2022-03-31-accounts - Freedom4girls UK

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Freedom4Girls UK

Charity number 1177566

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Freedom4Girls UK

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

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

Freedom4Girls UK

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2022

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

Position Dates Roopen Kalirai Chair Resigned 26th April 2022 Bettina Leslie Sonia Kumari Resigned 26th April 2022 Megan Thomas Resigned 26th April 2022 Danielle Perro Resigned 26th April 2022 Mike McAughtrie Chair Appointed 25 January 2022 Louisa Jane Braunholtz-Speight Appointed 12 December 2022 Chebet Chesaina Appointed 12 December 2022 1177566

Charity number

Registered in England and Wales

Registered and principal address

Registered and principal address Bankers 15 Roundhay View Barclays Bank UK PLC Leeds 1 Churchill Place LS8 4DX London. E14 5HP

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 16 March 2018. The constitution was amended at the Charity Commission on 18 July 2020.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.

Mission statement

The mission of Freedom4Girls is to reduce gender inequality through the reduction of period poverty.

Freedom4Girls UK

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

i. The prevention or relief of poverty among women and girls anywhere in the uk and worldwide by providing and assisting in the provision of sanitary products such as sustainable, washable reusable pads, mooncups or disposables where they are needed.
a. Donated disposable products provided through partnerships with period product developers and members of the public donations;
b. The donation of re-usable, washable pads through production lines in Leeds, UK and regions of East Africa;
c. The donation of re-usable, washable menstrual cups through a partnership with private, menstrual cup corporation(s).
ii. The advancement of education in the UK and worldwide in the subject of menstruation and sanitary protection and to promote research into the economic, social and environmental impacts of period poverty in the UK and worldwide and to make results of this research available to the public. For the purposes of this clause “period poverty” means a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints
iii. Supporting in the wider campaign towards gender and menstrual equity, such that all who menstruate, experience menstruation with dignity and safety.
iv. Commissioning and conducting research that plays a fundamental part in health and socio-economic impact assessments that the work Freedom4Girls conducts and in the learning of socio-economic inequality resulting from misconceptions and negative stereotypes regarding menstruation, gender stereotypes and lack of opportunity for women.
v. Contributing in the wider campaign that advocates for the rights of women, girls and those who menstruate, as well as being at the forefront of activism that impacts and influences national policy.

The charity's main activities

1) Provision of Products:

Freedom4Girls work to support women, girls and those who menstruate with access to a choice of period products. We do this by supporting in the provision of products that are donated to us by members of the public, product providers and businesses.

We are fortunate enough to have partnerships with larger product providers, who donate a large numbers of products to us.

Through our formed partnerships and collaborations with community groups, third sector organisations and some statutory, we donate a combination of disposable pads, tampons and washable reusable products to those most in need.

2) Creation of Washable Reusable Pads:

As an organisation committed to tackling period poverty, supporting those in low economic situations and in reducing waste, both in the UK and our East Africa projects, we are passionate about both sewing workshops we deliver, Leeds and Mombasa, Kenya.

As well as creating the washable, reusable pads, we are proud that our volunteer led sewing workshops support in enhancing the self-esteem, confidence and in reducing social isolation of groups of women within our community.

3) The Education Workshop:

The main focus of the education workshop is to allow for young women and girls to feel confident and comfortable about their periods and their bodies. This has been a success by delivering the sessions both in youth groups and academic institutions. The feedback from the UK led work has been that those with low confidence have been better at discussing their periods and general wellbeing with trusted support staff.

Freedom4Girls UK

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022

Objectives and activities (continued)

The charity's main activities

Commencing in roughly August 2021 and in the period that led to the 2021 AGM, Freedom4Girls has focused significantly on supporting itself in terms of structural development, concentrating on the development of effective policies and procedures, including drafts of:

Trustee Responsibilities, (Appendix A to the Constitution);
Operations Team Responsibilities;
Grievances & Complaints;
Staff Code of Conduct;
Forming Partnerships;
Supervision Policy;
Volunteers Policy;
Communications Policy.

The organisation is also working on the development of a Business & Strategy Plan that contains priority ordered objectives.

Throughout this period, the organisation’s support from volunteers has also increased exponentially. Freedom4Girls currently has two student placements, three remote administrative support volunteers and four operational volunteers who assist with a substantial part of the organisation’s core business, specifically ensuring the effective operation of the donation station and distribution of product provision.

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.

Achievements and performance

We have continued to deliver the core activities of the charity and developed our aims of addressing period and hygiene poverty via education and provision of materials.

Period Product Provision - demand for these has risen across the range of community partners in Leeds and Sheffield (where we have one donation station) - particularly during the cost of living crisis which has increased demand amongst agencies we’ve worked for previously and requests for new ones. We continue to partner with Initial Rentokil, who support us with period product provision and towards our education work. We have donation stations at Tesco supermarkets and receive donations from other companies and individuals to help with this which is a growing problem due to the cost of living crisis. We have worked with our partners in Leeds to source and supply the poorest communities with food and other goods as and when possible. We provided 10,000 pieces of uniform from a warehouse in West Yorkshire and distributed it va Leeds Council to local families. These supplementary activities have been made possible by the links we have forged with our local partners and in response to community need.

UK Menstrual Health education - we continue to develop and deliver education around menstruation and related health and social matters via our dedicated team. We are working to expand the geographical scope of the project and to ensure that it is relevant to all including groups with protected characteristics. This strand of work is vital as there is a gap in mainstream education (and beyond) about the subject. We will be focusing on this in greater detail this year.

Kenya project- As travel becomes easier we have visited Kenya and provided education sessions with relevant resources to large groups of school age girls in the country. We have continued to promote and demonstrate the use of reusable pads and provided education about sexual health. This is a key function of Freedom 4 Girls and will continue to be as we move forward.

Freedom4Girls UK

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022

Achievements and performance (continued)

Uganda project - we continue to have links with Uganda and our project worker is due to visit in July 2022 to oversee more work. As well as this we have received funding to develop a Black Womens menstrual health project - the results of which are due to be exhibited at the Vagina Museum in London in September. As one of our valued partners we held an exhibition with the Vagina museum at Thackray Medical museum highlighting local art about menstruation.

Public Outreach and recognition - We were delighted to receive the Queens award for voluntary service this year. There was stiff competition but the volume of support our key workers received from partners during the assessment process - from across the UK and the world was magnificent.

This charity has grown from small beginnings to have the potential to grow larger and help more people in the UK and beyond. The work done by the staff is highly impressive and we want to maximise the impact that we have in a time of great financial difficulty for many.

We have continued to speak to a variety of media outlets across the year and have been invited to speak at the Global Period Poverty Forum. We’ve also been asked to be part of the BSI standards committee for period products.

We are in the process of reviewing our governance arrangements and ensuring that they are as beneficial as possible for the smooth running of the operation and to provide support to our valued staff. This includes a commitment to diversity and equality in everything that we do.

We are also working to improve our website and social media offering as well as developing an overall strategic plan for the next five years. We have appointed a volunteer co-ordinator to ensure our wonderful volunteers are supported and allocated relevant tasks whilst developing their skills and contributing to the charity with a wide variety of skills and experience.

Financial review

The net receipts for the year were £14,127, including net payments of £7,121 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £21,248 on restricted funds, after transfers.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £21,840. The charity has no formal reserves policy.

Approved by the board of trustees on 29/01/2023

Bettina Leslie (Trustee)

Freedom4Girls UK

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Freedom4Girls UK

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2022, 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 CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or 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

30/01/2023

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Freedom4Girls UK

Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2022

Notes 2022 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) 35,362 Sales 1,092 Other income 5,391 Total receipts 41,845 Payments Accounting support 1,596 Independent examination fee 660 Administrative support 7,541 Bank charges 444 Education sessions - Marketing and merchandise 4,837 Infrastructure development 8,445 Insurance 436 IT support 828 Product provision - Sewing workshops - Storage - UK external events - UK internal events - Volunteer travel expenses 85 Subscriptions 182 Sundries 370 Fundraising 383 Total payments 25,807 Net income / (expenditure) 16,038 Transfers between funds (23,159) Net movement in funds (7,121) Fund balances brought forward 28,961 Fund balances carried forward (3) 21,840	2022 Restricted funds £ 50,881 100 - 50,981 - - - 30 9,905 274 200 - 270 5,605 33,301 - - - 2,742 - 385 180 52,892 (1,911) 23,159 21,248 30,058 51,306	2022 Total funds £ 86,243 1,192 5,391 92,826 1,596 660 7,541 474 9,905 5,111 8,645 436 1,098 5,605 33,301 - - - 2,827 182 755 563 78,699 14,127 - 14,127 59,019 73,146	2021 Total funds £ 79,845 100 260 80,205 271 420 4,997 131 5,371 2,801 3,195 311 85 1,567 16,706 504 173 15 4,174 - - 100 40,821 39,384 - 39,384 19,635 59,019

Freedom4Girls UK

Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 March 2022 2022 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Bank account 16,902 PayPal 4,938 Total cash funds 21,840 Liabilities Independent examination	2022 Restricted £ 51,306 - 51,306	2022 Total £ 68,208 4,938 73,146 £ 660 660	2021 Total £ 52,727 6,292 59,019

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 29/01/2023

Bettina Leslie (Trustee)

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2022

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.

2 Grants and donations Volition Leeds Co-op Masons Leeds City Council (LCC) MICE Rentokil Initial Royal Society of RSA Edith Maud Ellis Trust fund St James Place National Survivor User Network Hey Neighbour Grant Awards For All Hey Girls UK funding NHS Leeds CCG Other donations The Rainer and Doreen Burchett Charitable Foundation	2022 Unrestricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35,362 35,362	2022 Restricted funds £ 3,000 - 1,946 - 300 - 9,000 2,500 2,500 500 2,430 9,993 4,920 500 13,292 50,881	2022 Total funds £ 3,000 - 1,946 - 300 - 9,000 2,500 2,500 500 2,430 9,993 4,920 500 48,654 86,243	2021 Total funds £ 3,000 2,000 762 4,600 167 2,912 - - - - - - - - 66,404 79,845

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2022

3 Restricted funds Balance b/f £ East Africa Projects 348 Kenya Project Delivery - Rainer Foundation - Royal Society of RSA - Uganda Project Delivery - 2,125 Edith Maud Trust - St James Place - UK Project Delivery 4,965 Black Women's Menstrual Health - National Survivor User Network - Hey Neighbour - Awards For All - Make The Switch - Co-op Community Fund 762 Hey Girls - Masons 4,600 LCC MICE 167 UK Education - Rentokil Initial 2,762 Volition 830 UK Product Provision - Leeds City Council 13,500 Unite Bradford - NHS CCG - 30,058 Corporate Social Responsibility Uganda	Receipts £ 1,919 2,206 3,000 9,000 21 - 2,500 2,500 608 - 500 2,430 9,993 186 1,946 4,920 - 300 565 5,597 - 2,000 - 270 520 50,981	Payments £ 1,117 17,765 3,000 7,531 4,795 1,608 920 30 344 539 500 - 7,481 196 - 315 103 167 9 2,414 830 385 2,150 180 514 52,892	Transfers £ (1,150) 15,559 - 4,900 - - - - 600 - - - 1,000 - - - - 2,000 - - 250 - - - 23,159	Balance c/f £ - - - 1,469 126 517 1,580 2,470 5,229 61 - 2,430 2,512 990 2,708 4,605 4,497 300 2,556 5,945 - 1,865 11,350 90 6 51,306

Fund name

East Africa Projects

Kenya Project Delivery

Rainer Foundation Royal Society of RSA Uganda Project Delivery

Corporate Social Responsibility Uganda Edith Maud Trust St James Place UK Project Delivery

Purpose of restriction

For menstrual health education and product provision. The transfer was to support other East Africa projects.

For menstrual health education and product provision. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project costs.

For menstrual health education and product provision in Kenya. Upscaling the provision of reusable period packs in Kilifi, Kenya. For menstrual health education and product provision. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project delivery. For menstrual health education and product provision.

Period pad sewing workshops in Uganda. For Sewing workshops.

For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns and reusable pad sewing workshops and product provision.

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2022

3 Restricted funds continued

Fund name

Black Women's Menstrual Health National Survivor User Network Hey Neighbour Awards for all

Make the switch Co-op community fund

Hey Girls

Masons LCC MICE

UK Education Rentokil Initial Volition

UK Product Provision

Leeds City Council Unite Bradford NHS CCG

Purpose of restriction

Towards the Black Women’s Menstrual Health Project. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project costs.

Towards the Black Women’s Menstrual Health Project. Towards community sew-a-pad workshops. Towards community sewing workshops in Leeds. Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project costs. For sewing workshops Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products

To fund delivery of a project designed to campaign for and create environmentally friendly period products Towards general organisational work Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project costs. For UK education Towards the Together Youth Leeds Positive Partnership For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns and reusable pad sewing workshops and product provision. The transfer was from unrestricted funds to support project costs.

For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns and reusable pad sewing workshops and product provision. Product provision in Bradford Assembly and distribution of well-being packs within Leeds

4 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.