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2023-03-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

Charity Registra�on No: 1158744

Company Registra�on No: 08686204 (England and Wales)

Submi�ed by: Debra Steven, CEO

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Structure, Governance
and Management
Year to 31 [st] March 2023
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Report of the Directors

For the period ended 31 March 2023

The Trustees present their report and accounts for the Period commencing 1 April 2022 and ending 31 March 2023.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accoun�ng policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Prac�ce, “Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es”, issued in March 2005.

Reference and administra�ve informa�on

Trustees, who served during the year, who were also directors of the company were:

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Gi�y Enright
Chairperson
Appointed Andreena
1 Dec. 2020
Resigned Leeanne
30 Sept. 2023 Appointed 17 Feb. 2021
Penelope Anne
Renee Campbell Middleton
Appointed 12 May 2020 Appointed 8 May 2019
Lana
George Bennet Wrightman
Appointed 1 Feb. 2023 Appointed 8 May 2019
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Charity number 1158744

Company number 08686204 (England and Wales)

Resigned:

Catherine Maeve Kelly Golding Resigned 31 March 2023

Founder Debra Sheilagh Steven Chief Execu�ce Officer Debra Sheilagh Steven

New appointed Chairperson as of 6 June 2023 and therefore "Le�er of Introduc�on" by:

Principal & Registered Office

11/12 Hallmark Trading Centre Fourth Way Wembley Middlesex HA9 OLB

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Hannah Jane Parry
Chairperson
Appointed 6 June 2023
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Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC 8 George Street Richmond Greater London TW9 1JU

CEO (Founder)

Accountants

Ar�san Accounts 11/12 Hallmark Trading Centre Fourth Way Wembley Middlesex HA9 OLB

Debra Steven

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Introduction from the Chair Hannah Jane Parry

Recent years have seen a significant shi� in the conversa�on surrounding violence against women and girls (VAWG) due to increased awareness of sexual harassment and violence in school se�ngs. This has been highlighted in a number of reports by organisa�ons including Everyone’s Invited, the End Violence against Women and Girls Coali�on, OFSTED and the Women and Equali�es Commi�ee of the House of Commons.

According to the briefing “It happens all the �me” (Girlguiding, 2021- referred to in subsequent DfE guidance), 67% of girls and young women aged 13-18 have experienced sexual harassment at school from another student. Of those, 29% first experienced sexual harassment when they were just 11-13 years old. An OFSTED rapid review report into ‘Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges’ (2021) described similar levels of sexual abuse and harassment.

Reasons for such behaviours are complex. 24-hour access to hardcore online pornography and unhealthy social media content has le� children and young people, especially boys and young men, with a misguided representa�on of what healthy and respec�ul rela�onships look like.

Sec�ons of our society, including women and girls from black and minori�zed communi�es con�nue to experience mul�ple forms of disadvantage, abuse and discrimina�on. These communi�es are par�cularly badly hit by the cost-ofliving crisis adding to increased stress within households and triggering increased cases of all forms of violence against women in recent years.

Against an ever-changing landscape many parents are ill-equipped to talk about healthy sexual rela�onships with their children leading to difficult but necessary discussions being avoided at home. At school the delivery of rela�onships and sex educa�on (RSE) is inconsistent. And whilst the subject is compulsory in secondary schools to 16, young people remain in school un�l 18 with the further effect that in two key years of their educa�on they risk being le� with li�le or no support to help them to navigate complex and poten�ally harmful situa�ons in youth rela�onships.

We know this. As an educa�on and preven�on charity we go into schools and other se�ngs and work hard to educate and change a�tudes young people have towards each other and of themselves. With us they learn appropriate boundaries, respect and how to stand up to inappropriate behaviour. We also work to empower girls and young women to defend themselves if things do go wrong.

We do this through our ‘ Ac�on Breaks Silence Community Interven�on’ . Our programmes strive to end VAWG through posi�ve training in local communi�es and programme and workshop delivery in schools and workplaces:

Con�nued on next page

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In 2022/23over 5,000 students, teachers and adults have been engaged, educated and empowered by us to become ac�ve bystanders to end all forms of male violence in our communi�es through their par�cipa�on in one of these workshops or programmes.

The year to 31st March 2023 was one of financial resilience, below are highlights of funds secured:

Notwithstanding these successes, there was a no�ceable decrease in our income compared to 2021/22, crea�ng an annual deficit. This was largely due to two major dona�ons in 21/22 being non-recurring. The deficit was mi�gated by the significant income received in 21/22 which meant we ended 21/22 with a substan�al surplus of just over £142K which carried forward into ongoing and new projects in 22/23. Whilst there are always financial ebbs and flows in small, dynamic chari�es such as ours we con�nue to work hard to ensure we can to deliver our programmes as widely as possible next year and beyond in these tough economic �mes.

Ac�on Breaks Silence delivers its workshops and programmes through the contribu�on & support of its trainers, volunteer and funders. We would not be here without them. On behalf of the Board, I wish to sincerely thank you all for helping the charity to create a world where women and girls can live their lives free of all forms of male violence and the threat of such violence.

Hannah Jane Parry

Appointed Chair on 6 June 2023

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Executive Summary Our Vision, Our Mission, Our Values

Ac�on Breaks Silence is a front line preven�on educa�onal charity, whose aim is to create a world in which women and girls can live their lives free from male violence and the threat of such violence.

A mul�-pronged approach is adopted and ac�oned through the delivery of the Ac�on Breaks Silence Community Interven�on to end violence against women and girls (VAWG).

This interven�on is delivered in school se�ngs and aims to tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls, with targeted strategies to promote gender equity and healthy rela�onships. The design and delivery of the interven�on is guided by the Social Norms and Ac�ve Bystander Theories and follows a “Whole Schools Approach” (developed by AVA).

Each of the Ac�on Breaks Silence programmes is designed to be implemented over �me with each programme building on the previous one, thus hoping to create long-term systemic change.

Programme delivery is focused on communi�es that face a mul�tude of challenges, including economic, as well as high levels of VAWG. Many of the women and girls the charity engages and supports are survivors of male violence. The charity has a passion and belief in youth engagement and values the power of youth voice and peer to peer mentorship.

Our Vision Our vision is to create a world in which women and girls can live their lives free from male violence and the threat of such violence.

The term ‘violence against women and girls’ refers to the acts of violence or abuse that dispropor�onately affect women and girls. Crimes and behaviour covered by this term include rape, sexual offences, domes�c abuse, stalking, sexual harassment and ‘honour’ killings, as well as many others.

Our Mission

Our Values

Our mission is to create safer communi�es and to support longterm, systemic change. This is achieved by tackling the root causes of VAWG with a focus on o�en unheard youth from communi�es experiencing structural inequity and high levels of VAWG. The voices of those most affected by male violence are at the heart of programme design, implementa�on and delivery.

Our core values are feminism, an�-discrimina�on, empathy, youth ac�vism, inclusion and empowerment. These values guide and inform the culture of the organisa�on and the design and delivery of our programmes.

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Statistics Why we do what we do

1 Metropolitan Police Services VAWG Ac�on Plan 2022.

What did you enjoy about the session and why?

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Programmes

The Ac�on Breaks Silence Community Interven�on to end VAWG consists of:

  1. The Train-the-Trainer Mentorship Programme

Designed for sustainable growth, the Train-the-Trainer programme forms an integral part of the Community Interven�on. Under or unemployed young people are upskilled to deliver VAWG preven�on programmes in the communi�es in which they live.

The programme seeks to not only offer the benefit of consistent employment but to build self-esteem, self-competence and to drive social change. Our trainers become contributors, role-models, mentors and ac�ve bystanders to end VAWG in their own communi�es.

2. Empowerment, Empathy and Ac�ve Bystander Primary School Programme to end VAWG This is a 16-hour programme, delivered over two academic years.

Phase One consists of 8 x 1-hour weekly sessions for Year 5 students. The sessions and engaging and interac�ve and cover topics self-love, self-competence, breaks down gender stereotyping and promo�ng equity, empowerment and empathy. Students also learn about the different types of abuse and discuss what is needed to become an ac�ve bystander in an age appropriate way.

One year later in Year 6, the same students come together as one group and par�cipate in Phase Two, again 8 x 1-hour weekly sessions. Phase 2 focuses on recognising abusive behaviours and sexual harassment and on further learning on how to become an ac�ve bystander at school and within their communi�es.

Note that session one and session eight of each Phase are Monitoring and Evalua�on sessions ensure that young people con�nue to inform, consulted, involved and empowered throughout programme design and delivery.

3. Feminist Empowerment through Self-Defence Workshops for women & girls

These workshops use physical self-defence as an empowerment tool to equip par�cipants with both physical and mental self-defence skills as well as educa�ng them about core values, different types of abuse and strategies to resist harmful behaviours. The workshop encourages them to own their own space and bodies, as well as use their voices with confidence.

These workshops are designed to include both youth and parents/caregivers, thereby

ac�vely involving parents and caregivers in “upda�ng” the safety strategies they discuss with their families. Addi�onally using youth trainers provides an opportunity for peer-to-adult mentorship as upskilled youth trainers deliver an inspira�onal youth led parent/caregivers talk on their experiences in youth rela�onships.

4. Undefning Masculinity Workshop for all students

These workshops are designed to provide all students a safe space to unpack toxic behaviour associated with masculinity and the nega�ve effects that patriarchy has on all our lives. In order for VAWG (including school related violence against girls) and the social norms that support it to be disrupted effec�vely, all students including boys and men need to be educated and engaged as allies and ac�ve bystanders to end VAWG.

Ac�on Breaks Silence recognises the pressure students are under to conform to gender norms and the impact this has on their mental health and wellbeing.

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Continued Programmes

  1. The Youth Ambassador Programme: Uni�ng young people to address violence in youth rela�onships The primary roles of Youth Ambassadors at Secondary School level are to act as mentors for younger students, to offer safe and trusted sounding-boards in a suppor�ve manner, to raise awareness of what happens surrounding VAWG in youth rela�onships. They encourage youth and their peer groups towards ac�vism as well as suppor�ng Ac�on Breaks Silence through fundraising events. The programme is embedded in the young people’s lives, encouraging ac�ve and passionate advocacy.

Why are we focusing on primary and secondary schools?

VAWG including school related violence against girls is a human rights viola�on that impacts and manifests in sexual, physical and psychological violence, and is underpinned by inequality. As evidence shows, significant numbers of girls are sexually harassed and assaulted at school and rapes do happen in that environment. They are put under emo�onal pressure and denied the equals rights to learn in a dignified environment. Teachers are o�en under skilled and unprepared to help.

The EVAW June 2023 Report #It’sAboutTime referred to findings in the subsequent Department of Educa�on guidance. Both highlighted the sheer scale of the suffering girls and minori�zed groups e.g. LGBTQ+ experienced at school. Both suggested for schools should engage external specialist providers to work alongside them to address high levels of sexism and misogyny in both primary and secondary schools. Students need to be empowered and educated to become ac�ve bystanders to address all forms of VAWG.

Ofsted’s review supports this, finding sexual harassment and sexual violence was endemic and has a horrific impact on the lives of many students. Girls are par�cularly vulnerable, with 90% of the vic�ms of recorded rape offences are13-15 years old in England. It is reported that 67% of girls have experienced sexual harassment at school, 29% of girls experience sexual harassment between 11-13.

Government advised schools and colleges to include evidence-based preven�on programmes (like that of Ac�on Breaks Silence) through the school curriculum to tackle issues such as

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Feedback ' Primary School Programme 2023-25 To End Violence Against Women and Girls 'Yhis is the first time I've seen programme like this and I think it is honestly brilliant. And as an adult for the past 6 weeks. I've been sitting in these sessions reflecting and learning with the children. -year S Teacher -As women were told to be polite but sometimes being polite can cost you your life, so, it's good that they're being taught that you don't always have to be nice and they have a right to think about is this safe and do I feel safe in this situation. -year 5 Teacher i/ "I love this programme because I know how to spot abuse and I know how to say stop. This programme has really built up my confidence and that's why Thursdays are my favourite days because I got to be in this programme." -year 5 Student "Being a man means you can be yourself: you don't need to care about what other people think of you." -year 5 Student

Our Board is made up of a diverse group of passionate women and one man. It includes a young person sourced through Youth London who is an experienced youth and inclusion advocate. Informa�on on Board members can be found on our website

Patron

Heather Small con�nues as a Patron of Ac�on Breaks Silence. She is a huge supporter of the Ac�on Breaks Silence Community Interven�on to end VAWG. She is passionate about engaging, educa�ng and empowering young people to become ac�ve bystanders and the leaders that will drive the societal change needed to address the root causes of male violence against women and girls.

Debi Steven, CEO and Founder of Ac�on Breaks Silence UK

Having herself survived child sexual abuse and driven by her belief that all women and girls should be empowered and live their lives free of the fear of male violence, Debi has served communi�es in the UK, South Africa, South America and India for nearly thirty years and ac�vely promotes a world where all people are treated with equity, dignity and respect.

Debi is rated as one of the top Empowerment and Empathy influencers and firmly believes that the whole school community needs to be included in strategies to end VAWG.

In September 2019 Debi completed her master’s degree in Women and Child Abuse through CWASU under the acclaimed feminist and ac�vist, Prof Liz Kelly CBE.

Debi and Ac�on Breaks Silence have been guests on BBC News, ITV, BBC Radio and many other media outlets and Debi is a guest lecturer at the University of East London.

In 2016, she founded Ac�on Breaks Silence South Africa, she works with the South African Board and the South African Programme Manager to ensure that thousands of young people in economically challenged communi�es are offered an opportunity to par�cipate in the programmes free of charge.

Debi has also worked extensively in India and in 2022 co-founded the Ac�on Breaks Silence Founda�on India.

Ac�on Breaks Silence South Africa and the Ac�on Breaks Silence Founda�on India

Both these chari�es are independent to Ac�on Breaks Silence UK, with their own Ar�cles of Associa�on and Governing Boards.

All three chari�es deliver the Ac�on Breaks Silence Community Interven�on to end VAWG with a focus on minori�zed communi�es that face a mul�tude of challenges including economic challenges.

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Highlights from

2022/2023

The year started with the Bri�sh Standard Ins�tute releasing an Ac�on Breaks Silence Empowerment through Self-Defence educa�onal film to their interna�onal employees. £2K of unrestricted funds was raised through this project.

Walkgrove worked alongside our team to create the Youth Ambassador (YAP) eLearning Pla�orm. Heather Small from M People and Susie Ma the Founder of Tropic Skincare both feature on the pla�orm, they are encouraging young people to become ac�ve bystanders to end VAWG. The pla�orm will upskill Year 9 students to become mentors to Year 7 students by delivering interac�ve VAWG preven�on sessions to the younger students.

During this financial period, 48 under-employed young people were upskilled to deliver our programmes to a total of 5,294 par�cipants.

Brandie Deignan one of our CEO’s mentors suggested the charity recruit an Advisory Board to play a crucial role in guiding our small charity. It will comprise of experts and experienced professionals, who will help the charity achieve clear, impac�ul goals. Addi�onally, the Advisory Board members will act as ambassadors, raising awareness and garnering support for the charity's mission.

1,742 independent secondary school students par�cipated in the Empowerment through Self-Defence and/or Undefining Masculinity Fundraising Workshops, these workshops are charged to secure unrestricted funds. This year workshops were held at Surbiton High, Sir William Perkins, Queensgate, St Albans, Tormead High, Thomas London Day, Lady Eleanor Hollis, Godolphin & Latymer, ACS Interna�onal School, Harris Academy Su�on, University of East London. Money raised is used for charitable ac�vi�es.

The London Community Founda�on /MOPAC VAWG Grassroot Fund has provided many opportuni�es to work alongside other organisa�ons and agencies in the VAWG space. We secured partnerships with five Lambeth Primary Schools and expanded into four new schools in Hounslow. A total of 864 students and over 70 teachers and parents par�cipated in the 16-hour Primary School Programme to end VAWG. Addi�onally, 1,297 secondary school students par�cipated in our Empowerment through Self-Defence and/or Undefining Masculinity Workshops free of charge, a further 420 secondary school students in the Youth Ambassador Programme (YAP).

Having finalised the eLearning YAP curriculum, Walkgrove Ltd was selected as the provider to develop the eLearning pla�orm. This will put all training for the Year 9 students online and interac�ve.

During the year our trainers and management team reviewed the curriculum of the Empowerment, Empathy & Ac�ve Bystander to end VAWG Primary School Programme Curriculum in prepara�on of the April 2022 delivery.

We also created new rela�onships with interna�onal law firms Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP who reviewed and revised our charity's various legal documents this year pro bono.

In January 2023 all Ac�on Breaks Silence policies were reviewed by our Board of Trustees, these were later reviewed by London Youth as part of the Bronze Hallmark Award which Ac�on Breaks Silence was awarded in March 2023.

The last quarter was very posi�ve for the charity. Updated Ar�cles of Associa�on were filed at both Companies House and the Charity Commission. Barclays Bank agreed to support the charity by ac�vely recrui�ng members for the Advisory Board through their employee pool.

Ac�on Breaks Silence was awarded £19,996 in February 2023 from the Peabody Young People’s Fund. This fund is managed by the London Community Founda�on. These funds will be used over two years to deliver Empowerment through SelfDefence and; Undefining Masculinity Workshops to secondary school in and around Peabody Estates in Lambeth, Westminster and Southwark.

Finally, Ac�on Breaks Silence was not only awarded a London Youth Bronze Hallmark but accepted as a new member of the End Violence against Women and Girls Coali�on.

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Action Breaks Silence

Hi, my name is Deborah, I’ve been an Ac�on Breaks Silence member for nearly 2 years now. When I first started with the charity, I had just come out of a toxic rela�onship, which impacted me deeply. I then told my story to Debi and other members of the team who were very encouraging and suppor�ve with helping me heal and make growth within myself.

What had me most interested in the charity is the founda�on it stands for in helping girls and young women defend themselves, as well as understand abuse, violence and toxic behaviour. Which in turn would help reduce the amount of violence and abuse against women and girls in the community. Adding on to that, I also have an aspira�on of becoming a mo�va�onal speaker and I see Debi as an amazing role model in advising me on how to reach my goal.

My role in Ac�on Breaks Silence originally began as a trainer in the workshops going to schools in the Lambeth community as well as working with the top private schools across London teaching our values and morals of how we want to help all types of communi�es. As I progressed in the charity, I then went on to be a Lambeth Lead Instructor as well as being offered opportuni�es to work alongside other organisa�ons and projects interna�onally. I’ve also recently taken on doing one to one interven�on sessions in Archbishop Tension School, Lambeth with a group of girls going through trauma and unresolved issues that they find hard to talk about. With this project however, through the skills I’ve acquired with working in the charity I’ve been able to help the young girls open up and find healthy outlets to help grow within themselves.

In addi�on, I am currently pregnant which Debi has been aware of as well as being one of my main supporters alongside the Ac�on Breaks Silence team. She and the charity have well accommodated to my current circumstances as well as s�ll freely allowing me to have the ability to do workshops and make an impact and change. My pregnancy journey hasn’t been all easy going but everyone in the Ac�on Breaks Silence team has made sure I’m doing well physically and mentally as well as giving me the support I need. Adding on, Debi has also set up opportuni�es for me to do courses online such as a digital skills summer school to up my digital skills and work online with the charity, which will allow me the flexibility of working from home whilst I’m on maternity leave so I can s�ll be in the loop of helping the charity to develop further.

Overall, my experience with Ac�on Breaks Silence is amazing and I would say is the perfect fit for me going ahead to fulfil my career goal of being a mo�va�onal speaker and making change in all communi�es. Even though I will in some ways be taking a break I will s�ll always find ways to help my team because they’re not just colleagues, but I view them as my family and I support the founda�ons they stand on to make change. I would definitely recommend to anyone who has a passion for healthy change to join the team and they experience for themselves what ac�on breaks silence has done for me.

I want to also include, that being a young black woman in Ac�on Breaks Silence I have received the same amount of respect as I give and am very valued and appreciated. One of the biggest things I’ve seen is that there is no discrimina�on whatsoever in the charity and Debi thrives on us being United as a whole no ma�er what background we are from. Our mo�o is to be United in Oneness Consciousness and to work together to make a change through diversity and affect. As I’ve stated Ac�on Breaks Silence is a family and we see each other as one which I love because in previous work places I’ve always felt underlining discrimina�on and unfairness, but joining Ac�on Breaks Silence all of that was eradicated and for anyone who joins our team they always feel 100% welcome as well as appreciated.

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IMPACT of Phase One of the Primary School Programme to end VAWG: Independent Review funded by MOPAC VAWG Grassroots Fund found:

Phase 1, delivered September to December 2022, reached 474 students in 6 schools in Lambeth and 4 schools in Hounslow (253 taking part in girls’ groups and 221 taking part in boys’ groups).

Students and future trainers increase knowledge and understanding of VAWG

Across all indicators assessing the extent to which students and future trainers increase their knowledge and understanding of violence against women and girls through par�cipa�on in the programme, Ac�on Breaks Silence achieved 81%. The most significant impact was in terms of suppor�ng children to understand that abuse is never acceptable (93%).

Students and future trainers improve a�tudes towards gender equality

Across all indicators rela�ng to gender equity , Ac�on Breaks Silence achieved 86%, with par�cularly high scoring in terms of girls and boys being deserving of equal treatment (94%) and capable of achieving the same things (90%). 88 of 132 girls consulted before taking part in the programme, i.e. 67%, disagreed that girls and boys are treated equally.

Students and future trainers learn skills to keep themselves and others safe

Once again scoring in rela�on to indicators rela�ng to skills development, par�cularly in the context of self-advocacy was very high, averaging 82%. While boys were asked to self-score in rela�on to the extent to which they feel comfortable expressing their emo�ons (scoring 72%), 7 out of 8 teachers also observed progress in this area. 6 out of 8 teachers felt the programme would have a long-term posi�ve effect on boys.

‘The sessions were fantas�c in helping the children to consider their own self-esteem, posi�ve thinking and ac�vi�es they can do to li� their own well-being. Children discussed and understood acceptable and unacceptable behaviour towards others. Following on from this, they were taught ways they could be an upstander in a safe way. I believe the children would be able to use these skills going forward.’ Year 5 teacher

Girls and trainers self-scored extremely highly in rela�on to being empowered with the beliefs and skills to stand up for themselves and 5 out of 6 teachers said they felt the programme would have long-term posi�ve effect on the girls.

‘The girls were taught crucial informa�on that will benefit them personally and support their development of boundaries and healthy rela�onships.’ - Teacher

‘I have sat in with the girls’ sessions for the majority of the Ac�on Breaks Silence workshops. The workshops have been a great experience for the children with them learning about topics like gender stereotypes and equality as well as educa�ng them about violence and abuse and basic self-defence techniques to defend themselves with. The girls par�cularly enjoyed the physical ac�vi�es which have taught them invaluable ways to defend themselves and has also built up their confidence to be able to speak up as well as strand up for themselves in these difficult situa�ons. I think it would be really beneficial for these workshops to become part of our school culture for the upper juniors.’ Year 5 Teacher.

Future trainers improve prospects

The cohort of trainers for the primary school programme is s�ll rela�vely small (with 9 having delivered the phase 1 programme). 7 out of 8, i.e. 88% of trainers reported no prior professional experience in the VAWG field prior to involvement with Ac�on Breaks Silence. Before delivering the programme, only 2 out of 7 trainers, i.e. 29% reported having ‘a lot’ of knowledge about perpetrators and the ways in which girls and women are abused, whereas 8 out of 9 i.e. 89% reported high levels of knowledge in these areas a�er delivering phase 1 of the programme.

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In terms of what trainers hoped to gain from involvement in delivering the programme, lived experience was a powerful mo�vator in wan�ng to educate the next genera�on, to empower girls and improve equality.

Ac�on Breaks Silence is a Charity that is complete tes�mony to my life and what I have experienced. I consider myself to be very lucky to be where I am now with what I have gone through and realise that I have become the person that I should have had around me as a child protec�ng me. Ac�on Breaks Silence represents everything that I am passionate about and it touches on all the important issues young girls and women have been facing for hundreds of years. I am honoured at the chance to help educate…young girls and others with ABS.’ – Trainer

Ways in which trainers said they had benefi�ed personally included:

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Tes�monial – Primary School in Hounslow

As the Year 5 leader at Southville Primary School I was really pleased to hear we had secured the 8-week programme with Ac�on Breaks Silence.

Our school mo�o is ‘learning for the world of tomorrow’ and this has been an excellent opportunity to teach beyond the core curriculum and ins�l some of those key values within our pupils at such a crucial age where they are developing a real sense of iden�ty, whilst also overcoming some challenges in changes they no�ce in themselves and others.

The programme began by gaining an insight into what the children understood by key terms and themes running throughout the course. Then, each week we have explored these in greater detail.

Giving the children tools to iden�fy their own needs, as well as others, proves invaluable. As staff, we are already star�ng to no�ce some of the language changing between peers as they have be�er resilience and coping strategies for when they are feeling like they may have low self-esteem. The children are more a-tuned to empathising with the needs of each other and building each other up (as we prac�ced with building our walls in session 4). One member of staff men�oned they overheard a group of boys “filling up each other’s beans” as they were trying to build up his confidence a�er not winning in a PE lesson. It is also such a significant �me for pupils to develop their own sense of iden�fy (tuning into the language the boy’s group was taught has really enabled staff to encourage boys to do what they feel is the right choice for themselves).

For adults involved, we have been proud hearing each child find their voice, feeling secure in being open and honest about their experiences and beliefs. We have understood the need to listen to the preconcep�ons each gender has made about the abili�es or roles of the opposite gender and can weave this into teaching as we move through the year.

As with everything we do in school, we encourage the pupils to take it out into the wider world. Many of the girls in par�cular have been keen to get home and share their new knowledge with mums, sisters, aun�es etc. as they feel empowered following the sessions on selfdefence. The cohort has also responded really posi�vely to having known adults from the community involved in the sessions as they feel safe seeing familiar faces.

Having already had such a posi�ve impact on the year group (before the sessions are complete), I would strongly recommend the partnership con�nues year on year. I can see the value the teaching has for children in upper key stage 2 and would highly recommend it being embedded into the curriculum for all children at this phase.

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Looking to the Future

Our vision is to create a world where women and girls can live their lives free from all forms of male violence against them and the threat of such violence.

In the next year the MOPAC VAWG Grassroots fund will come to an end so finding new funding partners and supporters will be a priority. Time will be used to create new rela�onships with independent schools where our workshops are charge to increase our unrestricted funds.

The incredible Susie Mae and her Tropic Skincare Ambassadors have agreed that Ac�on Breaks Silence will be one of three ‘Glam bag’ Chari�es. They will host an incredible fundraising event in Birmingham in September. Our Patron Heather Small will perform in support of the charity. Susie and Heather don’t just talk the talk they ‘WALK THE TALK!’

We dream to raise funds to develop a similar elearning Pla�orm for the Ac�on Breaks Silence Train the Trainer Programme, this would revolu�onise young people’s access to learning.

Work will con�nue in building the Ac�on Breaks Silence Advisory Board.

And finally, the YAP will be piloted at two schools in London!

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Trustees Report Including Directors, report for the year ended 31" March 2023 The Trusteos present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements hav8 b88n prepared in accordance Wlth th8 accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Ststement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102)" (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016) Objecti'es and act Tties The Charity's object is to engage, educate and empower communities to stop violence against women and girls. All activity has been in furtherance of this objective and this has not changed during the year. The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake. Achievements and perfomiance Financial review The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposad and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Structure, govemance and management The Trust••s, who aro also the directors for tho purposa of company law, and who sorvod during the year were.. Lana S Wrightrnan Penny A Middleton Catherine M Golding Rene• P Campbell Gity Enright - Chairpers¢)n Andreena Leeanne George Bennett (Appointod 1 Fobruary 2023) (Resigned 31 March 2023) The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees. George Bennett Trustee th Dated: 25 January 2024 16

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Action Breaks Silence Ltd I rewrt on ts finanual slatwwts of tt￿ Chty for the yew eThJed 31 March 2023, which are sei <Krt on pages 3to11. R•sp•ctiv• r•sponsibilili•s of Trust••s and •xamin•r The Charrtvs Trustees, vtho are also the diredors of Adion Breaks Sibence Ltd for the purposes of company law, are reSp￿￿ble for the preParat￿n of the financial stalements. The Trustees COn￿der that an audrt is not required for this year uThJer seCt￿n 144121 of the Chartbes Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) aTrJ that an indepeThJent exarninat￿ is Having satssfEd myseff that tt￿ chanty ts Tr)t $￿Je¢l to a￿￿rt under company law and is elyble for iTrJependent eXamInat￿n. rt Is my reSp(￿￿￿.11ty lo." exa￿￿ne the financial staleryEnts under SeCt￿n 145 of the 2011 Act" (ill to folk)w the wocedures laid dovm in the general Directsons gven by the Charity Commission ￿K￿r sectic¥) 14515)Ib) of the 3J11 Act.. and {#il to slate w￿tt￿r partsC￿ar matters have to rry attenbon. Bash of Ind•p•nd•nt •xamln•rfs r•port examInat￿n was camed out In aCC￿lanCe vthh the ge￿ra1 DIred￿nS given by the Chanty C¢)mmlsgc￿. AJ) eXaMinat￿n Includes a review of the aCC￿ntIng records kept by the chanty and a companson of the financHI stslements p￿sented those ￿e¢￿d$. 11 also Indudes conS￿erat￿n of any unusual rtems or dtsclCW￿ In I financial statements, ￿ seekifvj explanatTrc￿s from you as tru51ees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provKle all the evidence thal woukl be required In an auth"t and consequenty opin￿￿ ts given as lo vthelher the financial statements ￿￿esent a 'lrue and fair and the re￿rt is linNted lo those matters sel in the ￿xI stalerrent. Ind•p•nd•nl •xamln•rfs slat•m•nt In comethon wrth my examinatw, no matter has ccrfne lo rry attent￿n.. (a) which gves me rea￿)nable cause lo beI￿ve thal in ary matenal ￿SpeCt the rw4Ui￿ments". (i) to keep accountsng records In accordance seCI￿n 386 of Ihe c￿npaThe$ Acl 2C#)6', a￿1 (li} lo prepa￿ finanual slatemenls which aCC￿d Ihe accountirKJ rec(Yds. C￿lpty wth the accounts'TrJ requirements of secth)n 396 of the Companies Act 20[￿ and with the meth)ds and prinaF4es of the Statement of Rec(ynmended Prath￿. Acc(wntsw and Rep￿￿￿ by ChanI￿s. have nol been n*1 or (bl to vthich, in my opitNon. attenbC￿ sts)ukJ be drawn in to enaile a proper ￿derstan(Ing of financial statements to be reached. Mr Mukund Amin Affinty Assoaates Limrted 11112 Hallmwk Tra(ling Centre Fourth Way Wembl Middlesex HA9 OLB Dated.. 24 Noveth 2023 17

Statement of Financial Activities including Income and Expenditure Account

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

18

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

19

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

20

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

21

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

22

Notes to the Financial Statements Continued

For the Year ended 31[st] March 2023

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SUPPORTED BY CITY BRIDGE TRUST * BARCL4YS IMPACT CONSULTINg ICBC @ Stsndard Bank LONDON The London Foundati¢>n KLW TROPIC London Youth MEMeER 2022.25 NOTTIN(-, 111 I I & EALINii bsi. EWELL CAsfLE SCHOOL SURBITON NOIII4SLOWTHRIWIIS COMMUIIITIÉSFIIIID Debevoise &Plimpton •Pedxdy Skadden ACTION BREAKS SILENCE ENIC.AC.E. EDUICATE & fMPObllER communities to end Vlf)LENCE AQJAINST'¢4rf)MEN AXJFJ C)IRLS