2020-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] January 2020 to 31[st] December 2020

Born Equal 1182740

During this reporting period Born Equal, like all other charitable organisations in the UK and across the world, was impacted by the unpredicted and unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused immeasurable anxiety, pain and exacerbated existing inequalities all over the world. Born Equal would like to pay tribute to those civil society organisations involved in the direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a volunteer led organisation, all trustees in their professional capacity have been involved in the response to the pandemic in the UK, from civil service policy work to food distribution. Although this has undoubtedly impacted shortterm on Born Equal’s development as a new charity, Born Equal remains confident that the skills and experienced gained by the Trustees during this period will be invaluable to Born Equal’s future needs.

Born Equal decided to stay out of direct delivery and fundraising whilst important causes compete within that market and face to face activity is limited by social distancing restrictions.

Born Equal has continued to focus on compliance and strategic planning to ensure the most effective delivery of our work, both financially and for the beneficiaries.

Born Equal were proud to launch the first round of our Small Grants Scheme which invited applications from small international civil society organisations. Three grant applications were successful, two focused on advocacy for children’s rights in the Niger Delta and one to support street children. Born Equal is looking forward to hearing how these projects progress into 2021.

As we move forwards, Born Equal will re-evaluate its approach, strategy and priorities in light of the new circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a charity that supports other charities, we recognise the importance of charity in the recovery phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. We recognise that individuals will likely have less disposable income, events will be more difficult to hold, and individuals will re-evaluate their own priorities. We intend to continue to help the sector, and the wider public, wherever possible.

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

(1)The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by: (a) The elimination of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion; (b) Advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity; (c) Promoting activities to foster understanding between people from these diverse backgrounds; (d) Cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity. (2)The prevention or relief of poverty for the public benefit anywhere in the world. (3)The promotion of human rights for the public benefit throughout the world by all or any of the following means: (a) Monitoring abuses of human rights; (b) Obtaining redress for the victims of human rights abuse; (c) Relieving need among the victims of human rights abuse; (d) Research into human rights issues; (e) Providing technical advice to government and others on human rights matters; (f) Contributing to the sound administration of human rights alw; (g) Commenting on proposed human rights legislation; (h) Raising awareness of human rights issues; (i) Promoting public support for human rights (j) Promoting respect for human rights amongst individuals and corporations; (k) International advocacy of human rights; (l) Eliminating infringements of human rights.

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.

This reporting period has seen the launch of the first round of funding under Born Equal’s Small Grants Scheme. Three grant applications were successful; support to a street child centre which offers housing, sanitation, education and feeding; an advocacy project about sexual violence experienced by children; and a research and advocacy project about gender inequality and gender-basedviolence. These projects are due to

conclude in 2021 and Born Equal looks forward to hearing about the outcomes of these projects. Born Equal is a learning focused organisation and intends to conduct a thorough review of the first phase of the Small Grants Scheme. It is essential that the Scheme is efficient and continues to be of value to grant recipients and continue to contribute to Born Equal’s public benefit. One of Born Equal’s Trustees has continued to sit on the steering group for the Stop Child Witchcraft Accusations Coalition (SCWA). During this reporting period, SCWA has continued to develop training materials for church leaders on responding to witchcraft accusations against children, evaluated training previously delivered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, planned future training in the Niger Delta, and delivered online discussion forums for practitioners across the world.

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

Yes, Born Equal Trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission regarding charitable activity being completed for public benefit. Trustees have all read the guidance and are committed to keeping up-to-date with this guidance on an annual basis, or sooner where new guidance is issued. This is a regular area of discussion in Board of Trustee meetings.

Achievements and Performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.

Small Grants Scheme: This reporting period has seen the launch of the first round of funding under Born Equal’s Small Grants Scheme. Three grant applications were successful; support to a street child centre which offers housing, sanitation, education and feeding; an advocacy project about sexual violence experienced by children; and a research and advocacy project about gender inequality and gender-based violence. Although each project has different objectives and activities, the beneficiaries of all projects are similar. All projects are based in the Niger Delta where there is a pandemic of violence against children, gender based- violence and street-connected children. Children are at the heart of all three projects and are both directly and indirectly supported by the projects. In Akwa Ibom, Nigeria the new Akwa Ibom State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020 has been enacted. This is an important milestone for the advancement of child rights in the region. Born Equal’s Small Grants Scheme has supported a project which will raise awareness of this new law amongst teenagers. The Small Grants Scheme has also supported a Centre that provides essential basic services for children who were living on the streets. The work of this Centre is particularly vital because it supports children who have been accused of witchcraft and may have suffered physical and emotional abuse as a result. Coupled with Born Equal’s work with SCWA, Born Equal is continuing to support some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	The Charity has no financial liabilities and has little financial expenditure on administrative costs. Born Equal is structured with voluntary labour at the heart of the organisation. This means that Born Equal can maximise the funds donated to it for direct charitable purposes. Although the Trustees appreciate that Born Equal needs to raise additional funds to support its work there is no present concern that the Charity’s financial position will prevent the delivery of our charitable aims.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	For at least the next two years, the Trustees do not anticipate that Born Equal will commit itself to regular financial liabilities and therefore there is no present need to establish a reserve. No reserves held.
Amount of reserves held	£0
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Born Equal has no anticipated financial liabilities for the next 12 months. Therefore, there is no current requirement to build up reserves. The Charity’s intention is to build reserves over the next 5 years to support the grant giving programme to offset against deficit in expected income or unexpected costs. At present, the Trustees do not consider there to be a financial risk in holding zero reserves. This will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Details of fund materially indeficit	The Charity does not hold any funds materially in deficit.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	The Trustees consider that there are no uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Structure, Governance and Management

Type of governing document	Constitution
How is the charity constituted?	Born Equal has been established as a CIO with Charitable purposes
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	As part of our constitution the Trustees have agreed that a Chair and Treasurer will be elected on an annual basis with this being agreed and minuted by the Trustees at one of their standard meetings, this will typically be the AGM. We will recruit/select new Trustees based on the needs of the Charity and this will be informed by the Advisory panel when this is established.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Born Equal
Other name the charity uses	None
Registered charity number	1182740
Charity’s principal address	62 Market Street Lancaster LA1 1HP

Names of the trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
Lisa Atkinson	Chair
Emilie Secker
Aimee Smith	Treasurer
Beverley Reid (resigned 01/12/2020)		01/01/2020 – 01/12/2020

Born Equal has no Corporate Trustees, no Director and no paid staff. No trustees hold title to property belonging to the charity.

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	None
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	n/a
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	n/a

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

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Signature
Full name Lisa Atkinson
Position Chair
Date
27/10/2021
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	Born Equal	Born Equal	Born Equal	1182746	1182746
	Receipts and payments accounts
	For the period from	01/01/2020	To		31/12/2020
		Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -
		-	-		841
		-	-		195
		-	-		-
		-	-		-
		-	-		-
		-	-		-
		-	-		-
		-	-		-
		-	-		1,036

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).

None		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
	Sub total	-		-		-		-		-
	Total receipts	1,036		-		-		1,036		1,078
A3 Payments
Small Grants Scheme
		512		-		-		512		-
International Day for Street
Children (prior to Charity
Registration)		-		-		-		-		255
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-
		-		-		-		-		-

Sub total	512		-		-		512		255

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)

None
	-		-		-		-
	-		-		-		-
Sub total
	-		-		-		-			-
Total payments	512		-		-		512			255
Net of receipts/(payments)
	524		-		-			524		824
A5 Transfers between funds
	-		-		-		-			-
A6 Cash funds last year end
	824		-		-		824			-
Cash funds this year end
	1,348		-		-		1,348			824

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Endowment funds Categories Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £

B1 Cash funds All cash funds 1,348 - - - - - - - - Total cash funds 1,348 - - (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) OK OK OK Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Endowment funds Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ B2 Other monetary assets None Fund to Current Cost which asset value (optional) Details belongs (optional) B3 Investment assets None -

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- -
- -
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Fund to Current
Cost
which asset value
(optional)
Details belongs (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the None
- -
charity’s own use
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
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Fund to Amount due When due which (optional) (optional) liability Details relates B5 Liabilities None -

Signed by two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature		Print Name		Date of approval
		Lisa Atkinson (Chair)		27/10/2021
		Aimee Smith (Treasurer)		27/10/2021