Annual Report for We-Together
UK registered charity number 1196883
Period from inception to 31 March 2025
Who we are
We Together is the brainchild of one of our trustees who was raped by her piano teacher when she was 14. In court, it was her word against his and the jury failed to convict. Another victim of that piano teacher went to court some years previously, and similarly, the piano teacher was acquitted. Had the victims gone to court together his acquittal was less likely to have happened.
Our trustee's traumatic experience in her youth, exacerbated by facing her rapist in court in later life, exemplifies the systemic flaws that perpetuate the shockingly low conviction rates for sexual violence. Many survivors share this painful journey feeling isolated and unheard. There is a pressing need for a new approach.
Our mission is to significantly improve the conviction rate for sexual offences by the use of digital analytics, collaborating with the police and criminal justice agencies to identify and prosecute perpetrators.
What do we want to address
“ The victims of rape must carry their memories with them for the rest of their lives. They must not also carry the burden of silence and shame.”[1]
Currently the conviction rate for sexual offences is low – just 2% of reported rapes are even charged. There is a ‘confidence deficit’ in the criminal justice system which We-Together wants to help address. We recognise that despite the fact that sexual violence is becoming normalised in the UK, there are lasting, life-changing consequences for many survivors. We want to help create a meaningful improvement in securing justice for victims of Sexual crime.
Our proposal
We are developing a digital platform which will allow victims to report an act, or acts, of sexual violence in a safe and secure way. Using digital analytics, our platform will ensure that where a cluster of reports emerges around a single perpetrator, that information will be supplied to The Hydrant Programme, with whom we are already in partnership. Hydrant will then disseminate the information to the appropriate force for investigation. In this way, no single victim would need to face the criminal justice process alone.
Anonymous reporting systems exist in other areas, but there are none that can triangulate data to identify multiple victims and clusters of offences. For example, the Sexual Assault Report Anonymously (SARA) system in Australia sends summaries of anonymous data to the police to identify trends and target problem areas but does not allow for clustering of individual reports.
1 Raine, N.V. After Silence: Rape and my Journey Back. London: Virago. 1999. p.6.
Our platform is different: it triangulates information about perpetrators to identify a pattern of reported incidents. This approach will allow the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take action sooner, which not only contributes to the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in responding to offences, but has the additional advantage of preventing escalation of offending behaviour by perpetrators.
The We-Together platform will provide survivors of sexual abuse with an accessible and secure platform for engagement. Upon visiting the site, users will complete a simple, structured questionnaire about their experiences in confidence. An embedded "panic" button has been implemented as a safeguard mechanism, allowing users to swiftly conceal page contents and redirect to a neutral site, reinforcing the platform's commitment to preserving user privacy and security.
The platform is designed to facilitate user engagement in a secure and uncomplicated manner, prioritising user empowerment. Notably, the implementation of the "panic" button and the prohibition on post-submission editing underscore the platform's commitment to safeguarding user information. The overarching objective is to establish an environment wherein survivors feel safe enough to share their experiences while ensuring their privacy is rigorously upheld.
We are committed to working closely and collaboratively with law enforcement. This is why we held extensive discussion with The Hydrant Programme and have partnered with them. Although we are emphatically not a support service, our working methods are entirely survivor-driven, and therefore sensitive to the issues which arise. In addition, our platform will link survivors with information about support services in their area, and we have a referrals area on our website which will be constantly updated.
We are seeking capital funding at this time to develop and test our platform. The idea is that we have a 3-phase project, with co-production from survivors (our User Testing Group) built into each phase.
Phase 1 – Pathfinder
The aim of the Pathfinder Phase is to develop our ‘proof of concept’. This will be a version of the system that we can use to test the interface of the system and work with survivors to test the system. This version will test dummy variables and the ability to send notifications of clusters. This will also allow us to see what additional aspects we will need to include in the full version of the platform – for example, writing in additional AI ability to enhance the reassurance to survivors.
Phase 2 – Pilot
We will test the platform in a full pilot. The platform will be further developed to take account of the Pathfinder findings but will include: reinforcement of security features; the questions will be refined, making the user experience more focussed and secure; and it will be accessible on phone and desktop browsers. An administrative website will also be created allowing for viewing statistics and contents without the ability to decrypt sensitive information – to allow for research and evaluation. We are fortunate to have trustees and advisors from the University of Cambridge Criminology Department and the Open University Cybersecurity Department working with us at every stage of the project.
Phase 3 – Rollout
The rollout phase will build on the previous two phases, making adjustments based on user and advisory feedback. The platform will be rolled out nationwide.
Outcomes
We envision a future where the outcomes of increased reporting and renewed confidence in the criminal justice system lead to transformative changes in the lives of survivors, and a change in at ude to sexual violence in society. Together, we will help create a justice system that is more responsive, where survivors feel supported and empowered, and where there is a cultural shift towards increased accountability for sexual offences.
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The key outcome is that We-Together’s platform will support achieving justice for far more victims of sexual crime than is currently the case. This is its primary objective, in relation to which all other potential benefits are secondary. While justice remains the central focus, the broader social impact may be immense.
Effective prosecution in England and Wales would alleviate the strain on already over-stretched mental health services, as victims are more likely to experience full recovery when perpetrators are held accountable. This not only reduces the risk of suicide but also enhances overall emotional well-being, potentially alleviating the burden on counselling resources.
Furthermore, an increase in conviction rates serves as a deterrent, fostering a safer environment for potential victims and contributing to an overall decline in the impunity of perpetrators, thereby inducing a cultural shift. We-Together's collaboration with law enforcement is pivotal in not only supporting their efforts but also in bolstering public confidence, particularly in a climate where the reputation of UK police services, especially regarding women's safety, is currently somewhat battered.
Funding and Resource Needs
Our funding needs currently are for a Capital project to continue to develop the platform. We are currently seeking - £100k for the pathfinder project, which will allow us to approach a wider range of funders for the next rollout stages. We have raised almost £20,000 so far, with £10,000 of that match funding. We have also received pro-bono support from a cutting-edge Cambridge-based IT company to develop the initial elements of the platform and for ensuring we have a robust approach to safeguarding and data protection.
By supporting We-Together, you are not just funding a platform; you are investing in a movement. Your contribution has the power to break the silence, offer solace to survivors, and reshape the landscape of justice for victims of sexual crime. Join us in this crucial mission and let us build a future where justice is not a rarity but a right for all. Together, we can redefine outcomes and build a society where no one faces the aftermath of sexual violence alone. Your support goes beyond statistics; it touches the lives of individuals on a path to healing and empowerment.
Actvites and Achievements during the year
The trustees have been working on various sub-projects in support of the main aim and have achieved the following:
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The detailed design (question flow) of the platform including the appointment of a highly experienced trustee responsible for technology.
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Review of legal and regulatory requirements applicable to data collection, storage and dissemination.
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Refinement of platform architecture to deal with the legal and regulatory requirements.
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Establishing links with the Police through the Hydrant Programme.
Trustees
The charity was established on 19 March 2019 when the founding trustees were appointed. Limited activity took place during the pandemic.
Chitra Balakrishna, Trustee responsible for technology (Appointed 1 December 2023)
Alison Benge, Founding Trustee and Secretary to the Board (Appointed 19 March 2019)
Geoff Benge, Founding Trustee (Appointed 19 March 2019)
James Kidwell, Trustee – Treasurer (Appointed 14 January 2022)
Dr Judith Miller, Chairman and Trustee responsible for co-ordinating external advisors and support network (Appointed 19 March 2019)
Dr Eleanor Neyroud, Trustee responsible for survivor support group and questionnaire design (Appointed 1 January 2025)
Perry Power, Trustee responsible for the Charity’s Social Media presence (Appointed 6 September 2022)
Trustee Board and Governance
The Trustee Board is the governing body of the charity and will be responsible for taking all major decisions affecting the direction and control of the charity.
Matters requiring the consultation and approval of all Trustees are as follows:
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Appointment and removal of trustees
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Appointment of advisors and ambassadors
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The Annual accounts of the charity
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The Budget forecast of the charity
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The policies of the Charity (e.g. Safeguarding)
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Any significant items of expenditure or commitments (e.g financial leases)
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Any significant publicity statements
Trustee Board meetngs
The Trustee Board aims to meet at least once per month. Meetings may take place by means of a conference or video call.
The Chairman will send all trustees an agenda prior to each meeting and the Secretary will prepare brief minutes of the meeting which reflect the actions agreed and decisions taken at the meeting.
From time to time the Board may delegate responsibility to an individual or a smaller working party to complete a task (e.g. victim questionnaire design and fund raising).
Financial management
The charity is run on the basis that all trustees and advisors are providing their services pro bono. Reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the charity will be reimbursed.
The charity expects to incur capital expenditure in respect of the construction of the database and the trustees are working with a software development company, based in Cambridge.
The charity expects to incur operating expenses in relation to database hosting, web site maintenance, professional services in relation to accounting and registration, promotion (social media and other), appropriate insurances and the cost of holding meetings.
As part of its fundraising initiatives, the charity has set up a GoFundMe account which aims to crowdfund part of its operating cost requirement. It is also the mechanism through which visitors to the web site may contribute.
The Chairman and Treasurer are empowered to approve and pay all day-to-day expenditures.
Other informaton pertaining to the charity
Registered address: 67 Kingston Deverill, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7HG
Web site: htps://we-together.co.uk/
Linkedin: htps://www.linkedin.com/company/we-togetheruk/
Instagram: htps://www.instagram.com/wetogetheruk/
Email: info@we-together.co.uk
GoFundMe: We-Together
Bankers: Lloyds Bank
We-Together (Registered charity number 1196883)
Financial Statements for the period from inception to 31 March 2025
The Financial Statements are prepared on the basis of the Statement of Recognised Practice (SORP) for smaller charities.
Receipts and payments account
| Receipts and payments account | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended | 31 March 2025 £ |
31 March 2025 £ |
31 March 2024 £ |
31 March 2024 £ |
|
| Unrestricted | Total | Unrestricte d |
Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| Receipts | |||||
| Voluntaryreceipts | 609 | 609 | 8,517 | 8,517 | |
| Total receipts | 609 | 609 | 8,517 | 8,517 | |
| Payments | |||||
| Governance and administratve expenses | 1,675 | 1,675 | 1,211 | 1,211 | |
| Promotonal material costs and fund raisingexpenses | 600 | 600 | 1,608 | 1,608 | |
| Web site | - | - | 217 | 217 | |
| Totalpayments | 2,275 | 2,275 | 3,306 | 3,306 | |
| Excess of(payments) over receipts | (1,666) | (1,666) | 5,482 | 5,482 | |
| Bank account balance as at 31 March 2025 & 2024 | 10,362 | 10,362 | 12,028 | 12,028 | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Statement of Assets and Liabilites | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As At: | 31 March 2025 £ |
31 March 2025 £ |
31 March 2024 £ |
31 March 2024 £ |
|
| Unrestricted | Total | Unrestricte d |
Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| Cash Funds | |||||
| Bank current account | 10,362 | 10,362 | 12,028 | 12,028 | |
| Total assets | 10,362 | 10,362 | 12,028 | 12,028 | |
| Liabilites | - | - | - | - | |
| Net assets available to the charity | 10,362 | 10,362 | 12,028 | 12,028 | |