Charity no. 1151152 

## **Birthrights** 

# **Report and Unaudited Financial Statements** 

**31 March 2021** 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Reference and administrative details** 

**For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

|**Charity number**|1151152||
|---|---|---|
|**Registered office**|Birthrights||
||Union House||
||111 New Union Street||
||Coventry||
||CV1 2NT||
|**Trustees**|The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report||
||were as follows:||
||Alix-Louise Anderson|Appointed 28 January 2021|
||Tara Arnold|Appointed 26 July 2021|
||Sarah Cooke|Resigned 28 January 2021|
||Rachel Crasnow QC||
||Deborah Crewe|Resigned 22 October 2020|
||Inderjit Cross|Appointed 28 January 2021|
||John Davis|(Treasurer)|
||Julie Frohlich||
||Carolyn Johnston||
||Marcia Lord|Appointed 28 January 2021|
||Simon Mehigan||
||Sandra Nneoma Igwe|Appointed 28 January 2021|
||Elizabeth Prochaska|(Chair)|
||Catharina Schram|Resigned 3 November 2020|
||Rebecca Schiller||
|**Chief executive officer**|Amy Gibbs||
||Angela Style (interim CEO|- until October 2020)|
|**Patron**|Nadine Montgomery||
|**Bankers**|The Co-operative Bank||
||Olympic House||
||6 Olympic Court||
||Montford Street||
||Salford||
||M5 2QP||
|**Independent**|Godfrey Wilson Limited||
|**examiners**|Chartered accountants and statutory auditors||
||5th Floor Mariner House||
||62 Prince Street||
||Bristol||
||BS1 4QD||



1 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Introduction** 

COVID-19 brought human rights in childbirth to the fore, with restrictions in maternity services leading to women hearing devastating news or even giving birth alone, parents being separated from babies, and severe limitations on birth choices. We saw demand for advice shoot up, moved our whole training programme online, and campaigned nationally and locally to safeguard basic rights in maternity care. We are incredibly proud of how our small staff team stepped up to respond to multiple challenges and work with the NHS nationally and locally to reverse damaging decisions. 

Our ongoing dialogue with government, NHS England and the Royal Colleges influenced national guidance for Trusts making clear that partners are not visitors and clarification that women and birthing people should not wear face masks during labour. We launched legal action in partnership with Leigh Day to achieve exemptions to self-isolation rules for birth partners and with Irwin Mitchell to challenge blanket policies banning partners from attending scans remotely. 

Beyond COVID-19, we launched our new national inquiry to investigate racial injustice in maternity care, spearheaded by a formidable expert panel of people with lived experience, doctors and midwives, lawyers and activists. We continued our policy and research work on consent, mental capacity and multiple disadvantage, and finally secured a reversal of Oxford’s ban on maternal request caesareans, following years of our campaigning and legal action. 

We prioritised internal and external work on inclusion – training staff, trustees and trainers on LGBTQ+ competency and adopting inclusive language across our work. Our public inclusion statement made clear our commitment to anti-racism and to our services being an accessible, safe space for everyone who needs us – women, trans men and non-binary people. Working with people with a range of needs and lived experiences, we fully reviewed and refreshed our suite of factsheets. Changing our recruitment approach helped us to appoint exceptional new trustees and staff with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. 

Despite the challenges of lockdown and home-schooling, Birthrights has helped more women and birthing people than ever before, educated thousands of healthcare professionals and birth workers, achieved numerous policy changes, and vastly increased our media and digital reach. We look forward to building on this strong platform in 2021-22, as we develop our future strategy. 

None of these achievements would have been possible without our dedicated team and trustees, campaign partners, supporters and volunteers, donors and funders. We are deeply grateful to the Baring and Esmée Fairbairn Foundations for their extra flexibility and COVID funding. We were also thrilled to secure new funding from Thirty Percy Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. We welcomed Bolt Burdon Kemp as a new corporate partner alongside Leigh Day and Irwin Mitchell. Big thanks to Angela Style, interim CEO, who steered the ship through such challenging times until Amy returned from maternity leave in October 2020. 

Birthrights is at an exciting point, as we set our new strategy for 2022 onwards and determine how best to scale our programmes and impact. We look forward to continuing our vital work and strengthening our internal and external focus on anti-racist, inclusive, rights-respecting practice. 

## Elizabeth Prochaska 


Elizabeth Prochaska (Chair) and Amy Gibbs (Chief Executive) 

2 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. 

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019). 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

Birthrights is a charitable incorporated organisation and is registered with the Charity Commission with charity number 1151152. 

The method of recruitment and appointment of trustees is set out in its governing document: the constitution. Three trustees resigned between 1 April 2020 and the date this report was approved – Deborah Crewe, Rineke Schram and Sarah Cooke. Four new trustees were appointed in January 2021, with a fifth joining us in July 2021, taking the Board up to its maximum of 12 members. 

The current trustees comprise two senior lawyers, a consultant midwife, a Director of Midwifery, a consultant anaesthetist / Deputy Medical Director, a finance and business expert, experienced charity leaders, communications and fundraising specialists, doulas and anti-racism campaigners. Most new trustees have recent lived experience and four are Black and Brown women. 

The trustees are responsible for making decisions on the management of all the affairs of Birthrights including deciding on how the funds of the charity are to be spent. The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. 

The full Board of trustees met four times during 2020-21, with an average level of attendance via Zoom of 73%. This reflects resignations and new appointments between October and January. 

## **Objectives and activities** 

## **About** 

Birthrights launched in January 2013. We are the UK charity that champions respectful care during pregnancy and childbirth by protecting human rights. We believe that everyone is entitled to respectful maternity care that protects their fundamental rights to dignity, autonomy, privacy and equality. We provide free advice and legal information to women and birthing people, train healthcare professionals and birth workers to deliver rights-respecting care and campaign to change maternity policy and systems. Our research shines a spotlight on those most at risk of human rights violations in pregnancy and birth due to structural disadvantage and discrimination. 

Our vision is to ensure everyone receives the respect and dignity they deserve in pregnancy and childbirth. Our mission is to become the authority on human rights in pregnancy and childbirth in the UK and use that influence to improve services and practice throughout the maternity system. 

Birthrights promotes legal rights to receive evidence-based care that conforms to the best medical and midwifery standards. We do not promote any particular clinical perspectives in maternity care. 

3 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Aims** 

The aim of Birthrights is to promote the human rights of child-bearing people in England and Wales. These rights are set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations, and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 

## **Activities** 

Birthrights is committed to: 

- promoting awareness of the legal rights of child-bearing people during and connected to pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period (the 6 weeks subsequent to birth); 

- promoting respect for the legal rights of child-bearing people among healthcare organisations, medical and other professions and in society at large; 

- protecting the human rights of child-bearing people through the provision of legal information and advice and obtaining redress for victims of human rights abuse; 

- campaigning in relation to human rights and related legal issues relating to child-bearing people; 

- responding with technical advice to proposed legislation and policy affecting child-bearing people; 

- ▪ providing technical advice to government and others on human rights and other legal and regulatory matters as they affect child-bearing people; 

- contributing to the understanding and sound administration of human rights law as it affects childbearing people, in particular, but not exclusively, through third-party interventions in legal cases; 

- promoting the human rights and lawful treatment of child-bearing people by commissioning and conducting research; 

- providing education and training to, among others, parents and parents-to-be, healthcare professionals and the public on human rights and the law as it affects child-bearing people; eliminating infringements of human rights of child-bearing people; and 

- undertaking other charitable activities that the trustees may from time to time determine to promote the human rights and legal status of child-bearing people. 

When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the promotion of human rights. 

As set out in the financial statements, our major activities in 2020-21 have been: 

- Re-orientating our work to respond to COVID-19, responding to significantly higher demand for advice, moving our training programme online, and focusing the majority of our influencing work on safeguarding basic rights that were under threat due to restrictions; 

- Continuing to deliver our core advice, training, research and policy work, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; 

- Establishing and launching a new national inquiry on racial injustice in maternity care, funded by John Ellerman Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust; 

- Improving the accessibility and inclusivity of our advice, factsheets and communications, funded by the Hollick Family Foundation and National Lottery Community Fund; 

- Prioritising our internal inclusion journey, and recruiting new trustees and staff; and 

- ▪ Fundraising to ensure Birthrights’ future sustainability throughout and beyond COVID. 

4 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Achievements and performance** 

## **Advice and resources** 

Our first strategic goal is to **empower and support women to know and advocate for their rights** through free advice and resources, reaching those most at risk through our partnerships. 

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on human rights in maternity care has been profound, reflected in a sharp increase in the number of women reached through our direct advice and online resources. 

This year, we gave advice to 1,080 people on their rights, nearly three times as many as the year before. We saw the depth of our interventions grow alongside the breadth of our reach, with more complex cases requiring multiple emails from our small team. The most common concerns were the distressing impact of COVID restrictions on partners, limitations on choice – home birth services or birth centres closing, water births or caesareans being denied – and complaints about poor care. Some concrete outcomes we secured for individuals were: 

- exceptions to general partner restrictions for people with additional needs e.g. disability, mental health issues, multiple births or previous birth trauma; 

- upholding the legal right to choose place of birth by advocating for constructive solutions – e.g. outpatient antibiotics for home birth, birth pools on the ward; 

- protecting people’s right to informed choice and consent by securing a change in caregiver where healthcare professionals were not upholding respectful care; and 

- overturning a Trust’s blanket discriminatory policy that anyone autistic would be automatically referred to child safeguarding. 

In addition to direct support, our online Q&A “Coronavirus – how will it affect my rights to maternity care?” was viewed over 20,000 times and kept regularly updated throughout the pandemic. Our factsheet on right to a c-section was the second most frequently viewed page this year. We worked with a diverse group of people with lived experience and an external copy-writer to fully review and refresh our suite of factsheets – the new simplified set will be published in summer 2021, including a basic birth rights factsheet translated into Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Kurdish Sorani, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Urdu. 

We escalated numerous advice cases to Trusts to change local policies that contravene basic rights, writing formally to 31 Trusts and emailing many more. This led to positive policy change or exceptions being made in at least 15 cases. Some examples include: 

- Borders (Scotland) and Guys and St Thomas changed their policies on partners being present in theatres due to our intervention; 

- Milton Keynes reversed their policy not to carry out maternal request caesareans during the pandemic and Frimley Park reintroduced their home birth service; and 

- Leeds apologised and reviewed their policy on making exceptions for women and birthing people with physical disabilities. 

We are grateful to the Baring Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Hollick Family Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund and major donors for supporting the development of our advice service and resources in the face of significantly increased demand. 

5 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Training and education** 

Our second strategic goal is to **change culture and practice in maternity care** through training for healthcare professionals and other caregivers. 

Pre-pandemic, our core training model was based on in-person, interactive workshops to explore human rights legal principles and practical scenarios applying this learning to common issues in maternity care – provided in-house for NHS Trusts and local maternity systems, and as standalone ticketed events. Birthrights training has looked very different because of COVID-19. 

After initially pausing our training in light of limited capacity and appetite within the NHS, we successfully moved the whole programme online, supporting our associate trainers to swiftly adapt delivery of the material and facilitate discussion effectively. Despite concerns that this would mean a fall in demand and a potential drop in quality, feedback from these training sessions has been overwhelmingly positive. 

This year, our speaking engagements reached around 4,000 people at 14 events. These included webinars on Conversations on Consent (MediLaw), with Irwin Mitchell, the British Intrapartum Care Society and the Midwifery Unit Network, as well as keynote talks to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) AGM and the Northern Ireland All Party Group on Women’s Health. 

We ran 12 in-depth training events with 366 participants, above our revised pandemic target of 6 in person or online training sessions with 300 participants. This included two NHS Trusts (Barnsley and Royal Berkshire) and training 48 specialty trainee doctors at NHS North West. While this is a drop in the number of Trusts we have trained compared to past years, we understand most training in NHS Trusts was paused during the pandemic. 

Overall, despite the pandemic, we have reached significantly more people through our training and speaking events - a total of 4,366 compared to 1,623 in 2019-20. The audiences for our training have been more diverse compared to previous years. 

One of the training sessions with the largest reach was delivered to the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch with 100 attendees. This captures a key audience of system-changers, with significant influence on the work to improve safety in maternity care. Feedback from attendees highlighted that prior to the training, they had little to no knowledge around human rights and consent and would now be using this knowledge to inform their investigations. 

Another big audience this year was birth workers – we trained with Yogabirth Study Weekend, Amma Birth Companions, Bradford Doulas and the Doula Association. We also ran two ticketed short courses online and continued to reach midwives and doctors through Trust training. We are reviewing our training model post-COVID, especially how we build demand for multi-disciplinary training within Trusts, to drive much-needed culture change. 

According to our evaluation in 2020-21, 89% of participants surveyed said our training impacted the way they planned to practise. The average quality rating was 4.8 (scale of 1-5, where 5 is excellent). Both legal and healthcare professional trainers achieved consistently excellent scores – an average of 4.7. 98% of participants said they would recommend Birthrights’ training to others. 

Training continued to be an important source of unrestricted income this year, bringing in over £10,000 despite reduced demand from NHS Trusts due to COVID pressures. 

6 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **Campaigns and influencing** 

Our third strategic goal is to **change policy and systems** through research, influencing, campaigns and legal interventions – with a focus on women and birthing people most at risk of poor, disrespectful, or unsafe care. We are grateful to the Baring Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for making our influencing work possible, and to John Ellerman Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust for investing in our new focus on racial injustice. 

**COVID campaigning:** Much of our work this year focused on influencing national guidance related to COVID-19 restrictions in maternity care, drawing on the intelligence from our advice service and our human rights legal knowledge. We maintained a constructive, robust dialogue with Government, NHS England (NHSE), the Royal Colleges of Midwives (RCM) and of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) throughout the pandemic. This led to positive outcomes including: 

- improved national guidance reflecting the fundamental right to have a partner throughout maternity care and calling for Trusts to relax restrictions – following numerous private and public interventions by Birthrights and our But Not Maternity alliance partners, including an open letter signed by 100+ charities, health professionals, academics and cross-party MPs; 

- an exemption from the self-isolation regulations for birth partners who were a close contact of someone with COVID but didn’t have COVID themselves from March 2021 – supported by legal advice we commissioned from Leigh Day; 

- our “How to run a safe and rights respecting maternity service during a pandemic” tool was circulated to all maternity service leaders in June by NHS England; and 

- clarification in national guidance and briefings on concerns we raised about face masks for women in labour, triaging of women who decline COVID tests and freebirth. 

Thanks to specific funding from the Baring Foundation, we also took forward legal action which led to national media coverage and supported our lobbying work. This included: 

- pre-action judicial review for a family separated from their baby in neonatal ward; 

- our high-profile legal opinion on remote access to scans, with Irwin Mitchell and Doughty Street, which led to problematic national guidance being archived and us directly challenging blanket decisions by Public Health Wales and 36 Trusts; and 

- our published advice on “legally wrong” self-isolation guidance, by Leigh Day and Doughty Street, underpinned successful direct lobbying of Government and NHSE. 

**Research and policy interventions:** we maintained our high-profile engagement on a range of core human rights in childbirth topics, including: 

- Submission to Health and Social Care Committee on maternity safety; 

- Response to proposed NICE Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Quality Standards in partnership with reproductive rights charity BPAS; 

- New General Medical Council guidance on consent took on our points about doctors being aware of the potential for the language they use to coerce; 

- Invited to provide peer review of RCOG’s Scientific Impact Paper on the relationship between social determinants and maternal outcomes, where we cited our Holding it all together report on multiple disadvantage and our evidence of COVID-19 impacts; 

- RCM published a new position statement on addressing the needs of women facing multiple disadvantage – a major outcome of our joint work with Birth Companions; 

- Chapter on non-consented vaginal exams, featuring case studies from our advice service, published in Women's Birthing Bodies and the Law book; 

- Response to government consultation on continuing telemedicine for abortion; and 

- Responses to caesarean guideline consultation, RCOG consultation on caesarean leaflet, and shared decision making consultation. 

7 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**Campaigns and communications:** thanks to new funding from John Ellerman and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, we established our new national inquiry into racial injustice in maternity care. This was launched with an exclusive in The Observer, which then achieved blanket media coverage including on ITV and Channel 4 News and BBC Radio 4. We are proud to have set up a formidable inquiry panel chaired by Shaheen Rahman QC, with two co-chairs – Sandra Igwe, founder of The Motherhood Group, and Benash Nazmeen, specialist cultural liaison midwife and Director of the Association of South Asian Midwives – and other experts spanning lived experience, midwifery and obstetrics, equalities and healthcare law, qualitative research, and anti-racism. The panel held its first meeting in February and launched the call for evidence in March. 

After nearly four years of campaigning, including legal action and numerous meetings, Oxford University Hospitals Trust finally reversed their ban on maternal request caesareans. We were interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford and for regional TV news on this topic. 

Our joint survey with Mumsnet on consent and informed decision-making (conducted before the pandemic) was published in September and covered widely, including by BBC News, The Independent and Standard Issue podcast. Our concerns about the foetal alcohol spectrum disorder quality standards also achieved national coverage, including the Guardian and the Times. 

Our COVID campaigning was featured in national press over 40 times, including on ITV and Channel 4 news, BBC Radio 4 and across national outlets including the Guardian, Independent, Telegraph and Marie Claire. We firmly established our position as the “go to” organisation on rights in childbirth during the pandemic, with numerous requests for reactive comment. We also built important new partnerships, with the But Not Maternity alliance, with MPs and particularly with Pregnant then Screwed, securing joint coverage in the Mail on Sunday on partner restrictions. 

This year we saw our social media profile grow to over 16,400 followers on Twitter and 14,200 on Facebook. We launched our brand new Instagram account in April 2020, building up to 7,000 followers, and ran a digital awareness campaign on Basic Birth Rights in February 2021 to counter misleading messaging from some Trusts about the impact of restrictions on birth choices. 

We also commissioned brand work to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of our public communications and materials, including our factsheets, colours and illustrations. 

We are grateful to Thirty Percy Foundation for enabling us to invest in communications capacity inhouse for the first time, to build our profile and reach with more women and birthing people. 

## **Strengthening our organisation** 

The Board and CEO have continued to prioritise organisational development and sustainability, with fundraising a particular focus throughout the year. New funding from John Ellerman and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust enabled us to create a Participation Officer post, taking our part-time team up to six. We used other income to invest in existing staff posts (salaries and support) and recruit three additional posts in Q4, with an Engagement Director, Training Officer and Kickstart Communications Coordinator joining the team from April 2021. Our CEO, Amy Gibbs, returned from maternity leave in October 2020 and we are grateful to Angela Style, interim CEO, for all her hard work to secure short and long-term funding. 

8 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

While the team already worked remotely pre-pandemic, given the challenges of increased advice volumes and home-schooling during repeated lockdowns, we introduced new ways to strengthen relationships and embed daily communications channels for task management and wellbeing support. We continued to prioritise management support and invest in staff development, including training on LGBTQ+ competency. We adopted best practice in inclusive recruitment which led to the appointment of new staff and trustees with more diverse lived and professional experiences. 

We adopted a more agile planning approach given the uncertainties of the pandemic, while maintaining a focus on strategic priorities such as the racial injustice inquiry. The Board continued to monitor performance through our quarterly KPI dashboard and the team surpassed their targets across all metrics. We commissioned NCVO to deliver an Impact Study across our core work, involving all staff and trustees in a workshop to revise our Theory of Change and devising tools to measure the impact of our advice service and training programme. This continues in 2021-22. 

Fundraising and income generation was a major priority, particularly in Q1-2. We focused on applying for new core funding to replace the Baring Foundation grant, which was due to end in August 2020, though Baring awarded us 6 months’ continuation funding plus a COVID grant. 

Given the uncertainties of the pandemic and prospects for funding at the start of the year, the Board and interim CEO were cautious about expenditure throughout Q1-3. In Q4, we worked with our accountants to strengthen our annual budgeting and monthly management accounts, to improve oversight and ensure timely expenditure of charitable funds. We also decided to invest in staff salaries and support given the significant pressures the team faced during the pandemic. 

Work during 2020-21 that has led to funding for future years includes securing: 

- A new unrestricted three-year grant of £150,000 from Thirty Percy Foundation; 

- ▪ An extra £12,000 COVID adaptation grant from Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to support online delivery of participation work for the race inquiry (delivery from April 2021); 

- One-off major donor income of £20,000 from a couple we helped on the advice line, for COVID campaigning and a new resource on making complaints (delivery in 2021-22); 

- A recurring annual donation of £25,000 to boost operations capacity (anonymous donor); 

- Additional funding from Leigh Day of £20,000 towards our race inquiry (delivery in 2021-22); and 

- ▪ Positive indications from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation of unrestricted continuation funding for five years when our current restricted grant ends (EOI submitted, full proposal in train). 

## **Safeguarding** 

Birthrights has a safeguarding policy and procedure in place which was reviewed within the year by staff and strengthened operationally to ensure it was fit for purpose for the race inquiry participation work. We also invested in training for key staff – the CEO as designated safeguarding lead (took place in August 2021), and the Participation Officer who is undertaking most work with potentially vulnerable adults (May 2021). To build a safer culture, we commissioned training on trauma-informed practice for the whole team (July 2021) and continued to invest in the offer of ongoing debriefing support for staff by a trained counsellor and birth debriefs for all new employees. 

The inquiry was supported by a psychotherapist who co-designed and co-facilitated focus groups to ensure we kept participants and staff safe. There were no safeguarding incidents but any potential concerns were escalated to the CEO and Chair e.g. a complaint about us not monitoring Facebook over a weekend when transphobic content was posted, causing distress and harm (we blocked/deleted material immediately when we became aware, apologised and offered support). 

9 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

We had regard to potentially vulnerable donors, signposting to support as appropriate. The trustees discussed safeguarding at Board meetings in response to specific activities – such as the impact of the inquiry findings on staff who may have experienced birth and/or racial trauma themselves, and team wellbeing in response to social media trolling. In 2021-22, the safeguarding policy and procedure will be formally reviewed by the Board of Trustees. Given the increase in our direct work with women and birthing people with lived experience, we will review the need for DBS checks for relevant staff and build safeguarding into all inductions. 

## **Financial review** 

## **Summary of income and expenditure** 

This year has seen significant growth in our overall income from £158,080 in 2019-20 to £361,703 in 2020-21 – more than double the previous financial year. However, this includes £90,000 of one-off funding related to COVID, so this level of growth will not necessarily be sustained year on year. 

Restricted income grew from £107,730 in 2019-20 to £215,992 in 2020-21 and unrestricted income from £50,350 in 2019-20 to £145,711 in 2020-21. Both unrestricted and restricted income outperformed expectations at the start of the pandemic, thanks to the hard work of staff and tremendous support from both existing and new funders. The CEO and Treasurer agreed to designate £95,000 of unrestricted funds for specific purposes, such as staff posts and projects. 

Total expenditure was £193,951. This was lower than originally budgeted due to very little travel, no inperson training or team meetings, staff turnover, and delayed activity due to the pandemic. 

At the end of 2019-20, £93,563 of funds were brought forward, of which £49,068 was restricted funds from the Baring and Esmée Fairbairn Foundations, for planned activity in 2020-21 (due to projects being phased across multiple financial years). 

Taking this into account, of the £261,315 carried forward at 1 April 2021, £107,427 relates to restricted funds from the Baring Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, for planned activity in 2021-22. £95,000 relates to funds from Esmée, Thirty Percy Foundation and a major donor (Peabody) which have been designated for specific staff posts or activities in 2021-22. 

10 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

Highlights from the 2020-21 accounts include: 

- maintained a positive rate of over 87% of our expenditure on delivering charitable activities as opposed to raising funds, while increasing investment in support and governance costs to strengthen our organisation; 

- delivered the final year of the Baring Foundation grant for our Peer Partners project and secured £30,000 continuation funding following our progress report plus £5,000 restricted COVID grant to support our advice and communications work; 

- delivered the second year of our Esmée Fairbairn Foundation grant to progress our 2018-21 strategic goals, released £50,000 funding for year three following our progress report and secured £25,000 unrestricted COVID funding; 

- secured a new grant of £100,000 over two years from John Ellerman Foundation, for staff costs and delivery of our race inquiry; 

- secured a new grant of £60,000 over two years from Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, for staff costs and delivery of our race inquiry, plus an extra £12,000 COVID adaptation grant; 

- secured a new unrestricted grant of £150,000 over three years from Thirty Percy Foundation, designated for in-house communications capacity, co-work office space and to boost participation work for the race inquiry; 

- secured a new £40,000 grant from Baring Foundation for legal action and staff costs to challenge COVID restrictions in maternity care; 

- completed the £10,000 Hollick Family Foundation grant for our project to review and refresh our suite of factsheets to improve accessibility, co-produced with people with a diverse range of need and lived experiences, with all funds fully spent; 

- secured a new £9,992 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to supplement the Hollick funding, enabling us to translate our resources into multiple languages and strengthen our co-production work with Black and Brown women with lived experience; 

- maintained income from Birthrights’ training programmes at £12,312, in spite of reduced demand especially in Q1-2 due to COVID pressures in the NHS (£10,583 in 2019-20); 

- launched a new corporate partnership with Bolt Burdon Kemp for £15,000 over three years plus pro bono support, to match our existing partnerships with Irwin Mitchell and Leigh Day; 

- increased unrestricted donations to £132,835 compared to £41,267 in 2019-20, from corporate partners, trusts, major donors, regular givers and fundraising events; 

- increased FTE headcount to 3.5 (six part-time staff) over 2020-21, working with consultants and freelancers to cover critical vacancies and to bring in website and brand expertise, and boost advice line capacity – secured funding to grow this to 5 FTE (eight posts) in 2021-22; 

- enjoyed pro bono or discounted legal advice and in-kind support from Doughty Street Chambers, Irwin Mitchell, Leigh Day, and our healthcare/legal trustees; and 

- submitted 14 applications to charitable trusts and foundations over the course of the year. 

## **Reserves policy** 

At the end of 2020-21, we hold £58,888 in unrestricted general reserves, up from £34,495 in 2019-20. In addition, £95,000 of core funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Thirty Percy Foundation has been designated by the trustees, but could be reallocated if required. 

Our reserves policy states that Birthrights will hold reserves to cover 3 months of operating costs. A 3- month reserve would allow Birthrights the opportunity, if necessary, to wind down its programme of support in an orderly and managed fashion, including paying our staff reasonable notice. The trustees believe this is the appropriate level of reserves to balance prudence and risk management against maximising the benefits the charity can deliver by not tying up too much of our funds in our reserves. 

11 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

For 2020-21, three months of operating costs equates to a sum of £46,000. For 2021-22, this rises to £87,500, based on our planned income and expenditure budget. Given at least £75,000 of designated funds are for staff posts, operations and other core costs, the trustees are confident Birthrights meets the three month target for available reserves. 

## **Covid-19** 

Birthrights has successfully fundraised throughout 2020-21 and is in a stronger position than ever, despite the challenges to income generation posed by the pandemic. The trustees consider that the charity will continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date on which these financial statements are approved for the following reasons: 

- the charity holds reserves of £153,888; 

- the charity is carrying forward a significant unrestricted surplus into 2021-22 which has been designated for core staff costs; and 

- the charity has grants in place which span 2021-22 and 2022-23 (John Ellerman, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Thirty Percy) and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has indicated high likelihood of unrestricted continuation funding beyond autumn 2022. 

The trustees therefore consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis for the preparation of the accounts, as detailed in note 1(b) to the financial statements. 

Fundraising will continue to be a major priority for the CEO and senior team, to ensure sustainability and growth from autumn 2022 into the future. 

## **Statement of responsibilities of the trustees** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- ▪ state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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. 

12 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Report of the trustees** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

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

The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. 

## **Independent examiners** 

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as independent examiners to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity. 

Approved by the trustees on 2 November 2021 and signed on their behalf by 

J A Davis 

John Davis - Treasurer 

13 



## **Independent examiner's report** 

## **To the trustees of** 

## **Birthrights** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Birthrights (the CIO) for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 15 to 28. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the CIO 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 CIO’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)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

Since the CIO’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies. 

Godfrey Wilson Limited also provides payroll and bookkeeping services to the CIO. I confirm that as a member of the ICAEW I am subject to the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016, which I have applied with respect to this engagement. 

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

- (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- (3) the accounts do 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 fair 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. 

## Alison Godfrey 

Date: 4 November 2021 **Alison Godfrey FCA Member of the ICAEW** For and on behalf of: **Godfrey Wilson Limited** Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD 

14 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Statement of financial activities** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

|Note<br>**Income from:**<br>Donations<br>3<br>Charitable activities<br>4<br>Investments<br>**Total income**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities<br>**Total expenditure**<br>5<br>6<br>Transfers between funds<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**<br>**Net income and net movement in**<br>**funds**|Restricted Unrestricted<br>£<br>£<br>214,492<br>132,835<br>1,500<br>12,612<br>-<br>264<br>215,992<br>145,711<br>6,122<br>11,994<br>151,729<br>24,106<br>157,851<br>36,100<br>58,141<br>109,611<br>218<br>(218)<br>49,068<br>44,495<br>107,427<br>153,888|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**347,327**<br>**14,112**<br>**264**<br>**361,703**<br>**18,116**<br>**175,835**<br>**193,951**<br>**167,752**<br>**-**<br>**93,563**<br>**261,315**|2020<br>Total<br>£<br>147,497<br>10,583<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||158,080|
||||18,424<br>127,126|
||||145,550|
||||12,530<br>-|
||||81,033|
||||93,563|



All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 14 to the accounts. 

15 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Balance sheet** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

|Note<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>9<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year<br>10<br>**Net current assets**<br>**Total assets less current liabilities**<br>Creditors: amounts falling due after 1 year<br>11<br>**Net assets**<br>13<br>**Funds**<br>14<br>Restricted funds<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>Designated funds<br>General funds<br>**Total charity funds**|**£**<br>**10,306**<br>**261,015**<br>**271,321**<br>**(10,006)**|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**261,315**<br>**261,315**<br>**-**<br>**261,315**<br>**107,427**<br>**95,000**<br>**58,888**<br>**261,315**|2020<br>£<br>1,997<br>109,487|
|---|---|---|---|
||||111,484<br>(12,921)|
||||98,563|
||||98,563<br>(5,000)|
||||93,563|
||||49,068<br>10,000<br>34,495|
||||93,563|



Approved by the trustees on 2 November 2021 and signed on their behalf by 

## J A Davis 

John Davis - Treasurer 

16 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**1. Accounting policies** 

## **a) Basis of preparation** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

Birthrights 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 note(s). 

## **b) Going concern basis of accounting** 

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider to be appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves and future confirmed funding. Whilst the trustees acknowledge the impact of the Covid pandemic, there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

## **c) Income** 

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. 

Income received under contracts, sponsorship agreements or in advance of provision of training is deferred and recognised when services are delivered. 

## **d) Donated services and facilities** 

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item, is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised. 

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

## **e) Interest receivable** 

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. 

17 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **1. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **f) Funds accounting** 

- Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. 

## **g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT** 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. 

## **h) Allocation of support and governance costs** 

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the basis of staff time: 

||**2021**|2020|
|---|---|---|
|Raising funds|**12%**|13%|
|Charitable activities|**88%**|87%|



## **i) Debtors** 

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

## **j) Cash at bank and in hand** 

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

## **k) Creditors** 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## **l) Financial instruments** 

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

18 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **1. Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **m) Pension costs** 

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA. 

## **n) Accounting estimates and key judgements** 

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying 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 if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. 

There are no sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements. 

## **2. Prior period comparatives** 

|**Income from:**<br>Donations<br>Charitable activities<br>**Total income**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities<br>**Total expenditure**<br>**Net income and net movement in funds**|Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>106,230<br>41,267<br>1,500<br>9,083<br>107,730<br>50,350<br>5,334<br>13,090<br>100,092<br>27,034<br>105,426<br>40,124<br>2,304<br>10,226<br>Unrestricted|**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**147,497**<br>**10,583**|
|---|---|---|
|||**158,080**|
|||**18,424**<br>**127,126**|
|||**145,550**|
|||**12,530**|



19 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **3. Income from donations** 

|**Donations and grants > £5,000**<br>Esmée Fairbairn Foundation<br>The Baring Foundation<br>John Ellerman Foundation<br>Thirty Percy Foundation<br>Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>Donations and grants < £5,000<br>Gifts in kind*<br>**Total income from donations**<br>**Prior year comparative**<br>**Donations and grants > £5,000**<br>Esmée Fairbairn Foundation<br>The Baring Foundation<br>Esmée Fairbairn Grants Plus<br>Hollick Foundation<br>Donations and grants < £5,000<br>Gifts in kind*<br>**Total income from donations**|Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>50,000<br>25,000<br>75,000<br>-<br>50,000<br>-<br>-<br>50,000<br>29,500<br>-<br>9,992<br>-<br>-<br>45,960<br>-<br>11,875<br>214,492<br>132,835<br>Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>50,000<br>-<br>49,750<br>-<br>6,480<br>-<br>-<br>10,000<br>-<br>24,251<br>-<br>7,016<br>106,230<br>41,267<br>Unrestricted<br>Unrestricted|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**75,000**<br>**75,000**<br>**50,000**<br>**50,000**<br>**29,500**<br>**9,992**<br>**45,960**<br>**11,875**|
|---|---|---|
|||**347,327**|
|||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>50,000<br>49,750<br>6,480<br>10,000<br>24,251<br>7,016|
|||147,497|



*Gifts in kind relate to pro bono legal advice, training, stationery, printed materials and room hire. 

The charity receives government grants, defined as funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the year ending 31 March 2021 was £9,992 (2020: £nil). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants. 

20 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **4. Income from charitable activities** 

|**Income from charitable activities**|||
|---|---|---|
|Training, conferences and events<br>Other<br>**Prior year comparative**<br>Training, conferences and events<br>Other|Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>12,312<br>1,500<br>300<br>1,500<br>12,612<br>Restricted<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>9,083<br>1,500<br>-<br>1,500<br>9,083<br>Unrestricted<br>Unrestricted|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**12,312**<br>**1,800**|
|||**14,112**|
|||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>9,083<br>1,500|
|||10,583|



21 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **5. Total expenditure** 

|Staff costs (note 7)<br>Staff recruitment and training<br>Travel and subsistence<br>Office costs<br>IT equipment and software<br>Research participation<br>Marketing and communications<br>Insurance<br>Accountancy<br>Legal and professional fees<br>**Sub-total**<br>**Total expenditure**<br>**Prior year comparative**<br>Staff costs (note 7)<br>Staff recruitment and training<br>Travel and subsistence<br>Office costs<br>IT equipment and software<br>Marketing and communications<br>Insurance<br>Accountancy<br>Legal and professional fees<br>Fundraising costs<br>Sub-total<br>Total expenditure<br>Allocation of support and<br>governance costs<br>Allocation of support and<br>governance costs|£<br>11,078<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>11,078<br>7,038<br>**18,116**<br>£<br>9,776<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>906<br>10,682<br>7,742<br>18,424<br>Raising<br>funds<br>Raising<br>funds|£<br>80,530<br>197<br>-<br>-<br>1,749<br>6,861<br>8,740<br>-<br>-<br>26,594<br>124,671<br>51,164<br>**175,835**<br>£<br>66,422<br>77<br>3,887<br>511<br>-<br>2,223<br>-<br>-<br>1,400<br>-<br>74,520<br>52,606<br>127,126<br>Charitable<br>activities<br>Charitable<br>activities|£<br>32,371<br>5,315<br>1,227<br>654<br>379<br>-<br>2,947<br>160<br>7,252<br>7,897<br>58,202<br>(58,202)<br>**-**<br>£<br>30,365<br>1,785<br>1,719<br>5,001<br>3,577<br>8,689<br>454<br>2,337<br>6,421<br>-<br>60,348<br>(60,348)<br>-<br>Support<br>and<br>governance<br>Support<br>and<br>governance|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**123,979**<br>**5,512**<br>**1,227**<br>**654**<br>**2,128**<br>**6,861**<br>**11,687**<br>**160**<br>**7,252**<br>**34,491**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**193,951**<br>-|
|||||**193,951**|
|||||2020<br>Total<br>£<br>106,563<br>1,862<br>5,606<br>5,512<br>3,577<br>10,912<br>454<br>2,337<br>7,821<br>906|
|||||145,550<br>-|
|||||145,550|



Total governance costs were £5,102 (2020: £2,082). 

22 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

**6. Net movement in funds** 

This is stated after charging: 

|Trustees' remuneration<br>Trustees' reimbursed expenses<br>Independent examiners' remuneration:<br>Independent examination (including VAT)|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**Nil**<br>**Nil**<br>**1,680**|2020<br>£<br>Nil<br>Nil<br>1,080|
|---|---|---|



2 trustees received payment for their participation in an advisory panel, along with 14 external contributors. They received £700 in compensation, at the same rate as any other contributor. 

## **7. Staff costs and numbers** 

Staff costs were as follows: 

|Salaries and wages<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs<br>Freelancers|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**104,654**<br>**4,651**<br>**2,277**<br>**12,397**<br>**123,979**|2020<br>£<br>99,287<br>5,109<br>2,167<br>-|
|---|---|---|
|||106,563|



No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year. 

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees, Chief Executive Officer, and Programmes Director. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £77,532 (2020: £63,708). 

|Average head count<br>Average full time equivalent|**2021**<br>**No.**<br>**6.00**<br>**3.50**|2020<br>No.<br>5.00|
|---|---|---|
|||2.60|



23 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **8. Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. 

|**9.**<br>**Debtors**<br>Trade debtors<br>Prepayments<br>Accrued income<br>Other debtors<br>**10. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year**<br>Accruals<br>Trade creditors<br>Deferred income (note 12)<br>Other creditors<br>**11. Creditors: amounts due after 1 year**<br>Deferred income (note 12)<br>**12. Deferred income**<br>At 1 April 2020<br>Released during the year<br>At 31 March 2021|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**5,485**<br>**3,321**<br>**1,500**<br>**-**<br>**10,306**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**2,530**<br>**1,688**<br>**5,000**<br>**788**<br>**10,006**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**10,000**<br>**(5,000)**<br>**5,000**|2020<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>900<br>1,097|
|---|---|---|
|||1,997|
|||2020<br>£<br>1,080<br>6,366<br>5,000<br>475|
|||12,921|
|||2020<br>£<br>5,000|
|||2020<br>£<br>15,000<br>(5,000)|
|||10,000|



Deferred income relates to corporate partnership income from Leigh Day. 

24 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **13. Analysis of net assets between funds** 

|**Analysis of net assets between funds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Current assets<br>Current liabilities<br>**Net assets at 31 March 2021**<br>**Prior year comparative**<br>Current assets<br>Current liabilities<br>Non-current liabilities<br>**Net assets at 31 March 2020**|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>107,427<br>-<br>**107,427**<br>Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>49,068<br>-<br>-<br>**49,068**|£<br>95,000<br>-<br>**95,000**<br>£<br>10,000<br>-<br>-<br>**10,000**<br>Designated<br>funds<br>Designated<br>funds|£<br>68,894<br>(10,006)<br>**58,888**<br>£<br>52,416<br>(12,921)<br>(5,000)<br>**34,495**<br>General<br>funds<br>General<br>funds|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**271,321**<br>**(10,006)**|
|||||**261,315**|
|||||**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**111,484**<br>**(12,921)**<br>**(5,000)**|
|||||**93,563**|



25 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **14. Movements in funds** 

|**Movements in funds**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|At 1 April<br>2020<br>£<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Baring Foundation, Peer Partners<br>19,765<br>Baring Foundation, COVID<br>-<br>Baring Foundation, Legal Action<br>-<br>John Ellerman Foundation<br>-<br>Esmée Fairbairn Foundation<br>29,303<br>Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust<br>-<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>-<br>King's College London<br>-<br>**Total restricted funds**<br>49,068<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>_Designated funds_<br>Hollick Family Foundation<br>10,000<br>Esmée Fairbairn, COVID<br>-<br>Peabody<br>-<br>Thirty Percy Foundation<br>-<br>Total designated funds<br>10,000<br>General funds<br>34,495<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>44,495<br>**Total funds**<br>93,563|Income<br>£<br>£<br>30,000<br>(49,765)<br>5,000<br>(5,000)<br>40,000<br>(16,532)<br>50,000<br>(17,113)<br>50,000<br>(48,164)<br>29,500<br>(9,567)<br>9,992<br>(9,992)<br>1,500<br>(1,718)<br>215,992<br>(157,851)<br>-<br>(10,000)<br>25,000<br>-<br>20,000<br>-<br>50,000<br>-<br>95,000<br>(10,000)<br>50,711<br>(26,100)<br>145,711<br>(36,100)<br>361,703<br>(193,951)<br>Expenditure|Transfers<br>between<br>funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>218<br>218<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(218)<br>(218)<br>-|**At 31**<br>**March**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**23,468**<br>**32,887**<br>**31,139**<br>**19,933**<br>**-**<br>**-**|
||||**107,427**|
||||**-**<br>**25,000**<br>**20,000**<br>**50,000**|
||||**95,000**<br>**58,888**|
||||**153,888**|
||||**261,315**|



## **Purposes of restricted funds Baring Foundation, Peer Partners** 

Continuation funding to build on our Peer Partners project focussed on those most at risk of discrimination in maternity care, to establish our new work on racial injustice and build partnerships with relevant organisations and individuals with lived experience. 

## **Baring Foundation, COVID** 

Funding towards operational support and staff capacity to help us meet increased demand for upto-date information about human rights in maternity care during COVID-19. 

## **Baring Foundation, Legal Action** 

12-month grant for legal costs and increased staff capacity to challenge human rights violations in maternity care due to COVID-19, through strategic litigation and other legal campaigning tactics. 

26 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **14. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds** 

## **John Ellerman Foundation** 

Two-year grant for Birthrights to convene a national inquiry into racial injustice in maternity care, towards delivery and staff costs, including a new post to ensure the inquiry is co-produced by Black, Brown and mixed ethnicity women and birthing people. 

## **Esmée Fairbairn Foundation** 

Funding for two staff posts and other operational costs to support Birthrights to achieve better care for women and birthing people by promoting safe, respectful maternity care, through our core activities of advice, training, research and influencing systems change. 

## **Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust** 

Two-year grant for Birthrights to convene a national inquiry into racial injustice in maternity care, towards delivery and staff costs, including a new post to ensure the inquiry is co-produced by Black, Brown and mixed ethnicity women and birthing people. 

## **National Lottery Community Fund** 

Funding towards Birthrights’ internal, participation and communications work on racial injustice in maternity care, including staff costs, participation payments for people with lived experience and anti-racism training for staff and trustees. 

## **King's College London** 

Funding for Birthrights' contribution to a research study, looking at strengthening the disclosure of harm with women and families under NHS maternity care. 

## **Purposes of designated funds** 

## **Hollick Family Foundation** 

Funding designated towards a full review of our online factsheets and information on rights in pregnancy and birth, including copywriting and design consultancy to improve accessibility and coproduction payments for people with lived experience (including Black and Brown women, LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodiverse people) who shaped this work throughout. 

## **Esmée Fairbairn, COVID** 

Additional unrestricted funding to support staff and operational costs during the pandemic, designated for a new post to boost capacity to deliver our training programme for healthcare professionals and birth workers, including reviewing future delivery models. 

## **Peabody** 

Major donation designated for campaigning on COVID restrictions and to create a new video on making complaints in maternity care, co-produced by people with lived experience. 

## **Thirty Percy Foundation** 

Three-year unrestricted grant designated for staff and operational costs, including a new senior post to lead and develop our communications and engagement work, to reach and support more women and birthing people with a diverse range of needs and experiences. 

## **Transfers between funds** 

Transfers relate to the top up of restricted funds from unrestricted funds. 

27 



## **Birthrights** 

## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2021** 

## **14. Movements in funds (continued)** 

|**Prior year comparative**<br>**Restricted funds**<br>The Baring Foundation<br>Trust for London<br>Esmée Fairbairn Foundation<br>Esmée Fairbairn Grants Plus<br>Kings College London<br>**Total restricted funds**<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>_Designated funds_<br>Hollick Family Foundation<br>General funds<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>**Total funds**|At 6 April<br>2019<br>£<br>15,967<br>6,120<br>24,677<br>-<br>-<br>46,764<br>-<br>34,269<br>34,269<br>81,033|Income<br>£<br>£<br>49,750<br>(45,952)<br>-<br>(6,120)<br>50,000<br>(45,374)<br>6,480<br>(6,480)<br>1,500<br>(1,500)<br>107,730<br>(105,426)<br>10,000<br>-<br>40,350<br>(40,124)<br>50,350<br>(40,124)<br>158,080<br>(145,550)<br>Expenditure|Transfers<br>between<br>funds<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>19,765<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>29,303<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>49,068<br>-<br>10,000<br>-<br>34,495<br>-<br>44,495<br>-<br>93,563<br>At 31 March<br>2020|Transfers<br>between<br>funds<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>19,765<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>29,303<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>49,068<br>-<br>10,000<br>-<br>34,495<br>-<br>44,495<br>-<br>93,563<br>At 31 March<br>2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||49,068|
|||||10,000|
|||||34,495|
|||||44,495|
|||||93,563|



## **15. Related party transactions** 

Pro bono services were provided by the trustees during the year of £5,125 (2020: £3,220) in relation to waived fees for training sessions and legal advice. 

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