Annual Report for period 1/9/2024 - 31/8/2025
Adavu CIO
Charity Number: 1199391
Registered Address: Jericho Building, 196-198 Edward Road, Birmingham, B12 9LX
From the Chair of Trustees
In our third full year of operation as a CIO we have added a trustee with financial experience to our board, while one trustee has retired and another moved away.
Over the year we met regularly as trustees, as we faced the resignation of our Project Director and the failure of her successor to pass their probationary period. The trustees worked hard to ensure the ongoing work of the project and to support the case workers, so that the delivery to clients continued with no disruption.
(A permanent new director was appointed soon after the end of the reporting period).
Adavu continues to be a leader in the field of support for victims of modern slavery.
Trustees
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Rev Ian Howarth (appointed 6/7/22). Chair.
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Rachel McMaster (appointed 28/6/23)
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Sharon Brown (appointed 9/2/23)
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Rev Neil Wharrier Johnson (re-appointed 7/7/24)
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Lois Bosatta (appointed 6/9/23)
-
Rosina Singleton (appointed 24/2/25)
The Objects of Adavu are for the public benefit:-
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the relief of victims of human trafficking and modern slavery who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress; and
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to advance the education of the public about the consequences and issues associated with human trafficking and modern slavery in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide.
Main activities for the public benefit:
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Long term support to adult survivors of modern slavery making the transition into a life in the local community
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Advocating justice in relation to the issue of Modern Slavery
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Building partnerships to prevent and frustrate modern slavery
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Raising awareness and understanding of modern slavery amongst voluntary, community and faith groups, and enabling effective responses to it
In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commissioners' general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
Volunteers:
Adavu has 2 volunteers:
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1 Volunteer Befriender who offers befriending support to 1 Adavu client
-
1 Volunteer who is helping develop our social media and communications policy
Summary of the main achievements of Adavu
Between August 2024 and September 2025 there have been 82 client files opened, of which 12 are still open.
- Breakdown of types of abuse (some clients have been victims of more than one)
| Child marriage | 1 |
| Child sexual abuse/rape | 3 |
| Domestc abuse | 25 |
| Domestc servitude | 25 |
| Forced criminality | 4 |
| Forced labour | 19 |
| Forced marriage | 1 |
| Sexual abuse/rape | 12 |
| Sexual exploitaton | 43 |
We are developing the work of a Client Advisory Group to strengthen the voice of clients as a consultation body for Adavu's work; to make change in national and regional policy; to participate in awareness raising work from Adavu.
In partnership with the Advisory Group, we have developed a programme of client wellbeing and consultation activities and events.
Client Feedback:
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Female survivor exploited for 20 years, “You have saved my life. No, you are saving my life, I now know what support looks like.”
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Female Albanian survivor: Thank you. Without you I couldn't go through of this.
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Male survivor – British “you have done more for me in two weeks than anyone has done in months, I now have hope”
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Female survivor – Nigerian “Adavu means life to me”
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Female survivor - Nigerian “You don’t understand what you have done for us; I have not known a charity before. This is charity, everyone else they want something in return, I have never seen it like this. The big ones, their support workers they don’t care, you don’t get to see them. You are angels, you have done everything for me. My life changed when I was referred to you, I thank God for this and for you.”
Plans going forward:
To consolidate our finances and work-force after a difficult period with two project directors leaving during the year.
Funding:
Our key funding has been a £115,000 grant from the National Lottery and £25,000 from the Lloyds Foundation, with some other smaller grants, and private donations.
Financial Review
At the end of Adavu's financial period, it holds £96,152 in reserve.
Reserves Policy
The general reserves policy is to retain sufficient reserves:
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to ensure that the charity has sufficient funds to meet its short to medium term financial commitments to demonstrate that the charity is sustainable into the future o to ensure that the charity is able to manage future unforeseen financial difficulties
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to ensure that excessive funds are not held without any identifiable reason or for any identifiable purpose.
The above reserves policy relates only to the charity's unrestricted funds.
Restricted funds (specific grants from corporate funders) will be used for the restricted purpose for which they were given.
In constructing this policy, the trustees have paid due consideration to the Charity Commission guidance on charities and reserves.
Adavu's reserves policy aims to hold the equivalent of ONO months running costs in our reserves, currently E20,000. This has been achieved.
Structure, Governance and Management
Adavu is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed by its "Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its Charity Trustees".
Apart from the first Charity Trustees, every Charity Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Charity Trustees.
In selecting individuals for appointment as Charity Trustees, the Charity Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
The current board of trustees includes members with skills in governance, and experience in the modern slavery and related sectors.
The CIO Board of Trustees meet at least four times a year.
Professional Advisors:
- Sue Holder, Safeguarding Advisor (pro-bono, courtesy of the Birmingham Methodist
District)
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BVSC, payroll and book-keeping/financial reporting, submission of accounts to Charity Commission and examination of accounts
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Peter Flowers, HR
Staff:
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Mohinder Kaur, Casework Supervisor, 32 hrs/wk
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Alice Lloyd, Caseworker 16 hrs/wk
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Dava Gjini, Caseworker, 32 hrs/wk
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Iolanda Gravagna, Volunteer Coordinator, 16 hrs/wk
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Melanie Lynch, Wellbeing Worker, 8 hrs/w
Signed on behalf of Adavu Trustees:
Signature: Full name: Revd Ian Howarth Position: Adavu Chair Date: 13/4/2025
| Charity Name | No (if any) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAVU | 1199391 | |||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
1/9/2024 Period start date |
31/8/2025 Period end date To |
| Section A Receipts and | payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 4,711 2,847 7,558 - - 7,558 1,578 831 - - 289 - - 20 - 946 - 3,664 - - 3,664 3,894 - 31,922 35,816 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 159,411 149 - 159,560 - - 159,560 112,490 4,020 4,840 1,674 1,470 1,803 1,564 10 1,598 3,607 5,910 - 138,986 - - 138,986 20,574 - 39,762 60,336 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 159,411 4,860 2,847 167,118 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Grants | - | 114,292 | ||||
| Donations | 4,711 | 6,784 | ||||
| Other | 2,847 | 1,579 | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 7,558 | 122,655 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 122,655 | ||||||
| Salaries | 1,578 | 85,355 | ||||
| Client Costs | 831 | 3,689 | ||||
| Office Rent | - | 2,805 | ||||
| Telephone | - | 831 | ||||
| Other Office | 289 | 2,055 | ||||
| Training | - | 1,879 | ||||
| Travel | - | 2,330 | ||||
| Equipment | 20 | 2,671 | ||||
| Marketing | - | 836 | ||||
| Sundries | 946 | 1,316 | ||||
| Professional Fees | - | 2,181 | ||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 3,664 | 105,949 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 105,949 | ||||||
| 3,894 | 20,574 | - | 24,468 | 16,706 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 31,922 | 39,762 | - | 71,684 | 54,978 | ||
| 35,816 | 60,336 | - | 96,152 | 71,684 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Portable electronic equipment Bank Petty Cash Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 35,816 60,336 - - 35,816 60,336 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) 5,000 - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Adavu members of On accounts for the year 31[st] August 2025 Charity no 1199391 ended (if any)
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/08/2025
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 10/03/2026
Signed: Name:[Andrew Hopkins ]
BVSC Accountancy Services, Latham House, 33-34 Paradise Street, Birmingham, B1 2AJ
October 2018
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IER