## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2025** 

**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER:** 07912968 (England and Wales) 

**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER:** 1184068 

## **Contents** 

|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|||
||**Page**|
|Legal and Administrative Information|3|
|Report of the Trustees|4 to 11|
|Independent Examiner's Report|12|
|Statement of Financial Activities|13|
|Statement of Financial Position|14|
|Notes to the Accounts|15 to 19|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|20|





## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** 

||**INFORMATION**|
|---|---|
|||
|**Chairman Board of**<br>**Trustees:**|Miss Hawa Daboh Sesay|
|**Other Trustee Members:**|Mbalu Mansaray|
||Alhaji T K Sesay|
||Mariatu Davies|
|**Chief Executive Officer:**|Hawa D Sesay|
|**Registered Company**<br>**Number**|07912968 (England and Wales)|
|**Registered Charity**<br>**Number**|1184068|
|**Registered Office:**|14 Egbert House, Homerton Road, Hackney, London, E9 5QF|
|**Independent Examiner**|Tamba Koroma, FCCA, Teim Accountants, The Print House, 18 Ashwin<br>Street, London, E8 3DL|
|**Bankers:**|Barclays Bank, London, E13 9PL|





## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2025. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS102), Effective 1 January 2015. 

Established 1st September 2009, Hawa Trust Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. Hawa Trust is committed to eradicating FGM in the UK, especially among African, Asian and Arab communities. 

Girls and young women from African communities are normally taken to Africa to undergo FGM. This is a dangerous practice which has devastating physical, psychological and emotional effects on the victims. We also address issues relating to HIV and AIDS, and domestic violence. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

The Charity is controlled by its governing document, articles of association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. 

## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** 

The legal responsibility for the election of new trustees to Hawa Trust lies with the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Board recognises that it has only limited control over the election of trustees at the AGM. It is accepted that Hawa Trust members should be able to elect people to the Board who they believe will best represent their interests. However, the existing Board members also have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the organisation in terms of governance are met by those people elected. The Board seeks to do this by adopting a system of recommending Trustee appointments to the membership using the steps detailed below. 

The membership will then decide to elect a recommended candidate or to appoint another person to the board. Trustees can delegate some aspects of recruitment of Trustees to Management, but they ensure that they retain overall responsibility and control of the recruitment, selection and induction processes. In recruiting new trustees, the existing trustees and management act in the best interests of Hawa Trust and in accordance with the Charity Commission directives as laid out in CC30. 

The Trustees are required to be meeting regularly in order to provide oversight and support to the charity as well as work with the staff team to achieve our project outcomes for the improvement of the welfare of our beneficiaries. Over the past year we have met at times online in order to accommodate some trustees who had travelled and at other times at the new office 



of the charity. These meetings have involved accepting reports from the staff team, responding to queries from funders, making future plans for the charity, exploring partnerships for more effective working, and examining the charity’s financial situation so as to provide advice on improving our financial performance. 

As the demand for our services is growing due to the cost-of-living crisis and the needs of our deprived women beneficiaries, we have discussed the possibility of increasing our staff strength by hiring part-time staff and more volunteers. However, because of financial constraints, some of these plans could not be implemented. 

## **Risk management** 

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees confirm that they regularly review the significant risks facing the Charity and have systems and procedures in place to mitigate against those risks. The risk policy has adopted a risk mapping methodology that is applied to each identified risk, assessing the likelihood of it occurring and the severity of the impact of occurrence on the Charity. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day monitoring of risk and reporting to the Trustees. 

## **Induction and training of new trustees** 

All trustees are expected to attend: 

- Volunteer induction training 

- Trustee induction session 

- Any other update training of relevance to Board members. 

As part of the induction process, all trustees receive copies of the following: 

- Outline of current board’s skills and experience 

- A copy of the previous year's Annual Report and Financial Report 

- A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (governing document) 

- A copy of the previous Board meeting minutes (once agreement for appointment has been made by the Trustees) 

- Charity Commission CC3 - The essential trustee: What you need to know 

- Charity Commission CC60 - The Hallmarks of an Effective Charity 

- Copies of the trustee handbook with all current up-to-date policies 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

Our charity’s objectives include: 

- 1 To protect and preserve the physical and mental health of women, and girls from BME communities in particular by: 

   - a) Campaigning to raise awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the violence against women which arises as a result of the practice of FGM including child marriage, child trafficking and domestic violence; 

   - b) Providing support and assistance to deal with the challenges which women and girls face relating to and resulting from FGM, HIV/AIDS and domestic violence; 

This past year we have worked diligently to support our beneficiaries thanks to the help of several funders, and provided resources for them to cope with their various VAWG and poverty challenges. 

## **Public Benefit** 

To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. For the purpose of this clause, "socially excluded" means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: youth or old age, ill health (physical or mental), race, and disability, ethnic origin, religion, relationship and family breakdown. 

Hawa Trust sensitises the local community through campaigns, trains volunteers, parents and carers, organises conferences, seminars and workshops, collaborates with community members, churches, mosques and cultural centres, and advocates for victims and lobby leaders and MPs. 

We also provide support to FGM and DV victims through referrals, support and a helpline. We organise drama, free yoga sessions, cultural evenings, women’s meetings, girls support meetings, social media events, debates and information evenings especially for young people. 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

## **Main Activities** 

Over the past year we engaged in the following main activities: 

## **One to One Support for Victims of FGM and Domestic Violence (DV).** 

This is one of our main activities and is much in demand over the years. We have seen that because of the cost of living crisis and other challenges families and couples face there has been an increase in levels of Domestic Violence (DV) and FGM. We received over 65 calls and referrals at our offices for help from local agencies, individuals, charities and concerned 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** 

## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

families. With support from our funders, we had both remote and in-person one-to-one sessions with victims and those at risk. As per our constitution, we provide VAWG victims and those most at risk with skills, reporting options and safe spaces where they can regain confidence, learn new skills, discover resilience and are referred for specialist support. As a result, 51 were referred for housing, education, benefits, immigration and DE infibulation to relevant medical establishments. 

## **Monthly women’s meetings: “You Are Not Alone”** 

While the above One to One Support for FGM and DV victims is good, it is not enough; they need sessions to meet in groups and engage with victims and peers going through similar experiences. We therefore organise monthly special meetings for vulnerable women victims and those at risk of FGM and DV at our office. It is designed to provide a safe space for them to express their experiences, seek advice and make connections with people facing similar challenges. In addition, the sessions have been enriched by activities, cooking sessions, benefit advice and practical talks by various public health, medical and social work professionals on a wide range of topics including the law and DV, menopause, reporting abuse, benefits, diabetes, healthy eating, seeking help, rights and personal development. Around 70 FGM and DV survivors benefited from our monthly women’s support sessions. 

## **Physical and mental exercises: Free yoga classes for vulnerable BAME women** 

This is one of our most popular and well-known activities. These weekly yoga exercise classes for victims and those at risk of FGM and DV have been going on for years in Hackney. Victims of DV and FGM really need mental and emotional resilience and stamina so that they can recover from abuse. We also provide refreshment and transportation for vulnerable women to enable them to attend the exercise classes. We interviewed participants and the feedback has been very positive. They have stated the physical, mental and emotional benefits they have experienced. A total of 80 women gained physical and mental resilience through our free yoga and exercise classes. Feedback from questionnaires and interviews showed that 88% had increased confidence, better sleep, less stress and less FGM and DV flashbacks. Many did not need to go to hospital for minor ailments. 

## **Health Awareness raising** 

The charity received funding to raise awareness on the prevention and transmission of various illnesses including mpox, as well as on the need for all to take vaccines for seasonal ailments like flu and covid-19. Our public awareness raising including working in the streets, roundabouts, estates, markets and mosques. We engaged especially with Black and Caribbean youths to dispel myths about the diseases which are being spread on social media. We produced information in local languages of migrants who had low literacy levels and worked alongside the clinics. We reached out also to undocumented migrants who were afraid to visit clinics because of their immigration status. These outreaches went in addition to our normal services on DV and FGM. Working with the local mosques and with the imams and local leaders proved to be very rewarding. 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

A key health vulnerability among black and Caribbean communities is high blood pressure, mainly due to poor diet and lifestyle factors. We have worked with Public Health England to monitor blood pressure levels and introduce activities to help reduce such high levels. 

One of the important tools we use is our WhatsApp group for vulnerable women. This platform brings together women from a wide variety of backgrounds and we inform them of the latest news on the virus, FGM and DV. We use the platform to announce activities and also to eliminate many myths that people have about various health and social issues. 

## **Food and practical support** 

We have realised that there is a need to provide holistic support for our beneficiaries. In addition to our services, we need to provide food and similar practical support for them. We have been receiving funding to provide nutritional support for vulnerable women to improve their nutrition and health levels, as well as reduce the impact of domestic violence and neglect. As a result, we have bulk purchased food and other household items, which our vulnerable beneficiaries have stated that they are in desperate need of: these have included dry rice, vegetable oil, tin tomatoes, sardines, and other tinned products. With the help of volunteers, we distribute these items to vulnerable immigrant BAME women both at our office, Vi Forester Community Centre, and at the homes of the elderly and disabled women. These provisions are advertised through leaflets in the community and on our social media platforms, including our WhatsApp group, where many vulnerable BAME women are members. Feedback has shown that the overwhelming majority welcome the food support but the need is great and increasing. 

## **Training and supporting our Community Champions** 

Our great work in the community cannot be accomplished without our community champions. We provide regular training and refresher sessions for them on FGM, DV and mpox and Covid infections. They are the ones who go into the communities with leaflets to raise awareness with people. We especially targeted the large number of myths and misinformation going on about health and infections spread among our Black communities through platforms like TikTok and Facebook. 

To support our champions and communities, we used information from Hackney Public Health and government sources to counter such misinformation, and we provided material in accessible languages for migrants who had low literacy levels. 

In order to raise awareness about harmful practices and VAWG, we have gone into churches, mosques, markets and cultural centres and answered questions raised, especially by Black youths who are very sceptical. We also send our volunteers and community champions to visit the disabled and elderly; they have helped them in medication collection as well as reminding them to take their medication. They have helped those who qualify to access benefits like housing and fuel allowance, and made referrals to the council and other local agencies. 



## **Hawa Trust Limited Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 31 January 2025** 

## **AWARDS** 

Our work has been recognised through various awards over the past year. These include: 

- The award of MBE to our Executive Director Madam Hawa Sesay during the King’s New Years honours. 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Financial position** 

The charity's financial position has seen a positive turnaround this year. The charity ended the year with net assets of £360.41, a significant improvement from the restated opening deficit of £2,382.00. This represents a net increase in funds of £2,742.41 for the year. 

## **Reserves policy** 

The trustees aim to hold reserves equivalent to three months of operating expenditure. At the year end, the charity held free reserves of £360.41. While this is below the target level, the trustees are actively working on fundraising strategies to build reserves to a more sustainable level in the coming year. 

## **ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:** 

........................................................... 

Miss Hawa Daboh Sesay - Trustee 

Date: ...29/11/25........................ 



## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HAWA TRUST LIMITED** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 January 2025. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). 

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: 

- 2 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 

- 3 the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- 4 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or 

- 5 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)]. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


........................................................... 

Tamba Koroma, FCCA 

Teim Accountants The Print House 18 Ashwin Street London, E8 3DL Date: ...28 November 2025..... 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**|**Restricted**<br>**funds**|**Total**<br>**funds 2025**|**Total**<br>**funds 2024**|
||£|£|£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**<br>**FROM**|||||
|Donations and legacies|0|0|0|0|
|Charitable activities|46,558|0|46,558|88,360|
|**Total**|**46,558**|**0**|**46,558**|**88,360**|
|**EXPENDITURE ON**|||||
|Charitable activities|46,070|0|46,070|94,281|
|**Total**|**46,070**|**0**|**46,070**|**94,281**|
|**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|**488**|**0**|**488**|**(5,921)**|
|**Transfers between funds (P.Y.A.)**|2,254|0|2,254|0|
|**Net movement in funds**|**2,742**|**0**|**2,742**|**(5,921)**|
|**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**|||||
|Total funds brought forward|(2,382)|0|(2,382)|2,382|
|**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**<br>**FORWARD**|**360**|**0**|**360**|**(2,382)**|





## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 JANUARY 2025** 

||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**|**Restricted**<br>**funds**|**Total funds**<br>**2025**|**Total funds**<br>**2024**|
||£|£|£|£|
|**FIXED ASSETS**|||||
|Tangible assets|109|0|109|109|
|**Total fixed assets**|**109**|**0**|**109**|**109**|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**|||||
|Cash at bank and in hand|1,661|0|1,661|613|
|**Total current assets**|**1,661**|**0**|**1,661**|**613**|
|**CREDITORS**|||||
|Amounts falling due within one<br>year|(1,410)|0|(1,410)|(1,660)|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|**251**|**0**|**251**|**(1,047)**|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS**<br>**CURRENT LIABILITIES**|**360**|**0**|**360**|**(938)**|
|**NET ASSETS**|**360**|**0**|**360**|**(938)**|
|**FUNDS**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|360|0|360|(2,382)|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|**360**|**0**|**360**|**(2,382)**|





## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **a) Basis of preparing the financial statements** 

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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) (effective 1 January 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Companies Act 2006. 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 

## **b) Income** 

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

## **c) Expenditure** 

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. 

## **d) Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 

Computer equipment - 25% on cost 

## **e) Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

## **f) Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. 

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. 

## **2. GRANT INCOME** 

|**2. GRANT INCOME**|||
|---|---|---|
||||
||**2025**|**2024**|
||£|£|
|Grants|46,558|88,360|
|**Total**|**46,558**|**88,360**|



## **3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS** 

||||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||£|£|
|Donation|100|-|
|Event costs|20,668|65,110|
|Purchases|780|-|
|Volunteer costs|16,442|25,249|
|**Total**|**37,990**|**90,359**|





## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

## **4. GOVERNANCE COSTS** 

|**4. GOVERNANCE COSTS**|||
|---|---|---|
||||
||**2025**|**2024**|
||£|£|
|Accountancy fees|1,500|1,650|
|Advertising and PR|1,130|-|
|Bank charges|313|280|
|Interest - bank|2|-|
|Rent|2,870|-|
|Stationery and printing|160|1,380|
|Telephone and internet|1,785|462|
|Travel and subsistence|320|150|
|**Total**|**8,080**|**3,922**|



## **5. PRIOR YEAR ADJUSTMENT** 

A prior year adjustment of £2,254.27 has been made to restate the opening reserves. The previously reported closing reserve for 2024 was a surplus of £2,382; however, the correct position based on the balance sheet was a deficit of £2,382. This adjustment corrects for the historical discrepancy and aligns the opening funds with the true financial position of the charity. 



## **HAWA TRUST LIMITED DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025** 

||||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Grants|46,558|88,360|
|**Total incoming resources**|**46,558**|**88,360**|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Donation|100|-|
|Event costs|20,668|65,110|
|Purchases|780|-|
|Volunteer costs|16,442|25,249|
|**Total charitable activities**|**37,990**|**90,359**|
|**Governance costs**|||
|Accountancy fees|1,500|1,650|
|Advertising and PR|1,130|-|





||||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|Bank charges|313|280|
|Interest - bank|2|-|
|Rent|2,870|-|
|Stationery and printing|160|1,380|
|Telephone and internet|1,785|462|
|Travel and subsistence|320|150|
|**Total governance costs**|**8,080**|**3,922**|
|**Total resources expended**|**46,070**|**94,281**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|**488**|**(5,921)**|