Charity number: 1193772
Make Space for Girls
Trustee Report and Financial Statements For the period ending 31 December 2022
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| Reference and Administra�ve | Informa�on |
|---|---|
| Charity number | 1193772 |
| Country of registra�on | England & Wales |
| Registered ofce | 3 Gentle Street, Frome, |
| BA11 1JA | |
| Trustees | Susannah Walker |
| Imogen Clark | |
| Isobel Eaton (appointed 10 February 2022) | |
| Caroline Millar (appointed 21 April 2022) | |
| Key management | None |
| personnel | |
| Bankers | The Co-opera�ve Bank plc |
| 1 Balloon Street | |
| Manchester | |
| M60 4EP |
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Report of the Trustees
This was the second year of ac�vity for the Charity. This report looks at what the Charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the repor�ng period. The Trustees report the success of each key ac�vity and the benefits the Charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the Trustees ensure the Charity's aims, objec�ves and ac�vi�es remained focused on its stated purposes.
During our second year of opera�on as a Charity, many people have contributed �me, services, advice and money to the work we are doing. This has allowed the Charity to create a solid base on which to plan the future. To all these people, the Trustees express their sincere thanks.
Objectives and activities
“Why would I go to the park, there's nothing there for me" Lily- age 14.
Parks and similar place can be great for younger children, visi�ng with adults or older siblings. But what happens as they get a bit older and start to branch out on their own? Where do they play? Is Lily right when she says there’s nothing there for a fourteen year-old girl?
The data says that she is. Currently, most facili�es provided for teenagers, such as skate parks, bike tracks, basketball courts and fenced pitches – also known as mul�-use games areas or MUGAs – are predominantly used by boys. Teenage girls don’t get a look in, and their voices are seldom heard when these spaces are designed.
Make Space for Girls wants to make parks and similar spaces safer, more atrac�ve and more welcoming to teenage girls. We work to raise awareness of the current inequality and to pilot meaningful engagement, designs and interven�ons which will give teenage girls the outdoor, free to access, spaces they need.
Our charitable objects as set out in our cons�tu�on are as follows:
“ The promotion of equality and diversity in all and any of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the public benefit in particular for the benefit of girls and young women in the reduction and elimination of discrimination on grounds of gender in the provisions of play, leisure and recreational facilities including by (A) the advancement of education and raising awareness; (B) the conducting or commissioning of research and publishing the results to interested parties and the public; (C) influencing public authorities, businesses, charities, trusts and other organisations involved in the provision of play, leisure and recreational facilities on how they can promote the inclusion of girls and young women; (D) providing a platform to ensure that the voices of girls and young women are heard in decision making that will affect the provisions of play, leisure and recreational facilities; and (E) promoting at udes, customs and practices in favour of equality and the inclusion of the needs of girls and young
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women in the planning, development, use and maintenance of play, leisure and recreational facilities.”
Our Vision Mission and Values
The Trustees adopted the following as the Charity’s vision, mission and values:
Our Vision : We want parks and similar public spaces to be as welcoming to girls and young women as they are to boys and young men.
Our Mission : We will use research, engagement and educa�on to campaign and drive an approach to the planning, commissioning and development of parks and similar public spaces that recognises the different needs of girls and young women and finds ways to meet those needs.
Our Values : our work is driven by the following values:
Evidence-based: research and data guide all aspects of our work.
Engagement: the voices of girls and young women are at the centre of what we do.
Equality and Inclusion : the needs of girls and young women from all backgrounds must be understood.
Our Strategy
The Charity’s strategy during the Financial Year 2022 was as follows:
Research
To deliver our charitable objects it is vital that we understand both the scale of the problem and the solu�ons which work best for teenage girls. This requires us to analyse the research that is currently available and disseminate it, as well as to iden�fy where more research is needed. From this, we can encourage further research in relevant areas and work with partners to make it happen. We also need to engage directly with girls and young women to find out about their experiences, their views and their ideas. All of this enables professionals working in the design of parks and similar public spaces to gain a beter understanding of the issues, the needs of the communi�es and what solu�ons are available.
Communication
important to recognise that this is not a new problem: teenage facili�es have been designed in ways that do not meet the needs of teenage girls for many decades. It is a problem that is hiding in plain sight. This provides par�cular challenges in terms of ge�ng our messages across. A key objec�ve of our strategy therefore involves making the best use of the Charity’s limited resources to create an effec�ve approach to communica�on.
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Solutions
Because teenage facili�es have been designed in ways that do not meet the needs of teenage so what would girls, there are significant problems when it comes to answering the ques�on “ ? attract teenage girl to be more active in our parks”
A key part of our strategy therefore is looking at poten�al solu�ons, through the use of engagement, design and pilot studies. In addi�on we work directly with a range of partners including councils, developers, architects and friends’ groups to help them create spaces which work beter for teenage girls. We are also inves�ga�ng the policy and other strategic barriers which impede progress in this area.
Achievements and performance
The Charity's main ac�vi�es and who it seeks to help are described below. All its charitable ac�vi�es focus on campaigning to make parks and similar public spaces more welcoming to teenage girls and are undertaken to further the Charity’s charitable purposes for the public
Research
We have been instrumental in the development of several pieces of research during 2022.
As we set out in last year’s report, Yorkshire Sport and Women in Sport collaborated to produce “Make Space for Us”, which was the first substan�ve piece of UK research into the barriers to teenage girls using parks. This reported in July 2022. Make Space for Us | Yorkshire Sport. The report demonstrated not only the barriers to girls being ac�ve in parks but also what they thought of current provision and what would help them access parks. The results showed that teenage girls felt that facili�es in parks excluded them, and that there was nothing provided for them. They felt that swings, trampolines and play equipment for people their age would help them use parks more.
Similar research was also conducted by Women in Sport later in the year in Oxfordshire.
We have also updated our comprehensive report which summarises the available research on teenage girls and parks and this was reissued in early 2023. Research Report.
A core part of our research involves working directly with teenage girls and young women. This has two aspects, to discover what they want in parks and other spaces, but also to find out what type of engagement works and then to disseminate this best prac�ce to ensure that girls are consulted in a meaningful fashion wherever possible.
During 2022 through a variety of workshops and engagement programmes we have engaged face to face with 219 girls.
Par�cular highlights this year have included:
- Working with the London School of Economics and Countryside Proper�es in rela�on to Countryside’s developments in Spencers Park, Hemel Hempstead and
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Brent, in Northwest London. This is part of a longer-term partnership funded by Countryside.
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Co-design workshops in partnership with JU:MP with teenage girls at two sites in Bradford, which are leading to park spaces designed with the needs of teenage girls in mind; these are expected to be installed during spring/summer 2023;
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Partnering with LSE Ci�es on their “Researcher in Residence” programme with young women in Trowbridge and Crewe.
As part of the dissemina�on and to support others in their engagement work, we have created a range of resources on our website, ranging from ideas for ac�vi�es to documenta�on of successful engagement, along with prac�cal material like dra� ques�onnaires.
Communica�ons
Our communica�on strategy has focused this year on raising awareness of the issues and the routes to address them. Our target audiences are individuals and organisa�ons that have the power to make changes to the way our parks and similar spaces are designed. Three core strands form the body of our influencing work: social media; tradi�onal media; and face to face.
objec�ves in a resource efficient way, and we use Twiter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Other routes include blogging on maters important to our campaign, using our website to engage with supporters and regularly producing newsleters. As part of achieving this we have paid one of our trustees, Susannah Walker, to provide communica�on services to the charity.
In 2022, we have produced 20 blogs and 8 newsleters. Our Twiter account has con�nued to be very effec�ve, with our followers increasing from 5,800 to nearly 10,000 followers, and some of our most viewed tweets reached hundreds of thousands of users. We have also been much more ac�ve on LinkedIn and by the end of 2022 had over 6,000 followers.
Our campaign has also con�nued to receive coverage in the mainstream press - for example, The Manchester Evening News, BBC Radio London, Tortoise Media’s Visible Women podcast hosted by Caroline Criado Perez and the Guilty Feminist Podcast hosted by Deborah FrancesWhite. We have also con�nued to target relevant specialist journals including Landscape Magazine and the Local Government Lawyer.
communica�on strategy.
in-person events including with the London Legacy Development Corpora�on, London Sports, Future Parks Accelerator, Future of London and the Surrey Developers Forum.
We es�mate that these events have allowed us to engage face to face with over 1,000 individuals who are involved in the crea�on and assessment of parks and similar spaces, and through this, influence them to change their approach and create more inclusive spaces.
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Solu�ons
Play and park strategies o�en have as their star�ng point that teenage provision in parks should consist of a skateparks, MUGAs and bike/pump tracks, failing to recognise that these facili�es are dominated by boys and their presence in a larger park o�en acts as a deterrent to girls and young women. We have struggled to find any examples in the UK of park facili�es that have been designed to atract teenage girls.
Skateparks, MUGAs and pump tracks all have well established commercial delivery mechanisms, allowing councils to “pick from the catalogue”. There is no equivalent delivery mechanism for facili�es designed to be welcoming to teenage girls. This means that to achieve the Charity’s objec�ves we have to advocate and support crea�ve new ideas and approaches to park space.
three strands of work.
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engaging with developers, councils and others who are designing parks and other spaces;
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working with suppliers and equipment manufacturers;
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iden�fying and seeking to tackle structural barriers;
advisors to support them in crea�ng more inclusive spaces. As part of this, we have advised on masterplans, either as a consultant or a cri�cal friend; we have facilitated workshops and engagements with teenage girls and we have provided insight and educa�on for design teams. Companies we have worked with developers include U+I, Countryside, Ballymore and Urban & Civic.
We have also collaborated with councils. Working with Your Park Bath and Bristol, we assisted them with a review of their park facili�es and engagement with teenage girls, allowing them to bid for equipment and other works which would make the park more inclusive for girls and young women. We also helped Chard Council engage with the needs of girls in a park redevelopment in the town. In addi�on, we have directly assisted Friends of Park Groups and other local community groups with informa�on and advice on engagement and provided background research and informa�on to support funding bids by such groups.
engaged with a wide variety of equipment suppliers and trade bodies including Proludic, Vestre, Wicksteed, and SAPCA. One important project was working with the skate park designers Wheelscape on what a more inclusive skatepark might look like. This was covered in both na�onal and trade press, and has led to Wheelscape incorpora�ng some of the principles in their future work.
In rela�on to strand three we have started to iden�fy structural barriers such as planning and policy documents, guidance and assessment processes that either perpetuate the current inequality or fail to iden�fy sex or gender as a relevant considera�on that can influence the quality of a play space for teenagers. For example, we have engaged with Fields in Trust as
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part of their consulta�on on their Guidance for Outdoor Sport and Play “Beyond the 6 Acre Standard” to highlight the consequences of that guidance’s emphasis on MUGAs and skateparks as suitable addi�onal provisions, as well as working with RoSPA to understand how they can acknowledge the role that gender plays when they are assessing the quality of a play space.
We have con�nued to promote the use of the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 as an effec�ve means of embedding the prac�cal principle that public authori�es are required to consider proac�vely how to reduce inequality in the provision of park space between teenage boys and teenage girls and were very pleased to team up with na�onal firm of solicitors, Weightmans, to produce a comprehensive set of Q&As on this duty. QA-on-thePSED.pdf (makespaceforgirls.co.uk)
The objec�ves and ac�vi�es and achievement and performance sec�ons of this report set out the ac�vi�es which the Charity undertakes for the public benefit. The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in sec�on 15(5) of the Chari�es Act 2100 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in determining the ac�vi�es undertaken by the Charity.
Financial review
Total income for the period ending 31 December 2022 was £11,653 (previous year£9,544.17). Total expenditure for this period was £15,993 (previous year- £214.07). This resulted in an in-year deficit of £4,340 (previous in year surplus £9,330).
The funds at 31 December 2022 were £4,990 of which £168 were restricted and £4,822 were unrestricted.
Risk Management
charity. The systems that have been established enable the Trustees to review and take necessary steps to lessen these risks. The Trustees consider the following to be the principal risks that the Charity faces:
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and maintain the momentum of the Charity’s ac�vi�es;
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raise awareness of the relevant issues and influence our target groups to make changes;
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beneficiary led.
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Fundraising
The charity ac�vely solicits dona�ons from individuals using the “Givey” pla�orm. We are also very grateful to individuals who have undertaken fundraising ac�vi�es for us. All dona�ons are very gratefully received.
We do not sub-contract any fundraising ac�vi�es to a third party and whilst we are not registered with the Fundraising Regulator, we will be guided by the Code of Fundraising Prac�ce in any fundraising ac�vity. We received no complaints about our fundraising ac�vity.
Volunteers
The principal volunteers during the period ending 31 December 2022 were the Trustees, who between them undertook all of the core ac�vi�es of the charity, mostly on a voluntary basis. The excep�on to this was Susannah Walker who was paid for communica�on, fundraising and research services. The Trustees undertook the majority of the project work.
We were also delighted to work with a number of students, from Manchester Metropolitan University and King Edward’s School Bath.
The Trustees would also like to thank the many others who have volunteered their �me to support the charity. Without their incredible enthusiasm and support, we would not have been able to achieve all we have achieved. Thank you!
Structure, governance and management
Make Space for Girls is a charitable incorporated organisa�on, registered with the Charity Commission in England. It is currently governed by a cons�tu�on dated 25 November 2020 and was registered by the Charity on 11 March 2021. It does not have any separate members.
The trustees who served during the period were Susannah Walker, Imogen Clark, Isobel Eaton (from 10 February 2022) and Caroline Millar (from 21 April 2022).
Appointment of trustees
be appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolu�on passed at a properly convened mee�ng. In selec�ng individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the Trustees must have regard to the skills knowledge and experience needed for the effec�ve administra�on of a CIO.
The Trustees will make available to each new charity trustee on or before their appointment a copy of the current version of the cons�tu�on and a copy of the Charity’s latest Trustee Annual Report and Financial Statements.
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Statement of responsibilities of the trustees
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
As a CIO with income less than £250,000 per annum the Trustees are entitled to opt to prepare the financial statements on a receipts and payment basis. The Trustees have opted to do this. The financial statements have not been subject to independent examination as income has not exceed £25,000 in the period.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' Report is approved has confirmed that:
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The Trustees’ annual report has been approved by the Trustees on 4 September 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
……………………………………………………………………………
Isobel Noctor, Trustee
……19.09.23……………………. Date
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Financial Statements
Sec�on A: Receipts and Payments account for the year ended 31 December 2022
| 2022 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| A1:Receipts | ||||
| Voluntary receipts | ||||
| Individual dona�ons | 750 | 650 | ||
| Corporate dona�ons | 1,214 | |||
| Go-Fund Me/Givey/website | 1,110 | 4,055 | ||
| dona�ons | ||||
| Receipts from charitable | ||||
| ac�vi�es | ||||
| Restricted grants | - | 1,400 | ||
| Contract work | 9,700 | |||
| Other income | ||||
| Other fundraising ac�vi�es | - | 2,150 | ||
| Trading t shirt sales | 93 | 75 | ||
| Subtotal (Gross income) | 11,653 | 11,653 | 9,544 | |
| A2:Asset and investment | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| sales | ||||
| Total Receipts | 11,653 | 11,653 | 9,544 | |
| A3: Payments | ||||
| Costs of Fundraising | ||||
| Fundraising services | 1,750i | |||
| Costs of Charitable ac�vi�es | ||||
| Research | 3,000ii | |||
| Communica�on | 4,174iii | 94 | ||
| Solu�ons | 1,232iv | |||
| Other | 1,193 | 120 | ||
| Sub total | 10,117 | 1,232 | ||
| A4 Asset and investment | ||||
| purchases | ||||
| Costs of website build | 4,644 | |||
| Sub total | 4,644 | |||
| Total Payments | 14,761 | 1,232 | 15,993 | 214 |
| Net of Receipts | (3,108) | (1,232) | (4,340) | 9,330 |
| A5 Transfers between funds | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 7,930 | 1,400 | 9,330 | |
| Cash Funds this year end | 4,822 | 168 | 4,990 |
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i Fundraising consultancy services provided by S Walker, one of the trustees ii Research consultancy services provided by S Walker, one of the trustees
iii Social media costs plus communica�on consultancy services provided by S Walker, one of the trustees. iv Travel costs associated with the opera�onal trustees atending workshops with teenage girls re solu�ons, met by the trustees and then reimbursed.
Sec�on B: Statement of assets and liabili�es as at 31 December 2022
| Assets | 2022 £ | 2021 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Cash funds | 4,990 | 9,330 |
| Other assets | ||
| Invoices issued for charitable ac�vi�es but unpaid | 6,300 | - |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use | ||
| Website | 4,644 | |
| Total Assets | 15,934 | |
| Liabili�es | ||
| Unpaid expenses | 733 | 385 |
| Net Assets a�er Liabili�es | 15,201 | 8,945 |
The Financial Statements have been approved by the Trustees on 4 September 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
……………………………………………………………………………
Isobel Noctor, Trustee
19-09-23
…………………………. Date
Notes
Make Space for Girls is a Charitable Incorporated Organisa�on.
- As a CIO the Charity is required to provide notes if there are any guarantees or debts secured by a charge over the CIO assets. There are none.
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The liabili�es comprise sums to be reimbursed to trustees for costs incurred during the relevant period in rela�on to charitable ac�vi�es. These were reimbursed in 2023.
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The charity incurred consultancy costs of £8,750 in rela�on to research, communica�on and fundraising services; these services were provided by S Walker one of the trustees (and as such cons�tute a related party transac�on); the trustees followed the Charity Commission Guidance in rela�on to payments to trustee for these services.
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Trustee expenses were reimbursed during the period. These were expenses that trustees incurred both in discharging their governance obliga�ons a trustees and as volunteers undertaking the charity’s charitable ac�vi�es.
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