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2024-03-31-accounts

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF)

Charity No. 1191388

Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts

31 March 2024

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Contents

Pages
Trustees' Annual Report 1
Independent Examiner's Report 2
Statement of Financial Activities 3
Summary Income and Expenditure Account 4
Balance Sheet 5
Statement of Cash flows 6
Notes to the Accounts 7
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 8 to 18

Page 1

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Trustees Annual Report

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity No. 1191388

Principal Office

Unit 5 Victoria Court Kent Street Nottingham NG1 3LZ

Registered Office

UNIT 5 VICTORIA COURT KENT STREET NOTTINGHAM NG1 3LZ

Trustees

The following Trustees served during the year:

G. Kamau O.M.R.G. BAILEY F. Gakanje-Ajala R. Madziva A. Omer

Key Management Personnel

Chair Dr Roda Madziva Trustee Dr Olga Maria Rebeiro Guedes Bailey Trustee Azza Omer Trustee Grace Kamau Trustee Faith Gakanje-Ajala

Accountants

FREDRICKS ACCOUNTANTS & CO LTD Suite 204 133 Creek Road Greenwich London SE8 3BU

Bankers

Barclays Bank 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP

Page 2

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Trustees Annual Report

Objectives And Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

To advance the education and training of those granted refugee, asylum seeker, and migrant status and their dependents to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within new communities in Nottingham city, Nottinghamshire and East Midlands.

To provide training in basic skills to help find work; general education including language skills; access health and social care services and facilitate integration in such a way they are better able to identify and help meet their needs and participate more fully in society and within the wider community.

The charity’s main achievements include the following:

The Charity has been involved in delivering education and training through its Academy (www.awefacademy.org), which it inherited from the CIC and has a contract to deliver with Maximus. The Charity has to date delivered English for speakers of other Languages, digital skills, and health and safety to more than 175 participants since last February 2023-present.

The Charity has collaborated with the University of Nottingham on the Grandmothers Kitchen project which enabled us to host cooking workshops to allow refugee women and their families to cook together and talk about the importance of food and family recipes during their integration process. The University of Nottingham provided funding to support administration costs and food costs for the project. The Grandmothers Kitchen project has to date provided more than 250 meals.

We also co-hosted a refugee week event with Nottingham Citizens and the University of Nottingham on 17th July, themed ‘Nottingham Welcomes Refugees’. The event featured stories from the refugee community of making home in Nottingham which helped to bring public awareness of the challenges that refugee families face. We also used this opportunity to officially launch the Grandma's Kitchen project.

Over 260 refugees have also been given food parcels generated through donations received from local businesses, and as an extension of the grandma’s kitchen. The charity has also supported the establishment of the African Community Hub (https://ac-hub.org/). This was made possible through the Baobab Foundation Grant of £30.000, provided over a 3-year period. This funding is unrestricted, which has helped the charity to bring people from different African countries together as a step towards building the African community in Nottingham allowing the voice of this community to be heard in matters that concern their lives. The grant has also gone towards the purchase of supporting materials and infrastructure for the education and delivery of training courses for refugees and migrants, this includes 2 Visual display Units, 5 laptops and 4 desktops to ensure we deliver the best services.

The Charity has supported new migrants settling in the city to train in ESOL and computer skills with transport fees for them to attend classes. The organisation has supported up to 5 asylum seekers with free ESOL classes to ensure their smooth integration. The organisation has also assisted 12 refugees with food banks, and blankets. The organisation has also offered up to 4 individuals with emergency housing from either domestic violence or from evictions.

The Charity has also received funding from the Nottingham City Council, which helped us to conduct a piece of research on the health and wellbeing of Black people of African origin, in relation to Covid-19. The study helped to reveal the health disparities between people of African origin and people of Caribbean origin. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382489579_HEALTH_INEQUALITY_SURVEY_2023-2024_An_inves tigation_on_Health_Inequality_within_African_Women_Migrant_Refugees_and_Asylum-Seeking_Commun ities

Page 3

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Trustees Annual Report

The charity has also been involved in the campaign to make Nottingham a City of Sanctuary. This has been in conjunction with The Nottingham Citizen and the University of Nottingham.

Contribution made by volunteers

The organisation currently has volunteers who are part of the fundraising team, general administrative duties and event planning. Volunteers remain a crucial aspect of the organisation as they support in fundraising for causes including research The organisation celebrates the life of our dedicated Volunteer and brother Mr Leslie MaCdonald. MHSRIP

https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=This%20Poem%20Commemorates%20Leslie%20M acdonald%201959-2023&origin=GLOBAL_SEARCH_HEADER&sid=bMA

Achievements And Performance

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. The charity’s main achievements include the following:

Advocacy works for various causes in the community, including the plight of African students facing institutional victimisation. The Charity intervened by supporting about 120 students.

The Charity has co-hosted the Grandmother’s Kitchen project (spearheaded by Family Mentors Association). The project has to date provided over 321 meals. It has also intervened in Mental Health and wellness, supporting over 50 participants..

Housing support for people affected by domestic violence the organisation has intervened in at least 14 cases, resulting in 5 individuals signposted to our partner organisation Nottingham Counselling Service/ to address the trauma of what they have been going through.

Provision of food parcels, the organisation has intervened with food parcels to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

Establishment of the African Hub which subsequently undertook a number of community engagement activities including the hosting of the African Day celebration, which was attended by 50 participants. The theme of the event was ‘’Education Fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa” The event was also supported by the Grandmothers Kitchen Project which delivered food parcels and hot meals. The charity has had a very successful and most productive year, in which it met all its objectives and went considerably beyond them. This was reflected through the new initiatives started such as the Grandmother’s kitchen and new collaborations with organisations such as the Nottingham Citizens and the University of Nottingham.

Financial Review

The trustees have considered the level of reserve which should be maintained within the Charity, and this is reviewed annually. Such reserves are needed to cover, the working capital, the risk of possible shortfalls in charitable income and other contingencies. The Statement of Financial Activities, set out on page 8, shows the income and expenditure of the charity for the 12 month period ended 31st March 2024. The charity recorded income of £53,172. The charity’s expenditure for the year amounted to £36,627. We closed the year with a surplus of £16,545. All these have been unrestricted reserves, and no fund is allotted to restricted funds.

Page 4

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Trustees Annual Report

Reserves Policy

The trustees have established a reserve policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested intangible fixed assets (The Free Reserve) held by the Charity should be three months of annual expenditure. At this level, the trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the Charity in the event of a significant drop in funding.

The principal funding sources of the charity and how it supports the charity's key objectives.

The Baobab Foundation which will be running for the next 2 years.

Donations from affiliate organisations such as the AWEF Academy

Membership fees

A description of the principal risks facing the charity

Funding Shortfalls: the dependence on donations, grants, and government funding is unstable, leading to financial insecurity within the Charity.

Service Delivery Challenges: Limited resources such as vehicles and permanent buildings hinder the ability of AWEF to meet the needs of beneficiaries effectively.

Policy Changes: Shifts in government policies on immigration and asylum affect the charity’s ability to operate and provide services timeously and effectively.

Social Tensions: Increased anti-immigrant sentiment or xenophobia may pose risks to the charity’s work and the safety of its beneficiaries this may include fear to access social assistance.

Communication Challenges: Language barriers impede effective communication with beneficiaries and stakeholders this is because the charity does not have access to translators to quickly assist our clientele.

Beneficiary Trauma: Dealing with the trauma and mental health issues of beneficiaries is challenging and requires specialised support to which the Charity does not have such capacity ready at hand.

Structure, Governance And Management

The Charity is constituted under a Articles of Association as CIO - Foundation dated 21 Sep 2020, and Charity number is 1191388 on the central registered of the Charity Commission of England and Wales. The principal objectives of the Charity are the advancement of the education and training of those granted Refugee, Asylum Seeker, and Migrant status and their dependants in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within new communities in Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire and East Midlands.

The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees.

The appointments have been done through voting and appointments have been done accordingly

The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works

The Charity is run by the Board of Trustees which include the Chairperson; Finance and operations.

Decisions are made by voting and a quorum of 3 trustees is required to make decisions.

Page 5

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Trustees Annual Report

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The organisation currently has 3 volunteers assisting in different fields including administrative roles.

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

Signed on behalf of the board

Kamau

G. Kamau

Trustee

31 March 2024

Page 6

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Independent Examiners Report

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act.

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's financial statements as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

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 financial statements to be reached.

Adesina Otufale ACCA FREDRICKS ACCOUNTANTS & CO LTD Suite 204 133 Creek Road Greenwich London SE8 3BU 31 March 2024

Page 7

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes
Income and endowments
from:
Donations and legacies
3
Total
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
Other
5
Total
Net gains on investments
Net income
Transfers between funds
Net income before other
gains/(losses)
Other gains and losses
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
53,172		 Total funds
2024
£
53,172
53,172
9,162
27,465		 53,172
9,162
27,465
36,627
-		 36,627
-
16,545
-		 16,545
-
16,545 16,545
16,545 16,545
16,545 16,545

Page 8

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Summary Income and Expenditure Account

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Income
Gross income for the year
Expenditure
Total expenditure for the year
Net income before tax for the year
Net income for the year		 2024
£
53,172
53,172
36,627
36,627
16,545
16,545

Page 9

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Balance Sheet

at 31 March 2024

Company No.
Company No. Notes 2024
£
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand 16,925
16,925
Creditors:Amount falling due within one year 7 (380)
Net current assets 16,545
Total assets less current liabilities 16,545
Net assets excluding pension asset or liability 16,545
Total net assets 16,545
The funds of the charity
Restricted funds 8
Unrestricted funds 8
General funds 16,545
16,545
Reserves 8
Total funds 16,545

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

For the year ended 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

Approved by the board on 31 March 2024

And signed on its behalf by:

Faith Gakanje-Ajala

F. Gakanje-Ajala Trustee

31 March 2024

Page 10

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

Fund accounting

Income

Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts. Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable. Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value revaluation of fixed at the end of the year. assets Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments. investment assets

Page 11

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Notes to the Accounts

Expenditure

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Freehold investment property

Investment properties are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value at each balance sheet date and are not depreciated. All gains or losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.

Stocks

Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.

Trade and other debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.

Trade and other creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Page 12

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Notes to the Accounts

Research and development

Expenditure on research and development is written off in the year in which it is incurred.

Foreign currencies

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period.

Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of the charity are recorded at the rate of exchange on the date that the transaction occurred.

All exchange differences are are taken into account in arriving at net income/expenditure.

Leased assets

Where the charity enters into a lease which entails taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset, the lease is treated as a finance lease.

Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to charity are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as assets of the charity at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet date as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses are recognised immediately, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the charity's policy on borrowing costs.

Assets held under finance leases are depreciated in the same way as owned assets.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognised as a liability. The aggregate benefit of incentives is recognised as a reduction of rental expense on a straight-line basis.

Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payments obligations. The contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.

Receipt of donated goods, facilities and services

All donated goods, facilities and services received are recognised within incoming resources and expenditure at an estimate of the value to the charity.

2 Company status

The company is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.

Page 13

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Notes to the Accounts

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations
4
Expenditure on charitable activities
Expenditure on charitable
activities
Charitable activities costs
Governance costs
5
Other expenditure
Welfare expenses
Donation to other
community group
Employee costs
Motor and travel costs
Premises costs
General administrative costs
Legal and professional costs
6
Staff costs
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
7
Creditors:
amounts falling due within one year
Other creditors		 Unrestricted
£
53,172
53,172
Unrestricted
£
9,162
9,162
Unrestricted
£
2,624
3,918
5,250
2,284
3,860
7,411
2,118
27,465
2024
£
380
380		 Total
2024
£
53,172
53,172
Total
2024
£
9,162
9,162
Total
2024
£
2,624
3,918
5,250
2,284
3,860
7,411
2,118
27,465

Page 14

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Notes to the Accounts

8 Movement in funds

Restricted funds:
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Total funds
9
Analysis of net assets between funds
Net current assets
10 Reconciliation of net debt
Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt		 Incoming
resources
(including
other
gains/losses
)
£
53,172
53,172		 Resources
expended
£
(36,627)
(36,627)
Unrestricted
funds
£
16,545
16,545
Cash flows
£		 At 31
March
2024
£
16,545
16,545
Total
£
16,545
16,545
At 31
March
2024
£
16,925 16,925
16,925
16,925		 16,925
16,925

11 Related party disclosures Controlling party

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital; thus no single party controls the company.

Page 15

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF) Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Donations
Total income and endowments
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Charitable activities costs
Total of expenditure on charitable
activities
Other expenditure
Welfare expenses
Donation to other community
group
Employee costs
Staff entertainment
Staff training
Staff welfare
Temporary staff
Motor and travel costs
Travel and subsistence
Premises costs
Rent
General administrative costs,
including depreciation and
amortisation
Bank charges
Equipment expensed
Equipment repairs and
maintenance
General insurances
Information and publications
Postage and couriers
Software, IT support and related
costs		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
53,172
53,172
53,172
9,162
9,162
9,162
2,624
3,918
6,542
142
547
138
4,423
5,250
2,284
2,284
3,860
3,860
38
727
501
128
315
150
387		 Total funds
2024
£
53,172
53,172
53,172
9,162
9,162
9,162
2,624
3,918
6,542
142
547
138
4,423
5,250
2,284
2,284
3,860
3,860
38
727
501
128
315
150
387

Page 16

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FORUM (AWEF)

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Stationery and printing
Subscriptions
General office expenses
Telephone, fax and broadband
Legal and professional costs
Audit/Independent examination
fees
Consultancy fees
Total of expenditure of other costs
Total expenditure
Net gains on investments
Net income
Net income before other
gains/(losses)
Other Gains
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 226
619
2,936
1,384
7,411
380
1,738
2,118
27,465
36,627
-
16,545
16,545
-
16,545
-
16,545		 226
619
2,936
1,384
7,411
380
1,738
2,118
27,465
36,627
-
16,545
16,545
-
16,545
-
16,545

Page 17