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← The Girls' Network

2025-08-31-accounts

The Girls’ Network Annual Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

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Registered charity no: 1156517

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

The Girls' Network aims to inspire and empower girls aged 14-19 from the least advantaged communities by connecting them to a mentor and a network of professional role models who are women. We believe that no girl's future should be limited by her background, gender or parental income.

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

The Trustees of The Girls’ Network would like to thank our partners, supporters, volunteers, staff, and everyone who is part of our network for your ongoing commitment to our mission. This annual report celebrates the impact made over the past year - made possible thanks to your belief in what we do and the difference we can make together.

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

A word from our Chair of Trustees

As we reflect on the past year, we are incredibly proud of the achievements of the girls and young women we work with. Their stories remind us why our mission matters - and why their voices must remain at the heart of everything we do. Despite the increasingly complex and challenging world they are growing up in, their resilience, ambition, and determination to shape a better future continue to inspire us all.

The lingering effects of the pandemic - especially the isolation and disruption to education it caused - are still being felt today. Many of the young women we support are navigating reduced confidence, lower academic attainment, and wider barriers to opportunity. But through their stories, some of which are shared in this report, we are reminded of their courage and tenacity. We hear how they are confronting issues like the impact of social media on self-image, concerns about safety, and the feeling of not being heard - and how they are pushing back, changing the narrative, and stepping forward with a renewed sense of selfbelief and strength.

This transformation - from doubt to confidence, from uncertainty to ambition - is what inspires us most.

Our work is only possible because of the dedication and generosity of the community around us. To our partners, volunteers, and staff: thank you. Your unwavering support enables us to offer a varied, enriching, and inspiring programme of events - from our International Women’s Day networking event and the Women in Law Conference, to unique experiences like Clueless: The Musical with KT Tunstall, the Otiumberg Breakfast Event, and the Newcastle University Networking Event.

We are especially grateful to the Force Atlantic 2024 team for the incredible fundraising they undertook as part of their Atlantic rowing challenge, which made a real difference to the young women we support. We are especially grateful to our key partners: Enterprise Mobility and the Barratt Foundation, whose support continues to make a meaningful impact. We are also deeply thankful for the generous legacy gift from the estate of Jacqueline Bentley, kindly donated by her family, which will help us continue our work and expand our reach.

In 2024, we were delighted to welcome back our Co-Founder, Becca Dean MBE, as CEO. In 2025, we welcomed Em Lowe as our new Managing Director. Becca and Em will be working closely with the trustees to develop our new Strategic Plan, shaping the next phase of The Girls’ Network. In 2026, we will also be looking to broaden the experience, skills, and talent on our Board by recruiting new trustees to join us.

Looking ahead, we know there is still much work to do. We remain committed to evolving and strengthening our programmes and to building even clearer progression routes for the young women we support.

Together, we are working towards a future where every girl can walk through the world with confidence, knowing she is supported, heard, and valued.

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Sue Rimmer OBE
Chair of Trustees
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The Girls’ Network
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Annual Report 2024-25

A word from our Co-Founder and CEO

Twelve years ago, I founded The Girls’ Network with a simple mission: to ensure that every girl, regardless of her background, has the confidence, connections, and courage to shape her own future. My journey began as a teacher, witnessing firsthand the barriers many young women face - from limited opportunities and low self-confidence to feeling unheard in a world full of expectations. These experiences inspired me and my co-founder to create a space where girls could be seen, supported, and empowered to dream big.

Returning as CEO this year has been both a privilege and a deeply personal mission. Even after more than a decade, the challenges girls face remain complex and evolving. Many are navigating the effects of social media, pressures around self-image, safety concerns, and widening opportunity gaps - challenges that require resilience, guidance, and support. I returned to lead The Girls’ Network at this pivotal moment to guide our next chapter of growth and impact, ensuring that our programmes continue to meet the real needs of girls today.

In this report, you’ll hear from some of the girls we’ve supported over the past year, whose stories show the real impact of mentoring. I hope you will be as inspired as I am by young women stepping into leadership, challenging their limits, and supporting one another. For example, Sabyna, our Programme Coordinator, was a mentee in 2020 and is now a highly valued member of The Girls’ Network staff team, coordinating the mentoring programme and bringing incredible insight and a unique perspective to our work. Mori, another former mentee, is completing an internship made possible thanks to our amazing partners at Enterprise Mobility. And Ambassador Aiesosa spoke at an Incisive Media networking event on our behalf, where her words inspired the audience to donate vital funds to our cause.

Their journeys and those of the hundreds of other girls and young women we’ve worked with show how guidance, support, and opportunity can help turn ambition into action and potential into achievement.

Together with Em Lowe, our new Managing Director, our dedicated trustees, and our incredible staff, we are developing a bold new Strategic Plan to strengthen our impact, broaden our reach, and open doors for even more girls. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and champions, whose dedication - alongside the commitment and passion of our staff - allows us to create spaces where girls can explore, learn, and grow.

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Becca Dean MBE
Co-Founder & CEO
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And most importantly - a thank you to the thousands of girls each year who put their trust in us. Your courage, ambition, and belief in your own potential drive everything we do. You inspire us every day to push forward, innovate, and ensure that every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

The world our girls are stepping into may be complex, but it is also full of possibility. With your continued support, we will keep opening doors, amplifying voices, and building a network that lasts a lifetime.

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

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Annual Report 2024-25

Why we’re needed

Girls from the least-advantaged communities face a double disadvantage. Gender inequality is exacerbated by poverty: both the ‘glass ceiling’ and the ‘class ceiling’ continue to hold girls and young women back.

Moreover, geography matters: educational outcomes in the North of England lag those in the South, amplifying the challenges for girls in less prosperous regions.

This year, for the first time, girls' A-level pass rates have dipped, while boys' pass rates have risen slightly, narrowing the attainment gap between the two to its smallest on record. While this is good news for boys, it raises important questions about why girls’ grades have dipped and what needs to be done to support them. Multiple sources show that rising stress levels, pressure to succeed, and uncertainty about the future are taking a toll on girls’ confidence and wellbeing. Many experience sexism in their daily lives, while the cost-of-living crisis is adding financial and emotional strain, further impacting their mental health. The attainment gap between the least advantaged pupils and their peers remains deeply concerning, limiting opportunities and reinforcing inequality.

To break the cycle of disadvantage and inequality that more and more girls are facing, we need to equip them with:

the self-belief to realise their ambition

the opportunities to develop a voice and a platform for it to be heard

the support needed to overcome obstacles, for as long as they need

We believe no girl should have her future limited by gender, ethnicity, background, or parental income, and that they should be supported to reach their true potential, discover their self-worth, and develop their capacity to shape their world and their futures.

32% of young women say their hopes for the future have got worse in the last year

Young Women's Trust 2024

Only 56% of young women have a female role model outside of their family

Girl Guiding Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2024

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Only
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44% of disadvantaged pupils meet expected standards at GCSE, compared to 73% of their more advantaged peers

Institute for Government

Educational Outcomes Across England

months -19 disadvantaged pupils are on average 19.1 months behind their disadvantaged peers

Education Policy Institute (EPI) Annual Reports 2024/2025

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What we offer

We deliver mentoring with relatable role models, access to unique opportunities, and a supportive network to empower young women to raise their aspirations. Our programmes help girls build confidence and develop the skills they need to reach their full potential. This year, we supported over 1,300 girls to believe in their unlimited futures. We offer:

Group Mentoring

1-to-1 Mentoring

Matching girls with vetted, trained mentors who have 3+ years’ professional experience. Through mentoring, girls build confidence, resilience, and career skills such as CV writing and interview techniques, while gaining insight into the working world. Our mentors come from diverse sectors, including STEM, finance, media, law, the arts, and community

Like the 1-to-1 programme, girls get to meet with local professional women who can support their ambitions and broaden their understanding of future opportunities. They also gain tools to recognise their strengths, explore pathways to their goals, and build confidence and resilience.

organisations.

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Workshop Programme

Our workshops support girls to develop confidence, articulate their skills, interests and talents, and be able to talk about themselves in a positive way. They also offer insights into the world of work through roundtable sessions with local businesses. Participation in these sessions helps girls develop the confidence needed to access our 1-to-1 programme at a later stage.

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Ambassador Community

Work experience, talks, visits and opportunities

After participating in our mentoring programmes, girls are invited to become Ambassadors and join this free community, similar to an alumni network. They gain support, networking and employability opportunities, as well as a platform to develop their voice.

We partner with businesses, community leaders and organisations to offer work experience, site visits, career round-tables and ‘A Day in the Life of’ talks.

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Where we work

We work with schools in some of the least advantaged areas of the country, using data from the Index of Multiple Deprivation and the Sutton Trust Opportunity Index to prioritise where we work. Our aim is to support girls who face the greatest barriers to opportunity and social mobility. In partnership with teachers, our staff identify the girls most likely to benefit from our programmes, often those in receipt of Free School Meals or Pupil Premium, young carers, those living in care, refugees or asylum seekers, members of the global majority, or girls experiencing anxiety or low self-esteem.

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

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The Girls’ Network

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Annual Report 2024-25

Our Reach in 2024-25

595 360 girls aged 14-19 We have over 1345 We partnered with 40 girls aged 14-19 years accessed our workshop active mentors schools and colleges old supported through 1-to-1 mentoring programme 50 28k 363 2655 girls benefitted from our we have over 29,000 girls and young women are supporters receive our group mentoring programme followers on LinkedIn actively involved with our monthly newsletters an increase of nearly ambassador community 6000 since last year

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The Impact of our Programmes

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Our 1-to-1 Mentoring Programme Our Workshop Programme
94% 91% 95%
90%
of girls said their of girls said they feel of girls said that being of girls said that they
93%
mentor was inspiring more positive about part of the programme have a better
the future had a positive effect understanding of of girls said that they
on them career paths
have more confidence
about the future
91% 99% 99% 93%
of girls said that of girls said that of girls said that they of girls said that they
their mentor helped their mentor was would recommend feel more able to set Data taken from End of Year Surveys
them to feel more supportive The Girls’ Network goals Spring and Autumn 2024
confident 1-to-1 and Workshop programmes
thegirlsnetwork.org.uk
Registered charity no: 1156517
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Some of our 2024-25 highlights

International Women’s Day Clueless the Musical networking event with KT Tunstall

We marked International Women’s Day with an event at our partner DotDigital’s London office. Trustee Hannah chaired the evening, the Force Atlantic team spoke about their incredible challenge to row the Atlantic, and staff member and former mentee Sabyna and ambassadors Salma, Khushi and Amy, shared how mentoring and being part of our network has helped them build

Thanks to a recommendation from one of our amazing mentors, we were invited to partner with KT Tunstall and ‘Clueless the Musical’ for a special International Women’s Day collaboration. Ambassadors attended the opening night of the new show, with a portion of ticket sales donated to The Girls’ Network. Read more.

confidence and ambition.

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Women in Law Conference

We hosted our second Women in Law Conference, supported by a former mentor and practising barrister at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Girls from across our regions took part in presentations, debates, and career insights from student lawyers, barristers, solicitors, a KC, and a judge. They even tried on gowns and robes, gaining a hands-on glimpse into legal careers. Read more.

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Otiumberg breakfast event

Newcastle University networking event

To mark International Day of the Girl, our partners at jewellery brand Otiumberg hosted a breakfast networking event for London mentors, staff and ambassadors. Following the event, Otiumberg welcomed two of our ambassadors as interns, further strengthening the impact of the partnership.

We hosted a special networking event for partners, supporters and mentors at Newcastle University Business School. Force Atlantic joined us once again, and our North East ambassador Madeleine shared her inspiring story.

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Some of our 2024-25 highlights

Stylist magazine feature

We contributed to a Stylist magazine article exploring life for girls in 2025. CEO and Co-Founder Becca shared her perspective on the challenges girls face, alongside powerful contributions from several mentees and ambassadors. The piece provided valuable exposure and helped us reach new audiences online. Read more.

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Incisive Media events

Several of our ambassadors took to the stage at Incisive Media events, sharing their personal journeys and how being part of our network has helped them build the confidence to pursue their ambitions. Their powerful stories inspired the audience and helped raise a total of £20,054 for our cause.

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Tyne and Wear Women’s Derby

Our mentoring community came together at St James’ Park for the Tyne and Wear Women’s Derby, celebrating a win for Newcastle United Women. Ambassador Tamara, a former mentee, shared her journey from building confidence through The Girls’ Network to studying Sports & Exercise Science at Northumbria University. The day showcased the lasting impact of mentoring and the strength of our community.

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Evelyn Partners & DLA Piper event

Girls from some of our Merseyside schools took part in a workshop with Evelyn Partners and DLA Piper, exploring finance, CV writing, employment rights, and career pathways. They also heard from inspiring women in male-dominated careers, gaining practical skills, confidence, and insight into the world of work.

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Ambassador trips

Our ambassador community enjoyed several trips and visits this year, meeting prominent and inspiring women, including a visit to Portcullis House to meet Kim Johnson, Liverpool’s first Black MP. These experiences offered the ambassadors unique insights and the chance to connect with role models who are shaping change in their communities.

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Annual Report 2024-25

Sabyna’s story

Our Programme Coordinator, Sabyna, a highly valued member of The Girls’ Network team, shares her personal experience of being part of our community. From joining as a mentee to becoming an ambassador and staff member, Sabyna reflects on how our mentoring programme and ongoing support from our network has shaped her confidence, aspirations, and personal growth, and the impact it continues to have on her life.

I have always been shy, and social situations and public speaking used to cause me immense anxiety. Two years ago, I could never have imagined feeling confident enough to take on challenges that now feel possible. But The Girls’ Network gave me the space and support to step beyond my comfort zone and grow as a person.

I joined The Girls’ Network as a mentee eleven years ago, not knowing the profound impact it would have on my life. Through the guidance of my mentor, workshops, and the ambassador community, I was encouraged to explore my strengths, think about my career path, and gradually gain confidence. Having someone believe in me, provide encouragement at the right time, and challenge me to try new things helped me develop self-belief and resilience.

This year, I was invited to share my story at The Girls’ Network International Women’s Day event. Public speaking has always been a fear of mine, but I wanted to make sure that the impact of the programme I had benefited from was felt by everyone in the room. Stepping up and sharing my journey reminded me how far I’ve come and how powerful mentorship and support can be.

The experience helped me realise that it’s okay not to know exactly what I want to do with my life, as long as I seize opportunities, believe in myself, and keep moving forward. Over time, I discovered a career that fits my skills and aspirations and learned to face challenges I once would have avoided. Being part of The Girls’ Network has given me the confidence to voice my thoughts, pursue new opportunities, and approach life with ambition. It has shown me the power of support, guidance, and encouragement in helping young women realise their potential and take control of their futures.

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Sabyna
Former mentee &
The Girls’ Network
Programme
Coordinator
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Mori’s story

Before joining The Girls’ Network, I was quite reserved at school and tended to deal with things myself rather than reaching out for help. I first became involved in the mentoring programme in 2019 through my secondary school, which handpicked girls from my year to take part. I wanted to get involved because it seemed like a unique opportunity to try something different and gain a glimpse into potential future careers.

Having a mentor made a huge difference for me. She had faced many of the same challenges I was experiencing and treated me like an equal, giving me the space to share my thoughts and encouraging me to take initiative. Our mentoring sessions covered everything from interview practice to attending events I was interested in, and discussing career paths. Her guidance helped me understand more about the education system and provided insights into different roles that might suit my personality.

Through The Girls’ Network, I became more confident in asking adults for advice and was inspired to step outside my comfort zone. The experience helped me rethink my career plans - while I had initially considered studying law, mentoring opened my eyes to a wider range of opportunities and helped me discover paths that align with my skills and interests.

Overall, my time with The Girls’ Network was enriching. I felt genuinely supported, able to voice my ambitions, and empowered to explore my potential. Today, I’m in the middle of a placement year at Enterprise Mobility, working in Talent Acquisition and Community Relations - a role that reflects the confidence, insight, and drive I developed through the programme.

We are incredibly proud of Mori and the progress she has made through her time with The Girls’ Network. From joining as a mentee to discovering new career paths, her journey reflects the confidence, ambition, and resilience our programme helps young women develop. We are also extremely grateful to our partners at Enterprise Mobility, whose support and opportunities - including placements, events, and insight into professional life - provide young women in our network with invaluable experiences that help them explore their potential and shape their futures.

“Enterprise Mobility believes that everyone deserves access to opportunities that help them thrive. Our partnership with The Girls’ Network is about more than mentorship - it is about breaking down barriers, building confidence and creating pathways to success. We are proud to work toward closing equity gaps for young women together.”

Ryan Johnson, Enterprise Mobility Senior Vice President and Managing Director UK & Ireland

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Mori
Former mentee &
Intern at
Enterprise
Mobility
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Aiesosa’s story

In October 2024 former mentee and ambassador Aiseosa shared her story on stage at an Incisive Media networking event - speaking with incredible poise and elegance before a room of over 500 people. Her words were a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact mentoring can have and helped us to raise funds for our work.

When I joined The Girls’ Network in 2015, I had no idea just how much it would change my life. I was an anxious and uncertain teenager, growing up in one of the most deprived boroughs in London, in a singleparent household, and without anyone in my family who had been to university. I had big dreams, but I wasn’t sure they were for someone like me.

Being matched with a mentor changed that. She saw me - not just as a student with grades to earn, but as a young woman with potential, ideas, ambitions and a future worth investing in. She listened to my hopes and frustrations and gave me a safe space to explore who I wanted to become.

She encouraged me to think big, take big steps and embrace big opportunities. She challenged the limits I put on myself and my thinking. She helped me believe that where I started did not define where I could go. Through mentoring, doors that once felt closed began to open. My mentor helped me pursue political opportunities, including attending the centenary celebration of women’s suffrage in the House of Commons - surrounded by inspiring women leaders from around the world. She supported my growing interest in photography too. In 2021, while I was still studying, I was commissioned to photograph The Girls’ Network’s former CEO for a feature in Good Housekeeping UK - making me a published photographer.

In 2023, I proudly graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Human, Social and Political Sciences - achieving a goal I first whispered to my mentor almost a decade earlier.

The Girls’ Network gave me confidence, challenged my limited thinking, showed me the endless opportunities ahead, celebrated my gifts and pushed me forward, unlocked a mindset rooted in growth, resilience and belief. Because of this programme - and because someone believed in me - I now know I can become anything I want to be.

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Aiesosa
Former mentee,
ambassador &
Cambridge University
graduate
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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

A decade of impact through mentoring - a school’s perspective

We are proud to work with schools that share our belief in the power of mentoring to transform futures. One of our longest-standing school partners reflects on the impact nearly a decade on.

We began working with The Girls’ Network in 2015, looking for additional support for female students who were vulnerable or from disadvantaged backgrounds. We wanted something that focused entirely on them - building confidence, challenging stereotypes, and opening up opportunities in a supported environment.

The difference has been incredible. Every year, the girls tell us how much they’ve grown - in confidence, resilience, motivation, and ambition. Some experience life-changing outcomes that shape their futures in ways they never imagined possible.

Many join the programme struggling with self-belief. Having a professional woman invest time in them and treat them as equals helps them set new goals, explore new options and believe they can get there.

The programme inspires us too. Seeing that spark of ambition and pride ignite in students is amazing - a reminder of just how powerful mentoring can be. One young woman we supported while she faced significant personal challenges is now thriving as a mental health and disability nurse in London and the Southeast. She’s also a proud Girls’ Network Ambassador, inspiring the next generation. That’s the level of impact this programme can have - literally life-changing.

We recommend The Girls’ Network wholeheartedly. There is simply nothing else that offers such a unique, empowering experience for our students.

Girls from Shoreham Academy visiting No. 10 Downing Street on International Women’s Day

Steve Tabor, Director of Pupil Premium, Shoreham Academy

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My mentor is very hopeful, especially towards my future, which makes me more hopeful about it too. She explains things in a way I can understand and relate to. I’m very comfortable around her to the point where we can joke together about stuff! It’s nice to talk to someone about my feelings who actually wants to know about them. I’m too scared that no one cares.

It has already increased my confidence massively, it has also helped me in school and inspired me to work hard to have the future I want.

Mentee - Merseyside End of Year feedback

Long term data shows that The Girls’ Network cohort on average make more progress in their GCSES than the non Girls’ Network cohort. It has been a pleasure to see young students in the school gain in confidence, aspiration and maturity. This in turn has had a very positive affect on their academic performance in school.

Teacher - Merseyside Workshop programme feedback

She continues to surprise me with how confident she is becoming and how much she is not only thinking about, but acting on, her future goals. She said today that she can finally see everything coming together and all of the pieces she has worked so hard for falling into place which was so lovely to hear! As we come to the end of our mentoring journey I want her to keep up this momentum so that she can achieve all of the things that she wants to.

Mentor - North East Session reflection

Mentee - Sussex Middle of Year feedback

I love and I'm so grateful that I was given this opportunity to join The Girls' Network, it was definitely the right decision and I am so thankful for my mentor. I really like her, she's such an awesome woman. It has really inspired me to try my best no matter what is going on inside my head. I feel like I have grown as a person and I have changed a lot since last year.

Mentee - Portsmouth End of year feedback

I found the programme really fun because me and my mentor were figuring out ways to achieve my dream of becoming an Academy Football Player which is a big deal but she also introduced me to engineering. I would recommend this programme 100% as it gives ways to build connections for the future.

Mentee - West Midlands End of Year feedback

The Girls’ Network is one of the best interventions our girls have received. Every girl who’s taken part in the programme has grown in confidence. No matter where they started, they always end up better off by the end. They’ve found mentors who get them - someone different to talk to who isn’t a parent or teacher - and they’ve gained real insight into the world of work. If anyone has the opportunity to work with The Girls’ Network, I’d encourage them to do it. Teacher - North East 1-to-1 mentoring programme feedback

My mentor is genuinely one of the nicest people I've met and has probably given me the most compliments any human being has ever given me.

Mentee - London End of Year feedback

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Registered charity no: 1156517

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Our Partners and Funders

We are deeply grateful to all the partners, trusts, foundations and individual supporters whose generosity, passion and belief in our cause has sustained our work this year. Your commitment has helped us reach more girls, strengthen our programmes and build the networks that make lasting change possible.

Enterpise Mobility - ROAD Forward Initiative

We were delighted to be chosen by Enterprise Mobility as one of their ROAD Forward initiative key partners. This initiative supports organisations working to address social equity gaps in the communities where Enterprise Mobility operates. Our five-year partnership will help us grow our network and support more girls to believe in themselves and their unlimited futures.

Barratt Foundation

We were thrilled to begin a new partnership with the Barratt Foundation, who are providing significant financial support over the next three years. Barratt staff will also join our programme as mentors, offering girls valuable skills, guidance and inspiration.

Force Atlantic 2024 Team

A team of four women army personnel became the first all-female army team to take part in the World’s Toughest Row, crossing the Atlantic in December and January. Their challenge raised over £16,000 for The Girls’ Network and introduced our work to new audiences through their inspiring story of determination and teamwork.

Liverpool Ladies Network

We were delighted to be chosen by the Liverpool Ladies Network as their charity of the year. They are aiming to raise £9,000 through a series of networking events and are planning to invite some of our ambassadors to share their experiences, inspire attendees and highlight the impact of mentoring on girls’ confidence, aspirations and futures.

Big Give fundraising campaign

Our Big Give campaign raised an incredible £23,356 in just one week. The first £10,000 of donations were doubled through the Big Give’s Women and Girls Match Fund, helping donors’ generosity go even further to support girls and young women.

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Our Partners and Funders

Individual fundraisers

Legacy gift from the estate of Legacy gift from the family Jacqueline Bentley of Alice Allen

Isabel - London Marathon Janine, Claire & Toni - Brighton 10K Former mentee Kara and her mentor Louise - Great North Run

Thank you to the family of Alice Allen for the legacy donation in memory of her career in teaching, which funded the creation of new resources for our programmes.

We are especially thankful for a generous legacy gift from the family of Jacqueline Bentley. Their thoughtful contribution will help us expand and strengthen our mentoring programmes, creating more opportunities for girls and young women to build confidence, develop skills and reach their full potential.

Fundraising Organisations

AG Impact Birketts

BlackRock

Trafalgar Theatre Group

Our Core Funders

Barratt Redrow Foundation Big Give

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Enterprise Holdings Foundation Garfield Weston Foundation Schroder Charity Trust The Millby Foundation

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Our regional funders

London

City Bridge Foundation East End Community Foundation John Lyon’s Charity Tides Foundation The Dischma Charitable Trust

West Midlands:

The Eveson Trust The Vintners' Foundation Virgin Unite

Merseyside

Anne Duchess of Westminster Fund CABWI

Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust The Tillotson Trust

The Zochonis Charitable Trust

North East

Community Foundation North East Sir James Knott Trust The Barbour Foundation The Shears Foundation The William Leech Charity

Sussex

Another Way Women's Foundation Enjoolata Foundation Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

Our Corporates Partners

Atkins Realis

Dotdigital

Dr Sams/Buntings Holdings Ltd EdenTree (Movement for Good/Benefact Group) Enterprise Evelyn Partners Female Founders Rise Findlay Park Force Atlantic GFT Financial Hasbro

Homes for Students Incisive Media Mott Macdonald NTT DATA Nuveen Global OpenReach Otiumberg Pokemon

Pretty Little Thing Sir Robert McAlpine Tradeweb

Westfield Specialty

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

22

The Girls’ Network

Annual Report 2024-25

Governancy & Accountability

Charity object

To advance for the public benefit the education of girls and young women in such ways as the trustees think fit, including but not limited to making facilities and services available to them with the particular (but not limited) aim of helping them win places at universities, colleges or institutions of higher education.

Public benefit

All of our activities are undertaken to further our purposes for the public benefit and are overseen by the trustees to ensure that this is the case.

Name of the charity: The Girls’ Network

Charity registration number: 1156517

Structure and Management

The Girls’ Network is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, whose only voting members are its charity trustees. During 2024-25 there were four trustees and an average of 24 employees. Trustees are recruited through existing networks of professionals, mentors and partner organisations. Advertisements are also posted on national websites and charity sector websites. Trustee roles are outlined following an audit of the existing skills and resources on the board, and an examination of the key needs of the charity over the subsequent three years.

Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee is appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

Address of the principal office of the charity: The Girls' Network, 82 Tanner Street, SE1 3GN

Decision-making and governance

Charity Trustees

Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: Sue Rimmer OBE (Chair), Hannah Essex (Vice-Chair), Michelle Rodrigues, Lauren McIlroy.

Senior Leadership Team 2024-2025

The trustees would like to extend their thanks to the previous co-executive directors who both left The Girls’ Network in 2024-25. We welcomed Becca Dean, Co-Founder, back to The Girls’ Network as CEO in December 2024 and the SLT now comprises our CEO, Managing Director, Director of Operations and Finance, Head of Fundraising and Head of Programmes.

Auditor

Charity trustees make decisions about spends over £5,000 that are not part of the agreed budget for the charity. They also agree budgets for each forthcoming year. Trustees make decisions about partnerships or associations that could be deemed a risk to reputation or quality of delivery of the programme, as identified by the CEO. Trustees delegate the day-to-day running, recruitment and staff management, growth planning and spending decisions that are part of the core business of the charity to the CEO of the charity

Financial Review: financial activity and financial position

The Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet can be found on pages 26 & 27. The Charity’s reserves increased by £287,599 during the year . The balance sheet shows total net assets of £774,301 at 31st August 2025.

Slade & Cooper Limited, Beehive Mill, Jersey St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6JG

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Governancy & Accountability

Policies on reserves

The charity’s current reserves policy is to maintain three to six months reserves to ensure business continuity in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

The key management team at the date of this report comprised of a CEO and four senior managers. The CEO salary is decided by the trustees, with reference to roles in similar sized charities. The salaries of the senior management team is decided by the trustees and the CEO together.

Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of The Girls’ Network for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’.

Company law requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

Risk Management

The trustees have a robust approach to risk management. The risk register is updated by the key management team every quarter, and presented to the Finance and Risk Committee at each meeting for review. The trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risk.

Third party indemnity provisions

There are no third-party indemnity provisions to disclose.

Fundraising Compliance

securing grants from trusts and foundations;

donations from individuals;

All of our fundraising activity is managed in-house. We did not engage the services of any professional fundraising agencies to undertake direct response fundraising solicitation or cultivation either by phone or face-to-face, during the year. We are committed to observing the highest possible standards in fundraising. We are required to comply with all relevant law and regulations.

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Auditors

Slade & Cooper Ltd were re-appointed as the charity's auditors during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 29th January 2026 and signed on their behalf by Sue Rimmer OBE, Chair of Trustees.

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Sue Rimmer OBE

29th January 2026

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

24

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Conclusions relating to going concern

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of The Girls’ Network

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Girls’ Network (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is 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).

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 August 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for opinion

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

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

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

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

Other information

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

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities

(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of The Girls’ Network cont.d

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

enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 23 the trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

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

reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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

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Slade & Cooper Limited, Statutory Auditors Date Beehive, Jersey Street, Manchester, M4 6JG

Slade & Cooper Limited is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

26

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2025

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
Note Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
Income from: £ £ £ £ £
Donations and legacies 2 500,220 407,000 198,713 1,105,933 708,760
Charitable activities 3 156,250 - - 156,250 192,377
Total Income 656,470 407,000 198,713 1,262,183 901,137
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4 702,471 - 271,087 973,558 909,905
Total Expenditure 702,471 - 271,087 973,558 909,905
Net movement in funds (46,001) 407,000 (72,374) 288,625 (8,768)
Fund balances brought forward 393,896 - 92,806 486,702 495,470
Fund balances carried forward 10, 11 347,895 407,000 20,432 775,327 486,702

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

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27

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025

Note 2025 2024
Fixed Assets £ £
Tangible assets 7 6,670 2,071
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 8 69,726 39,936
Cash at bank and in hand 834,706 551,965
904,432 591,901
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due
within one year 9 (135775) (107,270)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 768,657 484,631
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 775,327 486,702
TOTAL NET ASSETS 775,327 486,702
Charity Funds
Restricted Funds 10 20,432 92,806
Designated funds 10 407,000 -
Unrestricted Funds 10 347,895 393,896
TOTAL FUNDS 775,327 486,702

The notes on pages 29 to 39 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the Trustees on 29th January 2026 and signed on their behalf by

Sue Rimmer, OBE Chair of Trustees

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Cash flow Statement for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

Note 2025 2024
Cash flows from operating activities £ £
Cash used in operations 15 289,655 (5,477)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (6,914) (671)
(6,914) (671)
Change in cash in the year 282,741 (6,148)
Cash at the beginning of the year 551,965 558,113
Cash at the end of the year 834,706 551,965

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29

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

1. Accounting Policies

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), published in January 2019.

The Charitable Company is a public benefit entity for the purposes of FRS 102 and therefore the charity also prepared its financial statements in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the FRS applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (The FRS 102 Charities SORP published in January 2019), the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a 'true and fair view' and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the FRS applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), second edition - October 2019, rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities SORP effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Going concern basis

There were no key judgments which the trustees have made which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Income

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

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated assets 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 that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised; refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution. On receipt, donated professional services and donated assets 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 assets of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

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.

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. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

Expenditure

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.

Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs.

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

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. Support costs are allocated on a percentage basis.

Redundancy and termination costs are recognised as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities and a liability on the Balance Sheet immediately at the point the charity is demonstrably committed to either: terminate the employment of an employee or a group of employees before normal retirement date; or provide termination benefits as a result of an offer made in order to encourage voluntary redundancy. The charity is considered to be demonstrably committed only when it has a detailed formal plan for the termination and is without realistic possibility of withdrawal from the plan.

Tangible fixed assets - Office Fixtures and Equipment

Individual fixed assets costing £250 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis over three years.

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.

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.

Creditors and provisions

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.

Pensions

Employees of the charity are auto-enrolled in a defined contribution money purchase scheme after three months’ service. There have been no costs associated with running the defined contribution scheme.

The money purchase plan is managed by NEST and the plan invests the contributions made by the employee and employer in an investment fund to build up over the term of the plan into a pension fund which is then converted into a pension upon the employee’s normal retirement year age when eligible for a state pension. The charity has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying across the deductions for the employees’ contributions.

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk

Registered charity no: 1156517

30

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

2. Income from donations Unrestricted Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds funds
2025 2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Donations 289,250 407,000 198,713 894,963 708,760
Legacies 210,970 - - 210,970 -
Total Income from donations 500,220 407,000 198,713 1,105,933 708,760
Total 2024 561,412 - 147,348 708,760
Total
funds
2024
£
21,877
170,500
192,377
3. Income from charitable activities Unrestricted Total Total
funds funds funds
2025 2025 2024
£ £ £
Programme Income - - 21,877
School Contributions 156,250 156,250 170,500
Total income from charitable activities 156,250 156,250 192,377
Total 2024 192,377 192,377

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Total Total
2025 2024
£ £
Staff costs (see note 6) 799,311 823,746
Rent and office costs 65,883 56,841
Programme costs 23,784 22,255
Other costs 84,580 7,063
973,558 909,905
Unrestricted expenditure 702,471 823,237
Restricted expenditure 271,087 86,668
973,558 909,905

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The prior year “Staff costs” balance of £823,746 included contractor costs of £46,327. Contractor costs have been reclassified to “Other costs” for the current year.

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

5. Net income/ (expenditure)
This is stated after charging:
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 2,315 3,223
Auditor's remuneration 4,500 3,840
6. Staff costs
Staff costs during the year were:
2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 707,386 742,480
Social security costs 68,895 66,677
Other pension costs 12,363 14,589
Termination costs 10,667 -
799,311 823,746
5. Net income/ (expenditure)
This is stated after charging:
2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 2,315 3,223
Auditor's remuneration 4,500 3,840
6. Staff costs
Staff costs during the year were:
2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 707,386 742,480
Social security costs 68,895 66,677
Other pension costs 12,363 14,589
Termination costs 10,667 -
799,311 823,746

One employee had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: Nil). The average number of staff employed during the year was 24.3 (2024: 22.8). The average full time equivalent number of staff employed during the year was 20.5 (2024: 20.3)

Key management personnel consist of the Chief Executive Officers and the Senior Leadership Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel was £220,026 (2024: £118,907).

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33

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

7. Tangible Fixed Assets Office
Equipment Total
Cost £ £
At 1 September 2024 11,774 11,774
Additions 6,914 6,914
At 31 August 2025 18,688 18,688
Depreciation
At 1 September 2024 9,703 9,703
Charge for the Year 2,315 2,315
At 31 August 2025 12,018 12,018
Net Book Value
At 31 August 2025 6,670 6,670
At 31 August 2024 2,071 2,071
8. Debtors 2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 50,300 30,500
Prepayments and accrued income 19,426 9,436
69,726 39,936

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34

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

9. Creditors 2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 6,331 6,248
Deferred Income 89,318 85,372
Other taxation and social security 27,921 12,671
Other creditors and accruals 8,241 2,979
135,775 107,270
10. Statement of funds - current year Balance at
01/09/24		 Income Expenditure Balance at
31/08/25
Unrestricted Funds £ £ £ £
General funds 393,896 656,470 (702,471) 347,895
Total unrestricted funds 393,896 656,470 (702,471) 347,895
Designated funds
School programmes - 132,000 - 132,000
Investment fund - 275,000 - 275,000
Total designated funds - 407,000 - 407,000

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35

The Girls’ Network

Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

10. Statement of funds - current year - continued Balance at
01/09/24		 Income Expenditure Balance at
31/08/25
Restricted funds £ £ £ £
Anne Duchess of Westminster 10,000 - (10,000) -
CABWI 2,916 17,500 (20,416) -
City Bridge Foundation - 30,000 (30,000) -
Community North East - 10,000 (5,000) 5,000
Confidential funder - 20,000 (20,000) -
Enterprise Mobility 50,000 - (50,000) -
Findlay Park 12,542 12,783 (25,325) -
John Lyons Charity - 15,000 (15,000) -
Millby Foundation - 45,000 (31,248) 13,752
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal 10,668 - (10,668) -
Others 6,680 48,430 (53,430) 1,680
Total restricted funds 92,806 198,713 (271,087) 20,432
Total funds 486,702 1,262,183 (973,558) 775,327

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Description, nature and purposes of the funds

General fund - The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds

Restricted funds - Funds are restricted by the donor, either for mentoring in a specific region or for work on a specific project. Funds are expected to be used within 12 months.

Designated funds:

School programmes - A designated fund has been established to support schools who cannot afford the full contribution for mentoring programme. Funds are expected to be used within 12 months.

Investment fund - A designated fund has been established to allow for development of the programmes and infrastructure within the charity. Funds are expected to be used within 12 months.

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36

The Girls’ Network

Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

11. Statement of funds - prior year
Balance at
1/09/2023		 Income Expenditure Balance at
31/08/24
£ £ £ £
General Funds
General funds 463,344 753,789 (823,237) 393,896
Total unrestricted funds 463,344 753,789 (823,237) 393,896
Restricted funds
Dulverton Trust 5,168 - (5,168) -
The Lord Mayors Appeal 12,000 26,668 (28,000) 10,668
Findlay Park 8,750 21,500 (17,708) 12,542
Robeco 3,708 - (3,708) -
CABWI 2,500 17,500 (17,084) 2,916
John Lyons Charity - 15,000 (15,000) -
Enterprise Mobility - 50,000 - 50,000
Anne Duchess of Westminster - 10,000 - 10,000
Others - 6,680 - 6,680
Total restricted funds 32,126 147,348 (86,668) 92,806
Total funds 495,470 901,137 (909,905) 486,702

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The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve
The designated minimum reserve of £272,000 is to cover the costs of salaries and overheads for a three month period.
13. Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds
2025 2025 2025 2025
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 6,670 - - 6,670
Current assets 477,000 407,000 20,432 904,432
Creditors due within one year (135,775) - - (135,775)
347,895 407,000 20,432 775,327
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds
2024 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 2,071 - - 2,071
Current assets 499,095 - 92,806 591,901
Creditors due within one year (107,270) - - (107,270)
393,896 - 92,806 486,702
12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve 12. Designated Minimum Reserve
The designated minimum reserve of £272,000 is to cover the costs of salaries and overheads for a three month period.
13. Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds
2025 2025 2025 2025
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 6,670 - - 6,670
Current assets 477,000 407,000 20,432 904,432
Creditors due within one year (135,775) - - (135,775)
347,895 407,000 20,432 775,327
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year
Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds
2024 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 2,071 - - 2,071
Current assets 499,095 - 92,806 591,901
Creditors due within one year (107,270) - - (107,270)
393,896 - 92,806 486,702

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

38

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

14. Pension commitments 14. Pension commitments
The company operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an
independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and at the balance sheet
date amounts of £3,361 (2024: £964) were payable to the fund, which are included in creditors.
15. Reconciliation of net income to net cashflow from operating activities 2025 2024
£ £
Net income /(expenditure) for the year 288,625 (8,768)
Depreciation 2,315 3,223
Loss on disposal of fixed assets - 316
(Increase) / decrease in debtors (29,790) 5,114
Increase / (decrease) in creditors 28,505 (5,362)
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities 289,655 (5,477)

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

39

The Girls’ Network Annual Report 2024-25

Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025

16. Prior year Statement of Financial Activities 16. Prior year Statement of Financial Activities
This statement is for the 12 months ended 31 August 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2024 2023
Income from:
£		 £ £ £
Donations & legacies 561,412 147,348 708,760 783,816
Charitable activities 192,377 - 192,377 404,592
Total Income 768,789 147,348 901,137 1,188,408
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 823,237 86,668 909,905 1,457,425
Total Expenditure 823,237 86,668 909,905 1,457,425
Net Income (69,448) 60,680 (8,768) (269,017)
Net movement in funds (69,448) 60,680 (8,768) (269,017)
Fund balances at 31st March 2023 463,344 32,126 495,470 764,487
Fund balances at 31st August 2024 393,896 92,806 486,702 495,470

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517

The Girls’ Network 82 Tanner Street London SE1 3GN

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thegirlsnetwork.org.uk Registered charity no: 1156517