## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
Charity number 1169883
## Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 5|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Receipts and payments account|7|
|Statement of assets and liabilities|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 to 11|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
Rose McCarthy Joanna Spooner Treasurer Charlotte Hagerty Treasurer Daria Pluto Jacqueline Meugang Epse Ingham
Resigned 20 July 2023
Appointed 8 February 2023 Appointed 9 January 2023
## **Charity number**
## 1169883
Registered in England and Wales
## **Registered and principal address**
## **Bankers**
53 Talbot Crescent The Co-operative bank Leeds PO Box 101 LS8 1AL 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
## **Independent examiner**
Sarah Coates MAAT **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) formed on 25 October 2016 with the constitution amended on 28 November 2016.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.
## **The charity's objects**
1. To promote, protect and improve the health of childbearing and pregnant asylum seekers and refugees by (A) contributing to the training and awareness of midwives, nurses, health workers, social workers and lecturers. (B) improving communication between health workers and childbearing and pregnant asylum seekers and refugees or vice versa. (C) contributing to improvements in maternity services in order to make them more welcoming and inclusive for pregnant asylum seekers and refugees.
2. To promote culturally sensitive ante and post natal information and support for asylum seekers and refugees.
3. To preserve and protect the health of childbearing and pregnant asylum seekers and refugees by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities and support services not normally provided by the statutory authorities.
2
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Sanctuary CIO
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's main activities**
Raising awareness through attendance and talks at conferences and events, as well as delivering awareness raising sessions to a range of audiences about the experiences of asylum seeking women, particularly around maternity care.
Encouraging cohesion in provision of maternity services for asylum seeking and refugee women through organising multi-disciplinary meetings and supporting asylum seeking and refugee women to share their stories, as well as involvement in research projects and attendance at meetings and Liaison Committees.
Confidence building and enabling volunteers through training and workshops.
Developing and sharing resources including exhibitions, awareness raising films, learning resources, leaflets and social media.
Raising awareness about accessing health and maternity services for migrant women.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of education, the advancement of health or the saving of lives, the advancement of human rights and the promotion of religious or racial harmony / equality and diversity.
## **Achievements and performance**
## CORE20Plus5
Until the beginning of 2023 due to limited funding, we could only have one worker for one day a week, thanks to the Core20PLUS5 grant, we were able to recruit an additional part- time staff member and increase the outreach and support capacity. The grant funded the following activities:
## Wellbeing sessions
In partnership with Solace, and liaison with other local services we set up the delivery of weekly wellbeing sessions at the Initial Accommodation (Urban House based in Wakefield) where asylum seekers are housed before being dispersed. These sessions provided a safe space where pregnant women and mothers with young children were able to attend within the facilities. Attendees were supported with access to services, mental health support (including one to one support) and peer support.
One attendee provided the following quote, “This is a very good group, before the group I was suffering lots of mental health problems, now I feel hope, every week is like a top up of hope I receive in the group”. Another said, “When I come to the group, I notice that I am not the only person with problems, the group has shown me that we are all in the same ship and we can share our sorrows”
During the year, we delivered 28 sessions having a total of 172 women attending (Target was 60 women) Additionally, Solace provided 44 individual sessions to 8 women (Target was 6 women)
## Zoom Members
Our support groups that take place on zoom started during the pandemic to reduce isolation, these meetings have continued to provided a strong support network, especially after women have been dispersed to other cities as they can join online from their homes. One women said, “I enjoy them the most, I always look forward to Saturday, it feels like friends catching up, sharing experience and discussing their problems”. Another attendee said “I remember when I joined, I was very anxious but now it’s part of my life”
During last year we delivered 34 sessions and recorded 296 attendees. (Target was 40 women)
## What's app groups
We also continued to support women with Peer support through what's app groups, currently we have 3 active groups with a total of 226 members. (Target was 120)
3
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Sanctuary CIO
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Achievements and performance continued**
## Referrals to the project
Referrals are also an important part of the groups, during last year referrals were made through different channels: the wellbeing sessions users were referred to external services such as the Art House, and Wakefield Befrienders. Zoom sessions made many referrals to researchers and other services, additionally, women themselves made the largest amount of referral through the groups by sharing activities and events for women to attend, overall direct and indirect referrals made passed 150 (Target was 120)
## Trips
During last year we were able to organise three different outings including two day trips to Settle and Malham, a residential weekend to Halton Gill and participate in the “Deer shed Festival alongside the City of Sanctuary Leeds.
A total of 81 women took part, (Target was 40)
One service user said, “The trip for me and my son meant we could enjoy the countryside, something we can't do with the little money we have. I really enjoy meeting other people and learning a traditional English dance”
## Community connector training
The training of “community connectors” during last year has been an important focus. This enabled women to be formally trained on how to support others in the community.
17 women were trained in different roles and procedures. (Target was 12 women)
Feedback included, “Great training, I learnt so much and will confidently recommend it to anybody who wants to help others”
## Conference
This February a conference was organised in Partnerships with White Ribbon Alliance and Leeds Playhouse to showcase the work of the whole year, this event brought a wide range of health professionals, third sector, and expert by experience together to share good practice, resources and inspiration directly from expert by experience 123 people attended. (Target was 100 people)
Once conference attendee told us “I thought the whole day was an absolute triumph- inspiring, passionate and a wonderful celebration of motherhood and womanhood”
## Maternity Services of Sanctuary Award
Bradford Doula’s was presented with a Maternity Services of Sanctuary award. This award is presented to recognise the outstanding work of maternity services in Yorkshire as a maternity service of sanctuary. These services showed substantial evidence of the three principles “Learn, Embed and Share”, every application is evaluated by a panel including an expert by experience.
“It was amazing to read all the great work and difference Bradford Doulas have been able to make in the service users and doulas lives, the amount of time invested to make the service as inclusive as possible is truly impressive” Panel member.
We were able to build networks and connections with a number of different organisations. This year we attended 37 connection meetings and established our work and activities in the community joining different steering groups and taking part in multiple events such as Cultural Blossom and Health Inequalities Academy 2. (Target was 20)
## Awareness Raising Sessions
These sessions are tailor designed for health professionals or students according to group needs, the uniqueness of these sessions/presentations are based on the first hand experience of women telling their stories. 38 students and more than 60 sector workers benefited from these sessions. “Previous to the session I felt that I had knowledge about asylum seekers and refugee women, however after the session I felt more informed about how as a midwife I can be aware of barriers caring for these women, and ways I can overcome these to improve these women’s experiences” University of York student.
4
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Achievements and performance continued**
The purpose of this grant was to enable the Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream to host an event where service users could come together and celebrate different cultures and paths, the grant contributed to overcoming barriers that would prevent them from attending the event such as food and transport costs, the event hosted over 70 people including children.
## Winter Grant
The purpose of this grant was to support struggling families throughout the winter, this time of the year can be difficult to cope with the increase of cost of living, and this grant enabled 72 families to receive support in the form of supermarket vouchers, cash for utilities and fleece hoodies.
## **Financial review**
The net receipts for the year were £8,636, including net receipts of £89 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £8,547 on restricted funds after transfers.
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £912.
The minimum level of reserves to be held by the charity is £1,000 for basic operating costs and 1 months Project Manager payment, for winding down in case funding for this role comes to an end without continuation funding in place.The maximum level of reserves to be held by the charity is £2,000. Any unrestricted funds over this level must be designated.
Approved by the board of trustees on 14/08/2024
Charlotte Hagerty (Trustee)
5
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 11.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah Coates MAAT
20/08/2024
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Sanctuary CIO
## Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2024
|Notes
2024
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Receipts**
Donations
(2)
608
Grants
(3)
-
**Total receipts**
608
**Payments**
Salaries
1
Project Manager payment
134
Trips
-
Mobile phone top up support costs
453
Training and recruitment
-
Accountancy
-
Insurance
-
Printing, postage and stationery
-
Staff expenses
9
Volunteer expenses
-
Digital access
-
Project and event costs
-
Equipment
-
**Total payments**
597
**Net receipts / (payments)**
11
**Transfers between funds**
78
**Net movement in funds**
89
**Fund balances brought forward**
823
**Fund balances carried forward**
(4)
912|2024
Restricted
funds
£
-
54,070
54,070
20,801
605
832
4,631
192
221
159
-
417
198
1,145
15,944
300
45,445
8,625
(78)
8,547
1,545
10,092|2024
Total
funds
£
608
54,070
54,678
20,802
739
832
5,084
192
221
159
-
426
198
1,145
15,944
300
46,042
8,636
-
8,636
2,368
11,004|2023
Total
funds
£
331
1,000
1,331
-
4,472
410
1,482
-
210
179
10
40
-
-
-
-
6,803
(5,472)
-
(5,472)
7,840
2,368|
|---|---|---|---|
7
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of Sanctuary CIO
|Statement of assets and liabilities
as at 31 March 2024
2024
Unrestricted
£
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank
912
**Total cash funds**
912
**Assets retained for the charity's own use**
Laptop
**Liabilities**
Accruals|2024
Restricted
£
10,092
10,092|2024
Total
£
11,004
11,004
2024
£
528
528|2023
Total
£
2,368
2,368|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 14/08/2024
Charlotte Hagerty (Trustee)
8
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Sanctuary CIO
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
9
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Sanctuary CIO
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2024
|**2 Donations**
Donations for trips
**3 Grants**
**Project or activity**
People and the Dales
Local giving - Magic Little grant (MLG)
NHS W.Y Integrated Care board (WYICB)
Jo Cox Foundation
Forum Central
Leeds City Council MICE
Total
**4 Restricted funds**
Balance b/f
£
Trips
651
The Brelms Trust
176
People and the Dales
218
NHS WYICB
-
Jo Cox Foundation
-
Winter Grants
-
Local Giving MLG
500
Leeds City Council MICE
-
1,545|2024
Unrestricted
funds
£
608
608
2024
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Incoming
£
-
-
-
48,500
500
5,000
-
70
54,070|2024
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
2023
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
48,500
500
5,000
70
54,070
Outgoing
£
518
176
151
38,678
422
5,000
500
-
45,445|2024
Total
funds
£
608
608
2024
Total
funds
£
-
-
48,500
500
5,000
70
54,070
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
(78)
-
-
-
(78)|2023
Total
funds
£
331
331
2023
Total
funds
£
500
500
-
-
-
-
1,000
Balance c/f
£
133
-
67
9,822
-
-
-
70
10,092|
|---|---|---|---|---|
**Fund name** Trips The Brelms Trust People and the Dales
NHS WYICB
Jo Cox Foundation
Formal Central Local Giving MLG Leeds City Council MICE
## **Purpose of restriction**
Towards trips for volunteers and their families
Towards salary costs of a self-employed project manager
towards the costs of mobile phone data top ups for the participants of the weekly support group.
Towards the costs of a project to work with people with lived experience to connect with pregnant asylum seekers and refugees and their own support networks, to improve access to maternity services and wider offers (particularly perinatal mental health) to improve their health and wellbeing and to develop as a health and care system that understands the needs of and responds effectively to asylum seekers and refugees
Towards the costs of a community event that celebrates everything that united communities. The transfer of £78 to unrestricted was authorised by the funder.
Towards the costs of food and fuel vouchers as well as emergency clothing. Towards the costs of the weekly support group. Towards the costs of the Maternal and diversity event.
10
## Yorkshire and Humberside Maternity Stream of the City of
## Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
11