Registered Charity Number : 1199567
THE MABEL FOUNDATION a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR END 30 April 2025
THE MABEL FOUNDATION The Broadgate Tower Third Floor 20 Primrose Street LONDON
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 April 2025
THE MABEL FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
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THE MABEL FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 April 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Charity number: 1199567
CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 06 Jul 2022
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the charity are to relieve poverty among individuals facing financial hardship, particularly in Africa, by providing sustainable feminine hygiene products and by teaching and training women to produce these products. The charity also aims to advance and promote health by making these products accessible and by educating women about menstruation and their own bodies. This empowers women to make informed decisions and enhances their access to life opportunities, including education.
Activities - How the Charity Utilizes Its Resources
Mabel adopts a holistic approach to addressing period poverty in remote areas of Africa. We collaborate with local communities and organizations to distribute reusable period products, provide menstrual education, train local sewing groups to produce reusable pads, transforming them into micro-enterprises, and conduct surveys to gain deeper insights and offer better support to these communities.
The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
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Lauren Mellor (Chair) (Appointment 01 March 2022)
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Andrew Grant Kark ( Charity Secretary) (Appointment 01 March 2022)
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Kate Megan McCaslin (Trustee) (Appointment 01 March 2022)
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Ann Marie Spillane (Trustee)(Appointment 01 March 2022)
Organisation Structure
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).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Trust for that year.
In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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oobserve the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;omake judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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THE MABEL FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 April 2025
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
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prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed.
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.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Registered Address:
The Broadgate Tower Third Floor 20 Primrose Street London United Kingdom EC2A 2RS
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THE MABEL FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 April 2025
2025 Trustees Report
Strengthening Our Partnership with MWCT (Kenya)
Our partnership with MWCT continued to deepen during the reporting period, reflecting a strong and collaborative working relationship.
At the beginning of the year, we received confirmation that the period underwear donated previous to this reporting period had been successfully distributed across 22 schools — 15 in the Rombo region and 7 in the Kuku region. This distribution ensured that girls in underserved communities continued to access sustainable menstrual solutions, accompanied by menstrual health education.
Le Rosey Support
We were pleased to receive a £260 donation from Institut Le Rosey, designated to support the provision of Mabel Kits and menstrual education within the MWCT region.
Through this contribution:
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51 Mabel Kits were produced by the Heri Sewing College in Malindi, Kenya
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Kits were delivered to MWCT alongside menstrual health pamphlets
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Distribution was accompanied by structured menstrual education sessions
Building on this initial support, Le Rosey subsequently committed a further £5,000 to support a larger-scale initiative benefiting 3,000 girls.
As part of this project:
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450 Mabel Kits with educational pamphlets were produced by the Heri Sewing College
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10 postpartum kits were delivered to a local clinic as part of a pilot initiative
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A feedback survey will be conducted to assess user experience and inform future product development
In addition, refresher menstrual teacher training was delivered to the MWCT team to ensure education sessions remain accurate, engaging, and impactful.
Product Feedback and Partnership with The Period Company
We continued collaboration with The Period Company, supported by structured feedback through survey data and collection.
In 2023 and 2024, hundreds of Maasai students in the Kuku Ranch were given absorbent underwear from The Period Company, Mabel menstrual lessons, and cleaning kits with the goal to increase school attendance. Introducing a new product into any region comes with challenges, such as logistical issues and cultural acceptance, and we faced them head-on. We were curious to see how easily the new product would be embraced by those in both rural and more readily accessible villages, and we were determined to find out.
The impact of our project on the everyday lives of the Maasai students has been incredibly encouraging. Missed school days fell by 88% after the introduction of Period Company underwear. What's more, 77% of those surveyed preferred period underwear over disposable
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THE MABEL FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 April 2025
options, a clear sign that our collective support is making a tangible difference for these students, with a lot of potential for far greater impact in the region.
Expanding Our Reach: Malawi Project
In August 2024, The Mabel Foundation was approached by Pamudzi Pathu Initiatives with a request to provide 500 Mabel Kits to Mgoza Primary School and the local Community Day Secondary School in Malawi.
Following detailed planning discussions, The Mabel Foundation launched a targeted fundraising initiative to deliver the project. We were deeply grateful when Rovos Rail agreed to fund the project. Additional Mabel funds were also used to finance this project.
Key milestones included:
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Menstrual Teacher Training delivered to the Malawi distribution team
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500 Mabel Kits produced by the Heri Sewing College in Malindi, Kenya
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Kits delivered to Malawi in January
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Distribution completed within weeks of arrival
Impact delivered:
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435 girls trained and supported at Mgoza Primary School
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65 girls trained and supported at Community Day Secondary School
This new partnership progressed from initial contact to full delivery within six months — a testament to effective collaboration and strong local coordination.
Fundraising and Support
In 2024 Leanne Maiden became our second Mabel ambassador and committed to raising funds for The Mabel Foundation, through the sale of her boat and equipment following her participation in the Atlantic Challenge Race. On February 17, 2024, after more than two months at sea, Leanne crossed the finish line, making history as the first South African woman to complete the Atlantic crossing solo, earning a Guinness World Record.
We are delighted to confirm that, after the successful sale of her boat, The Mabel Foundation received a donation of £5000. Her extraordinary Atlantic crossing therefore translated directly into practical support for menstrual health programmes, extending the impact of her achievement well beyond the finish line.
Looking Ahead
This year has demonstrated the value of sustained partnerships, structured feedback, and strategic expansion into new regions. By combining product provision with menstrual education and teacher training, The Mabel Foundation continues to advance menstrual equity through practical, community-led solutions. We remain committed to scaling our impact responsibly, strengthening local capacity, and ensuring that every product distributed is supported by education, dignity, and informed choice.
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