2022 ANNUAL REPORT i Ip ZENA. LAUNCH PAD ## From the CoFounders Our 2022 Graduates 2022 represented our 6th year of operations in Kamuli and we were proud to end the year with our biggest graduation ceremony yet as we celebrated 20 women in their new businesses. In a year marked with skyrocketing inflation rates, irregular rainy seasons and an Ebola outbreak, the economic empowerment of rural women is more needed and more of an opportunity than ever. Story after story of our past graduates continues to roll in; women receiving local leadership positions, employing new members of staff, and building property with their earnings. We believe passionately in the strength of our model and are seeing it work powerfully. We are so thankful to all who have supported us in this work. Caragh and Loren ## Our Mission To economically empower women to have the power to rewrite stories of extreme poverty and gender inequality. ## Our Model We provide women experiencing extreme poverty with ONE YEAR of safe employment alongside access to tools for income generation, holistic development, and community support. Upon graduation, Zena women have the skills and capital to launch income generating activities and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. # Accounts for the Zena Launchpad for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 Registered charity number: 1185868 CIO: CE019231 Report of the trustees for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31st December 2022 The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31st December 2022. These financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (Charities SDRP (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011). Reference and Administrative Information Officers for the period: Jane Pleace Peter Tibigambwa Sarah Gough (Chair) Sebastian Mitchell Registered office: 3 Avenue Gardens, Teddington, TW11 0BH Bank: CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Independent examiner: Andrew Gardner 7 The Fairway Lake Isle of Wight PO36 9EE ## Structure, Governance and Management The Zena Launchpad is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by its Foundation document dated 6th November 2020. New Trustees are appointed by the existing Board of Trustees on the basis of their expertise and involvement in furthering the mission and vision of the charity. The Board of Trustees meets quarterly to oversee the vision and strategies of the charity. There were no salaried members of staff in 2022. ## Public Benefit The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding the activities undertaken by the Charity in the period. The Trustees are satisfied that the information provided in the report and accounts meets the public benefit reporting requirements. ## A One Year Holistic Launch Pad At the Zena Launch Pad we believe that extreme poverty is not an exclusively economic problem, but is symptomatic of wider systemic issues. We aim to provide the following 3 components for a holistic launch pad towards financial freedom. Capital: through a monthly salary while creating our jewellery, 40% puts them and their families above the poverty line while 60% is saved each month towards start up capital for their own business upon graduation. Confidence: Zena women access our holistic curriculum of education streams including literacy, business education, leadership, digital literacy, agricultural training and counselling. Community: Poverty is created not only by a lack of financial resources but by a lack of networks of support. Zena women belong to a peer group who journey together and graduate together. The Zena Launch Pad is designed to foster friendships that create belonging, personal value and security. **----- Start of picture text -----**
2. Studio training
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4. Personal mentorship and goal setting 6. Graduation and personal business launch 1.Interview 3. Employed by Zena and starts saving 60% of salary each month **----- Start of picture text -----**
5. Business and skills training
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7. Alumni community support ## New Programme: Digital Literacy In 2022 we kicked off a new stream of educational programming for our curriculum: Digital Literacy. One of the biggest prevailing barriers to breaking the poverty cycle is the increasing tech gap experienced by the rural poor in Uganda. Our training programme supports the Zena women in using emails, typing, using the internet and accessing online financial support. Confidence in digital communications is critical for economically empowered women in Kamuli. ## Lydia's Story Lydia accessed digital literacy classes at the Zena HQ this year and graduated to start her juice factory in Autumn 2022. In order to sell her tamarind juice to wholesalers, she needed to secure the Ugandan Health Authority verification mark on her labels to certify that her production was inline with national health and hygiene standards. Lydia was able to use her email address and newly found confidence with digital communication to file the correct documents with the Health Authority and obtain the certifying mark for her labels. She is now able to sell her juice to wholesalers in Kamuli and the surrounding areas. Vastly increasing her market access. Congratulations Lydia! ## New Programme: Agricultural Training The economic stability of rural communities is inextricably connected to their harvests and the agricultural activities they carry out on the land. Women often bear the responsibility and role of maximising economic productivity of their gardens and any livestock. These are critical financial assets for rural families. In 2022 we began our partnership with ISU (Iowa State University) to implement a practical training course on agricultural best practices to increase economic yield from household agricultural activities. We have started an HQ garden farm and have even been eating some of the produce in our lunches! ## Beneficiary to Benefactor At Zena we believe that the best placed individuals to create transformation in communities experiencing systemic injustices are those who are typically marginalised within them. We believe rural women have the power to create jobs, build livelihoods, educate the next generation and turn the tide on gender inequality. The Zena women are not the beneficiaries, but the benefactors. The change starts with them. ## Rachel's Story Rachel graduated in 2020 to start her tailoring studio with her savings from Zena. Due to a specific embroidery machine Rachel was able to purchase, she attracted contracts from local primary schools as her studio could embroider the logos. Rachel has been able to grow her studio and has recently been contracted by a large International NGO to train a group of vulnerable women in tailoring skills in her community. Rachel is excited to provide support and training to a wider group of women. She is a change-maker for her own community. ## The Numbers 67 WOMEN SUPPORTED 402 INDIVIDUALS OUT OF POVERTY 42 BUSINESSES STARTED 86% BUSINESSES MADE IT PAST 1ST BIRTHDAY 38 WOMEN ACCESSED LITERACY CLASSES 100% WOMEN EXPERIENCE RAISE IN HOUSEHOLD INCOME ## Monica's Story "Before I joined Zena I had a very negative view of life and of myself. But now I know that I am a business woman. I am so excited by business foundations, things I have learned here, like customer segmentation and the SWOT analysis. I learned that I am good at creative business strategy and I can foster that mindset in myself and others. In the past two years with Zena I have bought land and I am building a house of my own, all with my own money. ANYTHING is possible in life. When I first came to Zena I hated myself so much that I couldn't even stand to be around other people. Now, life is filled with people and laughter. I am no longer tired of the world. This community has changed my life. I Thank you for loving me and believing I could be someone when I didn't even believe it myself." ## Financial ## Review The Trustees have prepared accounts for The Zena Launchpad in accordance with the requirements of the SORP of best accounting practice. ## Review of the year The Zena Launchpad raised income of £58,446 from donations during 2022. Our expenditure was £101,068 so we used some of our general fund reserves which had grown quite large by the end of 2021. ## Income and Expenditure The Zena Launchpad relies on donations for its source of funding. Most of the donations came from individuals and we are grateful to the broadening group of churches, trusts and businesses joining in to support our innovative approach. Most fundraising was undertaken by the trustees and volunteers with some support of professional grant proposal writers. The costs of raising funds amounted to £600. All the grants made by The Zena Launch Pad were to Zena Uganda (an International NGO) to support their delivery of the programmatic work of training women as entrepreneurs. ## Reserves policy and balance sheet The Zena Launchpad is the primary funder of the entrepreneurial training scheme at Zena Uganda. The women commit to the programme of 12 months. As our income is mostly from lump sums rather than regular giving, we aim to keep over 6 months running costs of that programme in reserve to ensure all the women who join can finish the programme. ## Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Zena Launchpad I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Zena Launchpad (‘the Trust’) for the year ended 31st December 2022. ## Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Scope of Examination To enable my examination, I have been provided with detailed Excel spreadsheets containing all relevant accounting records, bank statements, supporting records and a copy of the draft Statutory Accounts. The examination of accounts has included the following actions – - 1.Checking the consistency of records contained on the Excel spreadsheets, that detailed expenditure and income statements reconcile with the accounts summary. - 2.Reconciliation of accounting records to bank statements. The bank balance was agreed to the annual accounts statement. - 3.A sample of invoices from the accounting records were examined and were matched to bank statement entries. - 4.Gift aid submissions were examined and matched to receipts from HMRC. ## Independent examiner’s statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept by the Trust in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts did not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. 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. 7 The Fairway, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 9EE 14th April 2023 ## Statement of Financial Activities for the period from 1 January 2022 to 31st December 2022 ## Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2022 The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102. These accounts were approved by the trustees on 14th April 2023 and were signed on its behalf by: Sarah Gough (Chair) ## Notes to the accounts of the Zena Launchpad for the period 1 January 2022 to 31st December 2022 ## 1. Accounting Policies The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the charity’s accounts ## Basis of preparation The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to the accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Accounting Practice FRS 102 and with the Charities Act 2011. ## Incoming resources The accounts are prepared on the accruals basis of accounting: income is recognised when receivable, except for donations of all kinds that are recognised when received; income tax recoverable is recognised at the same time as the donation. Funds generated through sales of merchandise are accounted for gross. Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the charity. Legacies are only recognised when received. ## Resources expended ‘Resources expended’ has a wider meaning than ‘expenditure’: it excludes the costs of fixed assets that are capitalised but includes their subsequent depreciation on the basis set out below. The categories as defined by the SORP 2006 are: - Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in fundraising. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services. It includes all costs that can be allocated directly to such charitable activities. - Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examination fees. ## Funds Unrestricted funds represent funds that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the charity. Restricted funds are funds donated with restrictions as to their use. ## Fixed assets and depreciation Items of plant and equipment are capitalised where the acquisition value exceeds £1,000. 2 Incorne 2022 2021 source Donations from individua15- not gift aidable Donations from individuals- Rift aid recobyrable Intomè tax rectsbEred Kift aid Donations from churches. Schools and buslnesses Gr3nt5 from grant making trusts 3.389 35.180 25.852 41.250 10.2SI 66.989 21.398 58.378 165.740 3 Débtors 2022 2021 Incomè tax feco*rable Prepayments and accrued Inc¢ 10.2SO 150 4 Cr•thtors du• wltNn on• ￿*11 2022 2021 Accounts payable Accruols Iso Iso 150 150 Remuneratlon of Independert examlner amounts to £lSO 5 St•ff nymb•n •nd ¢osts There were no staff employ*d byTht ze￿ Laurtthyd 6 A•l•ted Party Dlsdowr•s No trusiees have been paid any renyjnerntlon or recelved any ber*ffts from t1￿ a￿(0•110n wlth the tharlty. 7 Commltm*nts There are no ¢apltal commlttements a5 4131 De¢eth 202212021.. NII Restrlcted funth Balance brou8ht foTh¥ard at l Janu•ry 2022 Bal•nce urrled fon¥•rd It 31 December 2022 Y•ar to O•c•mb•r 2022 Incorne Expendlture Un￿StrIcted fund5 Restricted fund5 for - Improvements to building5 arKI laThJ - entrepreneurship director ￿lary - training of junl¢*r staff 90.9)2 1%,$991 $2.749 7.550 4.043 426 102,920 7,550 14.0431 14261 lio1.(￿) 60,298 Balance brtyJ8ht ftywafd ai i Januèry 2021 lance carried forward at 31 Det•mber 2021 Y￿¢ to Oetember 2021 lrtome Expendlture unre￿ritte￿ lunds Rellritted funds for - Improvements to buildin8s and laTh - ent￿PreneurSh1P director salary - training of junltsr stsff 40.312 IXl.343 179,7531 90.902 io,c(*) 3x133 122.4501 113.3881 15741 1116.1651 7,550 14.398 426 102.920 53.345 165.740 ## Looking Forwards: Zena HQ Campus In 2022, thanks to the generous support of our donors, we were able to complete the purchase on our new plot of 3 acres in Kamuli. In 2023 we are raising £100,000 to construct our new Zena Launch Pad HQ campus. This will allow us to build classrooms, studio space, kitchen facilities, offices and changing rooms allowing us to double our capacity and create inspiring spaces of innovation, belonging and empowerment for our Zena community. We also are grateful to our growing community of donors who facilitate our ongoing holistic economic empowerment education programming. ."BrrI rlw. M I SCOWA Ll RACHEL ZENA. CLASS OF 2023