¥.. 12 FTWW Annual Impact Report 2025-2026 ## **Contents** **Chair’s Statement ............................................................................................... 3 Organisational Information .................................................................................. 4 Activities and Achievements ................................................................................ 6 Peer Support ....................................................................................................... 7 Information and Resources to Support Members .................................................. 8 Our Members: Enabling Members to Have their Voices Heard................................ 9 Our Volunteers: Training, Support, and Opportunities ......................................... 10 Civil and Group Advocacy .................................................................................. 12 Raising Awareness ............................................................................................ 14 Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in Research .................... 15 Delivery of Training and Support to External Organisations .................................. 17 Staff Development and Training ......................................................................... 18 Women’s Health Wales Coalition ....................................................................... 18 Our Website ...................................................................................................... 19** _**DrawingOut**_ **Long-Term Health Issues Project ..................................................... 20 Media and Public Profile .................................................................................... 21 Funders ............................................................................................................ 21 Feedback & Testimonials ................................................................................... 22 Treasurer’s Report ............................................................................................. 23 Financial Statement and Accounts ..................................................................... 24 Independent Examiner’s Report ......................................................................... 27** 2 ## **Chair’s Statement** It has been an honour to serve as Chair of Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales over the past year. One of the most significant milestones this year has been the establishment of our Clinical Advisory Group. Bringing together expert voices from across healthcare and related fields, this group has informed our priorities, and ensured that our work remains grounded in both evidence and lived experience. Their contribution will continue to be invaluable as we move forward. We have also been proud to support the launch of Women’s Health Research Wales, an important step in addressing long-standing gaps in research and evidence relating to women’s health. Alongside this, we have continued to contribute to the development and delivery of the Women’s Health Plan and local hubs, advocating for meaningful, coproduced change that reflects the needs and realities of women across Wales. As an organisation, we have welcomed a new full-time staff member, whose work is already enhancing our capacity and enabling us to develop more inclusive, and sustainable volunteer processes. This marks an exciting phase of growth, ensuring that we are better equipped to support both our volunteers and the communities we serve. At the same time, we remain acutely aware of the ongoing challenges facing the sector, particularly in relation to funding constraints and increasing demand for services. Like many organisations, we are navigating a complex and uncertain landscape. However, our commitment to fairness, advocacy, and systemic change remains unwavering, and we continue to seek opportunities to strengthen our sustainability. Looking ahead, we are entering a period of reflection and ambition. Our upcoming strategic review will play a vital role in shaping our future direction, helping us to define clear priorities, build on our successes, and ensure that we remain responsive to emerging needs and opportunities. None of this work would be possible without the dedication and commitment of so many people. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our funders, whose support enables our work, and to our staff, volunteers, and trustees, whose passion, expertise, and hard work drive everything we do. Finally, as I step down from my role as Chair, I am delighted to be handing over to Liz Hinchley, whose leadership and vision will guide the organisation into its next chapter. I have every confidence in her and in the continued strength of Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales. It has been a privilege to serve in this role, and I look forward to seeing the organisation continue to grow, influence, and make a lasting difference. Willow Holloway (Chair) 3 ## **Organisational Information Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales** Charity number: 1191069 ## **Address** |**Up to 31st August 2025:**
FTWW
Plas Eirias Business Centre
Abergele Road
Colwyn Bay
LL29 8BF|**From 1st September 2025 (current):**
FTWW
Post Box 96
M-Sparc
Gaerwen
LL60 6AG| |---|---| ## **FTWW’s mission is to eliminate health inequalities in Wales for women, girls, and people assigned female at birth.** Our vision is a Wales where everyone’s right to good health and wellbeing is respected, and healthcare is accessible without barriers. FTWW is a user-led charity and disabled people’s organisation which exists to advance health, wellbeing, and equality, particularly for women and people assigned female at birth affected by long-term, often non-visible, health issues and conditions. Our charity’s activities are designed to improve health and wellbeing-related policy, practice, patient experiences, and women’s lives throughout Wales. We achieve this through: - **Peer Support** - **Information and Resources** - **Our volunteers: Training, Support, and Opportunities** - **Our members: Enabling Members to Have their Voices Heard** - **Civil and Group Advocacy** - **Raising Awareness** - **Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in Research** - **Delivery of Training and Education** FTWW reaches its aims through the work of our staff, contributions from our volunteers, with oversight provided by our Board of Trustees. 4 ## **Trustees** |**Chair**– Liz Hinchly_(since Jan 2026)_|**Chair**– Liz Hinchly_(since Jan 2026)_|**Chair**– Liz Hinchly_(since Jan 2026)_|**Chair**– Liz Hinchly_(since Jan 2026)_|**Chair**– Liz Hinchly_(since Jan 2026)_|**Treasurer**– June Jeremy|**Treasurer**– June Jeremy|**Treasurer**– June Jeremy|**Treasurer**– June Jeremy| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Joint Co-Vice Chair**– Karen Lo|||||**Joint Co-Vice Chair**– Willow Holloway|||| |Alison Pritchard|Kirsty Pringle||Lucy Cone|||Jon Stevens||Dee Dickens| |Clare Foster_(until July_
_2025)_||**Management Accountant**
Tamira Rolls|||||**Patient Adviser**
Louise Evans|| |**Staf members**||||||||| |**Charity Director**||||Debbie Shaffer||||| |**Engagement Coordinator**||||Dee Montague-Coast||||| |**Charity Manager**||||Isabel Linton||||| |**Volunteer & Community Coordinator**||||Louise Kalicinski_(started 1st December 2025)_||||| ## **Clinical Advisory Board** |**Chair**– Karen Lo|**Chair**– Karen Lo|**Co-facilitator**–|Debbie Shaffer| |---|---|---|---| |Angharad Jones|Gail Pettifor-Jones|Dawn Owen|Geeta Kumar| |Janine Dailey|Charlotte Jones|Inder Singh|Katharine Gale| The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of 9 members: Chair, two CoVice Chairs, Treasurer, and seven other trustees. The board provides strategic oversight, ensures compliance with charity law, and approves major decisions such as budgets, policies, and long-term plans in line with the charity’s mission and legal obligations. Our Board meets quarterly, with sub-committees including Finance, and Policy. For urgent matters between board meetings, the Chair (or Co-Vice Chairs if the Chair is unavailable) can make interim decisions, which are later ratified by the board. Strategic direction and overall responsibility for operations and project delivery lies with FTWW’s Charity Director. Staff line management is delegated to the Charity Manager, who oversees day-to-day activities and manages the two Coordinators, who deliver projects and services. Day-to-day spending within the approved budget is managed by the Charity Director and Charity Manager. Our Volunteer Finance Officer supports the Treasurer, Manager, and Director with financial reporting and budget preparation, helping ensure accuracy and transparency across all financial processes. This year we developed a Clinical Advisory Group which will provide clinical insights to the Board of Trustees and FTWW staff **,** made up of healthcare professionals in a number of different specialties across Wales and Chaired by Dr Karen Hiu Ching Lo. FTWW’s Clinical Advisory Group does not provide clinical advice for individuals, or any personal circumstances, but offers independent advice on the information, resources, and work undertaken by the charity in relation to women’s health. 5 ## **Organisational Developments** Over the past year, FTWW has continued to grow, and welcomed our full time _Volunteer and Community Coordinator_ in the second half of the year. We also continue to increase the number of volunteers on our volunteer database and have been focused on developing and improving our internal governance and communications. We moved to a virtual tenancy at Menai Science Park, M-Sparc, strengthening our network in North Wales, opening up opportunities to connect with private businesses, and deepening our links to universities. ## **Activities and Achievements** **35+ 12+ 30+ Policy Engagements Research Projects Education & Training 15+ 120+ 70+ Focus Groups Held Media Mentions Strategic Collaborations** **Facebook Page: 2,599 followers** _(↑ from 2,353 last year)_ **Facebook Group** : **2,132 members** _(↑ from 1,994 last year)_ **Instagram** : **2,144 followers** _(↑ from 1,839 last year)_ **Mailing List** : **688 subscribers** _(↑ from 660 last year)_ **12 Newsletters & 2 Mailshots Sent** with **3937 Opens/Reads New Website https://ftww.org.uk/ 2,400 active users, 9,800 views 104 enquiries received through the online contact us page** 6 ## **Peer Support** FTWW continues to provide peer support to reduce isolation, enable shared learning, and create safe, informal opportunities for members to connect around their lived experience of various health-related issues and wider challenges. Our online and inperson spaces help to improve emotional wellbeing, confidence, and build connection between those who are disabled, unwell, and struggling with various personal circumstances that can accompany long-term ill health. We delivered four CuppaChat events over this year, including three in-person meet-ups across Wales, and one online Festive CuppaChat event. These are welcoming, friendly events for discussion, peer support, and meeting others in the community. We worked with the Welsh Association of ME & CFS Support (WAMES) to launch ME Voices, a series of online sessions designed to support self-management and information-sharing. These events also help service-providers understand the priorities of those affected by ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, whether personally or as carers. 7 ## **Information and Resources to Support Members** We continued to develop and provide accessible information, webinars, and learning sessions to improve health literacy, wellbeing, and confidence in navigating health, care, and support systems, and challenge injustice where it exists. ## **Webinars this year included:** - _National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) in Wales_ with NICE advisors - _Managing Menopause with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)_ with Dr Dawn Owen - _Managing Sleep with CBT_ with Dr Dawn Owen - _Managing Uncertainty_ with Dr Robyn Jackowich - _Being Assertive_ Masterclass with Laura Teare & Steph Scragg - _The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of FemTech_ with Dr Kate Sheridan We continued to progress our Self-Advocacy Toolkit which is being co-produced with members, created a new Fibroids leaflet, and awareness and volunteer recruitment leaflets. 8 ## **Our Members: Enabling Members to Have their Voices Heard** FTWW ensured members’ lived experience directly informed our advocacy on health service design, policy development, and research, through structured involvement activities such as surveys, focus groups, and coproduction groups where action plans are developed and services designed or evaluated. ## **Examples** - **Gynae Voices Forums (North Wales)** contributing to service developments for gynaecology patients across the region, including the different access needs of those using the new Women’s Health Hub, and advising on the kinds of services it might offer, such as CBT to support patients struggling to cope with menopause symptoms - **Focus groups** informing the Welsh Government’s Disabled People’s Rights Action Plan, ensuring a focus on the multiple and diverse needs of women living with long-term and non-visible health conditions; an evaluation of the Welsh Government’s Child Poverty Strategy as it relates to disabled mothers / families; the development of accessible symptom reporting and diagnostic tools for endometriosis, including contributing to the creation of animated explainer videos for Endometriosis Cymru, and more - Members also had the opportunity to share their opinions regarding the implementation of the 10-year NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan, including focus groups and surveys on the usability and content of the NHS Wales Women’s Health website, and the coproduction of a Patient Experience Survey to be used in the new Women’s Health Hubs across Wales. 9 ## **Our Volunteers: Training, Support, and Opportunities** This year saw us welcome our new Volunteer & Community Coordinator, a role for which we received over 150 applications. Volunteer coordination is central to FTWW’s activity, with volunteers being supported to contribute meaningfully across coproduction groups, consultations, focus groups, surveys, webinars, parliamentary events, research activities, and community activities. Topics have ranged from menstrual health, period dignity, and maternity services for disabled women, self-advocacy, menopause support, neurodiversity, and the barriers and enablers to self-employment for women living with long-term illness. We have improved our planning, briefing-and-debriefing process, along with ongoing communication with our volunteers to improve their experience and overall engagement in recognition of their multiple and varied access needs. We’ve made excellent progress in setting up a framework to ensure good governance of our volunteer programme. We’re working on a formal volunteer induction and training package to support new and existing volunteers as well as growing the number of casestudies we feature on our website. We’re also delighted to be involving our volunteers in our new 2026-30 Strategy. Core policies, agreements, role descriptions, health and safety documentation, risk assessment tools and ‘live’ volunteer activity logs have been developed or reviewed, with many documents now at ratification stage. At the same time, formal steps have been taken towards achieving the Investing in Volunteers accreditation. Remaining work will focus on developing volunteer induction plans, support planning, volunteer recognition, and the completion of our new Volunteer Handbook. 10 Our volunteers have also been contributing to a Health Impact Assessment we’re undertaking of the charity’s current and future work. ## **Activity Highlights** - Presenting at Public Health Wales’s north Wales conference on how to build women’s trust in health messaging - Cutting the ribbon and giving a speech at the new perinatal mental health mother and baby unit - Contributing to the development of the 10year NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan at a Strategic Clinical Network event in Newport Conference Centre - FTWW staff and volunteers raising awareness amongst Senedd Members as part of Endometriosis Action Month - Delivering talks and hosting an information stand at Wales’s Everywoman Festival in Cardiff - Launch of the APPG on PCOS Report at the Houses of Parliament - Gynaecology Ministerial Meeting in Glangwili, where volunteers were invited to meet with the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy MS, and gynaecology clinical leads in each health board, discussing service developments relating to the Women’s Health Plan - ‘Marginalised and Menopausal’, Cysters Event - Welsh Government Women’s Health Network Coffee Club – discussing the impact of adenomyosis on health, employment, and wellbeing - Women’s Healthy Lives Community Engagement Event at Cardiff City Stadium - Women's Health Conference- Bangor - UK parliament launch of Mothers for Mothers report on perinatal mental health - UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis launch of workplace inquiry Volunteers also contributed their experiences to Health & Care Research Wales (HCRW)’s training on endometriosis and adenomyosis, reaching over 1000 GPs and other healthcare professionals across Wales, via their Ty Dygsu platform. 11 ## **Civil and Group Advocacy** FTWW represented the collective views of members at several roundtables, forums, and cross-party groups, as well as through reports, consultations, and written policy influencing. ## **Examples** - Co-secretariat role for the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Women’s Health, where FTWW’s volunteers & staff discussed: - the development of women’s health hubs across Wales, including how they might enable early intervention and prevention of health inequities and access to community services - experiences of breastfeeding and the need for trauma-informed support - `o` access to abortion care in Wales, including the impact of conscientious objection and geographical variation in services offered - Meetings with Welsh Government officials, NHS Wales clinical leads, and network managers for various specialties such as Women’s Health, Musculoskeletal, Rheumatology, and Pain services - Representation on the Welsh Government Disability Equality Forum, Gender Equality Forum, Period Dignity Roundtable, and the Senedd Cross Party Group for Disability - Holding discussions with NHS Wales Planned Care programme managers and ‘Waiting Well’ teams across health boards, advocating for women and patients on waiting lists and their support needs - Participation in Working Groups, such as Welsh Government’s Women's Health 'Making Every Contact Count'; the Royal College of GPs and Patients' Association campaign working group ‘Navigating the NHS Maze’; NICE Voluntary & Community Sector Forum and related discussion groups, such as health inequalities, the power of story-telling to drive change, and ensuring rapid diagnostic tools are accessible to all - Attendance at All-Party Parliamentary Group meetings and activities on endometriosis and menopause. 12 ## **Consultation Responses** FTWW ensures women’s voices shape policy by responding to relevant consultations at national and UK levels. This year we contributed to over 100 consultations, including: - **Welsh Government:** Period Dignity Team’s development of Menstrual Wellbeing - resources for schools; Period Dignity and Disabled People; and the Mental Health & Wellbeing Delivery Plan - **UK Government** : Parental Leave & Pay Review, and ‘Pathways to Work’ roundtable - discussions - **Senedd:** Inquiries on Human Rights in Wales; the Future of General Practice in - Wales; follow-up to ‘Unheard: Women’s Journey through Gynaecological Cancer’, and the Covid 19 Inquiry: Lessons on Equity, Inclusion, and Communications learned during the pandemic - **NICE:** Guidelines on osteoporosis, and the development of a NHS endometriosis - Patient Decision Aid; - **NHS Wales:** Experiences of using digital / online mental health interventions; - Communications with Gynae Patients about Body Mass Index ahead of surgery, and the national Dementia Action Plan - **Other relevant consultations** : Disability Wales’s Charter for Political Parties in - Wales, and Llais _Listening to us_ project. ## **Publications, Endorsements, and Submissions** This year, FTWW contributed to several influential publications and policy papers, embedding lived experience into several Welsh Government strategic plans, including _The Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Strategy for Wales (2025-2035)_ and _Delivery Plan (2025-2028)_ ; _Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2035_ ; _Child Poverty Strategy for Wales Progress Report_ , and the _Disabled People’s Rights Plan_ , with FTWW now represented on the External Advisory Board, ensuring that the voices and needs of disabled women remain central to activities and decisions relating to the Plan’s delivery. We also contributed and / or were referenced in a variety of NHS reports, including the NHS Wales Lupus Services Evaluation, and Review of Digital Psychological Therapies, and feature prominently in the NHS Women’s Health Website which launched at the end of the reporting period. Our volunteers also led on the development of co-produced PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and PME (Premenstrual Exacerbation) pages on NHS Wales 111. FTWW also published the manifesto _**Our Right to Health and Wellbeing in Wales**_ ahead of the 2026 Senedd Elections. Coproduced with our members, it suggests _Six Ways to Realise Women’s Right to Health and Wellbeing in Wales_ : **FTWW-Manifesto-2026-2030.pdf** 13 ## **Raising Awareness** We continued to raise awareness of women’s health and wellbeing needs and the lived experience through public engagement, events, and media activity. This work increases visibility of underrecognised health issues and FTWW’s work. It also encourages decisionmakers at all levels and across sectors to consider both gender health inequities and the role of grassroots organisations in addressing them. We held stalls, supported by volunteers, at a record number of events this year, allowing us to meet our members and share information about the charity, including: - Health & Wellbeing Event at Coleg Gwent, - Cardiff University Disability Research Showcase - Denbigh & Flint Show, Wellbeing Tent - BCUHB LGBTQ+ Health Fair - Cricket Wales: Women and Girls in Cricket Conference - Disability History Month event - South Wales Menopause Community - MENOPT Event: ‘Shaping the Future of Menopause Support in Wales’ - Muslim Doctors' Cymru Health Fair in Cardiff, Mind & Body Health Roadshow - Bridgend Town Halo Centre - All-Wales Reproductive Health Research Event - WCVA Rights & Resilience: Human Rights and International Women’s Day. We also visited the Senedd to officially launch and promote FTWW’s coproduced Manifesto, _Our Right to Health and Wellbeing in Wales_ where we distributed copies and spoke with several Senedd Members, 2026 election candidates, and members of the public about its contents. 14 ## **Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in Research** FTWW continues to play a significant role in enabling meaningful PPIE, ensuring women’s lived experiences shape research priorities, design, delivery, and translation into practice. We do this through participation in multiple research steering groups, focus groups, and priority-setting partnerships. ## **Examples** - Steering group membership for **SPPINN (Severe Period Pain Is Not Normal) menstrual health research programme** , shaping menstrual health resources and educational tools - Hosting workshops for **CARI-O** , looking at a new diagnostic tool for osteoporosis - Contribution to **James Lind Alliance PCOS Priority Setting Partnership** - **NICE** Endometriosis Patient Decision Aid - **CANDOUR** , strengthening shared decision-making around the use of HRT in menopause - **Pelvic health research** , including IUD-Fit, pain management, and informed consent - We presented at the All-Wales Reproductive Health research day which involved 80+ healthcare providers, where we spoke about the **disability data gap, longterm health conditions and neurodivergence** in women and birthing people – and healthcare staff! In addition to staff involvement, volunteers engaged in a variety of research projects, including: - London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene’s NIHR-funded project to examine how the Welsh Government’s ‘Period Proud Action Plan’ could be optimised to better meet the needs of disabled adolescents.: ‘ _By Us, For Us: Co-Developing Menstrual Health Support with Disabled Adolescents in Wales’_ - Our pelvic mesh champion’s involvement in a UK ‘UPLIFT’ study, exploring an arts-based preventative, inclusive intervention for urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in GP / nurse appointments 15 - A Wellcome-funded Swansea University project, ‘ _Autism: Menstruation to Menopause’_ where one of FTWW’s Neurodiversity Champions is an active member of its Community Council of Autistic People. ## **Women’s Health Research Wales Centre** Over the past year, FTWW has played a central and highly impactful role as the third-sector Public and Patient Involvement & Engagement (PPIE) colead for the Health & Care Research Wales (HCRW)-funded Women’s Health Research Wales (WHRW) Centre. FTWW continues to contribute specialist expertise, lived-experience insight, support with coproduction, networking, and knowledge mobilisation to strengthen the Centre’s research, governance, policy influence, and national visibility. ## **Key contributions include:** - Providing patient insight for a wide range of research proposals and projects, with - topics ranging from better menstrual health information for those with learning disabilities; enabling trauma-informed care; long-term health conditions in pregnancy, to communication in and around women’s health - Raising WHRW’s profile and introducing the Centre to colleagues in Welsh - Government, NHS Wales, NICE, Public Health Wales, HEIW, and national clinical networks - Co-delivering Welsh Government SPPINN Lunch & Learn sessions, supporting - translation of research into practice on the topic of ‘ _Menstrual Health: Facts, Stats, Needs & Gaps_ ’ which supports the inclusion of related issues across all government departments, such as health, education, business, travel, economy, and innovation, amongst others - Developing and promoting key WHRW resources such as Endometriosis Cymru, - ESTR, _DrawingOut_ project materials - Ensuring policy forums, media work, and professional networks incorporated - WHRW data on intersectional inequities, chronic conditions, and the importance of sex- and gender-specific approaches - Showcasing WHRW at major events such as Everywoman Festival, RCOG Wales, - WOMB Festival, International Women’s Day events, and HCRW’s Annual Conference - Contributing to establishing WHRW’s PPIE structures, governance frameworks, - Terms of Reference, routes for people to get involved, and branding guidance. FTWW’s contributions over the past year have been pivotal in establishing Women’s Health Research Wales as a national leader in patient-centred, equity-driven women’s health research. 16 ## **Delivery of Training and Support to External Organisations** FTWW delivered training, workshops, and presentations to external organisations to increase understanding of women’s health, period dignity, disability, and health equity, and how these things often combine or ‘intersect’ to cause disadvantage. Training was delivered across health boards, third sector organisations, local authorities, and professional groups. ## **Examples** - Period Dignity menstrual health training for County Voluntary Councils, local authorities, third sector organisations, and colleges, in North and West Wales, including how menstrual health needs can be supported in the workplace with reasonable adjustments - Gender Equity and Systems Change pilot workshops with Public Health Wales - • Presentation on disability, neurodivergence, long-term physical and mental conditions amongst women, birthing people, and staff to All-Wales Clinical Supervisors of Midwives Network - Supported patient and volunteer involvement in the delivery of training related to painful outpatient hysteroscopy and informed consent - Various presentations to health care providers both online and in-person, and researchers and the general public at conferences, including: - Routes to Power Forum for Disabled Women-led organisations - Barriers to Substance Use Services, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council - Health Social Care & Wellbeing Forum, Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) - `o` Women's Health Research Symposium, North Wales - `o` North Wales Engagement Practitioners Forum - Medrwn Mon Women's Health and Wellbeing Event - Welsh Government Staff Network on Menstrual Health and Disability. 17 ## **Staff Development and Training** Staff undertook continuous professional development to strengthen safeguarding, leadership, research, evaluation, fundraising, communications, and wellbeing, attending a variety of training courses and webinars across the year. ## **Examples** - Safer recruitment and trauma-informed practice - Supervision and appraisal skills - Inclusive communication and digital storytelling - Applying sex-gender analysis in research - Finance and funding training - A 12-week Co-Production Network Wales course, which we’re using to develop a coproduction training module for our volunteers. ## **Women’s Health Wales Coalition** FTWW coordinated and supported the Women’s Health Wales Coalition to provide a strong, collective voice for women’s health, wellbeing, and equity across charities, research bodies, clinicians, and lived experience groups. The coalition has now grown to more than 130 individual members from 80 organisations including charities, UKwide umbrella organisations, Royal Colleges, community groups, and patient representatives in Wales. New members this year include Epilepsy Action Cymru, Pregnancy Sickness Support, Birthrights, Birth Trauma Association, Muslim Doctors Cymru, National Youth Advocacy Service, and the Human Rights Consortium Cymru. With FTWW’s editorial oversight, Coalition members contributed to a joint manifesto ahead of the 2026 Senedd Election, _**Focusing on the 51%**_ , with some members also contributing their top-lines to a followup, ‘Making Menstrual Matter in Wales’ hustings event, co-hosted by FTWW and Endometriosis UK, and set to take place during April 2026. **WHW-Coalition-Manifesto-FINAL-2026-ENG-1.pdf** 18 ## **Our Website** Our new and accessibility-improved website launched in May 2025, on International Day of Action for Women’s Health. At **ftww.org.uk** , you’ll find lots of information about FTWW, what we do, and why & how we do it, including centering women’s voices and championing coproduction, supporting advocacy skills, raising awareness of longterm health issues and disability, shareable resources, ways to get involved, and much more. Our huge thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding this vital project, our volunteers who took part in the website review process, and our Volunteer Champions who continue to provide their expertise as part of the website’s ongoing development. We’d also like to say thank you to Mari, who helped us to develop our previous website that served us so well for so many years, and to FTWW Trustee, Lucy, who led the work ***** on the new site . 19 ## _**DrawingOut**_ **Long-Term Health Issues Project** FTWW delivered the _**DrawingOut Long-Term Health Issues in Wales**_ project as a coproduced, creative, research and engagement initiative aimed at amplifying our members’ lived experience of long-term ill health, disability, and caring, and influencing change in how these issues can be better addressed in practice. During April and May 2025, we hosted two workshops where participants created visual images and text to convey the impact of their various health issues and share their experiences with each other. Alongside the words and pictures created, researchers at Cardiff University helped us to identify and explore common themes in a report and booklet which are now being shared widely with healthcare professionals and policymakers. **Booklet: Experiences-of-Living-withLong-term-Health-Issues-inWales.pdf** **Report: DrawingOut-Long-TermHealth-Issues-in-Wales.pdf** As well as the booklet and report, we’ve also been able to create a new FTWW pop-up banner, poster, and leaflets showcasing our members’ powerful artwork and helping to illustrate the support and services we offer. 20 ## **Media and Public Profile** This year, FTWW and our members featured or contributed to over 100 media pieces, including BBC, ITV, radio, and local press, significantly raising awareness of female health inequalities and influencing public discourse. We were also recognised as the chosen charity and featured at the Women’s Academy Wales International Women’s Day awards. Highlights this year include coverage of volunteer experiences of ME, Adenomyosis, and menopause; inequitable access to health services experienced by disabled women; the opening of the new Mother & Baby Perinatal Mental Health Unit for north Wales residents; the First Minister’s official launch of Women’s Health Research Wales, and the setting up of Women’s Health Hubs in each of Wales’s health boards. ## **Funders** We are incredibly grateful to have received funding from the following grant-giving organisations, whose support for FTWW’s work over this period has enabled us to continue our mission to eliminate health inequities faced by women and people assigned female at birth in Wales. Funding covers core costs, including staffing and resources, as well as projects which enable members to get involved in our work, and improve their wellbeing through advocacy and skills-development. In addition to this, we would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest thanks and thoughts to the family and friends of Sarah Seddon, for their generous donations in her memory. 21 ## **Feedback & Testimonials** _We invited FTWW to deliver a session as part of our Cardiff University Women’s health fortnight. I found the session extremely beneficial, informative and moving. Listening to their volunteers’ experiences was powerful, inspiring and highlighted the work needed in women’s health. They have all turned something terrible that has happened to them into a positive – showing true resilience. It also highlighted the amazing work that FTWW do in supporting and advocating for the women of Wales. I would definitely recommended attending a talk by FTWW and look forward to inviting them back again._ **- Staff Wellbeing Officer, Cardiff University** _Thank you to FTWW for attending the Wales Women's Reproductive Health Research and for giving a highly informative and thought provoking presentation. We hear so much about public involvement in planning services and health research but many NHS staff and service leaders are uncertain where to turn for support. To be confident services are truly women centred, I would recommend all NHS and other service leaders involve FTWW in service review or redesign, and researchers in study design from the outset._ **- All-Wales Reproductive Health Research Day, 2026** ## **Community Feedback** _“I was unwell, I was alone, and I was unheard. And then I found FTWW.”_ _“The feeling of safety within the group and always being respected. No-one is judgemental but incredibly supportive. A space to share your experience and to help shape the Disabled People’s Rights Plan and create change in Wales is something I am so passionate about and I always leave the calls feeling like I am not alone in my thoughts and experiences.”_ _“I really appreciate the opportunity to contribute to making possible change and this particular subject is very important to me.”_ _“Really lively discussion. People really listened to each other, and built on what they all said. It was a very safe and welcoming space.”_ _“It was nice to share my experience on topics I don't get to often speak much about. The facilitation team very clearly showed compassion and interest in our feedback, and those that attended were of similar experiences.”_ _“It's a wonderful balance of lived experience and applied practical changes. It always makes you appreciate how valued your input is and knowing it genuinely is going to be heard/used moving forward to make positive change.”_ _“Being given a platform to have my say and hopefully improve things for women's health. Very supportive group, felt listened to, without judgement.”_ 22 ## **Treasurer’s Report** As an Organisation, we have had a busy year with our Team continuing to work hard on behalf of the Women of Wales which necessitates seeking continued funding in a very difficult financial climate. Although Charities in the Third Sector are facing challenges with rising costs and funding stagnation, our Organisation has had some success in securing additional grants and diversifying our income streams, such as delivery of training and consultancy. However, undertaking these additional pieces of work continues to impact on the capacity of the organisation, so balancing these two competing demands is something we continue to consider. Partly we have addressed this by appointing a full time Volunteer & Community Coordinator, gradually growing our team at a manageable pace. This approach enables us to sustainably maintain our focus on highlighting the wide range of inequities experienced by women on a day-to-day basis. We currently receive much-welcomed funding from a number of bodies, including the Welsh Government, the Waterloo Foundation, National Lottery, Rosa UK, and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for which we are immensely grateful. We were also greatly touched, and thankful, to the family and friends of Sarah Seddon, for their generous donations at such a sad time of personal loss. Looking forward, we strive to continue the momentum needed to reduce the health inequities facing our community and are hopeful that we will be successful with several new ventures and funding applications to take us through to 2027-28 and beyond. As Treasurer I would like to thank Staff, Volunteers, and my fellow Trustees who continue to work hard to ensure that the Charity maintains the highest standards in delivering our aims and objectives for our members. June Jeremy (Treasurer) 23 ## **Financial Statement and Accounts** The following is drawn for the accounts of the Organisation and provides an overview of financial activity for the period 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026. The Organisation brought forward a balance of **£57,783** from 2024/25. ## **Income** Between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026, the organisation generated total income of **£211,105** (£100,765 FY24/25) **.** This was an increase of £110k (110%) over the 2024/25 and a result of new grants received, as well as additional payment for services income. Further details of the grant income are given overleaf. |A breakdown of sources of income is as follows:|| |---|---| |Fundraising, Events and Donations|£2,752| |Grants|£180,967| |Other Income (including Payment for Services)|£27,386| |**TOTAL**|**£211,105**| The relative proportions of income can be seen in the chart below. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Income
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Donations Grants Other income
**----- End of picture text -----**
A total of £180,967 (£90,972 FY24/25) in grant funding was received comprising: - £46,350 (£43,348 FY24/25) from the Welsh Government - £15,418 (£25,000 FY24/25) from the Waterloo Foundation - £49,200 (£22,624 FY24/25) from the National Lottery Community Fund - A new grant of £60,000 from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - £10,000 from ROSA UK Voices from the Frontline Of this funding, £44,353 is carried forward into 2026/27. 24 ## **Expenditure** Between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026, we expended a total of **£154,197** (£108,811 FY23/24) in furtherance of our aims and objectives. |A breakdown of expenditure is as follows.|| |---|---| |Staf Costs|£107,612| |HR / Payroll costs|£1,917| |Travel and subsistence|£6,217| |Volunteer Reimbursement Costs|£4,679| |Rent|£2,058| |Insurance and bank charges|£566| |Telephone and ofice general|£1,693| |IT, IT support and website development|£6,459| |Training and conferences|£842| |Translation|£6,696| |Printing and design|£4,318| |Marketing and fundraising|£2,067| |Workshops|£9,073| |**TOTAL**|**£154,197**| The relative proportions of expenditure can be seen in the chart below. ## **Expenditure** Staff costs HR / Payroll / recruitment Travel and subsistence Rent Insurance / bank charges Office general / telephones IT support and website development 25 The closing balance of funds available to the organisation on the 31[st] March 2026 was **£114,690.** The breakdown of restricted and unrestricted funds carried forward as at 31[st] March 2026 is as follows: Restricted £44,353 Unrestricted £70,337 **TOTAL £114,690** ## ***Please note:** During this accounting period, payments totalling £3,300 were made to Koeko Ltd, in respect of new website and resource development, as approved by FTWW’s Board of Trustees on 11/12/2023 and on project completion. Lucy Cone, who is a Trustee of the charity, is Director / Owner of Koeko Ltd, and was paid for this work on April 2[nd] 2025. At close of balance / accounting period (March 31[st] 2026), the amount due to / from Koeko Ltd was £0. 26 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** ## **Audit assurance opinion** Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales Post-box 96 M-Sparc Gaerwen LL60 6AG I have audited the accounts for the _**Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales**_ (the organisation/charity) covering the period of 1[st] of April 25 to 31[st] March 26. March 26 I can confirm that the financial reports provided for the year ending 31[st] present a true and fair reflection of the organisation’s financial activity during this period. The scope of the audit included verifying the opening balance carried forward from the 2024/25 financial year, reconciling income against bank statements, conducting a random sample review of expenditure, and verifying the closing balance as at 31 March 2026. In my opinion, the financial statements are accurate and arithmetically correct. Karen Cockings (ACCA) 20[th] May 2026 27 ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** |**Report to the trustees**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**
**Independent**
**examiner's statement**|Charity Name
Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales|Charity Name
Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales|Charity Name
Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||20025-26|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|1191069| ||||| ||1
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)||| ||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31/04/2026.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect:
•
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act; or
•
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
•
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.||| * _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ ||*_Please delete the words in the brackets_|_apply._| |---|---|---| |||| |**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**|Karen Cockings|20/05/2026| |||| ||Karen Cockings|| |||| ||Chartered Accountant - ACCA|| 28 **Address:** **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of** None, I have no concerns. **any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . 29 **Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales Post box 96** **M-Sparc Gaerwen LL60 6AG** **Charity Number: 1191069** 30