Trustee’s Annual Report (30 August 2024– 29 August 2025)
Objectives and Activities: Progress and Key Achievements
To promote and protect women’s health in the UK and internationally by
a) Training and educating healthcare workers and health professionals in how to provide optimal care during pregnancy and childbirth.
MRCOG Part 3 Revision Course We conducted two MRCOG Part 3 revision courses. These courses were vital in preparing health professionals for their exams and enhancing their skills.
Basic Surgical Skills Course We run two basic surgical skills courses every year aimed at building the capacity and upskilling health professionals. The course a provides lifelike learning experiences on essential surgical techniques.
Laparoscopy Course A specialised laparoscopy course was delivered to further train healthcare professionals in advanced surgical procedures, ensuring they stay updated with the latest techniques and practices.
HyCoSy Course A specialised HyCoSy course was delivered to further train healthcare professionals in performing and interpreting hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography procedures, ensuring they remain up to date with the latest techniques and best practices in fertility assessment and women's health care.
Knowledge Building and Impact Through these training initiatives, healthcare professionals gained enhanced knowledge and practical skills (e.g. surgical competence etc.) leading to improved patient care. Women and the wider patient population benefit from the enhanced care delivered by these upskilled health professionals. Our courses promote knowledge exchange, enabling attendees to disseminate learning within their teams and wider professional networks in UK and internationally, contributing to broader improvements in maternal health care.
b) Supporting research excellence in women’s health.
Health Literacy Project We continued our health literacy work focusing on delivery in East London, evaluation of learning, and future plans towards sustainability and revision of the course. This enabled us to reflect on the learning from previous delivery and co-produce refreshed and new course content designed for non-English speaking pregnant women, for further exploration and future work.
The co-produced women’s health literacy course was delivered in East London in September – December 2024, supporting women to improve understanding of pregnancy, maternity care and related health topics through accessible, community-based education. The course was delivered with ethical approval from the NHS. 20 women joined the course and 14 completed all 6 weeks. We also supported a post-course celebration bringing women together once they had had their babies in April 2025.
We undertook qualitative interviews with women who attended the health literacy course in East London, alongside teachers and others involved in delivery, to understand experiences, outcomes and areas for improvement.
In 2025 our focus moved to evaluation and sharing learning – as part of this we were invited to profile our work at international and national conferences for health professionals. This included presenting a poster at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress in June 2025 and presenting at the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology 45th Annual Conference in August 2025.
A workshop was convened in London in February 2025 with the core health literacy team and invited stakeholders to review the course materials, identify gaps and agree priority updates. This for the first time included midwifery and feeding support professionals who brought a new and invaluable insight to our content.
We also submitted a journal article for publication with the findings of our work to follow up on the systematic review published on the potential benefits of improved health literacy. We also worked to apply for funding to support the next stage of the programme.
The development process was highly collaborative and multidisciplinary, involving women with lived experience, English language (ESOL) teachers, birthing partners, translators, midwives, health professionals, community organisations, and a visualiser.
We continued to partner with Welcome to the UK, a local charity, to reach and support women in the area who enabled us to work with ESOL professionals in the development delivery of the course. We also recruited community researchers with lived experience to support ongoing evaluation, act as trusted links to the community, and ensure that delivery remained grounded in local needs.
Learning was central to our approach, and we worked closely with a research fellow from King’s College London to support us. We also enabled observers to attend helping inform best practice and ensuring learning could be shared across sites later in the year.
To raise awareness of the course and gather feedback, we showcased the health literacy project through local community events in Southend, including Welcome to the UK’s International Women’s Day event.
We also created a video of our journey. https://youtu.be/Z5PsxQMudM4
The year was used the year to consolidate learning from delivery and evaluation, refine materials and prepare for the next stage of growth and wider dissemination of the health literacy resources.
Engagement This project reached a marginalised group, primarily non-English speaking pregnant women in one of the most deprived areas of the UK, who rarely have opportunities to contribute to health care provision or research. Their input directly influenced future research and programme development aimed at providing solutions to the issues they raised.
Empowering Participants Women participating in our activities shared their experiences and highlighted issues that were important to them within maternity care. They valued having a voice in shaping our follow-on research and enjoyed the experience.
The project also empowered community researchers with lived experience, enabling them to develop new skills, take up new opportunities, and act as trusted links between the project team and the wider community. It also created opportunities for medical students, younger doctors, early career researchers and health professionals to be involved in meaningful community-based women’s health research.
Educational Impact Medical students and healthcare professionals involved in the project gained insights into the community’s needs and priorities, improving their understanding and service delivery. The ESOL teachers also reported increased confidence in delivering new content and highlighted the importance of integrating health with language learning.
Visibility and Awareness: The community events and the visual representation of our project have raised awareness and shared our progress. These activities have also allowed us to gather feedback on community priorities, engaging a broader audience including academics, healthcare professionals, and the wider public. Additionally, these community-facing activities helped us understand how best to communicate complex health messages in accessible and culturally relevant ways.
Team Development, Skills Building and Networking We have enhanced women’s health community research capacity in East London and Southend. Local community researchers gained valuable skills, such as facilitating discussions and presenting publicly, which contributed to their professional development. The project also supported skills development and networking across the wider team, including ESOL professionals, health professionals, medical students, younger doctors and early career researchers.
Contribution to Healthier Society In a broader context, this project supports a healthier society. When women understand their health and how to navigate services, they are better equipped to care for themselves and their children. This contributes to stronger early-life outcomes and, over time, helps reduce pressure on the healthcare system while strengthening community wellbeing.
C Safe Programme Elly is supporting a PhD student to develop and evaluate the C Safe programme, a comprehensive approach to respectful and safe maternity care that combines understanding why caesarean sections are performed (C Why) with interventions to support safe vaginal births (C Non) and safe caesarean sections (C Op). It will pilot and assess these components in India and Tanzania, refining their implementation and exploring how they can reduce unnecessary caesarean sections while improving the quality of care. The research will also examine women’s and midwives’ experiences to identify barriers and facilitators and integrate these insights into a practical framework for respectful and safe maternity care. It also builds on and will enhance the training the Elly team has provided overseas.
c) Accelerating the application of research into healthcare environments.
Uganda Obstetric Fistula Camp Trustee Ram spent 2 weeks in Uganda, at an obstetric fistula camp. He not only performed surgeries but also provided training helping with capacity building for health professionals in Africa, enhancing their ability to operate and manage obstetric fistulas. Significantly improving healthcare outcomes for women with obstetric fistulas in Uganda. This effort not only treated individual patients but also strengthened local healthcare providers and systems through training.
Community Rehabilitation following Fistula Repair In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we supported a holistic rehabilitation programme for women recovering from obstetric fistula repair surgeries. Often isolated and excluded from society, women receive peer support and skills training (such as crafting beautiful handmade baskets) to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Alongside this, we support community champions who work to reduce stigma and promote access to care for over 100 women.
Box of Health In Malaysia, we’re supporting new mothers from the most deprived and marginalised populations with a ‘Box of Health’ – a co-produced initiative inspired by similar projects in rural India. Each box contains essential sanitation items curated with women in the community, ensuring they reflect what mothers themselves want and need to support their health and well-being and that of their newborns. Over 100 boxes have been distributed.
Whitechapel Gallery Showcase Event We held a major showcase / dissemination event at Whitechapel Gallery in November 2024 to share Elly Charity’s work, learning and impact with partners, stakeholders and the wider community.
The Trustees believe this report demonstrates how our activities have delivered public benefit in line with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Structure, Governance and Management / Reference and Administrative details
Our Trustees were recruited as required in our constitution and are:
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Ramesan Navaratnarajah (since 2020)
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Shakila Thangaratinam (since 2020)
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Joseph Aquilina (since 2020)
Elly Charity continues to be managed day-to-day by a team of freelancers who lead on project delivery, marketing and communications, training, and Charity administration. During the reporting year we focused on strengthening organisational systems, including improving financial processes, record-keeping and internal policies, to support better oversight and future development.
We benefit greatly too from support from a number of professionals from the fields of research and women’s health. We are grateful to everyone as well as our volunteers for their commitment and dedication to enhancing women’s health both in the UK and internationally.
We operate under the name ELLY Charity, registered charity number 1188897 as a CIO Foundation governed by a constitution. We also use the other names;
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EAST LONDON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH CHARITY (Working name)
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ELLY (Working name)
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ELLY APPEAL (Former name)
Our principle address is; Royal London Hospital, Dept of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 8th floor, South Tower, Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1FR
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Essential to the on-going success of Elly is the necessity for sound financial planning and good governance. Although the charity made a negative return of £65,704 the trustees believe that this does not have any significant effect on meeting the charities objectives. In 2025 income was £82,613 (2024-£111,534) with a deficit of £65,704 (2024- deficit of £17,944) |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level sufficient to provide services for at least three months. The Trustees consider reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The trustees will work look at ways to increase their free reserves in line with the growth of the charity. Amounts held in Restricted funds have been earmarked for a specific use as deemed necessary by the trustees. Restricted funds are set aside for specific purposes and can only be used in accordance with the conditions set by the original funder or funding agreement. As set out in Elly Charity’s Reserves Policy, the aim is to maintain reserves equivalent to 9 months running costs which is currentlyan estimated £34,500. The Reserves |
| Policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains appropriate to the Charity’s size and scope of activities. |
Policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains appropriate to the Charity’s size and scope of activities. |
Policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains appropriate to the Charity’s size and scope of activities. |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 2025 - £65,448 |
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| Reasons for holding zero reserves Para 1.22 N/A |
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| Details of fund materially in deficit Para 1.24 N/A |
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| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
| Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. |
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. |
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. |
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| Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 29 June 2026 Trustee Joseph Aquilina |
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| Joseph Aquilina | ||
| Trustee |
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| 29 June 2026 |
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Elly Charity
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Charity No.1188897
Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 29th August 2025
| Charity NameElly Charity | Charity NameElly Charity | CharityNo | 1188897 | 1188897 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company No |
CE021400 | ||||
| Annualaccountsfor the period | |||||
| Period start date | 30.08.2024 | To | Period end date |
29.08.2025 |
| Expenditure (Notes 4) Expenditure on: Tax payable Net gains/(losses) on investments Extraordinary items Other gains/(losses) Reconciliation of funds: Charitable activities Investments Net income/(expenditure) before tax for the reporting period Total Recommended categories by activity Income and endowments from: Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward Total Net income/(expenditure) after tax before investment gains/(losses) Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Other trading activities Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use Charitable activities Other recognised gains/(losses): Separate material expense item Total funds brought forward Raising funds Separate material item of income Other Other Donations and legacies Income (Note 3) |
Unrestricte d funds Restricted income funds Endowmen t funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
Unrestricte d funds Restricted income funds Endowmen t funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
Unrestricte d funds Restricted income funds Endowmen t funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
Unrestricte d funds Restricted income funds Endowmen t funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
Unrestricte d funds Restricted income funds Endowmen t funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 585 | 585 | 1,155 | |||
| 60,763 | 19,800 | 80,563 | 108,622 | ||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| 1,466 | 1,466 | 1,757 | |||
| 62,813 | 19,800 | - | 82,613 | 111,534 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 123,217 | 25,100 | 148,317 | 110,332 | ||
| - | |||||
| - | 19,145 | ||||
| 123,217 | 25,100 | - | 148,317 | 129,478 | |
| 60,404 - |
5,300 - |
- | 65,704 - |
17,944 - |
|
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 60,404 - |
5,300 - |
- | 65,704 - |
17,944 - |
|
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 60,404 - |
5,300 - |
- | 65,704 - |
17,944 - |
|
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 60,404 - |
5,300 - |
- | 65,704 - |
17,944 - |
|
| 125,851 | 5,300 | - | 131,151 | 149,095 | |
| 65,448 | - | - | 65,448 | 131,151 |
Charity No 1188897 Company No CE021400
| Section B Balance sheet |
Section B Balance sheet |
Section B Balance sheet |
Section B Balance sheet |
Section B Balance sheet |
Section B Balance sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ Fixed assets F01 Intangible assets - Tangible assets (Note 5) 11,607 Heritage assets - Investments - Total fixed assets 11,607 Current assets Stocks - Debtors 700 Investments - Cash at bank and in hand (Note 6) 56,251 Total current assets 56,951 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (Note 7) 3,110 Net current assets/(liabilities) 53,841 Total assets less current liabilities 65,448 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year - Provisions for liabilities - Total net assets or liabilities 65,448 Funds of the Charity Endowment funds - Restricted income funds Unrestricted funds (Note 8) 65,448 Revaluation reserve Fair value reserve Total funds 65,448 Signed by one or two trustees/directors on behalf of all the trustees/directors |
Unrestricted funds £ F01 |
Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total this year Total last year £ £ £ £ F02 F03 F04 F05 |
|||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 11,607 | - | - | 11,607 | 993 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 11,607 | - | - | 11,607 | 993 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 700 | - | - | 700 | 393 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 56,251 | - | - | 56,251 | 131,486 | |
| 56,951 | - | - | 56,951 | 131,878 | |
| 3,110 | - | - | 3,110 | 1,720 | |
| 53,841 | - | - | 53,841 | 130,158 | |
| 65,448 | - | - | 65,448 | 131,151 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 65,448 | - | - | 65,448 | 131,151 | |
| - | - | - | |||
| - | - | 5,300 | |||
| 65,448 | - | 65,448 | 125,851 | ||
| - | |||||
| 65,448 | - | - | 65,448 | 131,151 | |
| Print Name | Date of approval dd/mm/yyyy |
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| Joseph Aquilina | 29/06/26 | ||||
| Ramesan Navaratnara | 29/06/26 |
Elly Charity Notes to the accounts for the year ended 29th August 2025
1 Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts 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 accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011.
2 Accounting Policies
2.1 Income
Income is included when receivable. Where income has conditions attached to it, that income is recognised when there is certainty of receipt, entitlement and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income (including grants receivable) is deferred where conditions exist on entitlement such as a specified future time period.
2.2 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised in the period in which it is incurred and includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Expenditure is recognised when a legal or constructive obligation arises. Costs of raising funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income. Governance costs are those costs incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
2.3 Depreciation
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life
Fixtures, fittings and equipment 25% Straight Line
2.4. Creditors
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts
2.4. Debtors
Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
2.5 Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are where the donor specifies the use to which the funds can be spent.
Note 3 Income
| Analysis of income Donations and legacies: Donations and gifts Charitable activities: Teaching & grants received Other Trading activities Fundraising events Other Bank Interest TOTAL INCOME |
Unrestricted income Restricted Funds Total Funds £ 585 0 585 60,763 19800 80,563 0 0 0 1,466 0 1,466 62,813 19,800 82,613 |
|---|---|
Elly Charity Notes to the accounts for the year ended 29th August 2025
Note 4 Expenses
2025
| Restricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | funds | Total funds | |
| Costs - Running courses (food/travel) | 8,445 | 8,445 | |
| Course Examiners & Role Players | 3,737 | 3,737 | |
| Other direct costs | 15,599 | 1,939 | 17,538 |
| Accountancy | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| Audit | 720 | 720 | |
| Admin Support | 4,531 | 4,531 | |
| Advertising & Marketing | 4,622 | 4,622 | |
| Community Researchers | 601 | 13,141 | 13,742 |
| Insurance | 145 | 145 | |
| Bank charges | 363 | 363 | |
| Subscriptions | 204 | 204 | |
| IT costs | 900 | 900 | |
| License | 1,474 | 1,474 | |
| Depreciation | 5,330 | 5,330 | |
| Travel & Accommodation | 4,743 | 4,743 | |
| Meetings & Subsistence | 6,272 | 6,272 | |
| Other professional fees | 13,026 | 13,026 | |
| Charity Coordinator | 17,867 | 17,867 | |
| Programme Manager | 13,616 | 13,616 | |
| Costs associated with overseas | |||
| Charity projects | 3,990 | 10,020 | 14,010 |
| PPS & Office costs | 763 | 763 | |
| Sponsorships | 11,222 | 11,222 | |
| Training & conferences | 4,044 | 4,044 | |
| 123,217 | 25,100 | 148,317 |
0
Note 5 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 30 August 2024 Additions At 29 August 2025 Depreciation At 30 August 2024 Charge for the Period At 29 August 2025 Net book values: At 29 August 2025 At 30 August 2024 Cash in hand & bank Other debtors Note 6 Current Assets |
Fixtures, fittings and equipment 5376 15944 21,320 4383 5330 9713 11,607 993 2025 2024 56,251 131,486 700 393 |
|---|---|
| 56,951 131,878 |
Elly Charity Notes to the accounts for the year ended 29th August 2025
| Note 7 | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Accruals and deferred income | 3110 | 1,720 | |
| 3110 | 1720 |
Note 8 Charity funds
| Fund names | **Type PE, EE R or UR *** | Fund balances brought forward £ |
Income £ |
Expendit ure £ |
Transfer s £ |
Gains and losses £ |
Fund balances carried forward £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds | UR | 125,851 | 62,813 | -123,217 | - | - | 65,448 |
| Restricted Funds | R | 5,300 | 19,800 | - 25,100 |
- 0 |
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| Other funds(balancing figure) | N/a | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Funds asper balance sheet | 131,151 | 82,613 | - 148,317 | - | - | 65,448 |
Note 9 Transactions with trustees and related parties
None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with their charity or a related entity. 2 Trustees were reimbursed for expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the benefit of the Charity.
CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examinerfs report on the FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 accounts Section A Independent Examinefs Report Report to the trustees Elly Charity On accounts for the year ended 29 August 2025 Charity no {if any 1188897 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounls of the above ¢harity (Xhe Trust.) for the year ended 2910812025. As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act") Responsibilities and basis of report I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have exarniner's statement come to my attention in connection ¥Mth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect-. the accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Charrties Act.. or the accounts did nol accord the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conMIng the forn and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and ReFQrts) Regulation$ 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinalion. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Signed: Date: )/ots Name." Mrs Maxine Gambrill FCCA Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (rf any): Assoaalion of Chartered Certified Accountants Address: PG Lemon LLP 22-26 Bank Slreel, Heme Bay Kent CT6 SEA