## Rivers LPC Report & Accounts ## Year Ended 31 March 2024 1 ## **TRUSTEES** Evanjalin Vivekanandarajah Jocelyn Chirimamanga Jeredyne Stanley ## **Bankers:** HSBC Bank 9 The Boulevard Crawley RH10 1UT ## **Registered Office:** PRESENCE Bewbush Centre Dorsten Square Crawley West Sussex RH11 8XW Telephone: 0330 057 6006 or 07539 995328 Email: contact@riverslpc.org Website: www.riverslpc.org The charity is a registered charity: Registered Number 1164574 2 ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **MISSION STATEMENT** The charity9s mission is to promote Learning for women, Empowerment for Women and Connections for Women. We work towards empowering women to take up new challenges in life. We support women who may feel isolated and may not be able to find assistance from other organisations, or who simply need help without the involvement of formal authorities. The objectives of the charity are: - The relief of poverty and unemployment and the advancement of education amongst women in Crawley and the surrounding area. - The promotion of social inclusion among women in Crawley and the surrounding area, who are excluded from society, or parts of society, due to their social and economic position by the provision of education and training, information and support. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is governed by its Constitution. The management of the charity is designated to the Trustees. ## **Objectives** 1. The relief of poverty and unemployment and the advancement of education amongst women in Crawley and the surrounding area. 2. The promotion of social inclusion among women in Crawley and the surrounding area, who are excluded from society, or parts of society, due to their social and economic position by the provision of education and training, information and support. 3 ## **ACTIVITIES** ## **LEARNING PROGRAMME** This year, Rivers LPC continued to deliver community awareness and learning sessions for women of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to our ongoing healthy eating, English Language, community awareness, volunteering, and employment mini-projects, we expanded our learning offer significantly: - **New Literacy and English Classes** : Launched in February 2024, these women-only sessions help women gain confidence in reading, writing, and spoken English. - **Computer Classes** : we provided vital digital skills for women to get online safely, communicate, and access services. - **Digital Workshops** : We ran digital skills workshops and continued to sign women up for _Learn My Way_ classes. - **Employability Workshops** : We provided employability training, careers support, CV writing, application form filling, and interview preparation. - **RISE Group Horley** : We supported a group of ladies to form a new women9s group, _RISE_ , in Horley, offering learning opportunities and support locally. - **OCEANS Employment Support Hub** : We joined the OCEANS hub in mid-2023, strengthening our employability pathway. ## **SPACE PROGRAMME** Rivers LPC remains a trusted facilitator and organiser of resources, helping local women connect with the right support: - We re-launched a new campaign (February 2024) offering help, support, or guidance to women in Crawley who need a safe space to access impartial information. - We continued to run our Rivers Resource SPACE and PRESENCE office, supporting women to navigate local public services, charities, and voluntary organisations. - Our work also extended to supporting women to set up their own charities and community projects, including hosting new groups and providing our space for meetings. - In November 2023, we supported the _Oracle Alpaca Experience_ 4 a family-run mental wellbeing farm 4 broadening the type of wellness support we help connect women to. ## **PRESENCE PROGRAMME** The user-led women9s only space remained a vital safe space for women to meet, share, and build trust. Highlights this year include: - The weekly @PRESENCE Women9s Coffee Morning, continuing every Wednesday in termtime, promoting social connection for isolated women. - Outdoor bonding and wellbeing activities, including camping and walking in nature, strengthening friendships and peer support. - Rivers LPC also ran mental health workshops to help women manage stress and emotional wellbeing. 4 ## **EMPLOYABILITY SCHEME** Employability support remains core to Rivers9 mission: - In 2023324, we delivered targeted employability workshops, including CV writing, interview skills, and practical job search support. - We helped women register for _Learn My Way_ to improve digital employability. - Our employability work was strengthened through our active role in the OCEANS Employment Hub projects. - We supported individual women wanting to start their own charities or community initiatives, mentoring them through the early stages. ## **SPECIAL EVENTS & COLLABORATIONS** - We hosted an Open Day for the Horley women9s group in November 2023 at Horley Baptist Church. - We marked International Women9s Day 2024 with the theme _#InspireInclusion_ , celebrating women9s achievements and encouraging a more inclusive world. - Our CEO, Jeredyne Stanley, represented Rivers LPC at local community events, including presenting at the King Charles III Coronation Celebration Lunch hosted by the Crawley, Ahmadiyyah Muslim Association UK. - Rivers took part in the Black History Month Webinar (October 2023), highlighting the plight of the Chagossian community in Crawley. - We collaborated with Carers Support West Sussex during Black History Month and engaged more deeply with local partners. - Rivers LPC led the community input for the Sussex Perinatal Equity and Equality Project in partnership with the NHS, continuing our work to address maternity health inequalities. ## **NEW GROUPS AND OUTREACH** - We supported the setup of three new projects in Horley, helped establish a new women9s charity in Crawley, and provided our space for them to grow. - We assisted male victims of domestic abuse through signposting and support. - Our Rise Horley group has attracted women who meet regularly on Monday mornings, building a new community network in Horley. ## **FUTURE PLANS** - Expand our literacy, language, and digital offer even further. - Grow our presence in Horley and Crawley, including wellness and wellbeing projects. - Continue raising awareness of domestic abuse and signposting support, including for male victims. - Strengthen partnerships with NHS and local community groups to tackle inequality and health disparities. - Develop more outdoor and wellbeing activities for women and families. ## **CHALLENGES** Securing sustainable funding remains a challenge, but Rivers LPC continues to build strong partnerships and seeks support to keep vital services going for local women who need it most. 5 ## **DISCLOSURE OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS** None of the trustees have received monies for their role as trustees. ## **Rivers LPC** _Out of every woman is a river (life) waiting to flow. Together, we are navigating life9s waters with confidence and skill._ Signed: Jeredyne Stanley 28[th] June 2025 6 Rlvers LPC Income and Expendlture Account forthe yearending 31st March 2024 Note5 202312024 Incomlng recources Incoming recources from externalsources Charitable activitie5 and other income 1 56,318.72 Total Incomlng recour¢e$ $6,318.72 Recources expended Management and Consultancy HirelLease of Community space Technology & Communications Events Insurance Other expenses 2 30.521.80 13.762.52 2.656.67 1,619.87 650.01 3.725.36 Total recources expended 52,936.23 Surplus 3,382.49 Rlvers LPC Balance Sheetas at 31stMarch2024 202312024 Bank Cash (Float) 4.060.20 4.060.20 Loan 180.00 NetA55et 3,880.20 Opening Balance Surplus 497.71 3,382.49 3,880.20 Rlvews LPC Notes to the accounts 202312024 Note I INCOMING RECOURCES FROM ExfERNAL SOURCES Sussex CommunityFoundation CRAWLEY BC NHS SUSSEX ICB- NHS InequalltyProAect Donatlons TOTAL INCOMING RECOURCES FROM EKfERNAL SOURCES io,000.oo 8.500.00 32.825.00 4.993.72 56,318.72 Note 2 MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY Consultancy- NHS Project Website Consultancy Bank charge5 TOTAL MANAGEMENT ANG CONSULTANCY COST 30.200.00 223.89 97.91 30.521.80 Note 3 TECHNOLOGY& COMMUNICATIONS Internet seNlce IT Resources TOTAL TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS COST 1.960.06 696.61 2.656.67 Note 4 EVENTS Fuel Travel cost Stationery Volunteer expenses TOTAL EVENTS COST 843.99 367.80 58.08 350.00 1,619.87 Nole S OTHER EXPENSES Food cost 772.25 2,345.82 607.29 3,725.36 Office expenses Other project costs TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES Signed... Date: ....... CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of I VERS LPC 31 MARCH202 l z On accounts for the year ended s+ Charlty no (If any) 116+474 Set oul on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (°the Trust.) for Ihe year ended Responslbilltles and As the charity truslees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities A 2011 {Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts carried out urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed th8 applicable Direclh)ns given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b} of the AGt. I have completed my examination. l ¢onfimi that no material matters have ccxne to my attention (other than Ihat disdosed below") in ¢onne¢tiM with the examination which gr1￿ me cause to believe that in. any material respe￿. accA)unti￿J records were not kept in aCCo￿ance with section 130 of the Act the aco3unts do not accord wth Ihe accounting records Independenl examiner's statement I have no cOn￿mS and have ¢cffi8 across no other matters in connection with the examination to %thich attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete Ihe words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Slgned: Name: Relevant professlonal qualiflcatlon(s) or body {If any): HhhT Address: IIAt