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2024-12-31-accounts

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY

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The Queen’s Award
for Voluntary Service
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2025 WINNER OF

SUPPORTING NEW MUMS WHO HAVE FLED FROM TRAFFICKERS OR VIOLENCE, AND HAVE SOUGHT INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION IN THE UK FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR BABIES ANNUAL REPORT

Trustees’ Annual Report and Summary Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 HAPPYBABYCOMMUNITY.ORG.UK

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Registered Charity – 1181633 Illustration ‘The Sleeping Baby’ printed with kind permission of Anita Klein
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THE WORDS OF BETH (one of our community leaders)

“ I’ve gone through many ups and downs in life, and each challenge has only made me stronger. One of the hardest things I’ve had to face was losing so much and having to start over from scratch, especially while raising a child on my own. At such a young age, it felt like a huge responsibility, and there are days I ask myself I’m doing this right? But it’s also been one of the most important experiences in shaping who I am today as the Volunteer Manager at the Happy Baby Community. Though life has been tough at times, I’ve learned so much from every hardship. Each struggle has taught me valuable lessons and given me skills that I carry with me.

Happy Baby Community has played a significant role in my journey, especially during some of my toughest times. When I was going through the challenges of raising a child alone and dealing with difficult circumstances, the support from the Happy Baby online community was a lifeline. The activities they offered and the people who checked in on me made a huge difference during the lockdown period, providing a sense of comfort and connection when everything felt uncertain.

Volunteering with Happy Baby was also a turning point for me. It gave me the opportunity to step outside of my usual routine, especially during the lockdown when I was taking online courses only. Even though I was volunteering, I found that I was gaining so much more in return. The positive energy and encouragement from the community inspired me and made me feel like I was contributing to something meaningful. When I faced the devastating loss of my brother, the support I received from Happy Baby was invaluable. Even though I withdrew from volunteering during that time, the community continued to check on me, offering emotional support. This made me realize how important it was to have people who genuinely cared, and it gave me a sense of belonging.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is to never take anything for granted. Life can change in an instant, so I make sure to seize every opportunity that comes my way. Those moments, big or small, are what help me build my strength. I find that reflecting on myself regularly is a great way to stay grounded. Taking time to think about where I am in life and how far I’ve come helps me stay on track. Staying positive is also crucial. Even when things aren’t going well, I try to focus on what I do have and all the people around me who made me feel safe and comfortable where I could sense belonging and very much appreciate it.

Eventually, I returned to volunteering in different roles, and over the past three years, I’ve been able to grow personally and professionally, all while being supported by the amazing people at Happy Baby. Now, nearly a year since I started working for Happy Baby, I feel safe, valued, and supported. This journey has empowered me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a community that has given me so much. In return, I’ve done my best to give back to Happy Baby. Whether through volunteering, offering support, or helping create a positive environment, I hope I’ve been able to help others the way this community has helped me. It’s a place that feels like home, and I’m proud to be part of it.

I try to plan ahead and follow through with those plans, because staying organised and focused helps me face challenges with a clear mind. While I’ve come a long way, I know there’s still a lot to learn and a lot to be disciplined. I’m constantly working to improve myself but I also recognise there’s so much more to learn and do. Every challenge is a chance to grow.

”

OUR VISION OUR MISSION To care for and

To create and foster a strong sense of connection and value among our members, their children, volunteers, and staff. We are dedicated to providing opportunities that empower each individual to thrive and seamlessly integrate into the UK community.

empower new mums who have survived trafficking and violence and have sought safety in the UK, and to enable them and their young children to thrive.

OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS

24 320 STAFF VOLUNTEERS 2,322 679 WOMEN BABIES SUPPORTED

BARNET HBC DAGENHAM EAST

3,360 818 CHILDREN NEW REFERRALS SUPPORTED IN 2024

HBC WEST

HBC SOUTH

REDHILL

85,440 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING TIME

CRAWLEY

2 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 3

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WHAT WE DO
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INTERPRETING
COMMUNITY CENTRED SUPPORT
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EDUCATION
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Women and children, including pregnant women fleeing traffickers, violence, and war zones, exhaust all their resources and energy to find safety in the UK. The Home Office houses these vulnerable individuals in hostels and hotels, stripping them of agency and identity. With minimal feedback on asylum claims, lengthy waits (often years), and just £8.86 a week for essentials, they face a hostile environment with substandard food and the dehumanisation of being referred to by room or Home Office numbers. This inevitably leads to overwhelming feelings of inertia, isolation, shame, fear, and loneliness.

HBC is the sanctuary these mothers asked for. It sees our community of women and children as individuals, cherishes the children and motherhood and recognises their resilience and bravery. Like a family, HBC offers support without judgment, ensures communication is in the language of the women, respects their decisions and responds promptly to calls or messages. Guided by those with similar experiences, HBC provides support, activities, love, and opportunities to rebuild self-esteem, foster trust, and empower mothers to confidently raise their children in the UK.

SYSTEM CHANGE

Creating System Change through Community Empowerment

The Happy Baby Community is not just supporting vulnerable mothers and babies – we are fundamentally transforming systems that perpetuate poverty and exclusion. By putting lived experience at the centre of our work, with 65% of our management team and 69% of our staff having experienced the challenges our community faces, we create a powerful platform for authentic change.

The evidence is clear: our model works. By addressing both material poverty (through practical support) and non-material aspects (through building community and belonging), we create multiple pathways out of poverty. Our approach aligns perfectly with emerging government priorities to support communities to come together, help children thrive, and enable people to live healthier lives.

Our community-led approach embodies “community power” – enabling people to influence and change the places they live, the services they use and the decisions that affect their lives. This is particularly vital for asylumseeking mothers who are marginalised and excluded from decision-making processes that directly impact them.

In a landscape where child poverty is rising alarmingly, HBC demonstrates that community-led solutions offer the most sustainable path forward.

WE DON’T JUST TREAT SYMPTOMS – WE TRANSFORM SYSTEMS BY EMPOWERING THOSE MOST AFFECTED TO LEAD THE CHANGE.

Through our perinatal support program, leadership pathways and community hubs, we don’t just meet immediate needs – we build capacity for lasting transformation. When mothers progress from service users to community leaders, they don’t just change their own circumstances – they reshape the systems that failed them. Their collective voice informs healthcare providers, influences local authorities, and challenges harmful immigration policies.

Drawing by Mani Winterstein

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 5

CREATING SYSTEM CHANGE

ADVOCACY FOR OTHERS AND FOR CHANGE

Women go on to speak out – in hospitals, with local authorities, in national forums. They challenge injustice, shape services, and stand up for others still navigating the system. Lived experience becomes leadership.

SKILLS, LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP

Through workshops, mentoring and supported roles, women develop language, facilitation, and advocacy skills. Some train as peer supporters, doulas, or group leaders – becoming recognised, skilled contributors to maternity and community care.

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INVOLVEMENT

Once safe and supported, women are invited to join peer groups, share their stories, and take part in activities that build confidence and community. Many begin volunteering – cooking, welcoming new mothers, supporting at groups.

INDIVIDUALISED, PRACTICAL SUPPORT

Whether she needs a doula, breastfeeding help, a birth plan, or just a buggy and baby clothes – HBC tailors support to what she needs, not what the system assumes she needs. Crucially, HBC helps her understand her rights and choices.

TRUST & SAFETY

On first contact, the woman is met without judgment. HBC provides interpreters, cultural safety, and trauma-informed care. She’s listened to and believed – often for the first time in her journey.

REACHING THE UNREACHABLE

Women who are isolated, newly arrived, or hidden from services are referred by NHS midwives, GPs, safeguarding teams, or through peer networks. HBC steps in where the system struggles to engage, building trust from day one.

LED BY OUR COMMUNITY

At Happy Baby Community, our strategic priority is clear:

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING MAJORITY LED AND MANAGED BY WOMEN WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MIGRATION AS REFUGEES INTO THE UK.

This isn’t merely an aspiration – it’s fundamental to our identity and effectiveness.

When leadership emerges from within the community we serve, our work is grounded in authentic understanding rather than assumption. Women who have navigated the trauma of forced migration and trafficking bring invaluable insight that shapes every aspect of our services, from practical support through to advocacy.

By embodying the principles of user-led leadership, we create a stronger, more responsive organisation that truly understands the complex needs of refugee mothers and their children. This deep understanding enables us to provide holistic support that addresses both immediate needs and long-term wellbeing, helping women rebuild their confidence, develop new skills, and create safe, nurturing environments where both they and their young children can heal from trauma and thrive in their new communities.

To achieve this, we’ve implemented initiatives that empower our community members and embed user leadership and voice:

OUR BESPOKE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM has equipped 31 women to become inspiring community leaders.

OUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND STAFF TEAM are overwhelmingly composed of women with lived experience (65% and 69% respectively).

Members of The Happy Baby Community Leaders Board

OUR EMERGING COMMUNITY LEADERS BOARD

provides direct governance input. This approach ensures our work remains genuinely responsive to community needs while creating powerful pathways to agency and influence for women whose voices have too often been marginalised.

BOARD EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 7

OUR IMPACT

Thrive

2,322 WOMEN 3,360 CHILDREN 679 BABIES 320 VOLUNTEERS 57 COUNTRIES

Esteem

Love & belonging

NO WAITING LIST Always open for referrals Safety 818[New referrals] needs 24 HOUR / 365 DAYS Birth Support phone line Physiological needs

LIVED EXPERIENCE...

65% Management Team 69%[Staff] 100% Community Leaders Board 42%[Volunteers]

Women said they felt proud of themselves

28 Community members attended Leadership programme 81% 82.4% Women said they felt positive about their future 61

Mums attended mentoring and coaching programs

Women said they felt they belonged to a community

318[Face-to-face Community sessions]

80.2% 7,044 9,861

287 Members of the Employment Pathway 220[Doula supported births] 193 Staff & volunteers attending safeguarding training 490[Perinatal referrals] 98% of the community reported feeling safe at the HBC community groups

Mums attending the HBC Community Groups

Children attending the HBC Community Groups

285[Women supported with breastfeeding] 468[English lessons run online] 381[Welfare cases supported] 46[Online medical & education sessions]

Own language 459[Hospital bags] 195,000 texts sent in 2024 7,140 Travel refunds to enable women to attend the community groups 342[Baby boxes]

and leadership training 1,392[Clothing packs] 14,088[Breakfasts & lunches] 330 Year 1 and Reception childrenSets of school uniform for

‘HBC’: Happy Baby Community

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

9

TRANSFORMING MATERNITY CARE FOR THE WOMEN THE SYSTEM LEAVES BEHIND – IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NHS

Happy Baby Community’s Perinatal Programme supports women in the asylum and immigration system who face the highest barriers to safe, respectful maternity care. In partnership with NHS midwives, health visitors, perinatal mental health teams, safeguarding professionals and MNVPs, we are changing how women are cared for – together.

Through trauma-informed, culturally responsive, woman-led support, we are helping to close critical gaps in the system, ensuring that even in the most complex cases, women are heard, protected, and empowered.

EVERY WOMAN. EVERY BIRTH. EVERY TIME.

2024 HEADLINES

HBC IMPACT ON MATERNITY SYSTEMS & OUTCOMES

WE ACT WHEN IT’S URGENT:

SHAPING NATIONAL & GLOBAL AGENDAS

Our work feeds into policy and practice on:

SUPPORTING HUNDREDS OF BIRTHS EVERY YEAR

HIGHLY PERSONAL/ INDIVIDUAL/SENSITIVE/ IN CRUCIAL SITUATIONS

ADDRESSING MUCH MORE THAN PREGNANCY/ BIRTH/POSTNATAL

We respond to women’s loneliness and isolation, and the helplessness that often comes with poverty – such as not having basic items for their babies or being denied transport to hospital during labour, or when returning home with their newborn. Women frequently face discrimination, culturally insensitive treatment, and birth trauma in a system that is not always informed by compassion or understanding. HBC Perinatal provides vital support through group sessions, hospital visits, one-to-one doula and breastfeeding help, and advocacy with healthcare professionals – especially around interpretation and consent. We help women create birth plans and receive essential items like maternity bags, baby boxes, and buggies through partner organisations. Our strong relationships with midwives, health visitors, perinatal mental health teams and MNVPs help to ensure more equitable and sensitive care for HBC mothers and their babies.

• Tailored to individual- what/ how much they want: full doula support, calls only (pregnancy +/ or postnatal), information (in person, online, by phone), breastfeeding, peer caller

• No judgment or agenda for women, other than that they are informed, listened to and treated with respect and kindness

OUR TEAM

• Layered support: doula with them for hours or days, mentor supports doula, managers support mentors

• Senior team who value communication, reflection, collaboration

• Ongoing professional learning and development for entire perinatal team

new mothers more often than not living far away from extended family support.

The judges said: “Happy Baby Community is professional, friendly and experienced with a passionate commitment to mutual respect and care. It never turns anyone away and has an impressive involvement of refugees, most of whom were beneficiaries themselves.”

In 2025 the Happy Baby Community was awarded the Ockendon International Prize.

“Happy Baby Community, UK, the inaugural winner of the UK Prize for a project advancing the self-reliance of refugees and/or asylum-seekers living in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England or Wales, for its ‘Starting Well’ project in London (and Crawley, Surrey), which impressed the judges for its sensitive and holistic approach to early childhood and parenting, and more particularly for its gentle support of pregnant refugees and

HBC, they observed, “has developed strong links with local hospitals, hospital staff and volunteers, a great depth of engagement and sympathetic understanding of the women and families in their care, with an inspiring emphasis on lasting friendship and compassion.”

Illustration ‘Betty and the leaves’ printed with kind permission of Anita Klein

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 11

CONFRONTING THE HIDDEN CRISIS OF YOUNG ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN

children under 3 years old supported by HBC and living in the asylum system 3,360

THE CHALLENGES FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN THE ASYLUM SYSTEM

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY’S EVERY CHILD CAN THRIVE PROJECT IS OUR RESPONSE:

Children under 3 living in the asylum system are among the most vulnerable in the UK – yet they remain invisible in national child poverty statistics. These infants are not counted, not tracked and not recognised in the very data meant to protect and support the most at-risk children. They are enduring some of the harshest conditions imaginable.

HBC commits to ensure children living in the asylum system are not just surviving, but seen, supported and set up to thrive. Every child deserves the chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Through targeted early intervention, using current evidence from UCL, NHS and Government guidelines, we are working toward a future where a child’s immigration status doesn’t determine their life outcomes – where children with the greatest disadvantages receive the greatest support to overcome them.

FROM THEIR EARLIEST DAYS, THEY FACE EXTREME ADVERSITY:

These are not minor disadvantages – they are structural harms. They affect physical growth, brain development, emotional wellbeing, and future learning. Without intervention, these children are at risk of lifelong disadvantage before they’ve even had a chance to begin.

= THRIVING CHILDREN

HBC SOLUTIONS FOR ADDRESSING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN THE ASYLUM SYSTEM

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 13

SAFEGUARDING

The Happy Baby Community is committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of all individuals we support, as many are particularly vulnerable. They include babies, children, and women at risk. Our charity recognises the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment that protects individuals from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

We prioritise safeguarding at the Happy Baby Community, implementing robust policies, procedures, and training. Our team is well-informed and equipped to recognise, report, and respond to safeguarding concerns, complying with all relevant laws and regulations.

With Deborah Wright, a Senior Social Worker, and Sarah Hughes, our Trustee Safeguarding Lead, we regularly review and update our policies and procedures. External resources and feedback help us stay informed about best practices and emerging issues.

Through monthly online training sessions, we ensure our staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and prepared to identify signs of abuse, follow reporting procedures, and maintain confidentiality.

At the Happy Baby Community, safeguarding is paramount. We foster a safe and respectful environment, ensuring the well-being and protection of all those involved in our organisation.

We maintain an open and accountable culture, encouraging the reporting of any safeguarding concerns. Prompt and confidential action is taken, including providing immediate support and collaborating with external agencies if needed.

Comprehensive records are kept, enabling us to monitor trends, learn from experiences, and continually improve our safeguarding practices.

THE HBC 2024–2025: STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

3

1

EVERY BABY AND CHILD CAN THRIVE To ensure that the babies and children are supported in a well evidence approach.

NEVER TO TURN AWAY ANYONE who is referred to

the charity meeting our referral criteria

a well evidence 2 approach. CONTINUITY OF CARE To ensure that everyone has follow up calls and is supported 4 if they choose to join the groups PERINATAL SUPPORT that is more equitable, trauma-informed & culturally sensitive

7 TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEM CHANGE Sharing our evidence with policy 5 and decision makers to make changes in SUSTAINABILITY 6 this community AND CAPACITY TO BE LED BY OUR To ensure that our LIVED EXPERIENCE staff and volunteers The charity is user led from are well trained, the feedback at the front valued, and line to the management supported team and the Community Leaders Board

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HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 15

OUR FUNDERS

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The Rights Lab
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The Balcombe Charitable Trust

WORKING TOGETHER – OUR REFERRAL PARTNERS

SOCIAL HEALTH WORKERS VISITORS

PERINATAL MENTAL MATERNITY NEONATAL HEALTH / PSYCHIATRY VOICES PARTNERSHIPS

MIDWIVES

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income and expenditure 2024

£1.2M HBC’S TOTAL REVENUE £1.1M HBC’S TOTAL EXPENDITURE (2023: £793K) (2023: £719K)

capacity limits. The charity began the year with a planned budget of £973,000 but made the strategic decision to exceed this in response to rising demand – particularly in Central London. By drawing on unrestricted funds, it successfully launched a new project site in Central London in September 2024. This bold, needs-led expansion exemplifies the charity’s commitment to responsive and inclusive care.

In 2024, Happy Baby Community experienced a transformative year of growth, with total income reaching £1,204,068 – a rise from £793,065 in 2023. This increase was primarily driven by substantial grant funding and donations, particularly restricted funds amounting to £767,879. Key funders included the National Lottery, City Bridge Trust and Garfield Weston, among others. These contributions enabled the charity to significantly expand its capacity support to more children and women than ever before. Income from unrestricted sources also rose sharply to £436,189, providing valuable flexibility to invest in core services, in particular volunteering and outreach to the asylum accommodation sites, and to ensure operational stability.

By the end of the year, the charity held total funds of £379,865, with £167,028 restricted and £212,837 unrestricted. These carried-forward funds are earmarked for delivering committed work in the first quarter of 2025, including continuing the expansion of the community hubs in partnership with the Babyzone in Barnet and Barking and scaling key programmes across all locations. The charity manages its cash flow with great care, maintaining monthly financial updates and reviews to ensure accountability, transparency, and agility. With strong reserves, a growing and skilled team, and deep community trust, Happy Baby Community enters 2025 well-prepared to meet evolving needs and deliver its mission without compromise.

HBC exceeded its £975,000 fundraising target for 2024, successfully establishing multiple long-term partnerships with trusts and foundations and securing several successful multi-year agreements that will provide sustained income beyond the initial year.

With enhanced funding, the charity expanded both and skilled team, and deep the breadth and depth of its support for refugee and community trust, Happy asylum-seeking women and children. Charitable Baby Community enters expenditure rose to £1,104,086, enabling the 2025 well-prepared to development of new services and 38% more support meet evolving needs sessions across 6 locations in Greater London and and deliver its mission the South East. This included a significant increase without compromise. in direct provision costs – covering essentials such as food, travel, rent and children’s and perinatal support. Staffing levels increased, with an average of 22 (FTE 11) employees (compared to 18 (FTE 9) in 2023), allowing the charity to meet demand more effectively. One of the most significant achievements in 2024 was Happy Baby Community’s ability to ensure that no woman or child was ever turned away due to Drawing by Mani Winterstein

16 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 17

Donations in kind

In line with best practice as set out in the Charities SORP, the value of donated goods distributed during the year has been recognised in the accounts as both income and expenditure, where the charity had control over the goods, was able to reliably measure their value, and used them in the furtherance of its charitable purposes.

Reserves

The Trustees continually monitor the charity’s financial position and specifically review its required level of reserves each year. This review takes into account the types of income and the risks and uncertainties associated with each; the level of fixed costs including salaries and property rent; variable costs associated with providing our services; the needs of the families whom we support; the funds required to achieve our strategic goals; and any oneoff expenditure planned in the foreseeable future.

RESERVES POLICY

The Happy Baby Community holds just over £200,000 of unrestricted funds. The Charity Reserves Policy has been agreed in accordance with the Charity Commission Guidance. The charity reserves are an essential element of the strategic, operational and budgetary planning and are set to ensure the charity is operating with sufficient unrestricted funds to avoid financial challenges in 2025 and 2026.

Happy Baby Community aims to maintain reserves equivalent to at least 25% of the annual operating expenditure, which based on the budget forecast for 2025 amounts to £300,000. This has grown since 2023 following demand and accordingly plans are being refined in order to achieve this target over the next 2-3 years. This target will continue to be periodically reviewed and adjusted based on the organisation’s needs, financial position, and regulatory requirements.

Going concern

The fragile economy and ongoing cost of living crisis mean that The Happy Baby Community is operating in a generally uncertain environment. The principal risk that The Happy Baby Community faces is our ability to remain open to all referrals and never turn anyone away.

The level of income needed to support the everincreasing number of families who seek our help and to meet our own growing level of costs. Taking these factors into account, the Trustees have reviewed the level of reserves currently held, along with the budgeted income and expenditure, and have concluded that the charity’s funds will be sufficient to sustain its activities for a period of at least twelve months from the date of finalising these accounts. Accordingly, the accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. A broader discussion on the risks and uncertainties facing The Happy Baby Community and the management of those risks, is set out below in the next section ‘Structure, governance and management’.

Investment policy

In addition to the balance held in the charity’s current accounts, £5,000 is placed in a medium term interest-bearing deposit Charity Bank. The charity will address further cash being held on deposit in the future.

STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governance

ACCOUNTANTS

Third Sector Accountancy Ltd, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester M60 0AS thirdsectoraccountancy.coop

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered as a charity on 19th January 2019. The charity was established under constitution based on the ‘Foundation CIO’ model. The constitution establishes the objects and powers of the CIO and sets out the way in which it is governed. The Trustees are the only members of the charity and are entitled only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity and, in the event of windingup, they have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity’s constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 (issued October 2019).

BANKERS

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

TRUSTEES

Sabrina Bals – Chair

Penelope Farrar – Finance Committee and Risk Lead Sarah Hughes – Safeguarding Lead Andrena Cumella – Leadership Lead Oufia Ibrir – Community Leadership David Noble – Legal Lead Katherine Waterfall – Perinatal Lead Annie Kelly – Communications Lead (Resigned 21/01/2025)

HBC CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES:

1 To preserve and promote the mental and physical health of pregnant women and women and girls, who have children under the age of 3 years, who have experienced physical or mental ill health or disability as a result of violations of human rights, torture, human trafficking and domestic and sexual violence and abuse.

THE COMMUNITY LEADERS BOARD

Andrena Cumella – Chair Jesmina Kadriaj – Vice-Chair Nadia Rahman Narges Askari Zewdi Amanuel Berivan Mamash Miklovana Demja

2 To provide financial and other forms of relief for refugees and those seeking international protection, in particular mothers and their children who are in conditions of hardship or distress.

MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES

Sue Balmer and Lucy Bracken – Co-Directors Jill Miller – Perinatal Director

3 To advance the education and training of people in need thereof so as to advance them in life, build self-confidence, basic skills and an ability to make an impact upon their own lives and assist them to adapt within a new community.

CHARITY NUMBER 1181633

REGISTERED OFFICE

Anslem’s Mission Hall, 11 Sancroft Steet, London SE11 5UG

18 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

19

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING

APPOINTMENT AND INDUCTION OF TRUSTEES

Roles are openly advertised and Trustees are recruited through an interview process led by nominated members of the Board of Trustees and the Community Leaders Board. New Trustees receive an induction programme which includes meetings with key members of the management team, a briefing pack and at least one site visit.

The Board of Trustees has collective responsibility for everything that the charity does, including the legal responsibility to ensure it is controlled and properly managed. The Board delegates responsibility for operational management to the Executive Directors and the Management Committee.

To develop plans, policies and procedures, The Management Committee follow the Board’s advice and require their approval. As at 31 December 2024, the staff team are as shown.

All Trustees commit to volunteering with The Happy Baby Community regularly so that they have a good understanding of the work that the charity does.

All Board members participate in an annual review and objective setting process, led by the Chair of Trustees. Trustees are appointed for a three-year term with the option to renew for one further three-year term. In exceptional circumstances, a Trustee may be appointed beyond a second threeyear term by a resolution of the Trustees.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the strategic direction of the charity and meets quarterly together with the Executive Directors and management team to review progress and to ensure the charity is on track to meet its objectives. The Board has two sub-committees: a Finance Committee and the Community Leaders Board.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

----- Start of picture text -----
FINANCE & FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS BOARD
JILL
LUCY (CO-DIRECTOR) SUE (CO-DIRECTOR)
Perinatal
Fundraising / Monitoring & Reporting Director Every Child can Thrive / Welfare / Therapeutic Support
JOLANDA SOPHY DEBORAH
OLA HIWOT MARINE BETH DEBORA
Services Manager Volunteer Safeguarding
Finance & Events Community Group Leadership, Skills Volunteer Welfare
(Perinatal & & Training & Therapy
Manager Manager & Comms Manager Manager Manager
Administration) Manager Lead
Finance & Leadership Perinatal Childrens’
Volunteering Volunteering Welfare
Payroll Program Program program The
Listening
Central Volunteer team Welfare
Hotel Outreach Employment Referral Training volunteers
Pathway
Services
Risk
Contracts Community Education
Groups: Management
Thornton Heath /
The Dalston / Stratford English
Program Practical
Kennington / Crawley Acton & & Online Support
Community Redhill / Holborn
Community
External
Comms
HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY
Community Leaders Board ORGANISATION CHART
----- End of picture text -----

THE COMMUNITY LEADERS BOARD

The Community Leaders Board (CLB) was formally established in 2024 as a designated Committee of the HBC Board of Trustees. This innovative governance structure embodies our commitment to centring the voices of women with lived experience in our decision-making processes. The CLB sits between the Trustee Board and the Management Board in our governance structure, focusing specifically on designing service delivery to meet community needs. Chaired by Trustee Andrena Cumella, with Jasmina Kadriaj serving as Vice Chair, the CLB consists of six members representing different cultural backgrounds and program areas within HBC.

Each CLB member serves as a Champion for specific service areas, including Perinatal Support, Children’s Programs, Education and Employment, enabling in-depth knowledge and representation across all HBC activities. The CLB meets bi-monthly, with representatives attending The Trustee Board meetings to ensure seamless communication between governance bodies.

Through this structure, HBC ensures that the expertise of women with lived experience directly influences our strategic priorities and operational decisions, strengthening our ability to provide responsive, culturally appropriate services to mothers and children seeking safety in the UK.

REMUNERATION POLICY

All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 12 to the accounts.

In setting salaries, HBC strives to pay at a competitive level within the sector and considers changes in the cost of living/inflation and changes to roles and responsibilities.

The charity also takes into account the need to remain prudent so that salary costs are sustainable both at the current time and in the future. All employees are paid at least the London living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Board of Trustees reviews and agrees the annual remuneration of the Executives and agrees the remuneration level of senior staff, in conjunction with the Co-Directors.

HBC is committed to creating roles that enable people to balance purpose-driven work with other priorities in life.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our Management Committee led an in-depth review of HBC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy in 2024, with Trustee David Noble providing legal guidance throughout the process. This comprehensive review incorporated input from multiple stakeholders, including partner organisations, funders and service users.

The Community Leaders Board played a crucial role in evaluating and refining policy recommendations, ensuring they authentically reflected the diverse experiences of our community members and created meaningful pathways for inclusion at all levels of the organisation.

From 2025, our implementation strategy includes mandatory EDI training for all staff and volunteers, which will be led by Deborah Wright, our Safeguarding Lead. The training program has been specifically designed to provide sufficient time for participants to thoroughly understand, reflect upon and integrate the policy principles into their daily work. Rather than a one-time session, the training will be delivered in multiple modules throughout the year, allowing for deeper engagement and practical application of concepts.

This methodical approach ensures that equity, diversity and inclusion become embedded in our organisational culture and practices, strengthening HBC’s ability to provide responsive and inclusive support to all community members.

20 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

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OUR VOLUNTEERS: THE HEART OF HBC

356 Approx. 85,440 HOURS Volunteers of volunteering in 2024

The Trustees acknowledge with profound gratitude the extraordinary contribution made by our 356 active volunteers in 2024. These remarkable individuals represent the very essence of the Happy Baby Community, generously giving their time, skills and compassion across all aspects of our work.

Far more than just additional support, our volunteers are the lifeblood of HBC. They are the welcoming faces at our community groups, the skilled doulas supporting mothers through childbirth, the dedicated English teachers, the passionate advocates, the caring listeners who build trusting relationships with vulnerable women and children, the sewers, the knitters and the packers, who give time and love every day to the community. Their dedication transforms our vision into reality every single day.

In a challenging funding environment, the economic value of our volunteers contribution is immeasurable – but it is their human impact that truly cannot be quantified. Through their cultural knowledge, language skills and lived experience, our volunteers create bridges of understanding.

The Happy Baby Community exists because of these extraordinary individuals. They embody our values of compassion, inclusivity and empowerment, and their unwavering commitment enables us to respond to the increasing needs of refugee and asylumseeking mothers and their children.

The Trustees recognise that without our volunteers, there would be no Happy Baby Community, and for this, we extend our deepest appreciation.

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising was led by the Co-Director Lucy Bracken, with significant involvement from the Management Committee. The charity spent less that 0.6% of its annual turnover on fundraising. This is largely thanks to the outstanding skills of the retained fundraisers Caroline Campbell and Loretta Curtin.

The staff team at HBC work very hard to ensure that funders have connection with the work that they are funding. They are welcomed to visit the community hubs and speak to the staff and volunteers.

We did not receive any complaints about our fundraising. We keep up to date with changing regulation and ensure we comply with it by changing our processes if needed. We understand our duty to protect vulnerable people and to protect people’s privacy and we do not engage in any intrusive methods of raising funds.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The charity has a risk register in place which sets out key risks (covering governance, financial, operational, external and reputational, legal and compliance) and how they are managed. The HBC risk register is formally reviewed quarterly by the Board having been reviewed and updated by the Management Committee and CLB.

THE TRUSTEES AND MANAGEMENT TEAM HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING AS KEY STRATEGIC RISKS FACING THE HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY:

1 The sudden change in Home Office Policy with regards the support of asylum seekers.

3 A breach of the charity’s safeguarding policy. This is mitigated by ensuring that all staff, volunteers and Trustees receive regular safeguarding training and that a safeguarding is embedded in all aspect of the service delivery.

5 Loss of key staff. This is mitigated by having objectives and development plans in place for staff and by developing a strategy which includes performance management and development.

6 A data breach or cyber attack that causes reputational risk and/ or impacts our ability to operate. Centralised management of technology, anti-virus software and data back-ups act in mitigation.

POLICIES

Policies for all relevant areas are maintained, including safeguarding (adult and child), Health and Safety, Data Protection, EDI, Conflicts of Interest, Whistleblowing, Employee Handbook, Finance Policy and Processes and GDPR. Policies are scheduled to be annually reviewed and approved by the board at the quarterly Board meetings.

RELATED PARTIES

We work in partnership with a wide range of organisations, such as Migrant Help, Home-Start and statutory services including midwifery teams, health visitors and local authorities. There are no entities or charities we work with which are related parties.

22 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

23

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

There is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors are unaware.

The Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

Charity 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

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

AUDITORS

Third Sector Accountancy Limited were re-appointed as the charity’s auditors in 2024 and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

The Trustees’ Annual Report has been approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

Sabrina Bals

Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Happy Baby Community Date: 08/07/2025

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

AUDITORS REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Year Ended: 31st December 2024 The Happy Baby Community Charity number: 1181633

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

OPINION

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

We have audited the financial statements of The Happy Baby Community (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

In our opinion, the financial statements:

OTHER INFORMATION

The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

BASIS FOR OPINION

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information.

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 25

24

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 24, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under Section 154 of that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

CAPABILITY OF THE AUDIT IN DETECTING IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD

Based on our understanding of the charity and environment in which it operates, we identified the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to pension legislation, tax legislation, employment legislation, health and safety legislation, and other legislation specific to the industry in which the charity operates, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Reporting requirements under the Charities SORP and FRS102, and the Charities Act 2011.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to the pressure on management to achieve particular results. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at frc.org.uk/ auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

USE OF THE AUDIT REPORT

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Patrick Morello

Date: 08/07/2025

Third Sector Accountancy Limited, Statutory Auditor Holyoake House, Hanover St, Manchester M60 0AS, United Kingdom

Third Sector Accountancy Limited is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 27

26

THE ACCOUNTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING REVENUE ACCOUNT

For the year ending 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Total
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted
Note funds
funds (£) funds (£) funds (£) funds (£) funds (£)
(£)
INCOME
Donations and
3 425,429 766,117 1,191,546 189,400 603,121 792,521
legacies
Other income 4 9,963 1,762 11,952 - - -
Investment income 5 797 - 797 544 - 544
TOTAL INCOME 436,189 767,879 1,204,068 189,944 603,121 793,065
EXPENDITURE
Cost of raising funds 6 8,905 - 8,905 7,971 - 7,971
Charitable activities 6 391,385 703,796 1,095,181 156,903 555,098 712,001
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2 400,290 703,796 1.104,086 164,874 555,098 719,972
Net income/
(expenditure) for the 35,899 64,083 99,982 25,070 48,023 73,093
year
Transfers between
(49,259) 49,259 - (3,000) 3,000 -
funds
Net movement in
(13,360) 113,342 99,982 22,070 51,023 73,093
funds for the year
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought 226,197 53,686 279,727 204,127 2,663 206,790
forward
TOTAL FUNDS
212,837 167,028 379,865 226,197 53,686 279,727
CARRIED FORWARD
----- End of picture text -----

BALANCE SHEET

For the year ending 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Note 2024 (£) 2023 (£)
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 15 5,510 -
-
TOTAL FIXED ASSETS 5,510
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 13 112 -
Cash at bank and in hand 431,113 303,998
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 431,225 303,998
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling due in less than one year 14 (56,870) (24,271)
Net current assets 374,335 279,727
Total assets less current liabilities 379,865 279,727
Net assets 379,865 279,727
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Restricted income funds 167,029 53,686
Unrestricted income funds 212,836 226,041
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS 379,865 279,727
The notes on pages 30–31 form part of these accounts.
Signature Print name Date of approval (dd/mm/yyyy)
Approved by the Trustees and
signed on their behalf by: SABRINA BALS 08/07/2025
----- End of picture text -----

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

28 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 29

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For the year ending 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Note 2024 (£) 2023(£)
CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES 18 133,727 79,458
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
- -
Dividends, interest, and rents from investments
-
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (6,612)
-
CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES (6,612)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year 127,114 79,458
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 303,998 224,540
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR 431,113 303,998
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The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1: ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Happy Baby Community meets the

c. Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £ sterling.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

d. Income

a. Basis of preparation

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

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) issued in October 2019 – (Charities SORP (FRS 102), and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

b. Judgments and estimates

The trustees have made no key judgments which have a significant effect on the accounts.

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 amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ 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 of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

e. Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

f. Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g. Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

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 is classified under the following activity headings:

h. Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities.

Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity’s programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 5.

n. Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

i. Operating leases

Operating leases are leases in which the title to the assets, and the risks and rewards of ownership, remain with the lessor. Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

o. Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution ‘money purchase’ scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in the wages and salaries note. There were no outstanding contributions at the year end. The costs of the defined contribution scheme are included within support and governance costs and allocated to the funds of the charity.

j. Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets of an amount greater than £3,000 are recognised on a cost basis and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS: 17%

k. 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.

p. Donated goods and service

Donated items are not included in due after any trade discount offered. the financial statements until they Prepayments are valued at the are sold or distributed on the basis amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. that it is considered impractical to measure the fair value of donated l. Cash at bank and in hand goods. The value recognised is the estimated value to the charity of the Cash at bank and cash in hand service or goods received. includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from 2: LEGAL STATUS OF the date of acquisition or opening of THE CHARITY the deposit or similar account.

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address is disclosed on page 19.

m. 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.

30 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 31

3: INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
(£) (£) (£) (£) (£) (£)
Donation income 142,556 4,100 146,656 85,705 1,900 87,605
Grant income 282,873 762,017 1,044,890 103,695 601,221 704,916
TOTAL INCOME 425,429 766,117 1,191,546 189,400 603,121 792,521
----- End of picture text -----

Included within donation income is £66,111 which relates to donated goods including food, clothes and phones.

4: OTHER INCOME

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
(£) (£) (£) (£) (£) (£)
Other income 9,963 1,762 11,752 - - -
- - -
TOTAL INCOME 9,963 1,762 11,752
----- End of picture text -----

5: INVESTMENT INCOME

All of the charity’s investment income arises from money held in interest bearing deposit accounts. All investment income is unrestricted.

6: ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Note Charitable Cost of Charitable Cost of
Total
Activities raising funds Total (£) Activities raising
(£)
(£) (£) (£) funds (£)
Fundraising 8,905 8,905 - 7,971 7,971
Wages and salaries 206,678 - 206,678 119,466 - 119,466
Other staff costs 37,152 - 37,152 48,383 - 48,383
Direct provision 340,964 - 340,964 219,893 - 219,893
Other programme 42,243 - 42,243 23,371 - 23,371
costs
Rental costs 67,654 - 67,654 46,559 - 46,559
Bank charges 2,144 - 2,144 1,849 - 1,849
Consultancy costs 17,502 - 17,502 7,627 - 7,627
Insurance 1,400 - 1,400 1,273 - 1,273
Subscriptions 2,386 - 2,386 1,767 - 1,767
Travel costs 5,715 - 5,715 7,522 - 7,522
Support costs 9 330,558 - 330,558 215,018 - 215,018
Governance costs 9 40,786 - 40,786 19,273 - 19,273
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,095,181 8,905 1,104,086 712,001 7,971 719,972
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7: ANALYSIS OF GOVERNANCE AND SUPPORT COSTS

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Support Governance Total Support Governance Total
(£) (£) (£) (£) (£) (£)
Wages and salaries 190,780 190,780 110,276 110,276
Depreciation 1,102 1,102 - -
Consultancy costs 70,006 70,006 30,509 30,509
Volunteer Support Costs 8,070 8,070 5,289 5,289
Subcontractor costs 32,212 45,283 45,283
Travel costs 5,715 7,522 7,522
Office costs 10,734 7,922 7,922
Rental costs 11,939 8,216 8,216
Audit & Accountancy Fees 17,370 10,132 10,132
Other Professional Fees 16,484 9,109 9,109
Board expenses 6,932 32 32
TOTAL COSTS 330,558 40,786 269,958 215,018 19,273 234,290
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8: NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR

----- Start of picture text -----
This is stated after charging/(crediting): 2024 (£) 2023 (£)
Depreciation 1,102 7,710
Auditor’s remuneration – audit fees 5,000 -
Auditor’s remuneration – accounts prep fees 1,800 -
----- End of picture text -----

9: STAFF COSTS

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2024 (£) 2023 (£)
Wages and salaries 368,698 211,873
Employer's National Insurance costs 22,181 14,218
Employer's contribution to defined contribution
6,579 3,651
pension scheme
TOTAL STAFF COSTS 397,458 229,742
Allocated as follows:
Charitable activities 206,678 119,466
Support costs 190,780 14,218
397,458 229,742
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No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2023: Nil).

The average monthly number of staff employed during the period was 24 (2023: 5).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise 3 co-directors. There were no employee benefits as they are self-employed. See Note 10 for disclosure of payments.

32 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 33

10: TRUSTEE’S REMUNERATION

Aggregate donations from trustees were £Nil (2023: £Nil).

Andrena Cumella is a trustee of Happy Baby Community. The Board of Trustees engaged Andrena as consultant for 8 months as she is an expert in user led leadership, She was commissioned to support the setting up and leadership training of the Community Leaders Board. Andrena Cumella is a trustee of Happy Baby Community. She received £8,470 & £912 in relation to consultancy fees and travel and other expenses respectively. (2023: £Nil). Authority for this payment is included in the charity’s constitution.

There were no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties. The key management personnel of the charity comprise 3 co-directors. There were no employee benefits as they are self-employed. Total remuneration in the year was £23,200 (2023: £14,400), £23,174 (2023: £11,196) and £23,200 (2023: £10,800) respectively.

11: GOVERNMENT GRANTS

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

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2024 (£) 2023 (£)
National Lottery 111,631 -
-
TOTAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS 111,631
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There were no unfulfilled conditions and contingencies attaching to the grants.

15: FIXED ASSETS: TANGIBLE ASSETS

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Fixtures,
Furniture &
Total (£)
Equipment
(£)
COST
- -
At 1 January 2024
Additions 6,612 6,612
At 31 December 2024 6,612 6,612
DEPRECIATION
- -
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year 1,102 1,102
At 31 December 2024 1,102 1,102
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2024 5,510 5,510
At 31 December 2023 - -
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12: CORPORATION TAX

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

13: DEBTORS

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2024 (£) 2023 (£)
Trade Debtors - -
Prepayments 112 -
TOTAL DEBTORS 112 -
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NOTE 14: CREDITORS (AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR)

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2024 (£) 2023 (£)
Trade Creditors 10,580 24,271
Accruals 6,600 -
Deferred Income 28,000 -
Taxation and social security 10,183 -
Other creditors 1,507
TOTAL CREDITORS 56,870 24,271
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Illustration ‘Winter Baby’ printed with kind permission of Anita Klein

34 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

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35

15: ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS

15: ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS (CONTINUED)

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Balance at Transfer Balance at Balance at Transfer Balance at
Expenditure 2023 – Previous Income Expenditure
2024 1 January Income (£) between 31 December 1 January between 31 December
(£) reporting period (£) (£)
2024 (£) funds (£) 2024 (£) 2023 (£) funds (£) 2023 (£)
Migrant Helpline 566 240,071 (214,181) 1,545 - Migrant Helpline - 152,018 (151,452) - 566
The National Lottery 18,162 111,631 (113,224) - 16,569 Healthy London - 146,314 (146,314) - -
City Bridge Trust 7,709 60,000 (66,369) - 1,340 National Lottery - 89,084 (70,922) - 18,162
Lifelines International - 55,332 (67,599) 13,309 1,042 City Bridge Trust - 60,000 (52,291) - 7,709
The Smallwood Trust (27,115) 25,230 (25,978) 27,863 - Lifelines International - 42,497 (42,497) - -
BBC Children in Need - 32,657 (31,705) - 952 The Smallwood Trust - 10,000 (37,115) - (27,115)
Purley Food Hub 142 6,230 (6,197) - 175 Children in Need - 32,649 (32,649) - -
KPMG Foundation 28,407 35,015 (36,560) - 26,861 Purley Food Hub 213 3,941 (4,012) - 142
MOPAC 25,780 - (25,780) - - KPMG Foundation - 30,000 (1,593) - 28,407
Legacy Health and Equity 5,000 - - - 5,000 MOPAC - 29,880 (4,100) - 25,780
Partnership
Legacy Health and Equity Partnership - 5,000 - - 5,000
The London Churches
- 1,750 (1,771) (21) -
Refugee Fund London Churches Refugee Fund 1,500 1,900 (3,400) - -
The Clarkson Foundation - 29,160 (18,131) - 11,029 Other 1,862 - (9,827) 3,000 (4,965)
Croydon Almshouses - 15,000 (7,964) - 7,036 TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS 3,575 603,283 (556,172) 3,000 53,686
Cash for Kids - 3,000 (3,000) - -
NAME OF RESTRICTED FUND Description and Purpose of Fund
Garfield Weston
- 25,000 (5,276) - 19,724
Foundation Migrant Help The Perinatal program – Support of pregnant mums
The National Lottery The Crawley Community + The Perinatal program
The Masonic Charitable
Foundation - 20,000 - - 20,000 City Bridge Trust Welfare, Education and the Listening service
Lifelines International The Acton Community
Reigate and Banstead - 6,702 (8,329) 1,627 - The Smallwood Trust The support of the referrals team t
Council
BBC Children In Need The Childrens Team and their development
The Rayne Foundation - 30,000 (13,404) - 16,596 Purley Food Hub Food for the community groups
The KPMG Foundation The Every Child Can Thrive program of activities
The Cherry Family 20,000 (13,095) - 6,905 MOPAC Cost of living for the staff
Foundation
Legacy Health and Equity Partnership The London Community groups
The Mercers Company 64,632 (36,811) - 27,821 The London Church Refugee Fund Food and hospital bags for the community groups
The Clarkson Foundation Hospital bags and Emergency perinatal support
Sport England 14,400 (8,421) - 5,979 Croydon Alms-houses The Thornton heath Community
Other (4,965) 71 - 4,894 - Cash for Kids Support for children with special needs
Garfield Weston Foundation London Community groups – core costs
TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS 53,686 767,879 (703,796) 49,259 167,029 The Masonic CT The Every Child Can Thrive program of activities
The Rayne Foundation The Every Child Can Thrive program of activities
The Cherry Foundation Community Leadership program
The Mercers Company Supporting the well-being of the community members
Sport England Sports, Zumba and yoga for the community members
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37

16: ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENT IN GROUP UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

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Transfer
Balance at Balance at
Income Expenditure between
1 January 31 December
(£) (£) funds
(£) (£)
(£)
2024 – Current reporting period
General fund 226,041 436,039 (395,246) (54,259) 212,575
TOTAL GENERAL FUNDS 226,041 436,039 (395,246) (54,259) 212,575
Hardship Fund - 305 (5,044) 5,000 261
TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS - 305 (5,044) 5,000 261
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 226,041 436,344 (400,290) (49,259) 212,836
2023 – Previous reporting period
General fund 203,971 189,944 (164,874) (3,000) 226,041
TOTAL GENERAL FUNDS 203,971 189,944 (164,874) (3,000) 226,041
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS - - - - -
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 203,971 189,944 (164,874) (3,000) 226,041
NAME OF UNRESTRICTED FUND DESCRIPTION, NATURE AND PURPOSES OF THE FUND
General Fund The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds
17: ANALYSIS OF GROUP NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
General Designated Restricted Total funds
funds (£) funds (£) funds (£) (£)
2024 – Current reporting period
Tangible fixed assets 5,510 - - 5,510
Net current assets/(liabilities) 207,065 261 167,029 374,355
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 2024 212,575 261 167,029 379,865
2023 – Previous reporting period
Tangible fixed assets - - - -
Net current assets/(liabilities) 226,041 - 53,686 279,727
-
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 226,041 53,686 279,727
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NOTE 18: RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

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Net income/(expenditure) for the year
2024 (£) 2023 (£)
Adjustments for:
Net income/(expenditure) for the year 99,982 73,093
Adjustments for:
Depreciation 1,102 -
Other movement 156 -
-
Decrease/(increase) in debtors (112)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 32,599 6,365
NET CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES 133,727 79,458
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THANK YOU With heartfelt gratitude...

To every person who has walked alongside us on this journey – our donors, partners, supporters, and friends – we extend our most profound gratitude.

you dared to care. Your contributions, whether through funding, expertise, advocacy, or simply spreading the word, have created ripples of hope that extend far beyond what you may ever see.

In a world that too often turns away from suffering, you chose to look directly at it. In a society that frequently asks “why help?”, you simply asked “how can I help more?” Your belief in our mission has transformed possibility into reality for thousands of vulnerable women and children seeking safety and dignity in the UK.

The Happy Baby Community exists in the space between what is and what could be. Thanks to you, we continue to bridge that gap, offering not just services but genuine human connection to those who have been denied both.

For believing in our vision when others couldn’t see it, for sustaining our work when challenges mounted, and for championing the dignity of every woman and child who comes through our doors – we thank you from the depths of our hearts.

When women arrive at our door having experienced the darkest aspects of humanity – trafficking, violence, exploitation – your support enables us to offer the brightest expressions of humanity in return: genuine compassion, unconditional acceptance, and the warm embrace of community.

You have helped us prove that love is the most powerful response to suffering – and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Every baby clothed, every mother empowered, every family housed, every smile rekindled – these moments of transformation exist because

With deepest appreciation, The Happy Baby Community Family

38 HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024

HAPPY BABY COMMUNITY Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for Year Ending December 2024 39

Report design by oakshed.co.uk

OUR PARTNERS

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Croydon
Methodist Circuit
Run by:
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