## **Working together, transforming lives** 

**voh.org.uk** 






**Charity no. 1187454** 



## CEO Foreword 

When I look back on the past five years, I am amazed at the multiple stories of hope and restoration - of pockets of community slowly being rewoven through hope, creativity, and the rebuilding of trust. We began simply as a small response to local need and it has been nothing short of miraculous to see all that has grown and unfolded. 

As staff, we get the immense honour of seeing transformation up close - in the formidable resilience of a woman standing to speak or sing at an event for the first time, or in the laughter of volunteers and young people packing 300 BRITE Boxes every week! 

Leading Voices of Hope continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life and I’m profoundly grateful to every person who has been a part of our journey over the last 5 years; staff, volunteers, partners, funders, and friends. Your engagement and passion in this vision has made all that you see in this report possible. 

With huge thanks to each and every one of you, Sarah 






## From At Risk to Thriving – Renewed Vision, Sharpened Focus 

**This year marks five years** since Voices of Hope was officially registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 20 January 2020. In that time, what began as a small community initiative has grown into a vibrant, multi-strand charity, deeply rooted in compassion, creativity, and transformative action. 

**In 2024–25 alone, we reached 4,865 individuals on a weekly basis through our programmes and engaged an average of 163 volunteers each week giving an incredible 14,500 hours over the year** — evidence of both scale and personal connection. We are deeply proud of all that has been achieved and remain profoundly grateful to everyone who has contributed time, expertise, resources, and encouragement. 

This year has also been one of deep alignment and strategic renewal. Our updated charitable objectives, approved by the Charity Commission in March 2025, reaffirm what has long been central to our work: **supporting women and children, especially those facing gender-based violence, poverty, and systemic disadvantage, to rebuild their health, confidence, and long-term independence.** This renewed mandate has helped to focus our energy, shape our partnerships, and better communicate our purpose to funders, collaborators, and communities. 

## **We now operate through three integrated initiatives:** 

Specialist Women’s Services, offering 

   - Women’s Hubs that provide trauma-informed, wraparound support 

   - Survivor Empowerment Programmes, including forums, campaigns, resources, and training 

- BRITE Box and the emerging development of Baby BRITE Box, equipping children and families with practical tools to eat healthily together 

- Creative Arts for Wellbeing, using choirs, creative sessions and the Active Breathing Course to support emotional resilience, confidence, and voice for both women and children 

We aim to help women and children not just survive adversity but regain agency, restore wellbeing, and thrive. Creative Arts remains the connective tissue across all our work as it acts as a catalyst—restoring voice, nurturing wellbeing, and strengthening relationships. Importantly, it also opens routes into volunteering, leadership, and employment, particularly for women rebuilding after trauma. In this way, our Creative Arts programme directly supports our charitable objectives - empowering people to heal, actively participate, and shape their futures. The sections that follow reflect how we’ve turned our vision into action. They share what we’ve delivered, learned, and celebrated with a key focus on the voices of those we serve. 





Specialist  Women’s Services Women’s Hubs - Outreach Focus - Survivor Empowerment **530** 

## **Hubs - Kingston, Richmond & Elmbridge** 

Our Specialist Women’s Hubs in Kingston, Richmond, and Elmbridge supported over 530 women this year, offering consistent, trauma-informed spaces for women facing abuse, isolation, or multiple disadvantage. These hubs are at the heart of Voices of Hope’s mission, addressing gender-based violence, economic hardship, and health inequality with holistic, relationship-driven care. 

- **Kingston:** 350 women engaged; 180 received one-to-one advocacy/pastoral care; 40 accessed formal advocacy support; 160 were new to the Hub this year 

- **Richmond:** 153 women supported in its first full year of delivery; 4 participated in survivor empowerment work 

- **Elmbridge:** Launched in February 2025; 27 women accessed the Hub within the first 6 weeks 

- **All:** Creative and Wellbeing Sessions: 28 regular sessions offered, from trauma-informed movement and creative writing to pilates, cooking and crafts; 190 women participated, with: 

|**93%**|**reported**<br>**mood**|**improved**|**87%**|**built friendships outside of**<br>**sessions**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**83%**|**reported**<br>**anxiety**|**reduced**|**92%**|**felt an increase in confidence or self**<br>**expression**|



The Women’s Hub model is intentionally flexible and survivor-centred, built to meet each woman where she is—whether in crisis or at a point of rebuilding. It offers a clear, trauma-informed pathway from safety to confidence, agency, and community connection. 



**“Voices of Hope is the most welcoming and uplifting place I’ve ever been to. Everyone genuinely cares for one another. You have the most amazing conversations and meet people you’ll never forget.”** 

## Case Studies 

**One woman, living with partial facial paralysis, came to the Sisterhood Choir on the advice of her GP. Initially hesitant to engage, she gradually found her voice through song. Over time, she reported improved facial movement, confidence, and social connection. “I never thought I’d sing again,” she shared through tears. “But this choir gave me more than music—it gave me back my voice.”** 

**Another participant joined Cook & Dine while experiencing severe depression. Initially withdrawn, she began cooking, laughing, and eventually hosting meals for others. “I feel like I matter now,” she told us, “this gave me purpose.”** 


**“Coming to the Richmond Women’s Hub is my weekly dose of medicine.”** 

**“I feel so empowered and motivated after each class. Thank you for creating such a wonderful space for us!”** 




## Outreach Focus 

New outreach focused on Modern Slavery and Exploitation (MSE) was piloted in Kingston. Our mapping project, supported by Kingston Council, engaged over 200 practitioners across sectors to assess awareness and support structures. A new practitioner network was formed, and early interventions supported survivors including those with NRPF (no recourse to public funds) or hidden status. 

**“Voices of Hope gave me more than help— they gave me dignity when I had nothing else left.”** -Maria 

**Outreach events were 43 held** 

**increase in attendance 47% from last year** 

**11 Safeguarding referrals** 

**women joined wellbeing 22 sessions** 

In parallel, **we continued our outreach to minority communities** : our outreach work included languagespecific sessions, interfaith gatherings, and motherand-baby groups. In Kingston’s Cambridge Estate, we engaged 45 women via estate-based drop-ins and home visits—72% of whom had never accessed formal support before. This work led to women being able to access safeguarding support and joining wellbeing sessions. 

**Our desire through these outreach engagements is to walk alongside women as they rediscover dignity, agency, and healthy community.** 


**“This is the first time I’ve felt like someone sees me. You always come back. That means something.” –** Cambridge Estate resident 



## Hub Leadership, Staffing and  Volunteer Progression 

**In 2024–25, 16 women progressed from participants to volunteers or peer facilitators across our Women’s Hubs.** 

These roles helped rebuild confidence and offered a springboard into leadership and advocacy. Several women also began mentorship towards community engagement, paid facilitation, and public speaking - reinforcing our commitment to long-term self-efficacy and sustainable employment pathways. 

We also embedded **a new staffing model across the Hubs, appointing dedicated Coordinators at each site.** Capacity for Pastoral and Advocacy staff was expanded, and we formalised consistent operational systems, including weekly team meetings and new tools for staff wellbeing, supervision, safeguarding, and impact tracking. 



**“During a particularly stressful time while my own mental health was struggling, I found enormous rest and relief in our sessions. The laughter and sharing meant we all left feeling lighter—and I was more able to jump back into my lengthy to-do list.”** -VoH staff member (reflecting on wellbeing sessions) 



## Women’s Services Funding and Partnerships 

Women’s services in the UK remain among the most underfunded areas of social impact. Recent research conducted by Pro Bono Economics reveals that organisations run by and for women and girls receive just 1.8% of total charitable grant funding. We are deeply grateful to the following local funding for sustaining this critical work: 

**Mayoral Funding:** £12,500 

**Elmbridge Cost of Living Fund:** £10,127 

**RBK Resilience Fund:** £19,645 

**Richmond Civic Pride Fund & LBR Direct Award:** £19,000 

**RBK Direct Award:** £39,203 

The Women’s Hubs are based on a partnership model with each organisation contributing sessions / assets / referral pathways. Key Hub partners include: Borough Community Safety teams in Kingston, Richmond and Elmbridge, Refuge, MIND Kingston, Walton Charity, North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, St John’s Church Walton, Richmond Vineyard, Spurgeon’s Elmbridge, KingsGate Church Kingston, Doxa Deo Community Church Kingston, and Jigsaw4U. 






## BRITE Box Strengthening Family Nutrition, Skills, and Connection 

BRITE Box continued to provide weekly, hands-on meal kits to children and families, empowering them to cook healthy meals together and build lasting habits around food. This year, the programme expanded into **Croydon, Merton, and Wandsworth** , alongside sustained delivery in Kingston, Elmbridge and Richmond—reaching **1010 families** weekly across **42 schools** in **8 boroughs** , through a blend of managed and social franchise hubs. 

The project remains deeply aligned with our charitable objectives - supporting children by tackling food insecurity, improving health outcomes, and equipping families with the tools to thrive. In addition to practical cooking support, BRITE Box fosters routine, creativity, and shared time, especially for families under stress. 

**“BRITE Box has been a lifeline on tough weeks – and my kids actually enjoy cooking now!” – Parent** 

**“Because of BRITE Box, my children like broccoli and courgettes now, which they didn’t before.” – Parent** 

## **Three-Year Impact: Research Findings** 

This year, we completed our first three-year evaluation report, drawing together data from family surveys, school feedback, and external evaluation partners. The findings clearly demonstrate BRITE Box’s long-term value in improving health, confidence, and connection. 

|**93%**|**families reported increased**<br>**confidence in preparing healthy**|**82%**|**families noticed improved**<br>**mealtime routines and reduced**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**meals**||**stress**|
|**89%**|**children tried new foods through**<br>**BRITE Box recipes**|**71%**|**said the programme helped them**<br>**manage their food budget better**|



**Schools also reported that the programme supported pupil engagement, curriculum enrichment, and strengthened relationships with families.** 



## SEN Spotlight 

Our independent evaluation placed a strong emphasis on the experience of families of children with special educational needs (SEN). These families often face additional barriers to healthy eating—including sensory sensitivities, limited cooking confidence, and financial pressures. 

## **Key outcomes:** 

Improved dietary variety, with children more open to trying vegetables 

Increased parental confidence around food and meal planning 

Enhanced family bonding and calmer mealtimes 

Positive impacts on literacy, numeracy, and emotional engagement through cooking-related tasks 

These findings are shaping the next phase of the programme, as we seek funding to increase our support to children with additional needs through BRITE Box. 

**“My son, who has autism, never touched vegetables before. Now he helps cook them and even eats them. It’s been transformative for our family.” – Parent, Blossom House School** 




## Baby BRITE Box 

## **Laying Foundations for Healthy Eating from the Start** 

In the beginning of 2025, we started to develop the concept for **Baby BRITE Box** as a practical, in-home intervention to support infant nutrition and healthy weaning. It is being designed to complement the work of public health teams, family hubs, and local charities supporting young parents. While existing NHS-led workshops provide vital information and encouragement, Baby BRITE Box will bridge the gap between **knowledge and practice** by delivering hands-on, step-by-step support directly into the home. 

Each family will receive a weekly box over **8 to 12 weeks,** containing: 

- Healthy ingredients for both baby and mother 

- Clear, easy-to-follow weaning recipes aligned with NHS guidance 

- Essential weaning tools to support practical learning 


The programme will place equal emphasis on **maternal nutrition,** helping parents build sustainable cooking routines that benefit the whole household. By making weaning enjoyable, pressure-free, and achievable, we hope that Baby BRITE Box will foster confidence and promote lasting food habits from the earliest stages of life. 

This intervention responds to urgent public health needs: recent data shows that **UK toddlers receive nearly 47% of their calories from ultra-processed foods by 21 months** , and that **weaning confidence is particularly low among families in deprived areas** . By reducing barriers related to cost, access, and knowledge, Baby BRITE Box will support healthier starts and help reduce future health inequalities. 

We are currently working in partnership with NHS teams and Public Health teams to embed Baby BRITE Box into borough-wide strategies, with **pilot delivery planned for 2025–26.** 



## Funding and Growth 

This year saw significant investment in BRITE Box’s expansion and sustainability. Funding was secured from **NHS South West London (£135,000** ) to support new delivery hubs in **Croydon, Merton and Wandsworth** , and from **Public Health England** via **RBK (£89,968 over three years)** for continued Kingston delivery. **Richmond Parish Lands Charity** confirmed multi-year core support, while **Walton Charity** continued their valued partnership with a further **£22,000 awarded.** 

Additional grants included **£21,060** from **The Hampton Fund, £7,020** from **Elmbridge Borough Council** , and targeted funding from the **Shanly Foundation** , and **Wimbledon Foundation.** 


## Highlights & Innovation 

## **42 schools** engaged across **five boroughs** 

Delivered through **4 managed hubs** (Kingston, Richmond, Elmbridge, Wandsworth) and **4 social franchise hubs** (Merton, Croydon, Southwark, Armagh) 

Introduced **school-based cooking classes** (e.g. at St Joseph’s) 

Engaged in **strategic learning events** (e.g. the Premier League Charitable Fund and IHI) 

**Presented** the BRITE Box model at the **IHI/BMJ Conference** 





**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Creative Arts<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Voice, Wellbeing, and Pathways to Flourishing** 

The Creative Arts Programme at Voices of Hope is a strategic and therapeutic strand of our mission to transform the lives of women and children facing gender-based violence, hardship, and systemic disadvantage. By engaging in the arts, participants reclaim voice, develop confidence, and improve wellbeing. Many go on to take leadership roles, volunteer in their communities, or move into meaningful employment within the Creative Arts Programme or Voices of Hope’s wider work. 

This year, Creative Arts continued to serve as a vital pathway for healing and thriving, supporting our charitable objectives by addressing mental and physical health challenges, reducing isolation, and building self-efficacy - particularly for those affected by trauma or anxiety. The programme brings people together in accessible, joyful ways, providing both immediate therapeutic benefit and longer-term opportunities for growth. 

Our two main programme offerings are weekly community choirs and the Active Breathing Course. From our 2024 evaluations: 

|**97%**|**described the choir as “very**<br>**positive” overall (100% positive)**|**100%**|**participants managing anxiety**<br>**reported improvement**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**95%**|**said sessions lifted their**<br>**mood**|**71%**|**said their energy levels improved**|





## Choirs: Connection Through Song 

We delivered 14 choirs across community and care settings in 2024–25, with an average 270 weekly participants. New choirs were launched at Elmbridge Women’s Hub, The Bradbury Centre, and Surbitonian Gardens. 

Choirs are intentionally inclusive, creating welcoming spaces for a wide range of participants, including neurodiverse individuals, those with visual impairments, women in recovery from trauma, and older adults living with dementia. Sessions are carefully adapted to meet varied needs using accessible lyric formats, flexible participation styles, and trauma-informed approaches. This inclusive design not only enabled people to participate at their own pace, but also fostered deep connection and belonging. For many, it was the first group setting where they felt safe, accepted, and able to contribute as themselves. 

**“It is the highlight of my week and takes priority in my busy life—it’s the best outlet ever!”** – Choir participant 

**“I feel like I belong to a special community that has a great connection between women—it’s a unique thing.”** – Sisterhood Choir participant 

Choirs performed throughout the year at care homes, churches, community centres, and public venues, including Staines Community Centre, Kingston Marketplace, and Ashford Salvation Army, reaching diverse audiences across London and Surrey. Highlights included the VoH Christmas Concert with over 300 in attendance, Pearl Awards, and Mental Health Awareness Week events. 

**“We started with only three people. Now we have 40 members! Singing has helped my anxiety, given me confidence, and brought so much laughter. I’ve made 39 new friends. Voices of Hope and our choir leader has changed everything for me.”** -Rosie (Spelthorne Choir) 




## Project Spotlight 

We also continued our Meaningful Memories project, funded by the Foyle Foundation. This unique initiative brought together older adults from across our choirs to co-create, record, and release a Christmas single, Stars, in partnership with Voices of Hope Ambassador and composer Joanna Gill. The song was inspired by personal memories of Christmas—gathered through reflective workshops—and written collaboratively with participants. 

The final recording, featuring vocals from 138 singers across four of our community choirs (alongside supporting vocals from the London Fire Brigade Choir), was released on 1st December 2024 on major streaming platforms and distributed on CD to ensure accessibility for those without digital access. While final download and stream numbers were still being compiled at the time of reporting, the teaser video achieved 13,000 views, and choirs performed the song at Christmas concerts reaching an estimated 1,000 audience members. 

This project fostered creativity, connection, and intergenerational joy—offering many participants their firstever experience of recording a song. Participants described the process as “challenging but exhilarating,” with one noting: 

**“It was a new and exciting experience… We had the privilege of having two Christmases in one year! The most important thing was the joy of knowing we all helped create a beautiful sound.”** 

Meaningful Memories demonstrated the emotional and cognitive value of group music-making for older adults, including those living with dementia. The project amplified participants’ voices, celebrated their contributions, and highlighted the deep therapeutic potential of song to spark memory, wellbeing, and belonging. 




## : ABC Breathing for Strength, Resilience and Recovery 

The **Active Breathing Course (ABC)** combines guided breathing techniques with vocal exercises, and creative activities. Originally developed to support those experiencing anxiety and post-COVID breathlessness, the programme has expanded significantly in 2024–25, offering tailored support to adults with cancer and exploring development for children along with courses for asylum seekers and refugees in partnership with Clear Voice business. 


## **Cancer ABC** 

Delivered in partnership with hospital / primary healthcare providers and supported by the National Lottery, this course supported individuals living with and beyond cancer. Sessions provided tools to manage breathlessness, improve energy, and reduce anxiety during and after treatment. Aligned with our charitable objectives, we employed and trained women with professional backgrounds/experience in music, breathing, and therapeutic fields - offering flexible, meaningful roles that utilised their expertise while contributing to wider community wellbeing. This approach not only strengthened the quality of delivery but created opportunities for skilled women to be upskilled and to step into leadership and income-generating roles in health and wellbeing. 

## **“ABC gave me something I could actually use every day. It helped me manage stress, regain control, and connect with my body again.”** – Cancer ABC participant 

|**92%**|**reported improvements in**<br>**breathing capacity**|**78%**|**said the course helped with daily**<br>**anxiety**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**87%**|**saw reduced**<br>**breathlessness**|**81%**|**reported an improved mood**|







In response to the growing need for trauma-sensitive health and wellbeing tools for children, we have laid the groundwork for the Big Breathing Adventure (BBA)—a creative adaptation of our ABC programme tailored for younger audiences. This year, we established key partnerships with Get Better Books (working on the creative design of the course), Kingston University’s business and graphic design departments, and Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH). CUH has an extensive paediatric department and is supporting the integration of the Big Breathing Adventure into clinical pathways **for children experiencing disordered breathing and anxiety-related conditions.** 

The need is significant: recent NHS data shows that **1 in 6 children in the UK now experience a probable mental health condition,** and anxiety remains one of the most common challenges. Children with chronic breathlessness or post-viral respiratory symptoms— often exacerbated by stress—require holistic, accessible tools to support recovery and emotional regulation. 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
emotional regulation.<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


BBA is being designed to meet this need by combining **controlled breathwork exercises, creative activities, and body awareness** in a developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed format. 


Our goal is to empower children with lifelong self-regulation tools while reducing the strain on clinical services. 

This work will move into pilot delivery and evaluation stages in 2025– 26, with long-term potential for integration into additional hospital settings and wellbeing initiatives. 



## Innovation, Learning, and Growth 

We introduced weekly Creative Arts Team meetings to strengthen collaboration and shared learning, alongside dementia-focused training to support inclusive delivery. TV lyric screens improved accessibility and connection in choirs, particularly for those with memory or visual impairments. We also trained four new ABC tutors and continued to develop peer leadership pathways, enabling women—especially from Sisterhood Choirs—to step into co-facilitation and creative roles. 

We also welcomed two Creative Arts Ambassadors, whose expertise and passion have added extraordinary value to our work: 


**Joanna Gill** is an award-winning composer whose music has been commissioned by King Charles, performed live on BBC1, and featured on BBC Radio 3. She also works as an orchestrator for a Netflix series, conducts two chamber choirs, and directs classical music at Holy Trinity Brompton. Joanna is passionate about the healing power of music and brings this conviction to her role as Ambassador for Voices of Hope. 

**Dr Fi Costa** , trained at the Royal College of Music, is a research fellow at the University of Roehampton whose work explores music’s role in mitigating pain, anxiety, and memory loss. She co-authored Take Note: 100 Everyday Musical Ideas for Carers to Use with Older People and regularly leads intergenerational concerts attended by babies, school children, and care home residents. Fi also serves as a trustee for The Amber Trust and Embracing Age. 


Their expertise in research, education, and community engagement has strengthened the depth and quality of our Creative Arts programme, ensuring it remains accessible, creative and evidence-informed. 




**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Volunteering<br>&<br>Employment<br>Pathways<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **A Note of Deep Appreciation for Our Volunteers** 

At the heart of Voices of Hope are the volunteers who give their time, energy, skills, and compassion to help others move from 'at risk' to thriving. Whether supporting at our Women’s Hubs, preparing BRITE Boxes, co-leading choirs, or diligently making things happen behind the scenes, our volunteers are nothing short of incredible and bring our mission to life. 

This year, more than 163 individuals volunteered across our projects - many of whom are themselves on journeys of recovery, growth or change. Their presence has shaped both the delivery of our services, and the culture of community and compassion that defines Voices of Hope. 

To every person who gave their time and invaluable support this year: thank you! Your generosity, passion and willingness to serve are deeply valued by the whole of the VoH staff team. We simply could not do this without you. 


**“The charity is run very well and is a very supportive place to volunteer, the projects VoH supports are fantastic and reach a real need in the community, it is hugely rewarding knowing that we are making a valuable difference in the local community.”** - Jane 



## Empowerment & Employment Pathways 

Creating pathways from “at risk” to thriving often means supporting people not just emotionally and socially, but vocationally too. Throughout 2024–2025, Voices of Hope provided a range of structured volunteering opportunities, skill-building activities, and mentoring that helped community members transition into meaningful employment. 

## **External Partnerships Supporting Employment:** 

- **7 student placements** through Kingston University Collaborations with St Mary’s University 

- Referrals to accredited courses (e.g. Venus Healthcare) 

- **1 year-long funded student** sandwich-year placement through MiQ and Kingston University partnership 

## **Summary of Our Approach:** 

Throughout 2024–25, we prioritised practical pathways into work and volunteering across all our programmes. From Women’s Hubs and BRITE Box to Choirs and ABC, we sought to give individuals opportunities to gain skills, contribute meaningfully, and transition into paid work. 

Volunteering provided many with the space to build confidence, rediscover skills, and test new ones. For several, this became a springboard to paid work. 

## **Employment Outcomes:** 

Noticeably, in line with our core commitment to supporting women towards long-term independence and self-efficacy, **13 women from our Women’s Hubs** progressed from beneficiaries to volunteers and further into roles—including ABC tutors, choir leaders, cooking instructors, childcare providers, and survivor speakers. An additional 4 volunteers (not initially beneficiaries) progressed to employment within BRITE Box. 




## **Training and Upskilling:** 

Training delivered across 2024–25 included several foundational and specialist sessions made available to all staff and, where possible, volunteers / beneficiaries of our programmes. These shared learning opportunities reinforced consistent trauma-informed practice and helped equip team members for safe and effective community work. 

Throughout the year, we delivered a robust programme of training to equip staff, volunteers, and facilitators with the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, inclusive, and traumainformed support. Key areas included: 

- **Trauma and abuse awareness** – including specialist sessions on trauma-informed engagement, domestic violence, and modern slavery 

- **Health and wellbeing-focused training** – such as dementia and cancer impact training for ABC and choir tutors, neurodiverse inclusion, and food hygiene tailored to our valuesbased delivery 

- **Systems and safeguarding** – including safeguarding, dynamic risk assessment, MARAC processes 

- **Skills for empowerment and community leadership** – such as public speaking, AssetBased Community Development, and fire and health & safety training 




## Core Operations & Organisational Development 

This year, Voices of Hope continued to invest in the systems, teams, and infrastructure needed to sustain our expanding reach. Amid growing demand, shifting funder priorities, and rising public need, we remained agile and intentional in strengthening our core. 

## **Strategic Focus:** 

- Established dedicated Community Fundraising and Comms/PR teams, improving project alignment and public visibility 

   - Communication increased reach 

      - Engaged over 1,050 newsletter subscribers with an open rate of 54% (up from 35.9% last year) 

      - 56,000+ website visitors since the last relaunch 

      - An average of 22,858 views on Instagram, with 53.1% from followers and 46.9% from non-followers. 


      - 6,461 accounts reached on Instagram (+69.1% increase from last year) An average of 54,409 views on Facebook (73.6% increase from last year) 

- Responded to fundraising challenges with the support of a professional bid writing company to apply for larger national funders and to gain support adjusting strategy to navigate donor fatigue and economic pressures 

- Maintained a strong focus on **media presence** and public reputation through campaigns, speaking engagements, and flagship events 

   - Delivered 3 successful flagship events (Cycle of Change, Family Celebration and Gala Dinner) raising just short of 13K 

   - VoH staff led **16 speaking engagements** at national and community forums 



- Secured funding to implement **a new CRM system** —enabling improved donor engagement, data management, and reporting 

- Expanded our **Finance Team** by onboarding volunteers with high-level finance experience, enhancing controls, budgeting, and transparency. 


## **Systems and Technology:** 

Deepened use of our 3D financial management system to tailor reports for different stakeholders, budget leads and project coordinators 

- Streamlined payroll processes and improved internal data capture 

- Upgraded accounting systems to automate workflows, support project-level budget tracking and improve backup and reporting functionality 

## **Workplace & Team Environment:** 

- We introduced a hybrid-friendly, shared working environment to support flexible, cross-functional teamwork given the growth into 3 boroughs of projects. 

- We launched a structured staff training and development programme to upskill team members across areas such as safeguarding, trauma-informed care, governance, project management, data protection, and fundraising. Over the year, we delivered 34 training sessions, with 96% of staff reporting increased confidence in their roles and 89% saying the training directly improved their day-to-day work. 

- The charity also strengthened staff management systems, with more consistent check-ins, feedback loops, and a renewed focus on reflective practice and relational supervision. 



## Trustees’ Financial Statement 

The Trustees of Voices of Hope take seriously our responsibility to manage the charity’s resources with integrity, transparency, and prudence. Throughout 2024–2025, we continued to apply robust financial controls, detailed monitoring, and forward-planning to steward our funds effectively and to mitigate risk across all areas of operation. 

In a year marked by continued economic strain and heightened competition for funding, the Trustees worked closely with the senior leadership team to strengthen organisational resilience. This included: 

- Partnering with a professional bid-writing consultancy to compete for larger funders and grow income 

- Introducing clearer income forecasting tools across departments 

- Broadening our Finance Team to enhance in-house expertise and oversight 

The charity also made significant progress in risk management this year: 

- Further embedded our internal reporting and accountability structures Maintained live risk registers across programme and operations 

- Reviewed and strengthened data protection, safeguarding and employment protocols 

Our decision to invest in a new CRM system reflects a strategic commitment to both transparency and long-term sustainability—allowing us to centralise information, improve reporting, and build stronger donor and partner relationships. 

According to our 2024–25 Statement of Accounts, a clear area of progress was the increase in unrestricted and diversified income: we secured just over **£150,000 from non-grant and non-award sources** , a significant rise from the 2023–24 figure of 80K. This growth demonstrates the increasing financial stability of the organisation and the effectiveness of our broadened fundraising strategy. 

We are grateful for the support of funders, donors, and community members whose generosity has made this year’s progress possible. With careful management and a focus on long-term impact, the Trustees remain confident in Voices of Hope’s financial health and capacity to grow sustainably in the years ahead. 



## Financial Summary 

**TOTAL Income TOTAL Expenditure Net Surplus** 

**£643,407** 

**£610,517** 

**£32,890** 

**Charity Assets Cash and Bank Balances £246,903 Net Current Assets £19,403 Deferred Income (restricted)* -£83,582** 

**£182,724** 

## **Charity Funds** 

**Restricted Funds for projects £116,146 Unrestricted Funds £39,209 Designated Reserves £27,369** 

**£182,724** 

*Designated for projects in future financial years; not in any way used to fund current expenditure 


## **Funding Summary** 

**£150,378** 

**£150,378 £215,243** Donations & Government other income Funding 

**£277,786** Grants 



## Goals for 2026 

## Goals 

## Project 

|Project|Goals|
|---|---|
|**Core**<br>**Development**|**Implement new CRM system**to improve donor data management,<br>streamline communications, and support grant and volunteer tracking.|
||**Formalise volunteer pathways**and expand**university partnerships,**|
||including a**new GP trainee placement via St Mary’s University.**|
||**Grow core infrastructure**, including launch of an**Operations Volunteer**|
||**Team**and increasing**ambassador roles.**|
||**Strengthen financial systems,**with automated budget tracking, improved|
||access for project leads, and real-time reporting tools.|
||**Deliver High Net Worth donor events**to elevate awareness of Voices of|
||Hope, showcase impact and innovation, and build long-term giving and legacy|
||networks.|
||**Launch a schools fundraising platform**within our website, piloting with|
||Kingston Grammar School|
|**Women’s**|Expand Outreach, Modern Slavery and Survivor Forum work across all boroughs|
|**Services**|Implement the Charis Network platform with secure systems in place|
||Convene a policy working group to tackle systemic barriers for survivors|
|**BRITE**<br>**Box**|Expand into two new boroughs via the franchise model<br>Pilot and evaluate Baby BRITE Box within public health pathways|
||Present the BRITE Box model at the House of Lords|
|**Creative**|Expand local performances and community concerts|
|**Arts**|Scale ABC Cancer programme to 15 cycles across SW London|
||Secure funding and launch ‘ABC for Children’ pilot with monitoring|
||and evaluation|



We move into 2025/26 with focus, passion and commitment - working together to transform the lives of women and children, and impact the wider communities we’re so grateful to be a part of. 



Ibwtol(>q￿- ?019
11111

## ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

VOICES OF HOPE (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) CHARITY REGISTRATION No: 1187454 

Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ 



## VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## CONTENTS 

Page 30 

Pages 3 to 27 

Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 

Pages 34 to 43 

Legal and Administrative Information 

Trustees' Report 

Trustees' Responsibilities 

Statement of Financial Activities 

Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements 

Independent Examiner's Report 

Page 44 



## VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

## CHARITY NUMBER 

1187454 

DATE OF REGISTRATION 

20th January 2020 

START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 

1st April 2024 

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 

31st March 2025 

TRUSTEES AT 31ST MARCH 2025 

Jeevan Mahesan Elisabeth Vernon Rebecca-Anne Harrington Clive Harrington Keath Gaitskell (Appointed 8th July 2024) Sarah Jarvis (Appointed 19th June 2024) 

LEGAL STATUS 

Charitable Incorporated Organisation 

GOVERNING INSTRUMENT 

CIO - Foundation Registered 20th January 2020 

## OBJECTS 

1. The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage, including social disadvantage in particular (but not exclusively) by supporting women and children affected by gender-based violence and/or who face multiple disadvantages. 2. To advance pubic education on the prevention of gender-based violence, economic hardship and other disadvantages towards women and children through awareness campaigns, training, employment support, community-based sessions and resources that promote awareness of societal change. 3. To advance education of the public in the arts, in particular but no exclusively in the arts of music, by the preservation of recitals, concerts and other activities as the Trustees shall decide. 

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS 

161A Clarence Street Kingston Upon Thames Surrey KT1 1QT 

PRIMARY BANKERS 

Metro Bank Plc 1 Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA 

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS 

Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **Trustees' Responsibilities** 

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

The Law applicable to Charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Governing Document 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 those financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; Observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP; 

- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the CIO will continue to operate. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Governing Document. 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. 

Approved by the Trustees on: 16 December 2025 

Signed on their behalf by Trustee 


Printed Name:  Jeevan Mahesan 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

|||Unrestricted|Designated|Designated|Restricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Notes|Funds|Funds||Funds|2024/25|2023/24|
|||£|£||£|£|£|
|INCOMING RESOURCES||||||||
|Incoming Resources from Generated Funds||||||||
|Donations, Grants & Legacies|3a|50,924||-|542,742|593,666|440,986|
|Charitable Activities|3b|13,293||-|30,290|43,583|28,242|
|Investment Income|3c|3,572||-|-|3,572|-|
|Other Incoming Resources|3d|1,656||-|930|2,586|821|
|TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES||69,445||-|573,962|643,407|470,049|
|RESOURCES EXPENDED||||||||
|Costs of Generating Funds||||||||
|Cost of Charitable Activities|4a|103,266||-|463,333|566,599|417,733|
|Governance Costs|4b|28,600||-|15,318|43,918|8,659|
|TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED||131,866||-|478,651|610,517|426,392|
|NET INCOMING (OUTGOING) RESOURCES||(62,421)||-|95,311|32,889|43,657|
|Funds Brought Forward||5,078|21,227||123,530|149,835|106,178|
|Transfer Between Funds|5 & 6|96,552||6,142|(102,694)|-|-|
|TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD||39,209|27,369||116,146|182,724|149,835|



Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the organisation's operations are classed as continuing. 

The notes on pages 19 to 28 form part of these financial statements. 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2025 

|||||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Note|Funds|Funds|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
|||||£|£|£|£|
|Fixed Assets||||||||
|Tangible Assets|||2|-|-|-|-|
|Investments|||7|-|-|-|-|
|Total Fixed Assets||||-|-|-|-|
|Current Assets||||||||
|Debtors & Prepayments|||9|56,770|-|56,770|51,619|
|Cash at Bank and in Hand|||8|47,175|199,728|246,903|233,979|
|Total Current Assets||||103,945|199,728|303,673|285,598|
|Creditors: Amounts|falling|due within one|10|37,367|-|37,367|15,112|
|year||||||||
|Deferred Income: Grants||and donations|11|-|83,582|83,582|120,651|
|received in advance||||||||
|NET CURRENT ASSETS||||66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|
|less<br>TOTAL ASSETS|current liabilities|||66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|
|Amounts<br>Creditors:|falling due in more than||12|-|-|-|-|
|one year||||||||
|NET ASSETS||||66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|
|FundsoftheCharity||||||||
|General Funds||||39,209|-|39,209|5,078|
|Designated Funds|||6|27,369|-|27,369|21,227|
|Restricted Funds|||5|-|116,146|116,146|123,530|
|Total Funds||||66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|



Approved by the Trustees on 16 December 2025 

Signed on their behalf by Trustee 


Printed Name:  Jeevan Mahesan 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## 1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

## **Basis of Preparation & Assessment of Going Concern** 

## **Basis of Preparation** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 1st January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011. 

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. 

## **Assessment of Going Concern** 

Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

## **Incoming Resources** 

## _**Recognition of Incoming Resources**_ 

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: 

- the charity becomes entitled to the resources; 

- the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and 

▪ the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability 

## _**Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure**_ 

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resource and related expenditure are reported gross in the SOFA. 

## _**Grants and Donations**_ 

Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources. 

## _**Tax Reclaims on Donations and Gifts**_ 

Incoming. resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate. 

## _**Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants**_ 

ThisisonlyincludedintheSOFAoncetherelatedgoodsor services have been delivered. 

## _**Gifts in Kind**_ 

Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable. 

## _**Donated Services and Facilities**_ 

These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received. 

## _**Volunteer Help**_ 

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts. 

## _**Investment Income**_ 

This is included in the accounts when receivable. 

## _**Investment Gains and Losses**_ 

This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year. 



(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## VOICES OF HOPE 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)** 

## **Expenditure and Liabilities** 

## _**Liability Recognition**_ 

Liabilitiesarerecognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources. 

## _**Governance Costs**_ 

Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the trustees meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters. 

## _**Grants with Performance Conditions**_ 

Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output. 

## _**Grants Payable without Performance Conditions**_ 

These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity. 

## _**Investments**_ 

Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at trustees' best estimate of market value. 

## _**Unrestricted funds**_ 

These funds can be used for the general objectives of the charity as set out in the trustees report. The movements of the unrestricted funds are given in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## _**Restricted funds**_ 

These funds are where the donor has specified a purpose for the donation made. These restrictions often arise as a result of appeals for special offerings for specific purposes. 

## _**Designated funds**_ 

These funds are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for particular purposes or projects. 

## _**Fixed Assets - Unrestricted Funds**_ 

Fixed assets for the Unrestricted funds of the charity which provide multi-year use and benefit and cost at least £3,000 per unit will be capitalised into the Fixed Assets of the charity. These assets are valued at the lower of cost including the costs of bringing the asset into service or current fair value after review of the asset value for impairment. Assets which are gifted, will be valued at the fair value to the charity when the assets are received. 

## _**Fixed Assets**_ 

Restricted Funds Assets and equipment providing multi-year benefit to the charity which have been purchased for specific restricted fund projects in terms of the funding budgets will only be capitalised and recorded as part of the charity’s fixed assets in cases of significant asset purchases outside the usual project scope. Restricted Funds Assets are expensed in full in the period of acquisition in line with the funder approved budget for the project. 

## _**Depreciation Expense**_ 

Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets over their estimated useful lives. The rates applied are as follows: 

Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment 25% - Straight Line Basis 

## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

The CIO held no fixed assets during this or the previous financial year. The annual commitments under non-cancelling operating 

leases and capital commitments are as follows: 

31st March 2025 : None 31st March 2024 : None 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **3. INCOMING RESOURCES** 

||Unrestricted||Designated|Designated|Restricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|||Funds|Funds|2024/25|2023/24|
||£|||£|£|£|£|
|**a) Donations, Grants & Legacies**||||||||
|Gift Aid Donations|-||-||-|-|2,819|
|Gift Aid Tax|6,535|-|||-|6,535|2,898|
|Gifts & Donations|43,989|-|||40,113|84,102|104,763|
|Grants Received|400|-|||502,629|503,029|330,506|
||50,924|||-|542,742|593,666|440,986|
|**b) Charitable Activities**||||||||
|Activities & Projects|12,893||-|-|574|13,467|2,832|
|Course & Session Fees|-|-||-|23,399|23,399|22,414|
|Product Sales|-||||4,117|4,117|996|
|Management Income Fees|400||||2,200|2,600|2,000|
||13,293|||-|30,290|43,583|28,242|
|**c) Investment Income**||||||||
|Interest|3,572|||-|-|3,572|-|
||3,572|||-|-|3,572|-|
|**d) Other Incoming Resources**||||||||
|Sundry Income|1,656|||-|930|2,586|821|
||1,656|||-|930|2,586|821|





VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **4. RESOURCES EXPENDED** 

|**4. RESOURCES EXPENDED**|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted||Designated||Restricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|||Funds|||Funds|Funds|2024/25|2023/24|
|||£|||£|£|£|£|
|**a) Cost of Charitable Activities**|||||||||
|Activities & Events||1,484||-|-|5,187|6,671|-|
|Advertising & Publicity||36|-||-|1,272|1,308|1,628|
|Art & Craft Materials||-|-||-|169|169|1,728|
|Bank Charges||690|-||-|154|844|601|
|Cleaning Costs||4|-||-|520|524|854|
|Equipment Costs||628|-||-|6,312|6,940|15,975|
|Food Costs||1,031|-||-|101,627|102,658|65,976|
|Food Safety Costs||-|-||-|1,722|1,722|-|
|Fundraising Costs||1,046|-||-|470|1,516|3,371|
|Gifts & Donations||6,329|-||-|3,293|9,622|5,075|
|Insurance Costs||1,846|-||-|172|2,018|1,195|
|Licenses & Subscriptions||1,856|-||-|787|2,643|2,956|
|Music Resources||-||||54|54|-|
|Printing, Postage & Packaging||1,621||||18,948|20,569|11,330|
|Rent & Rates||-||||9,734|9,734|15,696|
|Repairs & Maintenance||477||||4,066|4,543|2,651|
|Research Costs||-||||13,225|13,225|-|
|Staff Costs<br>Sundry Expenses|14|82,435<br>-||||289,331<br>-|371,766<br>-|273,909<br>1,329|
|Training Costs||784||||870|1,654|2,206|
|Travel & Subsistence||1,518||||247|1,765|1,065|
|Utility Costs||-||||2,320|2,320|-|
|Volunteers Costs||239||||2,854|3,093|3,645|
|Website Costs||1,243||||-|1,243|6,543|
|||103,266|||-|463,333|566,599|417,733|
|**b) Governance Costs**|||||||||
|Independent Examiners Fees|10|2,000|||-|-|2,000|1,600|
|Legal & Professional Fees||26,600|||-|15,318|41,918|7,059|
|||28,600|||-|15,318|43,918|8,659|





VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **5. RESTRICTED FUNDS** 

## **CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR** 

|**CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Balance||||Balance||
||01-Apr-24|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|31-Mar-25||
||£|£|£|£|£||
|Active Breathing Course|361|22,781|4,492|(1,901)|16,749||
|Body & Soul Exercise Class|28|-|-|(28)||-|
|Brite Box Blossom House|4,800|-|-|(4,800)||-|
|Brite Box Cooking Club|-|5,812|2,012|(1,012)||2,787|
|Brite Box Elmbridge|22,345|37,256|30,562|(28,872)||167|
|Brite Box Hounslow|1,913|-|198|(1,715)||-|
|Brite Box HQ|(30,703)|38,319|71,875|98,255|33,996||
|Brite Box Kingston Fund|62,838|57,011|47,868|(64,933)||7,049|
|Brite Box LM S/Wark|97|-|-|(97)||-|
|Brite Box Merton|(1,284)|2,341|2,861|1,805||-|
|Brite Box NHS SW London ICP|849|132,396|106,431|(26,814)||-|
|Brite Box Refuge Women's Boxes|1,528|-|-|(1,528)||-|
|Brite Box Richmond|6,164|51,300|35,418|(22,046)||-|
|Brite Box Roehampton Research Project|4,600|-|2,341|(624)||1,635|
|Brite Box Social Franchise<br>Brite Box Trading<br>Brite Box Vibe NI<br>Choirs<br>Choral Activities & Choir<br>Community Cooking<br>Community Fridge<br>Cooking Classes<br>Foyle Project|10,378<br>489<br>(189)<br>9,690<br>3,210<br>119<br>467<br>793<br>-|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>34,475<br>19,645<br>-<br>2,700<br>7,032|-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>37,832<br>11,307<br>-<br>1,977<br>7,206|(10,378)<br>(489)<br>189<br>(9,690)<br>7,472<br>(2,779)<br>(467)<br>(763)<br>174||-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>7,325<br>5,678<br>-<br>753<br>-|
|Good Food Co-Op Fund<br>Jubilee of Meaningful Memories<br>Pearl Project<br>Silent No More|834<br>40<br>571<br>-|47<br>-<br>6,238<br>2,767|350<br>-<br>6,222<br>2,610|(531)<br>(40)<br>(587)<br>-||-<br>-<br>-<br>157|
|Survivors' Forum<br>Women's Hub Elmbridge|4,761<br>277|5,340<br>17,167|5,131<br>942|(4,810)<br>(1,493)|160<br>15,010||
|Women's Hub Kingston<br>Women's Hub Richmond<br>Women's Services HQ|11,524<br>7,030<br>-|87,926<br>14,928<br>28,482|76,179<br>12,616<br>12,223|(23,271)<br>(5,051)<br>4,130|-<br>4,290<br>20,389||
||123,530|573,962|478,651|(102,694)|11|6,146|



116,146 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **5. RESTRICTED FUNDS (Continued)** 

## **PREVIOUS FINANCIAL YEAR** 

||Balance|||||Balance|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||01-Apr-23|Income|Expenditure|Transfers||31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£||£|
|Active Breathing Course|9,578|858|10,075||-|361|
|Body & Soul Exercise Class|-|56|28||-|28|
|Brite Box Blossom House|4,800|-|-||-|4,800|
|Brite Box Elmbridge|6,368|44,244|28,267||-|22,345|
|Brite Box Hounslow|4,444|1,000|3,531||-|1,913|
|Brite Box HQ|-|12,002|42,705||-|(30,703)|
|Brite Box Kingston Fund|30,750|96,846|64,758||-|62,838|
|Brite Box LM S/Wark|-|340|243||-|97|
|Brite Box Merton|-|-|1,284||-|(1,284)|
|Brite Box NHS SW London ICP|-|3,105|2,256||-|849|
|Brite Box Refuge Women's Boxes|-|3,300|1,772||-|1,528|
|Brite Box Richmond|-|20,520|14,356||-|6,164|
|Brite Box Roehampton Research Project|-|5,000|400||-|4,600|
|Brite Box Social Franchise<br>Brite Box Trading|3,079<br>-|14,868<br>713|7,569<br>224||-<br>-|10,378<br>489|
|Brite Box Vibe NI|-|-|189||-|(189)|
|Choirs<br>Choral Activities<br>Community Cooking<br>Community Fridge<br>Community Garden Fund<br>Cooking Classes<br>Good Food Co-Op Fund<br>Jubilee of Meaningful Memories<br>Pearl Project<br>Refugee Action Boxes<br>Sister Sanctuary<br>Survivors' Forum<br>Women's Hub Richmond<br>Women's Hub Kingston|1,585<br>-<br>-<br>1,080<br>472<br>-<br>808<br>40<br>-<br>80<br>6,753<br>1,524<br>-<br>-|35,318<br>7,600<br>4,200<br>1,000<br>-<br>3,600<br>69<br>-<br>600<br>-<br>7,450<br>5,000<br>10,064<br>112,152|27,213<br>4,390<br>4,081<br>1,613<br>472<br>2,807<br>43<br>-<br>29<br>80<br>13,926<br>1,763<br>3,034<br>100,628||-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|9,690<br>3,210<br>119<br>467<br>-<br>793<br>834<br>40<br>571<br>-<br>277<br>4,761<br>7,030<br>11,524|
||71,361|389,905|337,736||-|123,530|



Restricted funds are wholly represented by the Charity's cash reserves and are to be expended as specified above. 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **6. DESIGNATED FUNDS** 

## **CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR** 

||Balance|||||Balance|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||01-Apr-24|Income||Expenditure|Transfers|31-Mar-25|
||£|£||£|£|£|
|Designated Reserve Fund|21,227||-|-|6,142|27,369|
||21,227||-|-|6,142|27,369|
|**PREVIOUS FINANCIAL YEAR**|||||||
||Balance|||||Balance|
||01-Apr-23|Income||Expenditure|Transfers|31-Mar-24|
||£|£||£|£|£|
|Designated Reserve Fund|17,858||-|-|3,369|21,227|
||17,858||-|-|3,369|21,227|



The Designated Reserve Fund is wholly represented by the charity's cash reserves which have been created to reflect the Trustees' commitment to building the financial resilience of the Charity. These reserves will only be expended as specifically directed by the Trustees. 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **7. INVESTMENTS** 

The CIO held no fixed assets investments during this or the previous financial year. 

## **8. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND** 

||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Fund|Fund|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£|
|Cash at Bank & in Hand|47,175|199,728|246,903|233,979|
||47,175|199,728|246,903|233,979|



## **9. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS** 

||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Fund|Fund|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£|
|Gift Aid Tax Refund|5,018|-|5,018|4,981|
|Sundry Debtors|51,752|-|51,752|46,638|
||56,770|-|56,770|51,619|



## **10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Fund|Fund|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£|
|Independent Examiners Fees|2,000|-|2,000|1,600|
|PAYE & N.I|5,671|-|5,671|3,297|
|Sundry Creditors|29,696|-|29,696|10,215|
||37,367|-|37,367|15,112|



## **11. DEFERRED INCOME: GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED IN ADVANCE** 

||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Fund|Fund|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£|
|Grants & Donations Received in Advance|-|83,582|83,582|120,651|
||-|83,582|83,582|120,651|



The deferred income represent the grants and donations received by the Charity in advance and intended for future Charitable purposes. The grants and donations received in advance have therefore been carried forward for use as intended and the funds will be recognised in the Statement of Financial Activity in the coming financial period. 



VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR** 

The CIO held no long term liabilities during this or the previous financial year. 

## **13. NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** 

||Unrestricted|Re stricted|TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|Funds|31-Mar-25|31-Mar-24|
||£|£|£|£|
|Fixed Asset Investments|-|-|-|-|
|Net Current Assets|66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|
|Long Term Liabilities|-|-|-|-|
||66,578|116,146|182,724|149,835|



## **14. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS** 

||TOTAL|TOTAL|
|---|---|---|
||2024/25|2023/24|
||£|£|
|Gross Wages, Salaries & Fees|352,042|256,019|
|Employer's National Insurance Costs|9,481|8,685|
|Pension Contributions|10,243|9,205|
||371,766|273,909|
|Employees who were engaged in each of the following activities:|||
||TOTAL|TOTAL|
||2024/25|2023/24|
|Charitable Activities|16|13|



The Charity operates a PAYE scheme to pay all members of employed staff and no employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000 (2023/24:None). 

## **15. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES** 

The only payments made to the Trustees consisted of reimbursements of expenses incurred in furthering the Charity's objects and no direct benefits were received by the Trustees or any related parties during the financial period (2023/24:None). 

No other payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during this financial period. No material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them (2023/24:None). 



## VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 

## **16. RISK ASSESSMENT** 

The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the unrestricted reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks. 

## **17. DESIGNATED RESERVES POLICY** 

The Trustees have considered the level of designated reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the CIO's needs. This is based on the CIO's size and the level of financial commitments held. The Trustees aim to ensure the CIO will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The Trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily. 

## **18. PUBLIC BENEFIT** 

The CIO acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or objects that are for the public benefit. Details of how the CIO has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the CIO should undertake. 



## VOICES OF HOPE 

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS 

Report to the trustees/ members of Voices of Hope on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 set out on pages 17 to 28. 

## Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner 

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 

## It is my responsibility to: 

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## Basis of independent examiner's statement 

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## Independent examiner's statement 

The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians. 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, the requirements: 

- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and 

- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

K. Collaku MAAT Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ 


Date: 16[th] January 2026 



Charity No. 1187454
voh.org.uk