Charity registration number: 1179934
SISTAH SPACE (Sanctuary)
Accounts for period ending March 31, 2024
Principal Office
c/o Bootstrap
16-18 Ashwin Street
London E8 3DL
Bankers
Barclays Bank
1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP
Trustees
Sonia Waterman (Chair)
Barbara Noel
Carrise Forde
Chief Executive Officer
Ngozi Fulani
Contents Page
Trustees' Report
Achievements and Performance Financial review
Trustees’ Report
Sistah Space (Sanctuary) Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023 and beginning 1[st] April 2024, 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
Successes and Challenges
It has been both a very rewarding and successful year, and a difficult one. Yet we have managed to circumvent the events of the previous year that saw Sistah Space face the most challenges since the charity was founded in 2015. We achieved one of our greatest aims thus far, while at the same time, faced our greatest challenges.
We have had a very traumatic early start to the year. On the back of the events of 2022, the event was still very much in the public eye, and we had to find shelter in hotels out of the area. We had to close the shop for a short time as the racist threats were coming to our homes and to our place of work. The fall out continues. Media was an everyday event. We had to consider the impact on the service users and our reputation. The charity Commission were amazingly supportive and empathetic which at a time when we were suffering a lot of racism, was very appreciated. A lot of our work was done remotely.
Positive is that we were able to finally purchase a space of respite and refuge. We received some donations from people who were quite literally disgusted at the unfair and relentless attack on our charity and
our CEO who had attended an event in support of service users on the 16 Days of Activism. November is usually the month that the United Nations dedicates to highlighting violent offences against women. At that event, the CEO was subjected to a racist interrogation by a person who was there on behalf of the host., and an event that should have seen the eradication of violence against women, escalated violence against us as Black women. Managing the Sistah Space became increasingly difficult during that time, because we were under police protection for the duration of that entire financial year, of 2022/23 and 2023 completely. We had to meet remotely and pay for additional volunteers to be around for the entire time. We also had to pay for Ubers and cabs to attend any function such was the continuing threat.
Achievements and Performance
We received a great deal of support from the public, and donations reflected this as we saw an elevation of financial and other donations such as clothes and other items.
Our food donations continue to be successful as we collect food from M&S three times a week and support over 200 service users, homeless people and the public weekly. This was somewhat interrupted by the events of late 2022 that continued into 2023. Although we continued to be affected by past events, we have managed to support thousands of victims of abuse throughout the year.
Principal risks and uncertainties Statement of Trustees
We continue to work in pairs to safeguard our service users, staff and volunteers. The Trustees and management have ensured that all safeguarding measures remain in place by regular checks and monitoring of all events.
Financial Review
Sistah Space total income for the year was £318K. 7% of our income was restricted to funding specific services. Income for Operational costs came from donations and fundraising. We continue to keep our
overhead cost as low as possible and are on the way to securing premises for our first refuge.
Fundraising
The charity undertakes fundraising activity to its supporters mainly though building corporate relations and online fundraising,. Our fundraising promise outlines when you support us, you can be sure of the following:
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We will never sell your contact details to anyone
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If you are an individual supporter, we will only contact you if you have expressed an interest in our work
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If we phone you, we will always check you are happy to take the call
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If you ask us to change how we communicate with you, or stop, we will respect that
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We do not engage in cold-calling, door-to-door or street fundraising. We try hard to ensure no one ever feels pressurised to support our work
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We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adhere to the Fundraising Code of Practice All our activities are open, fair, honest and legal
Sistah Space has ongoing fundraising activities to generate voluntary donations towards our vital services to survivors and service users.
Sistah Space are incredibly grateful for the new and continued support we have received from our corporate partners, community, trusts and individuals. Without this, we simply couldn't deliver the vital services we provide.
Going Concern
The Trustees have reviewed the projected operations and activities of the company, including consideration of securing future contracts and fundraising income. Based on the available financial information, we are of the opinion that adequate resources will continue to be
available to fund the activities and operations of the charity, therefore Sistah Space is a going concern.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
Sonia Waterman For and on behalf of Trustees.
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed