## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025**
**Charity name:** East End Women’s Museum
## **Charity registration number: 1188775**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To establish and maintain a museum for the
public benefit dedicated to
recording and displaying the histories of
women and girls from London’s
East End through a variety of collections,
exhibitions and events.|
|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 East End Women’s Museum carried out its
charitable objects through creating opportunities
for people to learn about and share stories of
local women. In 2023/24 this was delivered
through:
1._Sinners, Saints and Saviours_walking
tour, delivered in collaboration with
Herstorical Tours
2._Women in Focus_exhibition, displayed
at the entrance of Shoreditch Town
Hall in October, in collaboration with
artist Meg Khan
3. Co-delivered workshop on gender
themes at the Skaped Activism
Festival in August
4. Research collaboration with historian
Charo Havermans on_Back Behind the_
_Bar: Pub Landladies of East London_,
which resulted in interviews and online
content published in September
5._Old Wives’ Tales_, a collaborative
creative workshop with the Vagina
Museum in April, using arts, crafting,
writing and collage to explore long-
standing beliefs that shape everyday
life
6. Talks and workshops with community|
groups 7. Creative workshops and community gatherings for family and adult audiences, including zinemaking in partnership with the Vagina Museum 8. An Art Market & Culture Mash Up Event and film screening in partnership with the Modern Cockney Festival 9. Collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s to write a feminist themed piece of music and host a discusion 10. Worked with Online Content Volunteers to research and write women’s stories for the Museum’s website 11. Worked with the Museum’s Steering Group of 12 local volunteers to help us to connect to diverse audiences and hold us to account
||Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees have referred to the guidance
contained in the Charity Commission's general
guidance on public benefit when reviewing the
charity's aims and objectives and in planning
future activities.|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Not applicable Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Not applicable Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The Museum has 12 current volunteers, who
support its work through researching and writing
up women’s stories, supporting at events, giving
talks, and being part of the Steering Group.|
|---|---|---|
|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|Continued to explore options for community
partnerships with community groups, artists,
higher education organisations, researchers in
London’s East End
Commissioned new pieces of music by students
from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s
Electronic and Produced Music department
leading to a public performance.
Partnered with East London based community
organisations such as the Vagina Museum and
the Modern Cockney Festival, Shoreditch Town
Hall, Skaped Festival to deliver community
activities engaging a large number East
Londoners.
Retained strong online presence of the
museum on social media promoting the stories
of East End women to large online audiences.|
## **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|Not applicable|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The trustees believe that the reserves are just
adequate so fundraising will be necessary to
increase activities.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Museum’s policy is to hold three months’
operating costs in unrestricted reserves, plus an
additional 10% of capital project costs to reflect
the risks involved in taking on physical premises
and the level of fit out the premises may require.
The Trustees review this policy on a yearly basis|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|At the end of the financial period, the charity
held a statement balance of £1,647.09 in
unrestricted reserves. The trustees consider
this sufficient to meet short-term commitments
given the charity’s low operating costs.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Fundraising efforts required going forward.|
## **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|Individual donors
Commercial income for running workshops
Trusts and foundations|
|---|---|---|
|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|The trustees regularly review risks to the
organisation. Key risks identified during the
period included:
•
Board capacity and continuity,
particularly in light of trustee turnover
and the departure of the Museum Lead
•
Staff and volunteer capacity, with the
team working at full stretch
•
The need to develop a sustainable
fundraising strategy and raise
unrestricted operating income|
|||•
Review and updating of HR and
volunteer policies
•
Finalisation of a serious incident policy
and social media policy|
|---|---|---|
|Other||The Museum has an ethical fundraising policy in
place.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed,royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|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|Open recruitment process, appointed by current
Trustees|
## **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|A thorough trustee induction process is in place.|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees,
and employs a museum development lead to
carry out day-to-day activities.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|none|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|East End Women’s Museum|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|EEWM|
|Registered charitynumber|1188775|
|Charity’s principal address|c/o International House
776-778 Barking Road
London|
E139PJ
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Nam**
**e of**
**pers**
**on**
**(or**
**bod**
**y)**
**Dates acted if not for whole**
**entit**
**year**
**led**
**to**
**app**
**oint**
**trust**
**ee**
**(if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||Cecile Communal|||
||Olivia Ahmad||Upto 02 June 2024|
||Korantema
Anyimadu|||
||Catherine Bourke||Upto 01st January2025|
||Rebecca Scalzo|||
||Alex Runswick|Chair|Upto 01 June 2024|
||Gulshun Rehman||Upto 31 December 2023|
||Catherine Owen|Chair from 01.25||
||Aishwarya Jain|Fundraising Trustee
09.25||
|||||
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Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
||**Type of**
**Name**
**Address**
**adviser **|**Type of**
**Name**
**Address**
**adviser **|**Type of**
**Name**
**Address**
**adviser **|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||**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**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
Digitally signed by **Signature(s)** Catherine Owen Catherine Owen Aishwarya Jain Digitally signed by Aishwarya Jain Date: 2026.01.29 13:06:24 Z Date: 2026.01.29 12:22:56 Z Aishwarya Jain **Full name(s)** Catherine Owen **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair of the Board of Trustees Fundraising Trustee **Chair, etc) Date** 29.01.2026
## **East End Women’s Museum Trustees’ Annual Report**
**Reporting period: 31/03/2025 Date approved by trustees: June 2025**
**Reference and administrative details**
**Charity name:** East End Women’s Museum **Charity type:** Community-based museum without walls **Area of benefit:** East London and wider public
## **Structure, governance and management**
The East End Women’s Museum is governed by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic direction, financial oversight and governance of the organisation. Trustees meet regularly and work closely with the Museum Lead to deliver the organisation’s charitable aims.
Recruitment for a new Chair and additional trustees began in May 2024 in order to strengthen governance, broaden expertise and support the organisation’s future development. Strengthening board capacity remains a priority as the museum prepares for its tenth anniversary in 2026.
## **Public beneft**
Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The museum’s activities provide public benefit by increasing access to women’s histories, supporting education and research, empowering women and girls to tell their own stories, and encouraging civic participation and community engagement.
## **Objectves**
The museum’s objectives are to:
- research and share the histories of women in East London
- challenge gender stereotypes and historical inequality
- provide inclusive and accessible cultural programming
- empower communities through storytelling and participation
These objectives are delivered through public programmes, partnerships, workshops, walking tours and online content.
## **Programme and actvites**
During the reporting period, the East End Women’s Museum delivered a wide range of public-facing activities and collaborations, including:
- _Sinners, Saints and Saviours_ walking tour, delivered in collaboration with Herstorical Tours in October
-
-
- _Women in Focus_ exhibition, displayed at the entrance of Shoreditch Town Hall in October, in
- collaboration with artist Meg Khan
- Co-delivered workshop on gender themes at the Skaped Activism Festival in August
- _Back Behind the Bar: Pub_
- Research collaboration with historian Charo Havermans on _Landladies of East London_ , which resulted in interviews and online content published in September
- _Old Wives’ Tales_ , a collaborative creative workshop with the Vagina Museum in April, using
- arts, crafting, writing and collage to explore long-standing beliefs that shape everyday life
- _A Feminist Dream_ , a musical performance and discussion delivered in collaboration with the
- Guildhall School of Music
- _Radical Women of Bow and Bethnal Green_ walking tours in May
- _Women of the Water_ walking tour, delivered in collaboration with Rebel Tours in May
These activities supported the museum’s mission to make women’s histories visible, accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.
## **People**
During the period, Asma Istwani, Museum Lead, left the organisation due to funding constraints. Asma remains in contact with the museum and continues to support its aims. The trustees place on record their deep thanks for her leadership and for the high-quality programming delivered during her time with the organisation.
Securing funding to employ a Museum Lead on an ongoing basis is a key priority for the trustees.
## **Ofce**
## **Financial review**
## **Income and expenditure**
During the reporting period, the East End Women’s Museum received total income of £858 and incurred total expenditure of £19,190. Expenditure primarily related to programme delivery and essential operational costs. The charity did not employ staff during the year and operated with low and largely fixed overheads.
## **Financial position**
consider this sufficient to meet short-term commitments given the charity’s low operating costs.
## **Financial management**
trustees maintained close oversight of finances throughout the year and ensured that expenditure was controlled and directly supported the charity’s charitable objectives.
## **Reserves and sustainability**
staffing costs, the trustees consider the current reserves policy to be appropriate. Fundraising and income development remain priorities in order to support future programming and organisational resilience.
## **Income prospects**
The trustees recognise a clear fundraising challenge. Current prospects included:
- £5,000 from Tower Hamlets Community Engagement Funding and capacity building support
## **Risk management**
The trustees regularly review risks to the organisation. Key risks identified during the period included:
- Board capacity and continuity, particularly in light of trustee turnover and the departure of the Museum Lead
-
- The need to develop a sustainable fundraising strategy
- Review and updating of HR and volunteer policies
- Finalisation of a serious incident policy and social media policy
Risk mitigation planning remains a work in progress and will continue to be strengthened.
## **Plans for the future**
The trustees’ forward focus is on strengthening governance, securing sustainable funding and preparing for the museum’s tenth anniversary in 2026. Priorities for the coming year include:
- Recruiting and supporting trustees and a new Chair
- Developing fundraising capacity and income diversification
- Securing funding for a Museum Lead role
- Strengthening policies and governance frameworks
The trustees view the tenth anniversary in 2026 as an opportunity to celebrate the museum’s achievements and lay the foundations for an ambitious and sustainable future.
## **East End Women’s Museum Receipts and Payments Accounts**
_For the period 1 April 2024 to 13 March 2025_
## **Reference and administrative information**
**Charity name:** East End Women’s Museum **Reporting period:** 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 **Basis of accounts:** Receipts and payments **Governing document:** Constitution
**Charity activity:** Community-based museum and heritage organisation
## **Receipts and Payments Account**
## **Receipts**
|**Receipts and Payments Account**
**Receipts**||
|---|---|
|**Description**|**Amount (£)**|
|All incoming payments (per bank
statements)|867.14|
**Total receipts £867.14**
## **Payments**
|**Payments**||
|---|---|
|**Description**|**Amount (£)**|
|All outgoing payments (per bank
statements)|19,276.40|
|**Total payments**|**19,014.05**|
**Net movement in funds**
## **Excess of payments over receipts** £18,146.91
## **Statement of balances**
|**Statement of balances**||
|---|---|
|**Balance at start of financial period**|**£19,979.09**|
|Net movement in the period|£-18,408.86|
|**Balance at end of period (per bank)**|**£1,570.23**|
## **Statement of assets and liabilities**
As at 13 February 2025 (see Note 1)
## **Assets**
|**Assets**||
|---|---|
|**Cash at bank**|**£1,570.23**|
|Liabilities|None disclosed|
## **Notes to the accounts**
1. The figures have been compiled from the bank statements provided, which cover 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
2. These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with Charity Commission guidance for charities with income under £25,000.
3. The charity did employ 1 member of staff directly during much of the reporting period resulting in higher operating costs from October 2024 it operated on a volunteer-led basis; reducing ongoing overhead costs considerably
4. The charity has low overheads. Expenditure during the period primarily related to programme delivery and essential operational costs (e.g., subscriptions and services).
5. The charity does not hold designated or restricted funds at the end of the financial period.
## **Trustee approval**
The trustees acknowledge their responsibility for preparing accounts that give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the period.
These accounts were approved by the trustees on 17 June 2026.
## **Signed on behalf of the trustees:**
Name: Catherine Owen Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees