||||||||||
| BLCF 2022/2024 StabilityFund |
+£10,000 | |||||||||||
| Yoga 2022/2023 | +£2,000 | |||||||||||
| Total Grants received in 2023 | + £13,500 | + £13,000 | ||||||||||
| Other income Balance brought forward |
+ £4205.35 | |||||||||||
| Total Receipts | £17,705.35 | |||||||||||
| Grants received 2023/2024 | ||||||||||||
| Luton Rising 2023/2024 | + £10,000.00 | |||||||||||
| Warm hubs 2023 received 06/04/2023 |
+ £500.00 | |||||||||||
| BLCF Stability Fund | + £10,000.00 | |||||||||||
| Awards for All Sewing 2024 received Feb 2024 |
+ £20,000.00 | |||||||||||
| Citizen Fund received 21/02/2024 | + £4000.00 | |||||||||||
| Total Received in grants 2023/24 | + £44,500.00 | |||||||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| Total Salary costs | -£4398. | -£16,328.50 | -£17,306.00 | |||||||||
| Venue Hire & Office Costs | -£1047 | -£1,298.35 | -£3,377.59 | |||||||||
| Activity materials & equipment | -£306.44 | -£615.98 | -£150.37 | |||||||||
| Printing & Stationery | -£110.79 | -£177.24 | -£401.27 | |||||||||
| Volunteer costs/refreshments | -£38.29 | -£663.07 | -£689.03 | |||||||||
| Laptop/ servicing | -£802.99 | -£134.00 | -£1,067.79 | |||||||||
| Phone | -£402 | -£590.15 | -£651.14 | |||||||||
| Publicity/Networking/Launch | -£248.27 | - £660.09 | -£442.44 | |||||||||
| Insurance | -£425.03 | -£127.68 | -£221.98 | |||||||||
| Accounts/Website | -£600.00 | |||||||||||
| Other Organisation (T4U) | -£4,699.98 | |||||||||||
| Total Expenditure | -£7,778.81 | -£20,595.06 | -£29,607.59 | |||||||||
| Net of Receipts (Payments) | -£7,595.06 | £14,892.41 | ||||||||||
| March 31st, 2022. b/fwd | £13,874.27 | £6,279.21 | £21,171.62 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of 31 March 2024
Monetary Assets Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds £ £ Cash in Hand and at Bank £21,171.62 + Non-Monetary Liabilities Accruals - Fund to Acquired which At cost £ asset belongs £21,171.62
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: ………………….