Charity registration number: 1179934
SISTAH SPACE (Sanctuary)
Accounts for period ending March 31, 2023
Contents
| Trustees' Report 4 |
|---|
| Achievements and Performance 4 |
| Financial review 4 |
| Policy on reserves 5 |
| Principal risks and uncertainties 5 |
| Statement of Trustees 6 |
2
Trustees
Sonia Waterman (Chair) Barbara Noel Carrise Forde
Chief Executive Officer
Ngozi Fulani
Charity Registration Number
1179934
Principal Office
℅ Bootstrap 16-18 Ashwin Street London E8 3DL
3
Trustees' Report
Sistah Space Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS102)
Trustees
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Sonia Waterman (Chair) Barbara Noel Carrise Forde
Achievements and Performance
‘Due to recent events and after much consideration, Ngozi has temporarily stepped down as CEO to bring the focus back to the charity and the work they do. This change is for the safety of our staff, service users and volunteers. Ngozi remains a core part of the Sistah Space team and will be involved in other areas. We are delighted and happy to introduce Rose, a core member who has been a pillar of the charity for years as the new CEO. Sistah space would like to clarify that it has always been a community-based charity with all members pulling together from volunteers to senior IDVAS. We do not anticipate any major changes going forward that will impact the service. Sistah space looks forward to refocusing on service users and creating positive change.’
Our online presence had declined following the incident. This in turn slowed incomes yet increased costs. Donations maintained its expectations of equating to last year’s figures. Grants, however, fell below our expectations. We continue to receive some support from our existing donors.
From 1st April 2022 through to the 31st of March 2023 we have provided emergency accommodation and support to 44 women and 68 children. A further 29 families and 35 individual women have been provided with resettlement support and additional extended support after leaving emergency accommodation and moving into the community. We have signposted 81 women to other specialist support services. Feedback from service users regarding the support and service they’ve received was ‘outstanding’.
Victim Support and Charity Projects have continued to fund ongoing operations of the charity including IDVAs and other specialist support during the course of the year. It was greatly appreciated through a volatile year and demand for services continued to increase.
Financial review
The charity sought professional advice and has made robust attempts to incorporate advice given. The charity and its external examiner can produce the following accounts and subsequent notes.
4
Policy on reserves
Sistah Space aims to achieve and maintain a reserve amount of 6 months running costs to cover unexpected and unplanned events so that the charity’s work can continue.
These may include
-
Covering unforeseen day-to-day operational costs, for example: employing temporary staff to cover a long-term sick absence.
-
A fall in a source of income, such as reduction or cessation in funding arrangements.
-
Planned commitments, or designations, that cannot be met by future income alone, for example plans for a major capital project.
-
The need to fund potential deficits in a cash budget, for example money may need to be spent before a funding grant is received.
To decide the amount of reserves, trustees will take into consideration Sistah Space’s annual budget.
The trustees may designate reserves for an identified purpose (maternity leave/sickness cover/settlement) with the consideration of the going concern of the charity.
The trustees are responsible for ensuring that the amount and use of reserves is monitored. They will
-
Compare the amount of reserves held with the target amount or target range set for reserves.
-
Explain any action being taken or planned to bring reserves into line with the target.
-
Include this information in the Accounts and Annual Report.
Principal risks and uncertainties
Lack of income
Our current year has highlighted to trustee’s and core management the importance and need for this concern. The charity has attained in its reserves £600,000 to attain a property. This was a campaign that was started in 2020 via GoFundMe. We also received a significant donation from a private source that will contribute solely to attaining a property.
Insurance and Fraud
Insurance and fraud is always a concern and even more so that we aim to acquire a property for extreme emergencies. So, it's been on the agenda to liaison with legal and finance professionals in regards to financial management policies for both the charity and the property it seeks to attain.
5
Statement of Trustees
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Extenuating circumstances and unforeseen costs.
During this financial year of 2022/23, Sistah Space has experienced an unprecedented period which could not have been foreseen. Although we have a contingency plan to prepare for any unforeseen financial occurrences, we were not prepared for the events of November 2023 that had greatly affected our ability to function effectively and has impacted our ability to record finance in our usual way. From November 2022 Sistah Space have had to suddenly and drastically change the way we work. For the last five months of the financial year, we were unable to conduct our business safely, which led to long and frequent absences of staff. We were unable to have any staff meetings and were forced to conduct much of our work from various locations.
In November/December 2022, we had to take the sudden decision to temporarily cease operations as it related to service users. The threats were frequent and the risks to service users was too great. We halted operations.
Extenuating circumstances meant that we had to ringfence a substantial amount of funds to deal with safeguarding service users, volunteers and staff. We engaged the services of drivers, security staff and minders.
Unexpected costs included paying £5000 for protection for five days to prevent the continuous harassment of the CEO and other staff, by the reporters and the media. The terrorist unit of the Metropolitan police attended the home of some members of Sistah Space and installed alarms and a bomb-proof letterbox. Security cameras had to be fitted in the shop, at our offices and homes of staff. Members of staff had to be temporarily relocated to various accommodation for their safety.
In addition to the costs of hotels, and cabs, we lost revenue because we had to close the shop for long periods on end. Additional volunteers and staff were brought in as a safeguarding measure to ensure that there were at least three members of staff/volunteers on duty at any one time.
We had to pay unexpected costs for someone to monitor our social media, emails and post as death threats had become a daily occurrence.
In addition, during this period of great difficulty, Sistah Space were the victim of false claims made to the Charities Commission about variety of things. Thankfully, the Charities Commission were aware of the circumstances and the avalanche of racist abuse that led to these false claims. This extended episode has negatively impacted our ability to function fully and has negatively impacted our service on every level including management meetings
6
where we discuss everything including accounts. Although we still receive the occasional death threats via email, post and social media, we have done our very best to function according to the Charities Commission guidelines and have benefitted from their advice and understanding.
We anticipate a little more turbulence before thing finally settle down and we continue to lean on the Charities Commission’s understanding as we negotiate this difficult time.
Sonia Waterman
For and on behalf of Trustees.
7
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
| Incoming Resources Grants Project Funding Contracts and Commissions Donations/ Fundraising Transfer from unrestricted Fund Investment and other income Total Resources Expended Salaries/ENIC Project Costs Operational Costs Utility Costs Maintenance Repairs Supplies Administration Transfer to Restricted Fund Depreciation Total Net incoming Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
Unrestricted (0) 221,208 0 5,294 |
Restricted Total 2023 91,534 91,534 - - 13,766 13,766 221,208 - - 5,294 |
|---|---|---|
| 226,502 | 105,300 331,803 |
|
| - 46,343 - 1,998 - 52 7,622 - - |
- - 127,019 127,019 46,343 - - - 1,998 - - - 52 7,622 - - - - |
|
| 56,015 | 127,019 183,034 |
|
| 170,487 | (21,718) 148,769 485,756 |
|
| 634,525 |
Charity registration number: 1179934
SISTAH SPACE (Sanctuary)
Accounts for period ending March 31, 2023
Contents
| Trustees' Report 4 |
|---|
| Achievements and Performance 4 |
| Financial review 4 |
| Policy on reserves 5 |
| Principal risks and uncertainties 5 |
| Statement of Trustees 6 |
2
Trustees
Sonia Waterman (Chair) Barbara Noel Carrise Forde
Chief Executive Officer
Ngozi Fulani
Charity Registration Number
1179934
Principal Office
℅ Bootstrap 16-18 Ashwin Street London E8 3DL
3
Trustees' Report
Sistah Space Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS102)
Trustees
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Sonia Waterman (Chair) Barbara Noel Carrise Forde
Achievements and Performance
‘Due to recent events and after much consideration, Ngozi has temporarily stepped down as CEO to bring the focus back to the charity and the work they do. This change is for the safety of our staff, service users and volunteers. Ngozi remains a core part of the Sistah Space team and will be involved in other areas. We are delighted and happy to introduce Rose, a core member who has been a pillar of the charity for years as the new CEO. Sistah space would like to clarify that it has always been a community-based charity with all members pulling together from volunteers to senior IDVAS. We do not anticipate any major changes going forward that will impact the service. Sistah space looks forward to refocusing on service users and creating positive change.’
Our online presence had declined following the incident. This in turn slowed incomes yet increased costs. Donations maintained its expectations of equating to last year’s figures. Grants, however, fell below our expectations. We continue to receive some support from our existing donors.
From 1st April 2022 through to the 31st of March 2023 we have provided emergency accommodation and support to 44 women and 68 children. A further 29 families and 35 individual women have been provided with resettlement support and additional extended support after leaving emergency accommodation and moving into the community. We have signposted 81 women to other specialist support services. Feedback from service users regarding the support and service they’ve received was ‘outstanding’.
Victim Support and Charity Projects have continued to fund ongoing operations of the charity including IDVAs and other specialist support during the course of the year. It was greatly appreciated through a volatile year and demand for services continued to increase.
Financial review
The charity sought professional advice and has made robust attempts to incorporate advice given. The charity and its external examiner can produce the following accounts and subsequent notes.
4
Policy on reserves
Sistah Space aims to achieve and maintain a reserve amount of 6 months running costs to cover unexpected and unplanned events so that the charity’s work can continue.
These may include
-
Covering unforeseen day-to-day operational costs, for example: employing temporary staff to cover a long-term sick absence.
-
A fall in a source of income, such as reduction or cessation in funding arrangements.
-
Planned commitments, or designations, that cannot be met by future income alone, for example plans for a major capital project.
-
The need to fund potential deficits in a cash budget, for example money may need to be spent before a funding grant is received.
To decide the amount of reserves, trustees will take into consideration Sistah Space’s annual budget.
The trustees may designate reserves for an identified purpose (maternity leave/sickness cover/settlement) with the consideration of the going concern of the charity.
The trustees are responsible for ensuring that the amount and use of reserves is monitored. They will
-
Compare the amount of reserves held with the target amount or target range set for reserves.
-
Explain any action being taken or planned to bring reserves into line with the target.
-
Include this information in the Accounts and Annual Report.
Principal risks and uncertainties
Lack of income
Our current year has highlighted to trustee’s and core management the importance and need for this concern. The charity has attained in its reserves £600,000 to attain a property. This was a campaign that was started in 2020 via GoFundMe. We also received a significant donation from a private source that will contribute solely to attaining a property.
Insurance and Fraud
Insurance and fraud is always a concern and even more so that we aim to acquire a property for extreme emergencies. So, it's been on the agenda to liaison with legal and finance professionals in regards to financial management policies for both the charity and the property it seeks to attain.
5
Statement of Trustees
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Extenuating circumstances and unforeseen costs.
During this financial year of 2022/23, Sistah Space has experienced an unprecedented period which could not have been foreseen. Although we have a contingency plan to prepare for any unforeseen financial occurrences, we were not prepared for the events of November 2023 that had greatly affected our ability to function effectively and has impacted our ability to record finance in our usual way. From November 2022 Sistah Space have had to suddenly and drastically change the way we work. For the last five months of the financial year, we were unable to conduct our business safely, which led to long and frequent absences of staff. We were unable to have any staff meetings and were forced to conduct much of our work from various locations.
In November/December 2022, we had to take the sudden decision to temporarily cease operations as it related to service users. The threats were frequent and the risks to service users was too great. We halted operations.
Extenuating circumstances meant that we had to ringfence a substantial amount of funds to deal with safeguarding service users, volunteers and staff. We engaged the services of drivers, security staff and minders.
Unexpected costs included paying £5000 for protection for five days to prevent the continuous harassment of the CEO and other staff, by the reporters and the media. The terrorist unit of the Metropolitan police attended the home of some members of Sistah Space and installed alarms and a bomb-proof letterbox. Security cameras had to be fitted in the shop, at our offices and homes of staff. Members of staff had to be temporarily relocated to various accommodation for their safety.
In addition to the costs of hotels, and cabs, we lost revenue because we had to close the shop for long periods on end. Additional volunteers and staff were brought in as a safeguarding measure to ensure that there were at least three members of staff/volunteers on duty at any one time.
We had to pay unexpected costs for someone to monitor our social media, emails and post as death threats had become a daily occurrence.
In addition, during this period of great difficulty, Sistah Space were the victim of false claims made to the Charities Commission about variety of things. Thankfully, the Charities Commission were aware of the circumstances and the avalanche of racist abuse that led to these false claims. This extended episode has negatively impacted our ability to function fully and has negatively impacted our service on every level including management meetings
6
where we discuss everything including accounts. Although we still receive the occasional death threats via email, post and social media, we have done our very best to function according to the Charities Commission guidelines and have benefitted from their advice and understanding.
We anticipate a little more turbulence before thing finally settle down and we continue to lean on the Charities Commission’s understanding as we negotiate this difficult time.
Sonia Waterman
For and on behalf of Trustees.
7