SAFETY4SISTERS NORTH WEST Registered Charity Number: 1191686 CE024111 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 SAFETY4SISTERS NORTH WEST INDEX PAC￿ NUMBER CONTENTS TRUSTEESANNVALREPORT 12 IDEPENDENT EYMIINERS REPORT 15 STATÉK4ÉNT ￿ F*qANCLALA¢TMTIES 15 STATEMENT￿CA8HFL0ws 1&23 I￿£sTo￿£￿¢¢{yJWTS Safety4Sisters North West Report of the trustees for the Year Ended 31st March 2025 The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note I to the accounts and comply with the charity's trust deed, the Charitie5 Act 2011 and 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 published IFRS 1021 (effective l January 20191. Reference and administrative information Charity Name.. Safety45isters North West Charity Number= 1191686 Re8lStered as a CIO Number: CE024111 Trustees lup to the date of signing) Dr Rubina lasani Chair of Trustees Dr Lynne Fanthome Jessica Bull Amira Ahmed Amy Perkins Zahra Alijah Prlnclpal Offlce Bi8 Life 339 Stretford Road Manchester M15 42Y Independent Examlners Hilton Jones Chartered Certified Accountants Hollinwood Business Centre Albert Street Oldham Lancashire OL8 3QL Bankers Co-operative Bank l Balloon Street Manchester Structurei governance and management The Charity is a registered charltable incorporated orEanisation and is constituted under a trust deed dated 7, October 2020. Safety4Sisters North West Objectives and actiwties Safety4Sisters North West exists to uphold and promote the human rights of migrant women in the UK who are experiencing domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence, particularlythose who have No Recourse to Public Funds INRPFI. In line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations. the charity works to ensure that every woman, regardless of her immigration status, has access to safety, justice, and protection. Our charitable objectives are pursued through the following activities: Relieving need and hardship among victims of human rights abuses by providing specialist, trauma-informed 5UPPOrt and safe accommodation. Securing redress and justice for survivors through advocary, legal support, and campaigning to change systems that perpetuate discrimination and exclusion. Raising awareness of the human rights of migrant women experiencing gender-based violence among professionals. policymakers. and the wider public. Promoting public understanding and support for the rights and dignity of migrant women. challenging harmful narratives. and fostering solidarity. Engaging with and influencing legislation and policy related to human rights, domestic abuse, and immigration, ensuring that migrant women's voices and experiences inform deci5ion- making. Encouraging respect for human rights among individuals, institutions, and corporations, and promotin8 equitable acce55 to safety and justice. In furtherance of these objectives. but not otherwise, the trustees may engage in non-party political activity, provided that su¢h activity directly supports the charitable purposes of Safety4Sisters North West and is proportionate to the resources committed. The charity does not support or promote any political party or Candidate. Publlc Beneflt Statement he trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charitycommission's guidance on public benefit when carrying out the work of Safety4Sisters North West. All activities undertaken by the charity are designed to deliver a clear and identifiable publit benefit namely, to advance the safety, rights, and wellbeing of migrant women gender-based violence, and who are excluded from statutory support due to their immigration status or the No Recourse to Public Funds INRPFI condition. Safety4Sisters North West delivers this benefrt through= Providing safe accommodation and trauma-informed support at AIK)nsh House, ensuring women can escape violence and rebuild their lives in safety. Delivering specialist advocacy and casework to help women access justice, immigration protection. and essential services. Offering group work and wellbeing programmes that promote recovery. empowerment, and community connection among women affected by gender-based violence. Safety4Sisters North West Engaging in research. policy work. and campaigning to influence systemic change. improve institutional responses. and reduce barriers faced by migrant women. Collaborating with statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure more inclusive practices and a coordinated resporhse to violence against women and girls IVAWGI. Through this work, the charity provides direct, practic31 support to hundreds of women each year while also influencing broader Change to create a fairer, safer society for all migrant women. No private individuals or organisations gain personal benefit from the charit¢s activities, except as beneficiaries receiving support in line with the stated charitable objectives. A revlew of our achlevements and perfomiance: Introdurtion ond Ovetview Safety4Sisters works to provide migrant women with No Recourse to Public Funds INRPFI who have experienced gender-based violence with specialist, emt)owerin8, and holistic support. Our work enables women to suNive, recover. and rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence. We believe fundamentally that safety is a right. not a privilege. Every woman experiencing gender- based violence should have equal access to protection and justice. regardless of her immigration status. Our work combinesfrontline support with strategic campai8nin& addressing both the immediate needs of survivors and the systemic inequalities that keep migrant women unsafe, marginalised. and excluded. Over the past year. we have continued to deliver a comprehensive. trauma-informed programme of support for Black and minoritised women with NRPF. This has included.. Culturally Competent advocacy and casework Welfare and destitution support Refuge accommodation and resettlement support Group work, social and cultur31 activities Therapeutic and wellbein8 pro8rammes Helpline support Strategic campaigning and policy advocacy Demand for our seNices has continued to grow. We have seen a marked increase in referrals from both statutory and voluntary agencres, as well as self-referrals, reflecting not only the s¢ale of need but also the trust and recognitionSafety4Sister5 has built across Greater Manchester and beyond. Through all strands of our work. we remain guided by our principles of solidarity. collectivism. and justice. We stand alongside migrant women not only in their struggle for safety and survival but also in their collective fight for equality, visibility, and 5y5temi¢ change. Our Work This Year Advoca Safety4Sisters North West Over the past year. Safety45isters has continued to provide vital advocary and casework support for migrant women with insecure immigration status. including an increasing number of women navigating the asylum system. As demand from asylum-seeking women Brew, our advocacy team undertook 5peciali5t training with Refugee and Asylum Women's Organisation IROWI, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit IGMIAUI. and Right to Remain. building on the Team Leaderfs prior experience at Women Asylum Seekers Together IWASTI. This enhanced expertise has enabled the team to provide informed, trauma-sensitive, and rights-based support to women in complex immigration situations. Thi5 year, we observed a rise in referrals from women movinB onto the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession IMVDAClas non-spousal visa dependents, a group unable to access the SET(DVJ route to Indefinite Leave to Remain IILRI but often eligible to claim asylum. Safety4Sisters supported five women in making asylum claims, all of which were successful, with three receiving positive decisions within a week of their substantive interviews. In addition, three trafficked women who had experienced severe violence were successfully placed in specialist refuges and granted ILR with support from S4S. Our advocacy team also provided ongoing guidance to refuge workers across Greater Manchester. assisting with complex cases and ensuring women were connected to appropriate recovery and legal support networks. Women supported through our advocacy service increasingly engaged in Broup work, social activities, and ongoing emotional support. describing Safety4Sisters as a trusted and understanding space. Manv expressed that they felt listened to, respected, and supported in a truly traum3-informed way an approach that continues to underpin all our advocacy work. We have also continued to campaign for improved access to refuge accommodation for women with No Recourse to Public Funds INRPFI and to broaden the uptake of Southall Black Sisters NRPF funding across refuges in the North West. This has resulted in greater awareness and some early successes in expandin8 safe accommodation Opiions for migrant women. Over the reporting period, 422 referrals were received by the advocacy serviee. Of these, 120 cases were taken on for full advocacy support. and 302 women received short-term advice and guidance. Safety4Sisters remains one of the few specialist organi$3tions in the region providing dedicated advocacy for women facing the intersection of gender-based violence, immigration control, and destitution ensuring no woman is left without safety or support. Refu Abonsh House provides safe, supportive accommodation for migrant women with No Recourse to Public Funds INRPFI who have experienced domestic abuse, honour-based violence, or other forms of gender-ba5ed violence. The refuge offer5 four private bedroom5, Shared communal facilities, and a trauma-informed environment where women can stabilise. recover from trauma. and rebuild their lives with dignity. Throughout the year, Abonsh House remained at full capacity, welcoming nine new Safety4Sisters North West residents. By March 2025, four women remained in the refuge. while five women successfully moved on to independent or specialist accommodation. Women at Abonsh House continued to make significant progress in securing safety, stability, and immigration status. During the year.. Three women were granted refugee status Two women obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain IILRI One woman received EU Settlement Status One woman was reunited with family through family reunion One wornan was awaiting an asylum decision One woman was awaiting ILR approval at year-end. These outcomes reflect the vital advocacy. legal support. and emotional care provided through the project. enabling women to move from crisis and uncertainty towards safety, stability, and independence. Residents received comprehensive, wraparound support tailored to their individual needs. This included one-to-one emotional support, the development of monthly support plan5, and advocacy on immigration, housin& benefits. divorce. and other legal matters. Staff also supported access to education, volunteerin& and training opportunities through partnerships with Broughton Trust, Big Life Salford, Rainbow Heaven, and MASTED Tree. Regular house meetings and participation in wider Safety45isters group work programmes further strengthened residents, confidence. wellbein& and sense of community, helping women to rebuild trust, develop peer support networks. and foster a sense of belonging. For women moving into independent or specialist accommodation, Safety4Sisters provided hands-on resettlement support, including assistance with Future Fund applications, securing essential items through Salford Assist. and liaising with housing providers. For those transitioning to specialist mental health accommodation, staff worked closely with practitioners to ensure continuity of emotional, practical, and therapeutic support. Abonsh House continues to be a lifeline for migrant women excluded from mainstream refuge provision. The project not only provides immediate safety and shelter but also delivers a long-term pathway to independence. emwwemient. and wellbeing. Grou Work Over the past year, Safety4Sisters delivered a wide range of group activtties through the Group Work Project, including the Wellbeing Group, S45 Women Together Social Group, Green Wellbeing Group, Writing Group. Empowerment Group. and the Women's Council. These groups provided safe. inclusive. and creative spaces where women could heal from trauma, build confidence, strengthen peer networks, and develop leadership skills. Safety4Sisters North West Participants included both Safety4Sisters service users and women referred by other specialist domestic abuse organisations. Across all groups. women were supported to stabilise their situations, enhance emotional wellbein& express theMSe￿eS creatively. and strengthen their resilience and sense of belonging. Key Highlights.. Wellbeing Group: Delivered 36 weekly sessions attended by 50 women. Sessions included trauma-informed groundin& yoga. psychoeducation. and art therapy. helping women manage trauma symptoms, rebuild trust, and increase self-confidence. Many described the group as 'like famill, and reported significant improvements in emotional regulation and coping skill5. Women Together Social Group: Held 15 social and cultural events with 65 women, including Eid. Diwali, and International Women's Day celebrations. as well as safety planning session5 following the August 2024 far-right riots. The group reduced social isolation, fostered strong community connections, and ernpowered women to take part in public and cultural life. Green Wellbeing Group.. In partnership with Mind Manchester and The Consetvation Volunteers ITCVI, delivered 28 sessions engaging 30 women in mindfulness walks, sustainable gardening, and outdoor relaxation activities. Women reported feeling calmer, more confident outdoors, and several began growing plants at home as part of their ongoing self