## **ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
For the year ended
31 March 2025
Registered Company 07413723 1
Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **CONTENTS**
||PAGES|
|---|---|
|Directors/Trustees Annual Report|3 - 7|
|Statement of Financial Activities|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Notes to Financial Statements|10-11|
|Independent Examiners Report|12|
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Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **Trustee/Directors Annual Report**
The Trustees/Directors are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Charity Name: Newcastle Women’s Aid Registered Charity:** 1139393 **Registered Company:** 07413723 **Registered & Operational Address:** 2[nd] Floor, Hadrian House, Higham Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7AF **Bankers:** Unity Trust Bank Plc, 9 Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2HB Barclays Bank Plc, 49/51 Northumberland Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7AF **Directors/Trustees:** Justine Massingham (Chair) Judith Farquharson BEM (Treasurer) Cyndi Barrow Dr Stephanie Manson-Brown **CEO and Company Secretary:** Elaine Langshaw **Auditor:** Ruth Tomlinson ACMA CGMA
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Governing Document**
Newcastle Women’s Aid was established and registered as a charity on 24 June 1976. The organisation is now a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 20 October
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2010 and registered as an incorporated charity on 21 December 2010. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
## **Appointment of Trustees/Directors**
The Directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of not less than 3 and not more than 9 members who will be elected at the Annual General Meeting. In addition, they may appoint not more than 3 co-opted members. All members of the Board retire from office at the Annual General Meeting following when they came into office but may be re-elected or re-appointed.
Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **Recruitment, Induction and Training**
Directors of the Company are also known as trustees for the purposes of charity law. New trustees meet with the Manager, staff and the Board of Trustees. All new trustees receive copies of all relevant documentation including Memorandum and Articles of Association, organisation management chart, financial data and information relating to their role, the scope and responsibility of the role and the system of delegated authority together with information about the cycle of meetings and training opportunities.
## **Organisation**
The Board administers and provides strategic direction for the charity. The Board meets bimonthly either in-person or virtually and, if necessary, will meet more often. The Manager is appointed by the Board to manage the day-to-day operation of the charity. There is a system of delegated authorities in place to determine which decisions can be undertaken by the manager.
## **Risk Management**
The Charity created a risk register in 2003 and a full review was undertaken during 2024. Risk assessment is an important and critical step in protecting the organisation, staff, trustees, visitors and service users as well as complying with the law. The process used by Newcastle Women’s Aid clearly identifies risks, evaluates the likelihood and impact of any risk, uses procedures to mitigate the risk, ensures adequate resources are available to deal with any identified risks and regularly monitors and reviews risks.
## **Objectives and Activities**
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The Objects of the charity are the relief, protection and support of persons, including children, who have suffered or are in danger of suffering domestic abuse through the provision of advice, support, representation and other services and to create awareness together with advance education in all aspects of domestic abuse including its causes, prevention and the relief of its consequences.
The central aim of the charity is to provide independent, specialist support to women and girls who are affected by domestic violence and abuse.
The main objectives of the organisation are:
- To provide advice, information, practical support, representation and mediation to women and girls affected by domestic abuse
- To provide flexible support to women in the community affected by domestic abuse by offering intensive support to minimise the risk of repeat victimisation and assisting women to remain in their own homes.
- To liaise with other agencies and participate in forums to raise awareness of domestic violence and to influence police /practice and service provision across Newcastle upon Tyne
- To offer preventative group work programmes
Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **How our Activities deliver Public Benefit**
NWA provides:
_**Help, Options, Protection and Empowerment (HOPE)**_ project which offers a sequence of specialist support interventions including:
- Telephone advice and support
- Domestic Abuse Flexible Support (DAFS) a programme of individual personal support, needs and risk assessment, safety and support planning
- Domestic Abuse Group Programme
- Recovery Group Programme
- Women’s Peer Support Group
- Holistic Therapies
- Information, advice and support including free telephone helpline
- Education and public awareness within schools, colleges and other services
- Indirect support for children through empowering Mum to safeguard herself and her children together with a creche facility to aid uninterrupted support for women
- Website offering an excellent reference resource alongside advice and information.
_**The Domestic Abuse Flexible Support Service (DAFs)**_ is a community=based outreach service where women are offered appointments at our safe, accessible and centrally located offices. This service supports women in the community who may not want or need to access refuge accommodation. DAFs provides practical help on safety, legal issues, benefits, re-housing and other issues as identified by the client. The programme also provides emotional support around domestic abuse the client may have sustained.
_**NWA Group programmes include Freedom to Make Changes**_ . This programme explores in detail the ranges of tactics perpetrators of abuse may use to gain control over a victim.
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The programme equips victims with knowledge, and understanding about how to keep themselves and their children safe from abuse in the future. Much positive feedback has been received from clients and the programmed remains popular and successful. NWA has also developed the Free to Be Me Recovery programme in consultation with clients which is also proving to be successful
## **Achievements and Performance**
- **575** Referrals were received by NWA for a wide range of complex advice and support
- **275** Referrals were given telephone advice on safety, housing, legal and safeguarding
- **132** Referrals were provided with comprehensive telephone advice and support
- **83** Referrals received 1:1 specialist support from our DAFs project
- **60** Women received maintenance support following completion of their support package
- **25** Women and girls referred into group programmes
## **31% of all referrals received multiple and complex support interventions**
## **Demographics**
- 42% of all referrals identified as homeless
- 47% of all referrals identified as having mental health concerns
- 18% of all referrals identified as repeat victims of domestic abuse
- 13% of all referrals described experiencing stalking or harassment behaviours
## **NWA are National Quality Standard Accredited by Women’s Aid Federation of England.**
Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **Financial Review**
Against a difficult financial backdrop and with the aid of sound financial management the organisation has developed services to generate a positive financial outcome and has achieved prudent expenditure through fundraising and cost efficiencies.
Newcastle Women’s Aid has continued to receive funding from a range of large and small charitable sources including Gift Aid, voluntary and statutory agencies as well as donations from individuals and businesses.
In 2017 NWA restructured its services following a decision by Newcastle City Council to build a new refuge. Trustees found new premises a new flexible service was established without the facility of a refuge. Initially the organisations reserves were used to fund two full-time staff but since that time funding has been secured which has enabled the organisation to expand the service and employ an additional two staff. In 2024 NWA will again be moving premises and reserves will be used to support the move to bigger premises located in the City Centre.
## **Investment Powers and Policy**
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Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association the charity has the power to invest in any way the Trustees wish. Trustees have operated a policy of investing some of the funds in an interest-bearing deposit account.
## **Reserves Policy**
Newcastle Women’s Aid has examined the charity’s requirements for reserves and believes it is prudent to have a policy on the holding, accumulation and management of its reserves.
Trustees/Directors, when taking account of the relevant risks to income streams and the planned activities over the next year, feel the most appropriate level of reserves for the organisation to hold would be twelve months of running costs which are currently circa £150,000. This figure will be reviewed annually in line with increased activity and the demand placed upon the organisation.
This level of reserves will allow for staff salaries, rent, utilities and other general running costs to be paid until such time as an alternative income stream is secured, or, in the worst-case scenario, for the organisation to be wound up. It would also allow for redundancy notices to be issued to staff and for staff to find alternative and appropriate support for clients. This policy is considered to be in the best interests of the service users, staff and trustees/directors of the charity.
## **Plans for the Future**
The charity plans to seek and secure new offices so that they can continue to maintain their presence in centrally located offices. Newcastle Women’s Aid will deliver, develop and expand services to meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse as outlined within the Aims and Objectives.
Newcastle Women’s Aid
## **Statement of Trustees/Directors Responsibilities:**
The trustees/directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Companies Act 2006 and the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Charity Law requires trustees, at the end of each financial year, to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the incomings and outgoings of the charity.
In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently, making judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. The trustees must also prepare the financial statements on a
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going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue its activities.
The trustees/directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any given time, the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The trustees/directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or any other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of Trustees/Directors
## **Justine Massingham**
**Chair, Trustee and Director**
**Newcastle Women’s Aid**
**Dated:** 29 July 2025
Newcastle Women’s Aid
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## **Income Statement 12 Months ended March 31**
|**Notes**|**2025**
**£**|**2024**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|**_Income_**
Interest Receivable
1
Grants Restricted
2
Grants Unrestricted
3
**Total Income**|2,715
118,096
41,758
**162,569**|2,176
124,337
33,616|
|||**160,129**|
|**_Expenses_**
Charity Management & Administration
4
Charity Running Costs
5
Employee Costs
6
**Total Expenses**
Excess Income/(Expense) for year|32,700
7,347
116,903
**156,950**
**5,619**|64,140
8,431
112,668|
|||**185,239**|
|||**( 25,110 )**|
Newcastle Women’s Aid
9
## **Balance Sheet**
## **as at March 31**
|**Notes**
**Current Assets**
Cash at Bank
7
Debtors
**Total Current Assets**
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors and Accruals
8
**Total Current Liabilities**
**Net Assets**
**Funds**
9
Reserves restricted
Reserves - Unrestricted
**Total Funds**|**2025**
**£**
394,616
-
394,616
( 2,266 )
( 2,266 )
**392,350**
268,832
123,518
**392,350**|**2024**
**£**
389,532
-|
|---|---|---|
|||389,532
( 2,801 )|
|||( 2,801 )|
|||**386,731**|
|||297,264
89,467|
|||**386,731**|
Newcastle Women’s Aid
10
## **Supplementary Information April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025**
|1 **INCOME**
Barclays Business Premium 10 Day
Barclays Business Premium 60 Day
**Total Bank Interest 10 & 60 Day Accounts**
2 The National Lottery Communty Fund
PCC (Northumbria Police)
Newcastle City Council
EVA Reckitt Trust
Womens Aid Federation
**Total Grants Restricted**
3 Advocacy Fund
Charities Trust
Charity Aid Foundation
Gateshead College
LMIH
Local Giving
Newcastle City Guides
Newcastle University
Northumbria Leisure
Northumbria University
Paypal Giving Fund
St Gabriels Mission A/c
The Canny Crafters
Jesmond Reform Church
NAWIC
TT2
Voicentric
Eileen Pennington
Gosforth Park Ladies
Other
**Total Unrestricted Donations**
**TOTAL INCOME**|**2025**
**£**
1,393
1,322
**2,715**
79,583
34,000
3,063
700
750
**118,096**
300
438
1,800
75
11,071
24,640
200
304
2,000
200
45
185
500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**41,758**
**162,569**|**2024**
**£**
1,116
1,060|
|---|---|---|
|||**2,176**
75,416
48,921
-
-
-|
|||**124,337**
-
377
785
100
-
18,405
-
-
2,500
-
-
185
-
140
3,000
1,000
2,619
2,000
2,395
110|
|||**33,616**|
|||**160,129**|
Newcastle Women’s Aid
11
## **Supplementary Information**
## **April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025**
|4
5
6
7
8
9|**EXPENSE**
**Charity Management & Administration**
Accomodation
Bank Charges
Educational Assistance
Governance Costs
Professional Fees
Rent Non-Variable
Travel
**Charity Running Costs**
Cleaning Materials
Electricity
Insurance
Other Running Costs
Printing & Stationery
Telephone & e-mail
**Employee Costs**
**Payroll Costs**
**Womens Training Activities**
**Computer Costs**
Excess Income/(Expense) for year
**BALANCE SHEET**
Bank
Petty Cash
Deposit Acct 10 Day
Deposit Acct 60 Day
Debtors
Creditors
Accruals
**Funds**
Reserves restricted
Reserves - Unrestricted|**2024-25**
**£**
1,750
559
58
1,694
7,891
19,800
948
167
705
2,136
333
571
3,435
108,354
922
7,627
**156,950**
**5,619**
208,914
30
95,217
90,455
394,616
-
394,616
( 2,000 )
( 266 )
( 2,266 )
**392,350**
268,832
123,518
**392,350**|**2023-24**
**£**
-
476
-
1,762
31,097
30,616
189
1,122
867
2,123
647
888
2,784
106,787
2,066
3,815|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**185,239**|
||||**( 25,110 )**|
||||206,513
60
93,827
89,132|
||||389,532|
||||389,532
( 1,500 )
( 1,301 )|
||||( 2,801 )|
||||**386,731**|
||||297,264
89,467|
||||**386,731**|
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT**
## **For the 12 months ended 31 March 2025**
Report to the Trustees of Newcastle Women's Aid, Charity Number 1139393, on the accounts for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 act and to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity commission (under section 43(7(b) of the 1993 Act) and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiners report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts give a "true and fair" view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner' statements
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) Which will give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met; or
(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **R Tomlinson 1 July 2025**
Ms. R Tomlinson ACMA CGMA 20 The High Gate Kenton Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4LS
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