REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1179306
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
FOR
THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
Sampson Fielding Ltd Chartered Accountants
34 – 35 Clarges Street London United Kingdom W1J 7EJ
THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 5 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The financial statements comprise of a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The charity complies with the requirements under section 133 of the Charities act 2011 to prepare receipts and payments accounts.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objective of the foundation is to advance such charitable purposes for the public benefit as the charity's trustees from time to time in their absolute discretion think fit in accordance with the governing document.
The foundation carries out its purposes mainly, but not exclusively, by making grants to other charitable organisations. The immediate focus of the foundation is to provide funds for charitable organisations set up for the benefit of the empowerment, education and protection of women and girls both in the UK and around the world.
Constitution
During the year Charity's constitution was amended to increase the scope of those who might be considered to benefit from grants made by the Charity.
Significant activities
During the year, the trustees approved the payment of funds in the sum of £94,000 to four projects which, in their judgement, satisfy the foundation's aims and objectives and consequently meet the public benefit requirement for a charity.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the foundation's aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policy for the year.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
During 2024, the Foundation began to make changes to its organisation, administration and strategy, recognising that when it was established it was supported with the generosity of a founder donor and the Foundation needs to develop and encourage a wider base of donors in the future to support and develop the aims and objectives of the charity. During this transitional period the trustees devoted significant time during the year to strengthening the Foundation’s operations and public engagement. This included:
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Developing a new website and communications strategy, establishing donation mechanisms and online visibility to prepare for broader public fundraising.
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Creating a fundraising policy and framework to govern future partnerships and donor engagement.
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Establishing clear criteria for partner selection, focusing on small, grass-roots organisations with turnovers around or under £1 million pa.
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Beginning to plan fundraising, outreach and profile-raising initiatives with a range of future events planned for 2025.
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Engaging the services of a charity development assistant to support the work of the trustees to provide administrative, communications and governance support for the charity’s next phase of development
The charity development assistant had previously been involved in the Foundation’s work as a trustee and the continuing trustees believe that the appointment of someone who understands the objectives of the Foundation and has the abilities implement the changes that the trustees consider necessary is in the best interests of the Foundation and the achievement of its charitable objectives. Altogether, these changes reflect the trustees’ commitment to broadening Olwyn’s reach, enabling a wider network of donors and supporters to contribute to its work while confidently expecting the continued support of the founder donor.
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During 2024 the Charity’s work involved grants to:
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Refugee action – supporting a UK project for vulnerable refugee women and children;
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Centre for Women's Justice - providing support for salaries for the "Women who kill" project;
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Fumble - addressing violence against women and girls;
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GMC Charity - to end FMG;
Throughout 2024 there was ongoing dialogue between the Foundation and its partner organisations to ensure effective monitoring of how, where and when funds are spent. This continuous engagement in person and via email is monitored within the news section of the Olwyn website. The trustees or their representatives regularly attend partner events, ensuring that grants are applied responsibly and in line with the Foundation’s charitable aims and public benefit requirements.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
During the year the foundation received donations in the sum of £200,002 (2023 - £200,000) and paid grants totalling £94,000 (2023 - £165,000). The receipts and payments account reports a net surplus of £79,503 (2023 - £32,690) for the year. Additionally, there was a brought forward reserve of £41,177 (2023 - £8,487) at the beginning of the year resulting in a net cash reserve at the year-end date of £120,680 (2023 - £41,177). This is represented by cash funds of £120,680 (2023 - £41,177).
Reserves policy
The trustees’ policy is to maintain reserves at such a level as to have sufficient funds to enable it to pay estimated known overheads and have a buffer in the event of unanticipated costs.
Funds held at 31 December 2024 and carried forward into the next year stand at £120,680 (2023 - £41,177) which is considered to be sufficient.
FUTURE PLANS
The trustees have been grateful for to the charity’s donors who, in the early stages of the charity’s development, have generously supported it’s aims and objectives. Nevertheless, recognising that this level of support is not anticipated to continue at the same level, the trustees are actively planning to seek funds from other sources. The trustees recognise that this will involve greater administrative support and in the short term this may result in a reduction in incoming resources and an increase in expenditure. Over the medium term, the trustees are confident that this will place the charity on stronger long-term footing and will enable the charity to continue to achieve its objectives.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document "The Constitution of The Olwyn Foundation", dated 25 January 2018. It is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New trustees are selected with regard to their skills, knowledge and experience. Each must be appointed by resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the trustees.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number: 1179306
Principal address
7a Ladbroke Mews London W11 4JT
Trustees
S O Rowe-Beddoe P J Green S V Merry AR Deeson resigned during the year.
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THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS (continued)
Independent Examiner
Sampson Fielding Ltd Chartered Accountants 34 – 35 Clarges Street London W1J 7EJ
Solicitors
Wedlake Bell 71 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4AY
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23[rd] October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
S O Rowe-Beddoe - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Olwyn Foundation
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Olwyn Foundation (the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Simon Kinna, FCCA. For and on behalf of Sampson Fielding Ltd Chartered Accountants 34 – 35 Clarges Street London W1J 7EJ
24[th] October 2025
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THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 Unrestricted fund Notes £ RECEIPTS Donations and legacies 200,002 PAYMENTS Charitable activities Grants to charitable organisations 94,000 Support Costs Management 26,499 Total payments 120,499 NET RECEIPTS 79,503 |
2023 Total funds £ 200,000 165,000 2,310 167,310 32,690 |
|---|---|
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THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 Unrestricted fund Notes £ CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank 120,680 NET CURRENT ASSETS 120,680 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 120,680 NET ASSETS 120,680 FUNDS 4 Unrestricted funds 120,680 TOTAL FUNDS 120,680 |
2023 Total funds £ 41,177 |
|---|---|
| 41,177 | |
| 41,177 | |
| 41,177 | |
| 41,177 | |
| 41,177 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 23[rd] October 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
S O Rowe-Beddoe - Trustee
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THE OLWYN FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
1. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Donations received in the year amounting to £200,000 represents an amount received from Samantha RoweBeddoe, a trustee of the Charity. No conditions were attached to the donations.
No individual acting as a trustee received remuneration or expenses from the Charity.
During the year a former trustee was appointed to manage and provide administrative support to the charity and received fees and related expenses totalling £17,625.
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