Since we were founded in 2015 after the tragic and avoidable murders of Valerie Forde and her 23- month-old daughter, RJ. We are still the only African and Caribbean heritage domestic violence of its kind in the UK. Our continued aims are to educate, enlighten, review prevention methods, implement policy reform and bring awareness to individuals, communities and organisations that will easily identify domestic violence in its many forms.
Since our establishment, 7 years ago, we have extended our reach to Pan London. This was achieved by working with Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and being their lead organisation in relation to Victim Support. Our contract has been extended twice and will continue through 2022/3. We have also joined forces with Independent and Witness Services (IVWS). Our recent collaboration with Black Lives Matter UK has aided in the outreach across London. Alongside this, we continue our work with organisations such as, Victim Support, NHS Safe Lives and other organisations that provide Domestic Violence services. We have recently renewed our contract to have our Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) based at Homerton University Hospital (HUH).
Statement from Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
As we approach the end of the pandemic we can see how government regulations, such as work from home and social distancing, has affected our focus in departments. As reflected in our profit and loss statement, our Grants have increased from the previous year whereas there has been a decrease in donations. We have seen the effect of the pandemic as it relates to restrictions and how we access funding.
We continue our duties in our outreach and services.
Our core staff members continue to donate their time in visits, food donations, organising workshops and events to victims of abuse. This dedication to service is now an integral part of the day to day operation of Sistah Space.
Our charity shop which opened in October 2021 is serving its purpose to facilitate a safe environment where DV advisors are readily available should they be required. The shop also serves as a guise for women to report abuse without raising suspicion from perhaps an abusive person. It also takes into account that victims/survivors of abuse don’t always want to be offered ‘pre-loved’ items. Receiving a brand-new gift can sometimes be quite therapeutic and allows women also be able to shop for loved ones.
The shop is supported by donations of new items from individuals and companies, this means we are able to gift any essential items free of charge to women and children newly fleeing abuse.
We continue our training programme to include Valerie’s Law and Black and Blue which focuses primarily on issues faced by black women affected by domestic and sexual abuse.
Special Thanks
We would like to take this opportunity in recognising the dedication and efforts of staff, volunteers and organisations who have and continue to work alongside us in changing the policies, hearts and minds in a favourable direction towards victims of abuse. Special thanks to staff and volunteers for putting in the greatest effort in keeping a needed yet undervalued service in operation. Many individuals and organisations have also played a pivotal role in our service. Our gratitude also extends to those who were not named but their involvement did not go unnoticed.
Trustees’ Report
Sistah Space Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2022 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS102)
Public Benefit Statement
The charities services operate for public benefit. The trustees confirm that they complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, “Charities and Public Benefit”.
Equality and Diversity Statement
The charity values diversity and works to improve services to grassroots African heritage communities. In line with this we have developed programmes, policies and procedures to ensure that services meet our equality and diversity principles. Sistah Space will make reasonable adjustments to service provision in order to accommodate any client who would otherwise have difficulty accessing the services.
Strategic Report
Following last year’s strategic report, Sistah Space is still on target, regardless of a pandemic, in its goals. Previously mentioned, Sistah Space planned more structured facilities (venue, processes and policies) to effectively exercise developing, monitoring and evaluating our agendas. Sistah Space has achieved this and is continuing to do so through recruitment of specialist advisors and trainers. The continuous effort is to broaden our range to enlighten the public on easily recognising victims, highlighting preventative methods, to readily be able to support those already made victims and aftercare facilities.
A short term yet effective initiative in achieving this is to establish a retail store. This will aid in the outreach, fundraising and create another point of contact for clientele. Sistah Space is aware of the work ethic needed to fulfill our agenda.
More staff, volunteers and in particular Domestic Violence specialists are essential to achieve our goal as we aim to become an organization with a national rather than a regional reach.
Financial Review
In our plan to formulate a payroll for our volunteers and IDVAs, we started contributing to their efforts. In our efforts to provide a more succinct statement, we have absorbed last year’s project funding with Grants
Funds acquired year ending 2022 has increased since the previous year. The charity has been able to increase its funding due to the exponential demand of its services and the Black Lives Matter movement bringing awareness.
The diligent work of its key members, trustees and volunteers has raised the profile of the charity. Sistah Space has attracted the attention of numerous entertainments, political and athletic figure heads. The attention has significantly contributed to donations and funds raised during the pandemic.
Miss Sonia Waterman
07.02.2023
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Profit and Loss
Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Income
Grants £0.00 £463,679.00 £241,862.00 £103,519.00 £95,298.00 £19,000.00 £4,000.00
Contracts/Commission £0.00 £114,353.00 £0.00 £52,346.00 £31,172.00 £22,835.00 £8,000.00
Donations/Fundraising £491,176.00 £0.00 £173,904.00 £200,943.00 £104,729.00 £8,892.00 £2,708.00
Sales £26,389.00 £0.00 £26,389.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Transfer from Unrestricted Fund £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Total £517,565.00 £578,032.00 £442,155.00 £356,808.00 £231,199.00 £50,727.00 £14,708.00
Expense
Volunteers £31,688.67 £0.00 £31,688.67 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Project Costs £0.00 £240,314.00 £66,903.00 £89,469.00 £50,820.00 £21,650.00 £11,472.00
Operational Costs £95,746.56 £0.00 £33,854.56 £19,500.00 £18,802.00 £17,464.00 £6,126.00
Administration £90,320.00 £0.00 £31,116.00 £54,330.00 £1,131.00 £2,487.00 £1,256.00
Transfer to Restricted Fund £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Depreciation £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Total £217,755.23 £240,314.00 £163,562.23 £163,299.00 £70,753.00 £41,601.00 £18,854.00
Net Income £299,809.77 £337,718.00 £278,592.77 £193,509.00 £160,446.00 £9,126.00 -£4,146.00
Balance B/F £363,506.00 £169,997.00 £9,551.00 £425.00 £4,571.00
Balance C/F £642,098.77 £363,506.00 £169,997.00 £9,551.00 £425.00
----- End of picture text -----
Miss Sonia Waterman 07.02.2023
Since we were founded in 2015 after the tragic and avoidable murders of Valerie Forde and her 23- month-old daughter, RJ. We are still the only African and Caribbean heritage domestic violence of its kind in the UK. Our continued aims are to educate, enlighten, review prevention methods, implement policy reform and bring awareness to individuals, communities and organisations that will easily identify domestic violence in its many forms.
Since our establishment, 7 years ago, we have extended our reach to Pan London. This was achieved by working with Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and being their lead organisation in relation to Victim Support. Our contract has been extended twice and will continue through 2022/3. We have also joined forces with Independent and Witness Services (IVWS). Our recent collaboration with Black Lives Matter UK has aided in the outreach across London. Alongside this, we continue our work with organisations such as, Victim Support, NHS Safe Lives and other organisations that provide Domestic Violence services. We have recently renewed our contract to have our Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) based at Homerton University Hospital (HUH).
Statement from Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
As we approach the end of the pandemic we can see how government regulations, such as work from home and social distancing, has affected our focus in departments. As reflected in our profit and loss statement, our Grants have increased from the previous year whereas there has been a decrease in donations. We have seen the effect of the pandemic as it relates to restrictions and how we access funding.
We continue our duties in our outreach and services.
Our core staff members continue to donate their time in visits, food donations, organising workshops and events to victims of abuse. This dedication to service is now an integral part of the day to day operation of Sistah Space.
Our charity shop which opened in October 2021 is serving its purpose to facilitate a safe environment where DV advisors are readily available should they be required. The shop also serves as a guise for women to report abuse without raising suspicion from perhaps an abusive person. It also takes into account that victims/survivors of abuse don’t always want to be offered ‘pre-loved’ items. Receiving a brand-new gift can sometimes be quite therapeutic and allows women also be able to shop for loved ones.
The shop is supported by donations of new items from individuals and companies, this means we are able to gift any essential items free of charge to women and children newly fleeing abuse.
We continue our training programme to include Valerie’s Law and Black and Blue which focuses primarily on issues faced by black women affected by domestic and sexual abuse.
Special Thanks
We would like to take this opportunity in recognising the dedication and efforts of staff, volunteers and organisations who have and continue to work alongside us in changing the policies, hearts and minds in a favourable direction towards victims of abuse. Special thanks to staff and volunteers for putting in the greatest effort in keeping a needed yet undervalued service in operation. Many individuals and organisations have also played a pivotal role in our service. Our gratitude also extends to those who were not named but their involvement did not go unnoticed.
Trustees’ Report
Sistah Space Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2022 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS102)
Public Benefit Statement
The charities services operate for public benefit. The trustees confirm that they complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, “Charities and Public Benefit”.
Equality and Diversity Statement
The charity values diversity and works to improve services to grassroots African heritage communities. In line with this we have developed programmes, policies and procedures to ensure that services meet our equality and diversity principles. Sistah Space will make reasonable adjustments to service provision in order to accommodate any client who would otherwise have difficulty accessing the services.
Strategic Report
Following last year’s strategic report, Sistah Space is still on target, regardless of a pandemic, in its goals. Previously mentioned, Sistah Space planned more structured facilities (venue, processes and policies) to effectively exercise developing, monitoring and evaluating our agendas. Sistah Space has achieved this and is continuing to do so through recruitment of specialist advisors and trainers. The continuous effort is to broaden our range to enlighten the public on easily recognising victims, highlighting preventative methods, to readily be able to support those already made victims and aftercare facilities.
A short term yet effective initiative in achieving this is to establish a retail store. This will aid in the outreach, fundraising and create another point of contact for clientele. Sistah Space is aware of the work ethic needed to fulfill our agenda.
More staff, volunteers and in particular Domestic Violence specialists are essential to achieve our goal as we aim to become an organization with a national rather than a regional reach.
Financial Review
In our plan to formulate a payroll for our volunteers and IDVAs, we started contributing to their efforts. In our efforts to provide a more succinct statement, we have absorbed last year’s project funding with Grants
Funds acquired year ending 2022 has increased since the previous year. The charity has been able to increase its funding due to the exponential demand of its services and the Black Lives Matter movement bringing awareness.
The diligent work of its key members, trustees and volunteers has raised the profile of the charity. Sistah Space has attracted the attention of numerous entertainments, political and athletic figure heads. The attention has significantly contributed to donations and funds raised during the pandemic.
Miss Sonia Waterman
07.02.2023