**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD (‘WIT’)** 

A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

**ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

**COMPANY REGISTRATION NO: 07148997 (ENGLAND AND WALES)** 

**CHARITY REGISTRATION NO: 1178296** 

Accountability Europe Limited 

Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9D 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** 

**Registered charity name** Women’s Inclusive Team **Charity registration number** 1178296 **Company registration number** 07148997 **Registered office** 202 Mayfield House Cambridge Heath Road London E2 9LJ 

## **Trustees** 

Sieda Omer Isman Chair (appointed Chair January 2023) Amina Abdi (appointed 26 April 2019) Zeinab Ali (appointed 1 December 2020) Richa Ellis (appointed 27 September 2021) Natasha Hanckel-Spice Treasurer (appointed 1 December 2020) Sabaad Hassan (appointed 1 December 2020) Emily Teh Xiao-Fang (appointed  18 May 2022) Sara Custer (Resigned January 2024) 

**Bankers** Barclays Bank 240 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ 

**Independent examiner** Accountability Europe Limited Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **INTRODUCTION AND CHAIR’S REPORT** 

## **Message from The Chair | Sieda Omer** 

In 2023-2024, together with our partners, funders, and key stakeholders, we designed and co-designed projects that supported people across eight key projects, Chicksand, Flourishing Communities, Community Connectors, Morpeth School, Hiddo Girls Youth Club, Haawa Domestic Abuse, Hooyo East community Kitchen & Advice and Guidance.  WIT has continued to help those in the greatest need in Tower Hamlets, whether due to financial hardship, health concerns, food insecurity, or those simply in need of a holistic hug.  In response to these challenges, our mission is clear: To empower Somali and ethnic minority women in East London with culturally responsive support to overcome social and economic barriers, building confidence, independence, and resilience.  We continue to support around 4000 people each year, primarily those with cultural, language and trust barriers that have limited their access to services, keeping them trapped in poverty, negatively affecting their wellbeing. 

With inflation remaining high throughout the year, WIT ended 2023 as it had begun, by focusing on supporting those   most in need during these challenging times.  We started 2023 with the continued delivery of our flagship projects, focused on providing food to families struggling with  the ongoing  costof-living crisis and offering mental health counselling and signposting through our Hawaa project. 

Food inequality and mental health were central themes throughout the year, and our team continued to support residents navigate the challenges through our Advice and Guidance and Community Kitchen. Funding from  the Mayor’s Safer Communities helped us address issues such as SEND, Hiddo Girls Youth project, and our  groundbreaking Haawa domestic abuse project, which affects all communities. However, I believe that WIT provides a vital, bespoke, confidential service that helps women, particularly those from the Black Somali community regain control over their lives and navigate the cultural nuances to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, which is one of the key steps in them regaining control of their own narrative. Without this funding people from this marginalised community would not be able to access services that cater to their specific needs.  The Mayor’s funding has been a crucial lifeline for WIT to continue to offer these projects to the Somali community in Tower Hamlets.  We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue this work for the next three years.  Partnering with the Mayor's Fund has allowed us to strengthen our mission and values while supporting the Mayor of Tower Hamlets' five-year strategic goals to reduce crime, eliminate poverty, and support youth initiatives. 

Our advice services worked with 2900+ families providing information advice and guidance on benefits, housing, emergency food access and wellbeing services. We provided specialist domestic abuse support to 62 women, linked over 1000 people to mental health services, and delivered over 850 hot meals and food bank parcels to isolated vulnerable local residents. 

2 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

Our research partnerships with Queen Mary University, Barts, HDRC and the NHS has allowed us to play a role in changing narratives when it comes to marginalised communities accessing healthcare.  Through these research projects, we are removing unnecessary bureaucracy and continuing to amplify the voices of women, elderly and young people. These collaborations have allowed us the opportunity to have a say in reshaping how healthcare services are designed and delivered in Tower Hamlets and making sure that everyone has access to the treatment they need.  Some  examples of this are having information leaflets translated in three local languages and WIT leading sessions in cervical and cancer screening to raise awareness of the importance of pre screening.   This partnership has seen WIT become a leading charity in the healthcare sector as our involvement demonstrates  our commitment to working with key stakeholders to drive change. 

Hooyo East has continued to help the most  vulnerable people access food and essential provisions, addressing not only food insecurity but also loneliness and mental health issues through our befriending work. Our weekly food bank, which offers crisis services to vulnerable clients, has continued to grow. However, due to limited capacity, Hooyo East has been unable to expand its services. 

None of our work would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of our funders, supporters, and donors. We are  grateful to each and every one of you. However, the cost-of-living crisis still remains a challenge, with far too many people facing severe food insecurity and, regrettably, we are having to turn people away due to our limited resources.  One of our primary strategic goals over the next five years is to diversify our income streams to help us expand our services.   Diversifying our income streams is urgently needed, particularly as funding for  grants have become increasingly competitive. By doing so, we aim to create more opportunities for our members and support WIT’s  growth and sustainability.  An example of this is our strong partnership with our corporate partner Sidley Austin, we organised a successful Trivia Night to raise funds for WIT. The generosity of Sidley Austin and their extensive networks demonstrates  the strength  of collaboration and the importance of giving back. 

Safia continues to lead the charity and is a highly respected member of the community.  Her inspirational leadership and deep commitment to addressing the issues faced by the people of Tower Hamlets has led to her being invited as a key speaker to events hosted by leading  organisations, including Amazon, where she spoke about the importance of networking.  In addition to  her role at the organisation, Safia is serving as an Independent Police Advisor, Commissioner at the Women’s Commission, member of the Counter Terrorism Advisory Group, Board member at the Carers Centre, Group member for the Attention Monitoring Group and a Member at the LARG. 

In addition, we are exceptionally fortunate that we have a strong Board of Trustees who continue to lead us.  Their compassion, dedication, and generosity have been fundamental in helping us achieve our goals. I want to take a moment to thank our Trustee Sara Custer, who stepped down in January 2023,  for all of her support over the past two years.  Safia and the entire WIT team extend our sincere thanks to our 

3 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

trustees for their unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions. Their expert guidance has been the driving force in helping WIT strength areas such as governance, trustee recruitment,  and finance ensuring transparency across all of our work. Their leadership in discussions with corporate partners has opened up numerous opportunities for collaboration. 

I also want to extend my gratitude to the WIT staff, who never cease to amaze me with their tireless dedication to WIT’s mission and values. They are the unsung heroes whose dedicated  passion and commitment are the driving forces behind the substantial impact we make in the lives of Tower Hamlets residents. 

WIT complies with all appropriate standards, checks, and training to ensure that we deliver the highest quality services to our service users. We hold MATRIX accreditation and are in the process of applying for AQS quality mark for our advice services. We have been registered with OFSTED for the past 8 years, and have strong policies and procedures around safeguarding, equalities, health and safety and HR, including clear procedures on staff induction and training. We use a CRM system to capture the needs of our clients, allowing us to carefully monitor their journey and ensure they receive the support they need. 

This year, we will celebrate our 21th anniversary which is a testament to our resilience and continued commitment to working with the marginalised members of our community.  WIT has continued to support women from BME communities, advocate for justice, and promote community cohesion in Tower Hamlets. Safia and I recognise that there is still much to be done, but with the support of our funders, stakeholders, staff, and trustees, we are determined to continue this essential work. 

Looking ahead, Safia and the senior management team are working on WIT’s five-year strategy, which will be launched in 2025. This strategy will outline our goals to expand our community kitchen, provide more opportunities for BME women and young people, and continue our advocacy work. One of our key strategic objectives is to share our learning wider across London.  We recognise that the issues and challenges faced by the BME community in Tower Hamlets are not confined to this borough. By sharing our experiences, our objective is to empower other third sector organisations to collaborate with policymakers in reassessing services for the BME community. I have full confidence in Safia and the WIT team’s ability to overcome challenges and create lasting change. 


**Sieda Omer Isman Chair** 

**WIT Board of Trustees** 

4 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Public benefit** 

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including “Public benefit: running a charity (PD2)”. The achievements and activities provided in this Annual Report demonstrate the public benefit outcomes of WIT’s services and activities. 

## **Objectives and activities** 

WIT’s objective is to promote social inclusion for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively among women and young people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities who are socially excluded on the grounds of their sex, race or ethnic origin, and to relieve the needs of such people and to help them integrate into society. WIT also works to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children. Our Impact report showcases our accomplishments over the past 12 months.  This report is available online, serving as a transparent and accessible resource for our valued members, dedicated funders, and supportive stakeholders. Through this report, we aim to celebrate our achievements and the individuals and organisations that made them possible. 

## **Vision** 

WIT seeks to create a world where women are happy, safe and valued, and can realise their full Potential. 

## **Mission statement** 

WIT is a women-led organisation originally founded in 2003 by a group of Somali mothers in response to the exclusion they experienced when accessing support services. WIT has grown to become a highlyregarded local charity that delivers services designed to support the unmet needs of Black, Asian and ethnic minority women and their families.  WIT collaborates with key stakeholders and partners in relation to housing, employment, health and education, working together to deliver better outcomes. As a charity, WIT focuses on supporting women who are disadvantaged and helping them develop skills, access services and become independent. WIT also works with stakeholders to improve their understanding of these challenges and thereby better equip them with the tools required to address the needs of these women and their families. WIT strongly believes in partnership collaboration and has a strong track record of working effectively with other services and organisations from the voluntary sector. 

5 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023 - 2024** 

The trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and agree that the achievements and activities provided in this Annual Report demonstrate the public benefit of WIT’s activities. 

## **Our Centres** 

Women's Inclusive Team operates from two locations: the Mayfield Well-being Hub in Bethnal Green and Chicksand Preschool in the Whitechapel area. Both centres are purpose built and serve the needs of the community. WIT provides early years education to the local community in an environment that is both stimulating and culturally appropriate at the Chicksand centre. The Mayfield Well-being Hub is the centre of all of our other operations and activities. 

Partnerships | We have been fortunate to continue our partnership with our key stakeholders and welcomed new partners to the WIT family.  Working in collaboration with stakeholders underscores the importance of our work in raising awareness of our projects and expanding our reach to gain greater exposure. 

WIT has long standing working relationships with our local authority and NHS, with larger partners like Solace Women’s Aid, with other local charities like the Limehouse Project, THCVS, and small volunteerled groups like Beyond Sight Loss, who we host for free at our centre. 

This year we have worked with some incredible partners in raising awareness in issues  related to access to healthcare,   improving digital literacy for women from minority communities, and worked with government departments to create community cohesion.  I want to personally thank everyone single one of our partners whose contributions has resulted in WIT working at the forefront of some of the most pressing issues affecting the residents in Tower Hamlets. 

(For a trustee report, we need to think about the wider issues, so what is the data around people accessing advice and welfare and housing issues, domestic abuse numbers or young black kids and schools, those data then will position this as an executive report by trustees. I can also see that we focused on numbers too much, and this necessarily is not a good thing. 

In 2023, the UK experienced a rise in living costs, with rents increasing and 4 in 10 people struggling to pay their energy bills. The cost of food and beverages surged by a record 19.2%, the highest annual rate in 45 years (Office for National Statistics). The ‘ _Food Insecurity in Tower Hamlets scrutiny review_ ’ conducted by Councillor Sabina Khan highlighted that Tower Hamlets remains one of the most deprived 

6 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

boroughs in the country. In 2019/20, the overall poverty rate in the borough was 39%, the highest in London. Tower Hamlets also has the highest level of child poverty in the UK, with over 50% of children living in households below the poverty line, compared to the London average of 33%. Over the past five years, the number of children living in low-income families in the borough has increased by more than 6,000. 

Research from the Tower Hamlets ‘ _Violence Against Women and Girls Needs Assessment further_ revealed that between November 2019 and October 2023, Tower Hamlets had the second-highest rate of domestic abuse offences per 1,000 population. Since 2003, 33 of the 108 homicides in the borough were classified as domestic homicides, of which 24 involved female victims. 

## **Morpeth Highlights April 2023-2024** 

WIT’s School Liaison Officer is based at Morpeth School and works with the team and the students there to support educational attainment and inclusion, providing support and advocacy for parents and their children.   This work grew out of a racism survey conducted with about 240 families in response to the Black Lives Matter movement where 76% of respondents had experienced racism in the past year.   The schools were keen to address this, and our parent advisor was brought in to act as mediator, to provide support and training to teachers, and to run coffee mornings and meetings, and provide translation to families. In 2023 we increased the number of schools we worked from with in the borough. 

The importance of this relationship, the bridge between parents and the school,  was highlighted in our Addressing inequalities in schools in East London report written by WIT.  The report highlighted ongoing accounts, dating back to 2021, from Somali and Bangladeshi children and parents concerning racist incidents in schools. Surveys were used as the primary tool for collecting  quantitative data on the severity of this issue, and the results were concerning.  The survey revealed that 74% of the 252 children and young people aged 5 to 16 in East London felt they were not treated fairly compared to their peers, and 41% reported experiencing racism. In light of these alarming findings, WIT collaborated with Barnardo's to host a conference where local schools were invited to explore potential solutions and recommendations. The feedback from this event was outstandingly positive with key stakeholders using our report and the findings within it to relook at how schools and parents can come together to address racism within schools. 

Continuing on from this, our School Liaison Officer organised  school fairs which took place in July 2023 and July 2024.  The fairs played a role in helping bring communities together to remove unconscious bias towards marginalised communities.  Both events centred round Somali cuisine and plans  are already underway for the 2024 summer fair where we will include an array of culinary dishes from around the world to showcase the rich and beautiful diversity of the borough. 

7 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

In March 2024, we hosted our inaugural careers coffee morning for Somali parents, focusing on post-16 opportunities for students. This informative session covered vital topics such as sixth form, college, and apprenticeships. Morpeth Schools Careers Lead shared  information and updates, proving invaluable to attending parents. The Q & A segment were  particularly beneficial, addressing a wide range of parental queries. We have scheduled another post-16 coffee morning for this term. 

Our work with Morpeth school also supported students which is an increase from the previous year.  Some of the ways we offered support included: resolving situations before they escalated; communicating the needs of the pupils and families to the school and translating for parents and teachers as needed; offering emotional support along with advice and guidance. 

## **Chicksand Preschool** 

Chicksand Pre-School is based in its own, standalone centre, offering outside and inside space for children to learn and play.  The project is very special to WIT as it was our first project we set up in 2006.  We provide Ofsted registered affordable childcare for up to 18 children aged 2 - 4 per half day session, primarily for families living in Tower Hamlets.  Provision is open to and used by a wide mix of families, from Bangladeshi and Somali background, white British and white European, Korean and a mix of other groups. Our childcare provision includes breakfast, after school clubs, and holiday clubs to support parents to find or remain in employment.  We run holiday activities aimed at children and young people aged 5 to 16, primarily girls and young women from the Somali and other minority ethnic communities.  Our aim is to provide a safe and welcoming ‘third space’ in every school holiday period where children and young people can meet and socialise, access free healthy food, and take part in a wide range of activities of their choice. 

At the heart of this project is our team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about early childhood education.  We have laid the foundation for lifelong learning, ensuring every child has a chance at a bright future.   For underprivileged families in Tower Hamlets, our Chicksand preschool nursery has been a ray  of hope.  Our dedicated team provided 156 days of childcare to families.  But it's not just about the practical benefits. Chicksand has also facilitated 38 stay and play sessions over the past year, creating a community of support where families can connect and children can learn and grow alongside one another. That's not just childcare - it's a lifeline.  Our continued commitment to invest in projects like this, where we are investing in the future of Tower Hamlets. Those children who received care from Chicksand will be the ones leading this community forward in the years to come. 

As a result of the Mayor’s funding we launched another flagship project, Maangar, which supports children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families by providing stay-andplay sessions, workshops, and advice to help them navigate and access suitable educational support. A 

8 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

significant achievement from last year was our collaboration with the Phoenix specialist school to offer Somali language workshops for parents, aimed at increasing their understanding of autism. The project engages with approximately 30-40 families and complements our efforts with schools. These workshops made a substantial difference for participants, who expressed their challenges in navigating an unfamiliar system in a different language. We have seen an increase in the number of registered children from 3 to 17, with  5 of the children were SEND between 2 and 4 years olds and since inception 44 children have registered with this project and we have a waiting list for next year which is already to full capacity. 

## **Haawa Project:** 

Haawa Domestic Abuse Project started in 2020 as a pilot project for Somali women experiencing violence and abuse, a response that emerged in the midst of the pandemic. We have established an ongoing partnership with Solace, the commissioned provider of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) services in Tower Hamlets that allows us to provide specialised support tailored to the needs of Black and minority ethnic women, ensuring they receive the comprehensive assistance they deserve.  The casework offered through Haawa is both intricate and deeply emotional, addressing a wide array of issues beyond the initial response to domestic abuse. Women frequently require assistance with housing, guidance on safety planning, participation in child protection case conferences, and access to educational resources as well as emotional support. 

The Haawa Project provides advice and support to Somali women aged 16+ in Tower Hamlets who are experiencing or have a history of domestic abuse. It is at the forefront in raising awareness of domestic abuse in the Somali community in Tower Hamlets, challenging the culturally misconceived definition of domestic abuse and its impact on the community. The aim is to empower the Somali community to recognise, prevent and empower them to seek appropriate support when experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse as well as breakdown the complex barriers that stop people seeking support services. We have a dedicated and experienced team who manage this project and this year we welcomed 4 Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) champions to the team who play a pivotal role in raising awareness and offering support to women in the community. 

Thanks to the funding provided by the Mayor's Safer Communities initiative, we have been able to offer women vital  support.  Our Haawa project is a crucial lifeline for women from black and minoritised communities, particularly  for Black Muslim Somali community.   Over the past year, our trained and experienced project leads  and staff have supported 28 clients with each client receiving tailored support designed to meet their specific risk levels, ensuring their safety and well-being. Our comprehensive support services include emotional counselling, legal advice, and practical assistance in areas such as housing, finances, and access to healthcare services. 

9 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

Through our outreach efforts, we have engaged over 200 professionals who now have a better understanding of  the cultural needs of women from the BME community and can tailor their services to support this vulnerable group more effectively. We have pivoted on how we can reach vulnerable women and this year launched an online forum and were able to connect with 50 women who shared their experiences.  Our goal is to increase the presence of champions across different localities, creating a stronger grassroots movement to combat violence against women and girls. 

Our Information, Advice and Guidance service supports clients with housing, money, and health related matters, providing advice, information and guidance as well as referrals to more specialised support. Clients can contact WIT directly for an appointment, come to a drop-in session at Mayfield House or the Tower Hamlets Financial Health Centre, or be referred for support via housing associations and advice agencies across Tower Hamlets. Generalist advice typically includes benefit checks, benefit application forms, housing queries and universal credit. This project is  staffed by team members who speak English, Somali, and Slethi. This enables us to engage with residents who might otherwise not have a voice.   This year we established a  partnership with Tower Hamlets Housing (Former Tower Hamlets Homes).  This is a significant partnership that offers WIT 27 weekly hours of dedicated support from Tower Hamlets Housing (THH) to support THE tenants,  majority coming from the Somali community, who often struggle to get their voices heard on matters relating to their home due to language barrier.  Due to this partnership we currently have 2 housing advisors representing WIT working with TH Housing both are employed in an advisory role one is based at TH office in the Town hall and the other is based at WIT Mayfield Centre. Thanks to funding  from Propel Funding and in  partnership with a local legal advice centre we have an in-house trainee Solicitor allowing us to offer more than such a drop in advice service but have someone who can represent our clients legal  needs better.  During the last 12 months our team have supported 1,632 residents which showcases the huge positive impact this partnership has had and our advisor have covered areas such as: 

- Rents enquiries 

- Repairs 

- Enquiries for their allocated Housing Officer/getting to know who their Neighbourhood Housing Officer (NHO) is 

- Fob keys/ new and replacements/ ordering and collection 

- Estate parking permits and gerda keys for gated parking spaces 

- Tenancy terminations and other tenancy enquiries 

- Signposting to other departments within Tower Hamlets Council where needed eg Council Tax, 

   - Housing Benefit, Lettings Team,  Environmental Services etc. 


10 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Testimonials** 

**Translated quote from S.** 

_**“Women Inclusive Team is a God sent organisation with highly supportive staff. May Allah (God) bless Safia and her team for dedicating themselves in assisting the vulnerable residents. I do not think I will ever get to resolve the issues I had with my home and council tax if it wasn’t for WIT. Thank you, you always work tirelessly to support us.”**_ 

## **Hooyo East** 

In 2021, WIT launched Hooyo East to tackle food inequalities and champion the cause of our charity with immense success. Operating as a "takeaway that gives back," Hooyo East serves traditional Somali cuisine for events and provides food delivery and in-house fully equipped catering services. This project plays a significant role as it underpins the financial sustainability of our community kitchen and food bank, while also offering training and employment opportunities for women in the borough. 

Since 2021, Hooyo East has had immense success preparing over 1000 free school meals and providing catering services to three local nursing care homes. During the December Film School event,Hooyo East catered to 1,015 young people in collaboration with five schools in the borough. Additionally, our Eid celebrations at Trafalgar Square in London attracted more than 2,000 visitors to our pop-up food stall. Other engagements included participating in the summer market at Chrisp Street. 

Hooyo East successfully passed its food inspection in September 2023.   The scalability and financial sustainability of Hooyo East will feature centrally as one of our key strategic priorities  of our five-year strategic plan.  We are now in the process of setting the project up as a separate entity that can grow and develop independently. 

## **Social Media** 

WIT’s social media is an integral part of operations and supports us to reach and engage with individuals we might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect with.   We use 5 social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and LinkedIn) to complement our in-person outreach to organisations, mosques, housing associations and job centres.  This year, our primary digital strategy focused on increasing our social media presence, raising awareness of WIT initiatives, promoting events and projects, and creating greater engagement and we have already seen and increase in  our followers on Instagram by 119, a 169% rise, reaching approximately 5.5k accounts, with 4k of those being nonfollowers.  Similarly we achieved around 45k impressions on our tweets and reached 1k accounts, marking a 95% improvement through our posts. 

11 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

This year Safia was invited as a guest speaker by several social media platforms, such as Goodera Podcast. These appearances are crucial for WIT as it provides WIT with a vast and diverse audience to connect with, share WIT’s narrative, expand  our reach and visibility far and wide. Building a strong online presence allows us to engage with wider community members and can lead to more significant long-term support and involvement. 

Our commitment to adding value on social media was reflected in a variety of content that aligned with our projects and addressed current issues, stigmas and misconceptions within the community. We also shared information on mental health and wellbeing, providing access to support services, domestic abuse, engaged with the youth and promoted our events and showcased the amazing work done by Hooyo East.. Major content during this period included coverage of the Somali Youth Awards, Eid in the Square, Mental Health Awareness Week & Events, and the Eid Celebration Event. According to WIT social media analytics, our most popular posts were the Instagram Live session with a Mental Health Nurse, highlights from the Somali Youth Awards, and various youth activities.  Additionally, we used our social media platforms to continue our strong online relationships with our stakeholders and our allies. 

WIT holds a varied calendar of events to provide information, share knowledge, promote partnerships and collaborations, be a voice of influence and bring the community together.  We  host panel discussions, present at meetings, and deliver and events in partnership with other organisations and institutions, as well as running meetings for our clients like information webinars, workshops and talks in Black History Month, Eid and health events, International Women’s Day & health awareness events 

## **Developing Potentials** 

WIT runs Developing Potential projects and activities to improve women’s life skills and employment chances.  We run ESOL courses to support people with English, training in ICT to help reduce the impact of the digital divide, and focussed support for jobseekers on CV building, cover letters and job applications, as well as social and fund activities like cycling training. In the past year we have successfully delivered a 12-week ESOL course, with a strong focus on practical language use and vocabulary development. 52 Students actively participated in role-playing and hands-on activities, which greatly boosted their confidence. 

It’s testimonials like this that make this project all the worth while 

“The Developing Potential programme has supported me towards finding courses to achieve my goals. I’ve also learnt that I shouldn’t limit my possibilities and that it’s never too late for higher education.” - Developing Potential Beneficiary, having now started a part-time job as a care worker. 

12 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Community Connectors** 

Is a  shared project with East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) that provides a bridge between NHS mental health services and community wellbeing provision.   Staff are part of a multidisciplinary team and work on a referral basis, taking on clients from Bethnal Green mental health team with the lowest level of clinical need and linking them to support with things like social connection, access to benefits, foodbank services. The project works with a wider range of clients than our other work, including a significant number of men, from a range of backgrounds, and across a wide age range.  Connectors work with adult social care and other providers like Mind, and help clients with intersecting issues, including  disability, poor overall health, and people estranged from family with no other support. 

## **Community Food Bank** 

Our Community Food Bank and community meal delivery service supported hundreds of people who were self-isolating during covid, and we now combine the offer of food with provision of mental health and wellbeing support via our Community Connectors mental health project, domestic abuse  and holiday food schemes, providing free, nutritious food to children and young people during the school holidays.  In 2023/24 we provided  350+ hot meals and 850 food bank parcels to vulnerable and isolated local residents. The bulk of our food are donated via Felix project, City Harvest, Asda, Tesco, Neigbourly and Banquet. We are grateful for the kind n donations of these companies as   without their  support we would not be able to offer this service.  We provided 80 food ban meals to clients through our partnership with ELFT. 

- Emergency  referral by stakeholder 

- reviewed fortnightly 

- Donations by Flix project, City Harvest, Banquet 

- key Food-bank items prepacked 

- Walking, referred made  internally 

- from Dec we had 25- then currently went down to 9 now we are in process of stopping community kitchen meals 

- delivered twice a week, by volunteers 

- Two are paid by Adult Social care- we will be transferring them to another provider. 

- Currently reviewing others and funding 

- meals are based on the health donations from City Harvest and others. 

- 80 food bank clients in this period from ELFT 


13 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Hiddo Girls** 

Hiddo Girls Youth Club runs weekly from 5-7pm.  We deliver a flexible timetable in consultation with the young people, covering a wide range of activities including things like cooking, anti-hate crime work, eco activity, sports, arts, and trips.  Last year we worked with 100+ young people via our educational support work in schools or at our youth club, and every year we have more people wanting to join 

- We had the end of project celebration right before Ramadan on the 17.03.23. Three youth clubs came together to celebrate Somali Excellence, the event was a great hit and a great way to end the project. 

- **April** : The youth project has come to an end. The remaining swimming sessions were cancelled due to lack of female lifeguard and/or instructor availability. The Gaming session was postponed until further notice. 

- **May:** We were supposed to take a few girls on a football taster session in collaboration with West Ham United. This has been postponed as some of the girls did not show up/showed up late. 

- **June:** The Police gaming event has been set for 25th of June; we have been invited to take 20 young people to Westfield Stratford for some arcade games, which we are looking forward to. 

- The Police gaming event went ahead 25th of June; invited to take 20 young people to Westfield Stratford for some arcade games. 

- Further funding - council understands that there is a lack of representation for Somali community. 

- We passed a spot check from council, they spoke to girls, interviewed Safia and Ilham about policies like signing in, health and safety, strategy etc. 

## **Flourishing Communities** 

Flourishing Communities is a partnership project with Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service (THCVS), the Limehouse Project and Praxis that works to identify and address inequalities faced by ethnic minority and migrant women in the health system.  One key achievement in the first year was when a group of Somali women visited a local GP practice to discuss issues and concerns around booking  and attending appointments.  The practice listened and responded and has since employed a number of Somali reception staff, some from among WIT’s client base, increasing their ability to engage with and welcome members of the Somali community. 

Flourishing Communities has four key themes 

- Improving Health Literacy Programme 

- _Working with steering group to raise concerns raised by our members_ 

- _Advisory Board_ 

- _Working with GP Care Group and Locality Meetings_ 

14 



COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Volunteers** 

We saw an increase in the number of people registering as volunteers at WIT.  On average, volunteers donated around  three hours a week – with some giving as many as 25 hours a week to support us in our community kitchen.  Since April 2023, WIT volunteers have given more than 350 hours of service.  This was a highlight for WIT’s valuable work in serving the community. We continue to advocate the crucial role volunteers play in at WIT. 

## **Quality Standards:** 

At Women's Inclusive Team, we are committed to maintaining high-quality standards across all of our services. Our approach is rooted in delivering effective, reliable, and accessible support to the communities we serve. In line with this commitment, we fully adhere to the regulatory requirements set by the Charity Commission, ensuring that we operate with transparency, accountability, and integrity. To further demonstrate our dedication to excellence, we are in the process of applying for the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) for our Advice and Guidance services. The AQS is a nationally recognised benchmark, ensuring we meet rigorous criteria in service delivery, client care, and organisational management. By working towards AQS accreditation and complying with the Charity Commission’s regulations, we are reinforcing both our professional standards and the trust placed in us by the communities and stakeholders we support. 

## **Strategies for achieving our objectives** 

This year WIT began a review process as part of the development of our new strategic plan.  We held a board away day in early December 2023 where trustees  discussed and analysed some of our governance and internal systems and agreed a new board development and trustee recruitment programme.  In early 2024 we conducted research and undertook some financial analysis and held follow up meetings with our trustees  and senior team and began a series of interviews with staff members and external stakeholders to identify issues, developments and ideas to feed into our new strategy and business plan.   Once our new strategic plan is finalised we will work with WIT’s members, staff, volunteers and stakeholders to develop action and evaluation plans for each of our core activity areas and projects, ensuring the views, needs, interests and ideas of our community always remain at the heart of our work. 

15 



COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Leadership** 

To promote and ensure the visibility of our Black, Asian, and ethnic minority women and their families, our CEO, Safia Jama MBE, continues to take the lead in her role, leveraging WIT's strong community connections. Safia's notable achievement of being awarded an MBE by the Queen reflects her dedication and standing as a community leader. Moreover, Safia holds positions on several boards, including the Police Advisory Group, the Tower Hamlets Racial Equalities Commission and the Barts Healthcare Advisory Panel. In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement, WIT has emerged as a prominent voice influencing regional strategic policy makers. WIT has a strong and capable senior management team made up of three experienced staff members who, on a weekly basis, oversee and analyse every aspect of WIT’s projects and services strategically. As a Black-led charity we have demonstrated that  trustee, management and frontline staff must reflect the community it serves. 

## **FUTURE PLANS AND STRATEGIES 2024 - 2025** 

Looking ahead to 2024-2025, we have bold and ambitious plans for achieving long-term sustainability through core funding, enhancing income generation capabilities and expanding our reach.   Our strategic roadmap will focus on  consolidating our work, strengthening our impact, and ensuring the sustainability of our services in the face of ongoing societal challenges. As we enter this new phase, we remain dedicated to empowering women through culturally relevant, responsive support, aligned closely with our mission and vision for East London’s communities. This three-year strategy marks a critical chapter in WIT’s journey, grounded in insights gathered through extensive community engagement. Developed in collaboration with our board, staff, volunteers, and local stakeholders, this strategy reflects a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences. It was born from a comprehensive review process that began in 2023 with a board away day, followed by a series of interviews, events, and discussions throughout the spring and summer of 2024. The insights from this process affirmed the resilience of our community and highlighted emerging needs amid the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

Women’s Inclusive Team Ltd (‘WIT’) is constituted as a Company Limited by Guarantee and is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 28 March 2018. WIT was registered as a charity with the Charity Commissioner on 8 May 2018. 

16 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Organisation** 

Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT)  is governed by a board of trustees which determines the strategic direction of the charity. Governance issues are dealt with by the board of trustees, and they meet regularly throughout the year (a minimum of four times). 

## **SMT and Staff structure** 

The Senior Management Team of the organisation consists of the three roles. The first of these is the CEO, the CEO reports to and regularly meets the Chair. The second of these roles is the Director of Services who reports directly to the CEO. The last of these three roles is the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator who reports to the Director of Services & CEO. SMT have weekly scheduled meetings as well as ad hoc meetings when needed. 

Additionally, there are project leads for most departments and key projects. For example, Youth Lead Advice Lead, Health Lead and Women’s Development Lead as well as Manager for the Preschool. Each of the leads report directly to at least one of the SMT members depending on area of work. 

Other members of staff and experts also attend each meeting of the board of trustees and share additional information and knowledge, as appropriate, especially at AGM. 

## **Appointment, induction & training of new trustees** 

The Chair and board of trustees take into consideration the experience of the current trustees and any skill gaps when considering the recruitment and appointment of new trustees. An annual skills audit is also conducted with respect to the trustees in order to better understand the skills and experience contributed by each member of the board.  Trustee vacancies are advertised externally and using available networks, with a particular focus on filling skill gaps, as appropriate. Shortlisted potential trustees are invited to discussions with the CEO and Chair and are invited to visit WIT at the Mayfield Hub in order to better understand our work. Shortlisted potential trustees are also invited to observe a meeting of the board of trustees, before confirmation of the appointment by all parties involved. 

During induction, new trustees are provided with information about WIT and its services, copies of all policy documents and the role and the duties of the board, including the decision-making 

17 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

processes responsibilities, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Other key documents shared with new trustees to show the performance of the charity and its future direction may include, as appropriate, recent annual reports, the impact report, delivery plans and key financial documents. New trustees are encouraged to visit WIT at Mayfield Hub and meet key employees and are also invited to attend activities and events demonstrating the work of WIT throughout the year and to further engage with the governance team regarding WIT’s mission and work. 

## **Board and sub-groups** 

WIT’s unprecedented scale and growth during the pandemic made it necessary to increase the size of the board of trustees and establish a specialised ‘Finance Subcommittee’. All matters during this time continued to receive the oversight of the full board of trustees during its regular meetings; however, the Finance Subcommittee provided additional dedicated and expertise oversight via more frequent meetings. This new board size and structure has better enabled WIT to provide an informed and agile response during the pandemic, and continues to provide essential strategic oversight and input. 

During this financial year the Finance Subcommittee continued to meet on a monthly basis, and undertook a financial procedures and processes review with consultancy support from Eastside Primetimers as a part of a grant from Lloyds Bank Foundation. This followed the rapid growth of WIT’s services and income to meet the needs of the community during the pandemic, and which has now stabilised at a level that is both sustainable and continuing to support the needs of the community. The review was essential to ensuring that our financial procedures were reflective of our processes, and as a larger charity with clear priorities going forward. The recommendations from this review are now being implemented. 

## **Risk management** 

The board of trustees recognises the risks associated with the organisation and where possible has implemented actions to avoid or minimise that risk as far as possible, including: 

- An annual review of the risks 

- Implementation of actions to mitigate identified risks, so as to minimise the potential impact on the charity if they were to occur, including systems and procedures 

- Attention to key risk areas, such as buildings and premises, HR and IT, and obtaining specialist advice as necessary 

- Building and ensuring we have sufficient reserves for the charity 

- Annual policy review, with attention given to the safeguarding and risk of children and vulnerable adults and overall welfare of staff and volunteers 

- Create a risk register which is held by trustees 

18 



**WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

The Statement of Financial Activities shows incoming resources for the year ending 31 March 2024  of £456,848 (2023: £572,847) and total outgoing of £522,997 (2023: £556,755). A reserve of £252,362 (2023: £318,511) is carried forward, of which £232,516 (2023: £235,056) is unrestricted and £19,846 (2023: £83,455) is restricted. 

## **Reserves** 

WIT requires reserves in order to allow for re-organisation in the event of a downturn of income in one or more areas of funding and to provide for unforeseen, and hence unbudgeted, expenditure that WIT may need in order to continue to meet its objectives and support the changing needs of our community. 

Unrestricted funds of £232,516 are sufficient to support the running of WIT for approximately five months under the (unlikely) assumption of unchanged spending (including staffing) in a downturn. We estimate the necessary level of reserves at around £200,000 to sustain the charity for six months under the more realistic but still conservative assumption that a significant downturn would be accompanied by a material downsizing of some of WIT’s projects, and hence costs. More specifically, that level of reserves would allow WIT to continue to pay in full its support costs (both staff and overheads, including Mayfield House rent) as well as some selected project costs (e.g. Chicksand rent) for five months, along with about 30% of the project staffing costs to cover for notice periods (from a few weeks to three months) and potential redundancy compensations. 

## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the report and the 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 which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.  In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

19 



## **WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD** 

## COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE 

## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on WIT’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the reparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. 

Approved by the board of trustees on 11th December 2024 following a trustee meeting and signed on its behalf by: 


**Saida Omer Isman Chair WIT board of trustees** 

20 



INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF WOMEN'S INCLUSIVE TEAM LTD (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Women’s Inclusive Team Ltd for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

## **RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT** 

As the trustees of the Company (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 Company 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** 

Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: 

- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by 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 of 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 methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (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. 

…………………………… **Date:       11/12/2024** 

Aamer Shehzad FCA Accountability Europe Ltd Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP 



## **Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** (including Income and Expenditure account) 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**Funds**<br>**Notes**<br>**£**<br>**Unrestricted**|**Funds**<br>**Notes**<br>**£**<br>**Unrestricted**|**Funds**<br>**£**<br>**Restricted**|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**|_Total_<br>_2023_<br>_£_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income from:**|||||
|Charitable activities<br>**3**<br>**Total income**|137,871<br>**137,871**|318,977<br>**318,977**|**456,848**<br>**456,848**|_572,847_|
|||||572,847|
||||||
|**Expenditure on:**|||||
|Charitable activities<br>**4**|140,411|382,586|**522,997**|_556,755_|
|**Total expenditure**|**140,411**|**382,586**|**522,997**|556,755|
|**Net income for the year**<br>**5**<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward at start of period<br>**Total funds carried forward at end of period**|(2,540)<br>235,056<br>**232,516**|(63,609)<br>83,455<br>**19,846**|(66,149)<br>**318,511**<br>**252,362**|16,092<br>_302,419_|
|||||**318,511**|



The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. 

The attached notes form part of these financial statements. 

22 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

**Company no. 07148997** 

## **Balance sheet** 

## **As at 31 March 2024** 

|**Notes**<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>**7**<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>**8**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Liabilities**<br>**9**<br>**Net current assets**<br>**Net assets**<br>**Funds:**<br>Unrestricted funds<br>**11**<br>Restricted funds<br>**11**<br>**Total charity funds**<br>**Creditors:**<br>amounts falling due within one year|**£**<br>**98,154**<br>**200,119**<br>**298,273**<br>**(46,205)**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>**294**<br>**252,068**<br>**252,362**<br>**232,516**<br>**19,846**<br>**252,362**|_2023_<br>_£_<br>_587_<br>_68,585_<br>_280,826_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||_349,411_<br>_(31,487)_|
||||_317,924_|
||||_318,511_|
||||_235,056_<br>_83,455_|
||||_318,511_|



The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. 

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

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. 

11 December 2024 Approved by the trustees on **______________________** and signed on their behalf by: 


**Sieda Omer Isman (Chair)** 

The attached notes form part of the financial statements. 

23 



## **Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Statement of cash flows** 

|**For theyear ended 31 March 2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Note**<br>**Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities**<br>**(a)**<br>**Cash flows from investing activities:**<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>**Cash used in investing activities**<br>**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year<br>**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**<br>**(b)**<br>**a)**<br>**Net income for the reporting period**<br>(as per the statement of financial activities)<br>Depreciation<br>Decrease / (Increase) in debtors<br>(Decrease)/ Increase in creditors<br>**Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities**<br>**b) Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Total cash and cash equivalents**<br>**Reconciliation of net expenditure**<br>**to net cash flow from operating activities**|**£**<br>**-**<br>**£**<br>280,826<br>280,826<br>**At**<br>**1 April**<br>**2023**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>**(80,706)**<br>**-**<br>**(80,706)**<br>**280,826**<br>**200,119**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**(66,149)**<br>**294**<br>**(29,569)**<br>**14,718**<br>**(80,706)**<br>**Cash**<br>**flows**<br>**£**<br>**(80,706)**<br>**(80,706)**|2023<br>£<br>60,986<br>-<br>-<br>60,986<br>219,840<br>280,826<br>2023<br>£<br>16,092<br>294<br>47,025<br>(2,424)<br>**60,986**<br>**£**<br>**200,119**<br>**200,119**<br>**At 31**<br>**March**<br>**2024**|



24 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

**Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **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) - (Charities SORP FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. 

The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note. 

## **Going concern** 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 

## **Income** 

Donations income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. 

Income from grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Income received in advance for the provision of specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. 

Investment income is recognised when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest or dividends paid or payable by the investment fund manager. 

## **Expenditure** 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services, exhibitions and other activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs. 

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. These costs have been allocated between expenditure on charitable activities on the basis of the staff time spent on the activity. 

## **Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds are available to spend at the discretion of the trustees on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Restricted Funds are restricted income funds given to the charity for specific purposes. They are expendable by the trustees in furtherance of particular projects within the charity objects. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: 

Computer equipment 

25% straight line basis on cost 

25 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **1 Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **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 at bank and in hand** 

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

## **Creditors and provisions** 

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. 

## **Pensions** 

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the company to the fund in the year. 

## **2 Detailed comparatives for the statement of financial activities** 

|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>Income from:<br>£<br>Charitable activities:<br>167,758<br>Total income<br>167,758<br>Expenditure on:<br>Charitable activities:<br>149,097<br>Total expenditure<br>149,097<br>Net income for the year<br>18,661<br>Reconciliation of funds<br>Total funds brought forward at start of the period<br>216,395<br>Total funds carried forward at end of the period<br>235,056|Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>405,089<br>405,089<br>407,658<br>407,658<br>(2,569)<br>86,024<br>83,455|**Total**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>572,847|
|---|---|---|
|||572,847|
|||556,755|
|||556,755|
|||16,092<br>302,419|
|||318,511|



26 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **3 Income from charitable activities** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>Clarion<br>5,000<br>East End Community Foundation<br>-<br>London Borough of Tower Hamlets<br>16,877<br>Compass Wellbeing CIC<br>11,871<br>Canary Wharf Group<br>3,000<br>City University of LONDON<br>2,345<br>East London NHS Foundation<br>3,625<br>East End Citizens Advice Bureaux<br>-<br>Poplar Harca<br>20,000<br>Limehouse Project<br>7,786<br>THCVS<br>-<br>UBELE<br>-<br>Barts Health NHS Trust<br>3,220<br>Solace<br>2,130<br>IICF<br>-<br>Canal Rivers<br>-<br>Tower Hamlets General Practice<br>9,420<br>Morpeth<br>-<br>Tower Hamlets Homes<br>-<br>Legal Advice Centre University House<br>-<br>DWP - Kickstart<br>-<br>Parent Contribution<br>-<br>Lloyds Bank Foundation<br>-<br>The British Land Company PLC<br>-<br>Restricted-Others<br>-<br>Consultancy and Others<br>25,661<br>Donation and Legacy<br>26,938<br>137,871|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>106,191<br>59,143<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>10,295<br>-<br>3,244<br>43,985<br>5,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>16,500<br>44,775<br>22,195<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>7,650<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>318,977|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**5,000**<br>**-**<br>**123,067**<br>**71,014**<br>**3,000**<br>**2,345**<br>**3,625**<br>**10,295**<br>**20,000**<br>**11,030**<br>**43,985**<br>**5,000**<br>**3,220**<br>**2,130**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**9,420**<br>**16,500**<br>**44,775**<br>**22,195**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**7,650**<br>**-**<br>**25,661**<br>**26,938**<br>**456,848**|_Total_<br>_2023_<br>_£_<br>_5,000_<br>_5,000_<br>_131,780_<br>_113,031_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_15,000_<br>_9,502_<br>_67,243_<br>_6,796_<br>_10,782_<br>_27,472_<br>_10,000_<br>_17,500_<br>_1,728_<br>_15,750_<br>_21,452_<br>_-_<br>_12,457_<br>_981_<br>_27,250_<br>_15,000_<br>_750_<br>_45,733_<br>_12,642_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**572,847**|



27 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

**4 Analysis of expenditure Current year** 

|**4**<br>**Analysis of expenditure**<br>**Current year**|**4**<br>**Analysis of expenditure**<br>**Current year**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**<br>**£**<br>Direct cost<br>-<br>Salaries<br>87,644<br>Other staff Costs<br>Office cost<br>Premises costs<br>Professional fees<br>IT costs<br>87,644||**Restricted**<br>**£**<br>70,003<br>269,271<br>2,512<br>341,786|**Support**<br>**costs**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>44,809<br>14,533<br>31,493<br>2,732<br>93,567|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**70,003**<br>**356,915**<br>**2,512**<br>**44,809**<br>**14,533**<br>**31,493**<br>**2,732**<br>**522,997**|_Total_<br>_2023_<br>£<br>_87,112_<br>_363,694_<br>_702_<br>_28,024_<br>_20,112_<br>_50,290_<br>_6,821_|
||||||556,755|
|Support costs allocation|52,767|40,800|(93,567)|**-**|_-_|
||**140,411**|**382,586**|**-**|**522,997**|_556,755_|
|||||||
|Analysis of expenditure||||||
|Prior year<br>Unrestricted<br>£<br>Direct cost<br>-<br>Salaries<br>86,431<br>Other staff Costs<br>Office cost<br>Premises costs<br>Professional fee<br>IT costs<br>86,431<br>Support costs allocation<br>62,666<br>149,097||Restricted<br>£<br>87,112<br>277,263<br>702<br>365,077<br>42,581<br>407,658|Support<br>costs<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>28,024<br>20,112<br>50,290<br>6,821<br>105,247<br>(105,247)<br>-|Total<br>2023<br>£<br>87,112<br>363,694<br>702<br>28,024<br>20,112<br>50,290<br>6,821<br>556,755<br>-<br>556,755||



28 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**5**<br>**Net income for the year**<br>Net income is stated after charging:<br>Independent examiner's fee (excluding VAT)<br>Depreciation<br>**6**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs<br>**Analysis of staff costs, trustees remuneration and expenses and**<br>**cost of key management personnel**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>**900**<br>**294**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**331,724**<br>**20,973**<br>**4,218**<br>**356,915**|_2023_<br>_£_<br>_900_<br>_294_|
|---|---|---|
|||_2023_<br>_£_<br>_338,503_<br>_20,973_<br>_4,218_|
|||_363,694_|



No member of staff received emoluments of more than £60,000 in this year (2023: None) 

The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £Nil (2023: £Nil). During the year there were no redundancy payments. 

The average monthly numbers of employees during the year was 27 (2023: 27) 

The trustees of the charitable company were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023: £nil) neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2023: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil). 

|**7**<br>**Tangible Fixed Assets**<br>**Cost**<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Additions in the period<br>At 31 March 2024<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Charge for the period<br>At 31 March 2024<br>**Net book value**<br>**At 31 March 2024**<br>_At 31 March 2023_|Computer<br>Equipment<br>£<br>1,175<br>-<br>1,175<br>588<br>294<br>882<br>294<br>_587_|**Total**<br>**£**<br>**1,175**<br>**-**|
|---|---|---|
|||**1,175**|
|||**588**<br>**294**|
|||**882**|
|||**294**|
|||_587_|



29 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**8**<br>**Debtors**|**8**<br>**Debtors**|**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|---|
|Trade Debtors||**£**<br>**98,154**<br>**98,154**|_£_<br>_68,585_|
||||_68,585_|
|||||
|**9**<br>**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**||**2024**|_2023_|
|Taxation, social security and Pension<br>Other creditors<br>Accruals||**£**<br>**3,538**<br>**30,687**<br>**11,980**<br>**46,205**|_£_<br>_8,502_<br>_11,005_<br>_11,980_|
||||_31,487_|
|||||
|**10**<br>**Analysis of Net Assets between Funds (current year)**||||
|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>294<br>Current assets<br>278,428<br>Current liabilities<br>(46,205)<br>**232,516**||**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**£**<br>-<br>19,846<br>-<br>**19,846**|**Total**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**294**<br>**298,274**<br>**(46,205)**|
||||**252,362**|
|||||
|Analysis of Net Assets between Funds (prior year)||||
|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>587<br>Current assets<br>265,956<br>Current liabilities<br>(31,487)<br>235,056||Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>83,455<br>-<br>83,455|Total<br>2023<br>£<br>587<br>349,411<br>(31,487)|
||||318,511|
|||||



30 



**Womens Inclusive Team** 

## **Notes to The Financial Statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **11 Movements in Funds** 

||<br>**Restricted Funds**<br>Restricted Funds<br>**Unrestricted Funds**<br>General funds<br>**Total Funds**||**At 1 April**<br>**Incoming**<br>**2023**<br>**Resources**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>83,455<br>318,977<br>**83,455**<br>**318,977**<br>**235,056**<br>**137,871**<br>**318,511**<br>**456,848**|**At 1 April**<br>**Incoming**<br>**2023**<br>**Resources**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>83,455<br>318,977<br>**83,455**<br>**318,977**<br>**235,056**<br>**137,871**<br>**318,511**<br>**456,848**|**Outgoing**<br>**Resources**<br>**£**<br>(382,586)<br>**(382,586)**<br>**(140,411)**<br>**(522,997)**|**At 31 March**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>19,846|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||**19,846**|
|||||||**232,516**|
|||||||**252,362**|
||||||||
||Movements in Funds (prior year)||||||
||<br>**Restricted Funds**<br>Restricted Funds<br>**Unrestricted Funds**<br>General funds<br>Total Funds||At 1 April<br>2022<br>86,024<br>86,024<br>216,395<br>302,419|Incoming<br>Resources<br>405,089<br>405,089<br>167,759<br>572,848|Outgoing<br>Resources<br>(407,658)<br>(407,658)<br>(149,097)<br>(556,755)|At 31 March<br>2023<br>83,455<br>-|
|||||||83,455|
|||||||235,056|
|||||||318,511|
||||||||
||**Restricted funds are for the following purposes:**||||||



The income of the charity includes grants received for specific restricted projects. The trustees' report includes a brief description of the activities of each project. 

## **12 Company Status** 

The company is limited by guarantee of £1 per member without share capital. 

## **13 Related party transactions** 

There are no related party transactions to disclose for the year (2023: none). There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties. There is no balance due to/from related parties at the end of the year. 

31