Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/07/2023 To 30/06/2024
Charity name: The Sky Project
Charity registration number: 1186737
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The purposes of the charity are: 1. To advance the education of the public and public sector professionals on the issue of forced marriage and honour- based abuse throughout England and Wales, in particular, but not exclusively by: i) Delivering awareness talks and workshops in local communities and to professional bodies ii) Providing training to a professional standard to organisations that provide services that further the purposes of the charity. 2. To address the needs of people suffering from, or who are at risk of, forced marriage and honour-based abuse, by signposting to appropriate support and services. 3.Creating a multi-agency network of available services and professionals to increase awareness of, and access for those people. |
| 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. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The charity’s main activity remains the provision of educational, awareness raising talks and training presented to community and professional groups. Training workshops continue to be delivered through a mix of face to face and online platforms according to audience preferences and availability. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The charity takes full consideration of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Many charitable and third sector organisations that provide direct support to victims have adapted to hybrid working. This financial year has seen organisations |
continuing to seek education around forced marriage. The economic climate and rising cost of living has undoubtedly resulted in fewer donations and financial contributions towards the Charity’s work. Sky Project remains committed to its stance of providing training and workshops without compulsory fees to ensure those most of need of this support are fully equipped to support and protect victims.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The charity’s volunteers have been of enormous value to the team including undertaking training and taking the lead on a range of administrative, research and policy related activities to further the aims of the charity. Furthermore, they have undertaken personal fundraising ventures in support of the charity. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
| 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. |
Para 1.20 | The Sky Project team have upskilled in hybrid and full virtual training sessions and continues to respond to the ongoing demand and need for its workshops and vital awareness raising campaigns. The Sky Project has delivered level 1 training to over 100 professionals across a range of sectors. 100% of respondents in 2023 rated the training sessions “excellent” and feedback is consistently positive throughout. Our appointed training consultant Charlotte has excelled in her role since completing CPD accreditation. She is a real asset to the team and is engaging and well received in every training session she organises and delivers. Links have been established in South Wales to deliver a regular programme of training to trainee and qualified GP’s as part of their safeguarding adults CPD. The programme has become well established and runs on a rolling rota basis with each new intake of trainee doctors. In July 2023 the charity continued to mark the National Day of Remembrance for victims of so called ‘Honour’ based abuse. The event this year focussed on the area of forced marriage and disability, an area of additional complexity when It comes to safeguarding and supporting individuals at risk. Over 100 attendees from a range of professional backgrounds were able to engage with some fantastic talks from research leading lecturer Rachael Clawson, forced marriage survivor and author Sunny Angel, and family solicitor Sulema Jahangir. In September 2023 our Director and The Sky Project were recognised nationally through The Law Society with a Legal Hero Award. This recognises those individuals leading and inspiring change to improve the lives of others. Sabeena continues to lead and inspire in spreading knowledge of the charity and the issues it tackles, through radio interviews, legal podcasts, and a segment for ITV News. The Charity was also recognised as part of the Iranian and Kurdish Women Refugee Organisations (IKWRO) True Honour Awards in March 2024, as one of the only charities in the South West providing dedicated and bespoke training for forced marriage and honour based abuse. |
|---|---|---|
The Sky Project has been collaborating with Dr Maz Idrees, programme Director at the Manchester Law School and expert on forced marriage and ‘honour’ based violence. He is leading research into how these cases are dealt with in court and we look forward to providing further support to this vital work in 2024. The Forced Marriage Working Group has now developed into the Harmful Practices group and aligned under the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP) this year. Multi-agency working and collaboration remains key to reduce the number of forced marriages and ‘honour’ based abuse cases in the South West.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Funds held in the charity bank account at the end of this financial reporting period were £6, 891. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity has fixed essential annual expenses that must be met for the charity to remain operational. These costs include annual renewal of CPD accreditation, charity insurance, virtual training platform fees and website hosting fees. The amount to cover these costs is £1,682 currently. The team are exploring options for reducing some of these essential costs, which may include alternatives to banking options to avoid fees and switching virtual platform providers. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | An agreed amount of £2,000 is to be always held within the current bank account. This sum is only to be used in the event of donations not being made for any one financial year. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The following present potential risks to the charity continuing its work: 1. The charity is dependent on donations and grant funding which is unpredictable. Implementing a reserve fund would provide 12 months security in the event of no grants or donations being awarded in any one financial year. The cost of living crisis and levels of inflation has continued to have a significant impact on bookings and donations for training in this reporting period. 2. 2 trustees are also trainers who provide their services voluntarily alongside their full-time employment. To help mitigate against lack of availability to deliver sessions the charity has taken on a freelance trainer who is paid per session delivered, and for time used for any essential administrative work (e.g. meeting minutes, transcribing, arranging training sessions). 3. The trustees continue to explore the option of increasing their number for added security. Given the specific nature of the charity’s work this has proved to be a challenge. Trustees are keen to |
ensure anyone invited to join as a trustee has a relevant skill mix that can enhance the work of the charity and the enthusiasm and drive to collaboratively take it forward from strength to strength.
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: | |||
| The charity’s principal | The charity’s principal and sole source of | ||
| sources of funds (including | funding comes from donations and grants | ||
| any fundraising) | which totalled £945. | ||
| Para 1.47 |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The charity’s principal and sole source of funding comes from donations and grants which totalled £945. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Not Applicable |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | As described above |
| Other |
| The SkyProject | |
|---|---|
| Registered charitynumber 1186737 | |
| Statementofaccountsfor financialperiod 01/07/2023-30/06/2024 | |
| Unrestricted funds | |
| RECEIPT | (nearest£) |
| Donations and Grants | |
| Donationsfor training delivered directly andviaEventbrite | 719 |
| Team Fundraising | 226 |
| Net Total | 945 |
| PAYMENTS | Payment(nearest£) |
| Zoomsubscription for training delivery | 171 |
| Consultant Fees | 460 |
| The SkyProject | |
|---|---|
| Registered charitynumber 1186737 | |
| Statementofaccountsfor financialperiod 01/07/2023-30/06/2024 | |
| RECEIPT | Unrestricted funds (nearest£) |
| Donations and Grants Donationsfor training delivered directly andviaEventbrite |
719 |
| Team Fundraising | 226 |
| Net Total | 945 |
| PAYMENTS | Payment(nearest£) |
| Zoomsubscription for training delivery | 171 |
| Consultant Fees | 460 |
| LiabilityInsurance | 126 |
| Professional Fees (CPD,Bank Acc, Google) | 916 |
| WebsiteHostingFee | 648 |
| speaker fees | 80 |
| staffexpenses | 454 |
| Net Total | 2,855 |
| Opening balancefor thisfinancialperiod | 8,801 |
| Total income | 945 |
| Totalexpenditure | 2,855 |
| Total fundsheld at the end of financial reporting period | 6,891 |
| Other monetaryAssets | ApproximateValue |
| Companylaptop | 500 |
Agreed and signed on behalf of all trustees
SPirooz. Sabeena Pirooz Director
DATE: 11[th] April 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | The charity’s constitution was updated and adopted in October 2019, from the original version produced in 2010. |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| 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 |
Para 1.25 | New trustees are currently selected through recommendation by the existing members. The charity is actively looking to increase the number of trustees to ensure wider representation of the professional groups it aims to work with. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Sky Project |
|---|---|
| Registered charity number | 1186737 |
| Charity’s principal address (Updated this year) |
256 Bath Rd, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TG |
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sabeena Pirooz | Director | December 2019-present | |
| 2 | Shagufta Kauser | December 2019-present | ||
| 3 | Dr Farook Sarfraz | Treasurer/Safeguarding lead |
December 2019-present | |
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity N/A Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this N/A falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets N/A from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | HSBC | 62 George White Street, Cabot Circus, Bristol BS1 3BA | |
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | |||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
SPirooz Sabeena Pirooz Dr Farook Sarfraz Treasurer Director 11th April 2024 11[th] April 2024