2024-03-31-accounts - Freedom4girls UK

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Freedom4Girls UK

Charity number 1177566

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Freedom4Girls UK

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 12

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Freedom4Girls UK

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

Michael McAughtrie Bettina Leslie Linda Shumba Louisa Jane Braunholtz-Speight

Chair Appointed 25 January 2022 Appointed 12 March 2018 Appointed 16 June 2023 Appointed 12 December 2022 Resigned 26 May 2023

Charity number 1177566

Registered in England and Wales

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) association formed on 16 March 2018 and is governed by a constitution as amended 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 2024

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
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 2024

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

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 remain the sole charity locally who provide period products for those in need. We have continued to work with our local partners on all aspects of menstrual health and hygiene.

We have developed a number of collaborations with corporate partners over this year which have begun to enable us to achieve our aim of becoming more sustainable whilst providing much needed menstrual products to those we help.

In Kenya we received a large consignment of off cut fabric from Alpine international and begun the process of converting them into reusable, washable packs which are delivered to schools alongside sexual and menstrual health education. This has resulted in many girls being able to attend school through the month and equipped them with crucial information about sexual health. Alpine have pledged to carry on supporting this work which will continue to have a positive impact.

In Leeds we continue to partner with Modibodi and receive all their returned products. Modibodi manufacture a range of clothing including pants and swimsuits which absorb periods. We distribute them via our make the switch events and workshops for free.

Freedom4Girls UK

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities

Financial review

The net receipts for the year were £11,049, including net receipts of £3,579 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £7,470 on restricted funds after transfers.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £37,029.

We are currently working on a reserves policy. We are financially secure and have few liabilities. We want to ensure that the charity strikes a balance between sustainability and ensuring we spend our money sensibly and effectively. To this end we are actively considering setting limits and plan to do so at the next board meeting.

Approved by the board of trustees on 24/01/2025

Michael Mcaughtrie (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 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 12.

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

27/01/2025

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 2024

Notes 2024 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) 67,899 Sales 6,093 Other income 4,673 Total receipts 78,665 Payments Accounting support 1,238 Independent examination fee 1,080 Administrative support 20,495 Bank charges 607 Education sessions 2,219 Marketing and merchandise 13,252 Infrastructure development 16,831 Insurance 1,122 IT support 385 Product provision 625 Sewing workshops 4,313 Storage 3,427 UK external events 2,605 UK internal events - Volunteer expenses 5,806 Gifts and donations 250 Fundraising - Travel expense 1,696 Equipment 3,934 Printing, postage and stationery - Training 144 Total payments 80,029 Net receipts / (payments) (1,364) Transfers between funds (2,215) Net movement in funds (3,579) Fund balances brought forward 40,608 Fund balances carried forward (3) 37,029	2024 Restricted funds £ 43,763 - - 43,763 - - 1,735 43 5,928 441 2,323 110 - 14,339 9,385 - 211 - 157 - - 640 18,136 - - 53,448 (9,685) 2,215 (7,470) 51,615 44,145	2024 Total funds £ 111,662 6,093 4,673 122,428 1,238 1,080 22,230 650 8,147 13,693 19,154 1,232 385 14,964 13,698 3,427 2,816 - 5,963 250 - 2,336 22,070 - 144 133,477 (11,049) - (11,049) 92,223 81,174	2023 Total funds £ 124,845 - - 124,845 1,569 660 11,288 761 10,756 6,590 18,744 2,712 1,378 10,977 24,567 - 3,562 528 9,307 - 290 1,079 821 179 105,768 19,077 - 19,077 73,146 92,223

Freedom4Girls UK

Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 March 2024 2024 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 34,835 Paypal 2,194 Total cash funds 37,029 Debtors and prepayments Prepayments Assets retained for the charity's own use Chrome book laptop One VW Van Sewing machines Overlockers Liabilities Accruals	2024 Restricted £ 44,145 - 44,145	2024 Total £ 78,980 2,194 81,174 2024 £ 1,020 1,020 2024 £ 1,386 1,386	2023 Total £ 92,223 - 92,223

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 24/01/2025

Michael Mcaughtrie (Trustee)

Freedom4Girls UK

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.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

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.

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2024

2 Grants and donations Fundraising and individual donations Corporate donations Leeds Christian Support Fund Chee Foundation Give a Gift Fat Face Franciscan Aid Fund Rainer and Doreen Burchett Charitable Foundn. Warm Spaces Unite Bradford Hey Girls UK funding Leeds City Council (LCC) MICE Royal Society of RSA Scurrah Wainwright St James Place Unity in Poverty Action- Welfare support fund Other donations	2024 Unrestricted funds £ 38,333 8,337 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21,229 67,899	2024 Restricted funds £ 476 9,069 11,000 7,347 5,000 4,500 3,000 1,500 1,000 330 - - - - - - 541 43,763	2024 Total funds £ 38,809 17,406 11,000 7,347 5,000 4,500 3,000 1,500 1,000 330 - - - - - - 21,770 111,662	2023 Total funds £ 29,634 43,759 - - - - - 3,000 - 360 5,000 150 1,000 2,580 5,000 5,000 29,362 124,845

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2024

3 Restricted funds Balance b/f £ Chee Foundation - Franciscan Aid Fund - - Royal Society of RSA 1,594 Fat Face - Hey Girls Volunteer Coordinator 3,560 Scurrah Wainwright 2,580 St James Place 3,041 UK Project Delivery 9,780 Black Women's Menstrual Health 61 Chee Foundation - Hey Neighbour 1,951 Leeds Christian Support Fund - Make The Switch 3,303 Co-op Community Fund 1,414 Hey Girls 1,043 Masons 1,514 Leeds City Council (LCC) MICE 450 UK Education 3,698 Rentokil Initial 2,900 UK Product Provision 2,350 Leeds City Council 7,136 Unite Bradford 240 Warm Spaces - Unity in Poverty Action- Welfare s 5,000 Give a Gift - Leeds Christian Support Fund - 51,615 Rainer and Doreen Burchett Charitable Foundn.	Incoming £ 5,547 3,000 1,500 - 4,500 - - - 36 - 2,000 - 5,500 645 - - - - 536 8,669 - - 330 1,000 - 5,000 5,500 43,763	Outgoing £ 7,661 3,000 1,500 303 4,500 - 2,526 657 350 - - 1,397 - 2,655 1,628 1,043 - - 105 6,062 1,830 7,236 330 165 - 5,000 5,500 53,448	Transfers £ 2,114 - - - - - - - (213) - - - - - 214 - - - - - - 100 - - - - - 2,215	Balance c/f £ - - - 1,291 - 3,560 54 2,384 9,253 61 2,000 554 5,500 1,293 - - 1,514 450 4,129 5,507 520 - 240 835 5,000 - - 44,145

Freedom4Girls UK

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Purpose of restriction

Fund name Chee Foundation

Chee Foundation Towards projects in East Africa. The transfer relates to project costs and came from unrestricted funds. Franciscan Aid Fund Towards funding educational resources in East Africa. Rainer and Doreen Burchett For menstrual health education and product provision in Kenya. Charitable Foundn. Royal Society of RSA Upscaling the provision of reusable period packs in Kilifi, Kenya. Fat Face Towards the costs of a van. Hey Girls Volunteer Coordinator Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products. Scurrah Wainwright Towards core costs. St James Place For Sewing workshops. UK Project Delivery For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns and reusable pad sewing workshops and product provision. The transfer relates to support the project from the Co-op, also UK project delivery. Black Women's Menstrual Health Towards the Black Women’s Menstrual Health Project. Chee Foundation Towards sewing projects in East Africa. Hey Neighbour Towards community sew-a-pad workshops. Leeds Christian Support Fund Towards supporting households with living costs, administration and overheads. Make The Switch Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products. Co-op Community Fund For sewing workshops. The transfer relates to project costs and came from UK project delivery. Hey Girls Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period products. Masons To fund delivery of a project designed to campaign for and create environmentally friendly period products Leeds City Council (LCC) MICE Towards general organisational work UK Education Make the Switch Campaign work to encourage the use of reusable period Rentokil Initial For UK education UK Product Provision For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns Leeds City Council General organizational work. Unite Bradford Product provision in Bradford. Warm Spaces Towards the costs of setting up a community warm space. Unity in Poverty Action- Welfare Towards the costs of delivering period and Hygiene products to those in support fund need in the Leeds area. Give a Gift For UK menstrual health education and menstrual awareness campaigns and reusable pad sewing workshops and product provision. Leeds Christian Support Fund To support Leeds based operations.

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.