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2023-04-30-accounts

2023 BELEVE U I ruste Un'a ts . riL'202 CHARITY NO. 4176525 1, .CQMPANY NO. "0758769> .-*

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

PAGE 01

Contents Page

Administrative Information 02
Report of the Trustees 03-38
Message from the chair 08
Our year at a glance 11
Finance & Fundraising 12
Impact numbers 14
BelEve Programme Highlights 16
Independent Examiner's Report 39
Statement of Financial Activities 40
Incorporating Income and Expenditure
Balance Sheet 42
Notes to the Accounts 43

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Administrative Information

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

BELEVE UK

Company No. 07587692 Charity No. 1176525

REGISTERED OFFICE

372 Brockley Road London SE4 2BY

DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES

The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Directors and Trustees served during the year:

S. Dube – Chair of Trustees’

J. Tolmie - Treasurer K. Clark R. Ahmed Tejani S. Haughton-Peters J. Opare-Aryee (appointed 16th May 2023)

ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS’

C. Powell M. Powell

ACCOUNTANTS

Angle Accountants Airport House Purley Way Croydon, Surrey CR0 0XZ

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R E P O R T O F T H E T R U S T E E S F O R T H E Y E A R E N D E D 3 0 A P R I L 2 0 2 3

The Trustees, who are also Directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2021, The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

BelEve continues to create and develop spaces to support & build a community through sisterhood, providing equal opportunities to allow young girls to discover their full potential.

“Inspiring The Next Generation of Female Leaders, leaders of their own world”

We encourage a transformational journey that allows girls to push past their limits & embrace new experiences, with no judgment.

M a r s h a , C h y l o e & R o c h e l l e

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Our Mission AND Vision

Our Vision

All girls and young women are empowered to become leaders of their world

We BelEve in Building an inclusive world for Girls and young women - Inspiring the next generation of female leaders

Our Mission

To equip girls and young women with the skills, support, and confidence to find their voice and make informed choices about their future.

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Who We ARE What We do

BelEve is a grassroots, female-led charity with the mission of empowering girls and young women to become the next generation of Female leaders.

Our aim is to Inspire, Motivate, Lead and create a community for our girls and young women.

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BelEve's key objectives

1. A sustainable charity with a defined sector position

2. Deliver greater impact for girls and young wome n

Build, sustain and grow all BelEve's programmes to offer more activities to support existing beneficiaries, and to welcome 11,000 new girls and young women a year by 2027 into these programmes.

3. Influence and transform girls' and young women's lives

4. Stronger and deeper partnerships and collaboration

Collaborating with Corporates, Trust and Donors to generate higher funding for BelEve to ultimately impact more girls and young women

These objectives collectively drive BelEve's commitment to creating a world where every girl and young woman has the tools, support, and opportunities needed to thrive, lead, and make a positive impact in their communities.

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Core Values

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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Message from the chair of Trustees

Throughout the span 2022/23, global economies have remained delicate, influenced by simmering geopolitical challenges. Despite the normalisation of post-pandemic free movement and travel, there was a notable rise in inflation, subsequently leading to elevated interest rates to counteract this trend. Additionally, the tragic Ukraine/Russia war since February 2022 has compounded macro-economic challenges, contributing to increased energy costs and broader supply chain difficulties. The cumulative effect of these factors has resulted in a prolonged and severe cost of living crisis that has persisted throughout the year.

In the face of this uncertain external landscape, it is crucial that we direct our efforts toward what we can control and influence. Previous emergencies and crises have demonstrated that girls and young women are particularly vulnerable across various domains. For instance, in past crises, girls saw reduced access to education and increased post-crisis dropout rates (Source: GEC Jul 2020 report "Life skills for adolescent girls in the COVID-19 pandemic"). More recently, research indicates that the current cost-of-living crisis has disproportionately affected women over men (Source: Standard Life’s Retirement Voice 2022 report). Consequently, the work championed by BelEve has never been more vital: to empower these girls and young women with the skills, exposure, and confidence necessary to unlock new economic and social opportunities.

Buoyed by the results of our annual strategy in 2021 of "Doubling Up” our impact, in 2022 we had set out BelEve’s ambitious five-year strategy to further expand BelEve’s influence. This strategy centres on four pillars: becoming a sustainable charity with a defined sector position, delivering greater impact for girls and young women, influencing and transforming girls and young women's lives, developing stronger and deeper partnerships and collaborations.

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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As I reflect on my third year as BelEve's Chair of Trustees, I am filled with pride for the remarkable achievements BelEve has accomplished. Through targeted initiatives and better management of risks, we are paving the way for a resilient future for the charity to expand its influence on an even broader circle in this year 2 of our five-year strategy:

Seeing the team continue to deliver in line with structured goal setting and execution practices, I am thrilled about BelEve's potential to further magnify its impact in 2023. This growth will be facilitated by a formidable leadership team, committed staff, a dynamic young leadership board, as well as dedicated facilitators, mentors, and volunteers.

Shruti Dube Chair of Trustees

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TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

Message from the CEO

Reflecting on the past year, I am delighted to present the BelEve’s Annual Report for the Year April 2023. In a year marked by challenges, unwavering commitment to our Charity, our collective dedication, resilience, and innovative spirit have propelled us forward, achieving significant milestones that reinforce our commitment to inspiring positive change and creating a limitless world for the next generation of female leaders to reach their full potential.

This report offers a comprehensive overview of our performance, financial highlights, operational achievements, and our steadfast commitment to sustainability and community engagement. My heartfelt gratitude goes to our employees, partners, and parents for their unwavering support. Together, we remain focused on delivering value, fostering innovation, and contributing to positive societal change for our community.

We share our achievements, challenges, and aspirations, we invite you to celebrate the impact we've collectively made. Together, we are transforming lives and building a more inclusive and sustainable future. We've continued to advocate for the issues that affect our girls and young women, providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed and continue pushing boundaries.

As we enter the third year of our 5-year strategy, we have a clear capacity and growth plan to reach more girls and young women, deliver more evidence-based impact, increase sustainability, and expand our community of corporate partners. Our commitment to delivering quality transformational programs to our community sits at the centre of our strategy. With a clear vision, mission, and a strong young leadership board, we will continue to listen and respond to the needs of our community.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to our staff, volunteers, mentors, and corporate partners who have contributed their time, resources, and expertise to the success of our programs and initiatives. Your support has allowed us to provide opportunities and experiences for girls and young women to develop their leadership skills, build their confidence, and increase their life and career prospects.

I am excited to continue our journey together in the coming year and beyond, as we provide a platform where every young girl and woman has an equal opportunity to discover their unique voices, develop essential life skills, and become the leaders of tomorrow. Together, we are shaping a future where every girl and young woman has the tools and support needed to achieve her fullest potential and become the next generation of female leaders.

we navigate an ever-evolving landscape, BelEve stands ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Our optimism and determination drive us forward, ensuring that we continue to make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Marsha Powell

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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Our year at a glance

“Building our community's trust and belief in our mission to empower and support girls and young women. and belief in our mission to empower and support girls and young women”.

It has been a busy year for BelEve our core focus was continuing to create an inclusive safe space for girls and young women to develop skills, grow in confidence and find their voice, increasing our presence, capacity building, strengthening our team and offering to ensure we could deliver the impact our community deserve.

We doubled the size of the team to accommodate our ambitions, expanding our capabilities and resources to better serve our community and partners' needs. With an increased staffing team and increased funding, we extended our reach alongside impact, working with more schools and delivering more workshops and mentoring programmes in our neighbouring boroughs but most importantly deepening the support we offer the girls and young women. BelEve has become the "go-to" charity in South London for Year 6 transition, resulting in us supporting over 532 girls.

We are proud to have connected with over 3383 girls through our 5 core programmes girls and offered them valuable opportunities to be mentored, develop leadership and life skills through our programmes, and experience our enhanced career development offerings in partnership with our corporate sponsors. We believe in empowering young girls and women with the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their communities.

“Today, I have learned that I can be a superhero by being me, all that matters is that I love being Who I am because that is all anyone cares about. It made me feel amazing and grateful to be who I am today, and it also boosted my confidence about being a black girl. The best thing about me is that nobody else is me. - Zara aged 9

“Thank you and your team for your work with Zara. I have watched her grow into herself this past year.”- Beam Parent

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Finance AND Fundraising

We ended 2023 positively, exceeding our target of retaining 6 months’ worth of operating costs (unrestricted only), noting that restricted funds secured and held at year end also cover staff salary costs which have been funded by grants provided to allow the charity to provide valuable services meeting its objectives. We continued to maintain our fundraising efforts, which was underpinned by a robust fundraising strategy.

During the year ended 30 April 2023, BelEve again saw an increase in income of £33K from £285K to £319k which highlights the continued success of our focus on fundraising. We would like to thank all our funders and corporate sponsors for their continued support which has been instrumental in allowing the charity to maintain investment in its core programmes and objectives for 2022-23

Total expenses for the year ended 30 April 2023 amounted to £335,898 (2022: £249,892) as per Note 3. Overall, the charity had a net deficit in funds for the year ended 30 April 2023 of £ (17,014) (2022: Net surplus £35,465). This is due to a focused effort in growing the team of facilitators alongside the support team to allow the charity to offer an array of services to a growing volume of beneficiaries as seen in the growth of our impact numbers.

The Trustees are pleased that the charity has been able to use its funding including in part it’s brought forward reserves to serve the girls and young women we are dedicated to support, encourage and inspire. The reserves carried forward as of 30 April 2023 amounted to £146,464 (2022: £163,478) split between Unrestricted reserves £78,195 (2022: £96,642) and Restricted reserves £68,269 (2022: £66,836). In what continues to be an extremely challenging landscape for the charity & voluntary sector we are extremely proud of our team for each and every success they have achieved and ultimately the impact they have had on the 3,383 girls and young women that have been involved with BelEve in the year.

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The fundraising goals for 2023/24 Corporate sponsors £85,000 Delivery partner £31,100 Donations£6,000 Funding £369,000 Other income £9,950

Total fundraising goal: £501,050

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Other income
Corporate sponsor
2%
17%
Delivery partners
6.2%
Donations
1.2%
Funding
73.6%
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“Delivering sisterhood and community, amplifying the girls’ voices on issues that they are passionate about and connecting our Girls and Young Women to amazing role models”

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2022/2023 Impact Numbers

PROGRAMME IMPACT NUMBERS TOTAL IMPACT
BEAM 532
LEAD HER SHIP 154
BIS 197
 3383
CAREER INSIGHT 74
IT IS THAT DEEP 2426

Of these, 80% were Afro Caribbean or African, 10% Asian and 10% White.

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White
10%
Asian
10%
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Afro Caribbean/African 80%

“KEEPING THE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING WE DO”

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BelEve Empowerment Programmes:

Nurturing Tomorrow's Leaders At BelEve, we believe in the power of empowering young girls and women to become confident, resilient leaders in their communities. Our programs are carefully designed to address the unique challenges each age group faces while fostering personal growth, leadership skills, and a sense of community. Below are the 5 programmes we offer:

BelEve's core competencies

⦁ Managing Feelings means … being able to reflect on our feelings, understand what they are, and how to manage them

⦁ Communication means… being able to clearly articulate to others our plans and ideas, while making space for others by listening and asking questions

⦁ Confidence and Agency means… the selfbelief to take action on issues that are important to us and others

promoting the participation of our peers in our work (as our equal) as part of our own development and that of others

The Measures

⦁ Collaboration means… actively seeking opportunities to include others’ opinions and ideas in our work

⦁ Planning and Problem-Solving means… setting and planning our work around clear objectives and goals, and maintaining an open mind about how to overcome challenges

⦁ Resilience means… seeing challenges in a positive way, seeking to understand them before acting

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Beautiful, Empowered and Me (BEAM) for girls aged 8-11 years

We successfully ran 90 x 60-minute BEAM workshops in Schools, partnering with 15 schools and impacting 532 girls through our BEAM transition workshops.

BEAM caters to girls aged 8-11, delivered through primary schools. This weekly session-based program aims to: Provide a safe space for exploring difficult thoughts, feelings, and events. Build self-awareness, self-esteem, and relationship skills.

Programme Highlighs;

Develop coping skills and resilience. Enhance social and emotional intelligence.

“The Year 6 girls mostly enjoyed the sessions where their confidence and aspirations increased. They were able to build selfawareness and self-esteem skills. “

Support girls in becoming resilient and ready for the transition to secondary school.

BEAM sessions create a fun, informal, and safe environment where girls can form friendships, explore their identity, and express their feelings through various activities.

“The facilitator built a really strong rapport with the girls to create a really safe and trusting environment”

“Great discussions created with the students”

“The girls enjoyed the workshop because they liked the conversations and topic that were discussed during their time.”

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Lead Her Ship for girls aged 12-15 years

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Lead Her Ship is tailored for girls aged 12-15, focusing on leadership and change-making competencies. The program includes small group discussions, fun activities, and personal reflection.

Programme objectives:

We successfully ran 60 x 60-minute LeadHer Ship workshops in Schools, partnering with 6 schools and impacting 154 girls.

Programme Highlights:

“We have worked with BelEve in a variety of capacities over the last year. Our year 9 and 10 students are currently taking part in their LeadHer Ship programme, we have year 10s trained as Ravens, as well as having every class having taken part in a healthy relationship workshop with them. Every member of the team that has come and delivered sessions to our students has been friendly, approachable and able to differentiate for the variety of young people they are working with. The students are always engaged and feel comfortable enough to ask questions about what, at times, can be sensitive topics.

The relationship we have built as a school with BelEve has become invaluable, they are always there for advice, able to tailor sessions to what works within our setting and are constantly providing new and exciting opportunities for our young people. We can’t wait to see what next year brings for our students and the impact this vital work will have on them as they move on”.

Rebecca Stock, Pastoral Lead, Bonus Pastor Catholic College

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BelEve in Her Success

BelEve in Her Success caters to young women aged 16-22, offering mentoring and skills development workshops. In collaboration with corporate partners,BelEve in Her Success opens doors to various career opportunities and encourages young women to strive for excellence.

for young women aged 16-22 years

Programme objectives:

Programme Highlights:

Mentoring for me is an opportunity to share my skill set with someone who has less experience and hopefully, they can learn something. After working years in communications, I thought this is a real opportunity for me to have a real purpose, give back and share my experience. If you want to be a mentor, I highly recommend it. Your life will have true purpose! -Rosa Sibaja - Mentor

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Career Insight Days for young women aged 14-22 years

"We successfully ran 3 Career insight days with 3 corporate partners impacting 74 girls.

BelEve recognises the crucial role that early exposure to diverse career options plays in shaping the aspirations of young women. Our Career Insight Days, offered bimonthly in collaboration with esteemed corporate partners, are designed for young women aged 14-22. These events provide valuable insights into various career paths, offering exposure to successful female role models and valuable opportunities for, employability skills development, mentorship, work experience, internships and career advice. .

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It is that Deep ."It Is That Deep" - Empowering Youth, Creating Awareness

We successfully delivered 81 workshops in 7 schools, impacting 2426 students.

At BelEve, we are committed to addressing critical issues that impact the lives of young people. The "It Is That Deep" campaign is a whole-school initiative targeting students from Year 7 upwards, responding to the concerning trends and normalization of Peer-on-Peer Sexual Harassment in schools.

The campaign is designed to educate and empower young individuals, equipping them with the tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual harassment while fostering healthy relationships.

BelEve stands united against sexual harassment, striving to create a school environment where every student feels safe, respected, and empowered to contribute to a culture of mutual understanding and healthy relationships. Together, we can foster a generation that recognises the power of speaking out against harassment and champions the principles of consent and respect.

Programme Highlights:

“It Is That Deep, is a necessary and required sexual harassment workshop delivered by fantastic facilitators from 'BelEve' which allows young people the opportunity to explore what the signs of sexual harassment are and ways to identify it. Young people come away from the sessions with great sense of empowerment and confidence to call our sexual harassment whilst knowing 'It is that Deep”. Dwayne Francis - Inclusion Manager

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BelEve Impact Data

BelEve conducted a survey with 900 girls and young women. The survey results are a testament to the impactful work and positive outcomes achieved by BelEve's programs for girls aged 8-22. The findings highlight the program's effectiveness in enhancing confidence, promoting positive female role models, fostering healthier relationships, and developing leadership qualities. Here's a breakdown of the key outcomes:

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10%
5%
90% Increased
Confidence in
95 % reported forming
Communication
healthier relationships with
their peers
90%
For Girls Aged 8-15: 95%
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Increased Confidence in Communication (90%):

The program has significantly contributed to boosting the confidence of girls aged 8-15 in their communication skills. This is a crucial developmental milestone that prepares them for effective interpersonal interactions.

Enjoyment in Female-Only Workshops (95%):

The overwhelming majority of girls in this age group enjoyed participating in female-only workshops, indicating that BelEve creates a safe and comfortable space for them to freely express themselves. This environment contributes to a positive learning experience.

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For Girls Aged 16-22:

Engagement with Positive Female Role Models (92%):

Formation of Healthier Peer Relationships (89%):

Identification with Leadership Qualities (80%):

Increased Confidence and Self-Belief (92%):

Positive Outlook on the Future (97%):

8% 92% Reported Engagement with a positive female role model

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92%
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20%
3%
80% Identified
Leadership skills after
97% Reported a a BelEve Programme
Positive outlook on the
future
80%
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97%

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Overall Impact:

The survey concludes that BelEve's impact is making a substantial difference in the lives of beneficiaries. By collaborating with schools and communities, the organisation is successfully bringing about individual, educational, and social change.

The achievements to date are commendable, reflecting a commitment to empowering girls and young women. As BelEve looks forward, we take pride in our accomplishments and remain dedicated to making a continued positive impact in the lives of girls and young women.

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SuccessStories Beneficiary Testimonial

As a university student, BelEve has positively shaped my professional outlook on what I can achieve. This is due to BelEve in Her Success, a unique mentoring scheme compared to other schemes. It is specifically for young women and a minimum of six months instead of the traditional three months, allowing more time for a bond to be established. I am fortunate to have built a relationship as a mentee with a dynamic, accomplished, supportive mentor. Before BelEve in Her Success, I heard the importance of mentoring but did not know its true value until now. For example, goals are set during each session, improving my overall confidence and motivation since there is evidence of me actively striving for my dreams. Through our conversations, my mentor always provides new perspectives, resources, and connections to ensure my potential is not limited. I am connected and supported not only by my mentor but also by the BelEve team through their regular check-ups. BelEve has given me access to a figure I can look to for representation and inspiration, which I am grateful for as I needed a role model at this stage of my career and personal journey.

Angela Sam Aggrey - Mentee

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Mentor Testimonial

After being a mentee in a few mentoring relationships, last year I felt I had enough work experience behind me to offer some mentoring guidance myself. I was connected to BelEve through Bloom, a network for women working in Marketing and Communications, and I was introduced to Olivia.

When I first met Olivia almost a year ago, I was instantly impressed by how proactive, professional, and prepared she was. About to embark on her final year at university, she was making full use of the wonderful mentoring, networking, and work experience opportunities BelEve offers - putting her lightyears ahead of where I had been at that age! We spent our first few meetings exploring and defining what she wanted to get out of the coming year, selecting themes around finding post-graduate employment, getting the most out of her remaining time at uni (after some challenging Covid-19 years!), and developing existing hobbies and interests.

With this structure established, we have gone on to meet monthly and stay in touch in between, and I’ve been delighted to see her grow in confidence and ability. Final coursework and exams are never easy, and life can get stressful, but we worked together to maintain focus, stay calm, and keep progressing towards her goals.

I’m so pleased that all her hard work paid off, and Olivia has now graduated and already secured her first post-graduate employment at Legal & General (coincidentally, through a past mentor who she also found through BelEve!). Whilst it might not have a full marketing focus yet, there’s tons of transferrable skills available to develop, and I’m confident it will set her up well for wherever her career takes her. She has the drive, maturity, and ability to succeed in whatever field she chooses to go in to, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the coming years bring her.

As for me, I have got so much from the experience, and would highly recommend it. Being able to develop my coaching skills, share learnings from my work experience so far, and connect Olivia to my networks has built my own self confidence and prompted me to reflect on my own career planning. I believe it will also help me to be a ‘better’ mentee in the future, now that I have perspectives from both sides, and I’m now excited to explore new mentoring relationships. So – if you are thinking about becoming a mentor but aren’t sure where to start – I would absolutely recommend BelEve, their fabulous team, and the brilliant community of young women they work with.

Shannon Keegan- BelEve Mentor

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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Collaborations &Partnerships

BelEve recognises the importance of partnerships and collaborations as key drivers for achieving our mission to empower girls and young women. By working with like-minded organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders, we can amplify our impact and create positive change on a broader scale. Here are some of BelEve's key partnerships and collaborations:

We are extremely grateful to our corporate partners, who have continued to support us and enabled us to consistently deliver a quality service to our beneficiaries. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in enabling us to consistently deliver high-quality services to our beneficiaries. Through their commitment to our mission, these partners have played a crucial role in empowering and uplifting the lives of girls and young women. Most importantly we thank all our mentors who continue to go over and above to support their mentees and keep them motivated in the challenging times.

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Volunteer Initiatives

Younger Chapter Programme

Children in Need have funded BelEve to bring about social change, opportunities, and a voice to young people.

During the next 12 months, the team will tackle a social action issue while developing skills that will help the young people even after the program is completed. You will decide how we should roll out the campaign.

Social Action Project:

Embracing Difference, the younger chapter team have decided they will base their project on the topic of Embracing Difference. They want to create acceptance for those who differ from societies norms. They intend to normalise differences.

Aims of the Program

Decreased sense of isolation Enhanced Self Esteem Greater Confidence in Communicating a Message

Young Leadership Board

We are in our 5th year in driving forward BelEve’s young leadership board. The role of the board in to guide and support the strategic aims of the charity, the works of the charity, alongside keeping Young Women's voices are at the core of BelEve's delivery plan. In September 2023 the following young women joined the board as volunteers with a one-year term:

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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Sustainability Development Goals

BelEve's commitment to empowering girls and young women aligns with several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through its various programs and initiatives, BelEve actively contributes to the achievement of these global goals. Here's how BelEve aligns with specific SDGs:

SDG 1: No Poverty

By providing educational opportunities, mentorship, and skill-building programs, BelEve works towards breaking the cycle of poverty for girls, contributing to the goal of eradicating poverty.

· SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

BelEve contributes to the overall health and well-being of girls by providing resources, workshops, and support for physical and mental health through health education programs.

SDG 4: Quality Education

opportunities and empower them for future success.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

BelEve is dedicated to promoting gender equality by challenging stereotypes, providing leadership training, and fostering an inclusive environment where girls have equal opportunities

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

While not the primary focus, BelEve may incorporate sustainable practices in its programs and operations, contributing indirectly to the goal of ensuring access to affordable and clean energy.

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Sustainability Development Goals

· SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

entrepreneurship training, and mentorship programs to enhance their economic opportunities and contribute to economic growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

BelEve advocates for equal opportunities, challenges societal norms, and works towards reducing inequalities by providing resources and support for girls, irrespective of their background or circumstances.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

BelEve engages in community-based programs that create safe spaces for girls, fostering community engagement and addressing urban challenges affecting their well-being.

· SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

BelEve's initiatives contribute to peace and justice by addressing issues such as gender-based violence, discrimination, and advocating for the rights and well-being of girls.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

BelEve actively collaborates with educational institutions, NGOs, corporate partners, and community stakeholders, embodying the spirit of partnership to amplify its impact

BelEve's multifaceted approach to empowering girls addresses various

aspects of the SDGs, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, BelEve plays a vital role in advancing these global goals and making a positive impact on the lives of girls and young women.

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Social Responsibility

BelEve's commitment to social responsibility is integral to our mission of empowering girls and young women to realise their full potential. We recognise the importance of actively contributing to the well-being of our communities and fostering positive change. Our social responsibility initiatives align with our core values, aiming to make a meaningful impact in various aspects of society. Social responsibility is not just a commitment; it's a guiding principle that permits everything we do. Through our collective efforts, we aspire to create a positive and lasting impact, contributing to a world where every girl and young woman has the support and resources needed to thrive.

Public Benefits

All 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. In producing their assessment of the benefit to the public provided by the charity, the Trustees confirm they have complied with the duty set out in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Charities and Public Benefit.

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& Future Plans Initiatives

Vision for 2023/24

BelEve's focus on transforming the organization for the 2023/4 period reflects a commitment to long-term success, sustainability, and impactful growth. The organisation intends to enrich, deepen, and expand its existing programs while prioritising infrastructure development, capacity building, and organisational effectiveness. The overarching goals for the next year are outlined below:

1. Programme Excellence and Impact

Objective: Achieve excellence in program delivery with a focus on making a lasting impact on the futures of girls and young women.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Program effectiveness, participant satisfaction, and measurable outcomes.

2. Reach and Inclusivity

Objective: Expand the reach of programs to a broader audience while addressing the diverse needs of girls and young women.

KPIs: Increased program participation, expansion into new communities, and inclusivity metrics.

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3.Organizational Resilience

Objective: Build organizational resilience by strengthening infrastructure and ensuring sustainable practices.

KPIs: Safer recruitment metrics, organisational culture surveys, and sustainability measures.

4: Advocacy and Awareness

Objective: Advocate for the rights of girls and young women, raising awareness on the challenges they face.

KPIs : Successful campaigns, increased public awareness, and policy impact.

BelEve's ambitious yet realistic goals are designed to position the organisation as a driving force in the empowerment of girls and young women. The commitment to continuous improvement, responsiveness to challenges, and a focus on measurable impact underscore BelEve's dedication to creating positive and lasting change.

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS

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New Programs and Collaborations

EmpowerHer

We are excited to announce the launch of our new EmpowerHer program, starting from September 2024. After a careful analysis of our school program, we realised that we were missing out on an opportunity to support the transition of year 7 and 8 students into secondary school.

Empower Her is a transformative program designed exclusively for girls embarking on their secondary school journey. It aims to empower participants to discover their inner strength, become leaders in their lives, and connect with their dreams, passions, and purpose.

Our program is carefully crafted to instil confidence, nurture leadership skills, and inspire each girl to take charge of her life while uplifting and positively influencing others. We are confident that Empower Her will create a positive impact on the lives of our students and help them succeed in their academic and personal lives.

LEADHER Forum

Our LeadHer Forum has been created as an incentive for those participants that have successfully completed our leadhership programme. (age 14-16)

During the forum, the girls explore various avenues to unearth the leader within them and define their individual identities. This collaborative effort with BelEve extends to making a lasting impact by amplifying their voices both within and beyond the school community.

Participation in the forum promises benefits that go beyond the event itself. It becomes a valuable addition to their college applications and resumes, showcasing involvement in BelEve Events, volunteer work, and significant personal development.

The experience contributes to building self-esteem, fostering teamwork, enhancing organizational skills, deepening knowledge, and equipping them with the tools to present themselves as serious and professional women.

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Leadership & Management

Our leadership and management remain unchanged. Sisters Marsha, Chyloe and Rochelle continue to run the charity day to day and make up the Senior Leadership Team.

They meet bi-weekly and report into the Board of Trustees. All strategic decisions are made by the Board. In 2023 the team continued to grow, from a team of 6 staff to 12 staff . This includes 3 full-time staff and 9 part-time facilitators as well as 100 volunteers.

Shruti Dube continues to chair the Board of Trustees and her skills and experience have been instrumental in helping the charity to grow.

Marsha Powell Chyloe Powell Rochelle Powell CEO CFO Programme manager

Sisterhoof is embedded in everything we do.

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Our Challenges & Lessons learnt

Our biggest challenge has been resourcing this year. With a clear focus on impacting 4,000 girls and young women lives, we partnered with schools to achieve the impact goal however, it resulted in us having to recruit more staff to satisfy the demand for our offering. With a robust growth strategy in place, we will be able to plan to manage this growth in the future.

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Structure, Governance, Management and
Accountability's
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BelEve is a charitable company, limited by guarantee without share capital and governed by its, memorandum and articles of association. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Ultimate responsibility lies with the Board of Trustees who meet 6-7 times in the year to review the activities and financial position of the charity. All governance decisions are made by the Trustees.

The day-to-day work of the charity is undertaken by the senior leadership team (who are also directors) who work closely with the Trustees.

Board of Trustees

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law) who served during the year are as follows:

Shruti Dube, Chair

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Board of Directors

In addition to the Trustees who are directors of the company, the Directors include the following members of the management team who served during the year:

Members liability

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees on 30 April 2023 was £6.

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Policies adopted for the induction of
Trustees
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New Trustees are appointed based on the skills and experience that they can bring to the Board.

The Board supports new Trustees through an induction process in which new Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities as individual Trustees and their joint responsibilities as members of the Board.

The Board follows the Charity Commission’s guidance in setting out these responsibilities. Additionally, the Board undertakes optional charity

governance-related training courses offered through non-profit organisations e.g. NCVO – National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

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Risk Management

The Trustees recognise that the main risk to the charity is a shortfall in funding available to the organisation.

To mitigate such risk the management team, look to identify and apply for as many relevant grants available to the organisation. Further to this, we have implemented the process of creation and maintenance of a detailed Risk Register to institute robust management of ongoing risks to the charity.

It is further planned that the Board of Trustees will undergo governance training with an accredited third party in order to serve the needs of the charity even more diligently. The Trustees will continue to carry out an analysis of the risks faced by the organisation and safeguards in place to mitigate such risks

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements in the light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby unrestricted funds held by the charity should cover up to 6 months operating costs including staff salaries. The Trustees are pleased to report that the present level of reserves is adequate to cover anticipated operating costs following a number of cost saving measures that have been put into place during the financial year as well as the increase in funding income.

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Trustee's responsibility in relation to financial statements

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and resources expended for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

·select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.

·observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.

·make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

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

Approvals

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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 for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with t the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

This report was approved by the Trustees on 16.2.2024 and signed on their behalf by:

................................................

Shruti Dube Chair of Board of Trustees

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Independent Examiners Report

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of BelEve UK for the year ended 30 April 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Summary Income and Expenditure Account, the Balance Sheet and the related notes.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for

the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the 2006 Act; or the accounts do not accord with those records; or the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements under section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

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.

Cavelle H. Batchelor HND FMAAT

Angle Accountants Airport House Purley Way Croydon, Surrey CR0 0XZ

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Statement of Financial Activities

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2023

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Balance Sheet at April 2023

COMPANY NO. 07587692

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Balance Sheet at 30 April 2022

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

For the year ended 30 April 2023 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

Approved by the board on 16/02/2024

And signed on its behalf by:

Shruti Dube Chair of Trustees’

...............................................

Shruti Dube

Chair of Trustees’

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement 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) (effective 1 January 2019) -

(Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds

These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the

general objects of the charity.

Restricted funds

These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Income Recognition of Income

is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity

Income becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of

the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Income with related Expenditure

Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is reported gross in the SoFA.

Donations and Legacies

Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income.

Tax reclaims on donations and gifts

Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the gift/donation to which it relates.

Donated services and facilities

These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure)

and facilities where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material.

Volunteer help Investment income

The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.

This is included in the accounts when receivable.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Expenditure

Recognition of expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, and fundraising.

Expenditure on charitable activities

These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs.

Grants payable

All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid.

Governance costs

Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Trade and other 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 and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts.

In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities.

In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are

repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Trade and other creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other 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.

Leased assets

Where the charity enters into a lease which entails taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset, the lease is treated as a finance lease.

Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to charity are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as assets of the charity at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet date as a finance lease obligation.

Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses are recognised immediately, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the charity's policy on borrowing costs.

Assets held under finance leases are depreciated in the same way as owned assets.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognised as a liability. The aggregate benefit of incentives is recognised as a reduction of rental expense on a straight-line basis.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the has no further The company payments obligations. contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.

2. Company status

The company is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

3. OTHER EXPENDITURE

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

4. STAFF COSTS 2023 2022 £ £

No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

The average monthly number of full-time equivalent employees during the year was as follows:

5. DEBTORS: Amounts falling due within one year

6. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

7. Movement in funds

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023 Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds: Restricted funds:

Berkley
Foundation		 Lead facilitator
salary – 2 years
Children
In Need		 Workshops
to train peer mentors and facilitate weekly sessions
Children
in need- Youth action fund 2022		 The
younger chapters – Social action project
City
bridge trust - Wave 5 2021		 Core
cost for 2x directors’ salaries
NL Awards
for all 2023		 LeadHer
ship – 1 x facilitator cost
NL
Community Fund		 Lottery,
NL Award Beam, BIHS
NL main
grant 2021/23		 Capacity
building – Programme delivery BEAM
Rosa –
2023 Voices from the front line		 Facilitator
cost – It is that deep
The Fore
2021/22 core cost		 Leadership
facilitator cost
The
Hadley Trust		 Lead Her
Ship small group facilitators cost

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds: Restricted funds:

The
Hadley Trust		 Lead Her
Ship small group facilitators cost
The
London community – MOPAC 2022 top up		 It is
that deep sexual awareness project
The
London community Trust – DCT 2021		 BelEve in
her success mentoring hub
The
London Community Trust – MOPAC 2021		 It is
that deep sexual awareness project
The
London Community Trust – Crucible Trust 2022		 Facilitator
– It is that deep
The
London Community Trust – Providence Youth fund
2022		 Specialist
sexual harassment facilitator cost – It is that deep
The Big
give		 Marketing
fund
The
London Community Trust		 I will
fund

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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023

8. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

9. CONTROLLING PARTY

The company is, limited by guarantee and has no share capital; thus, no single party controls the company.