THE SEWING FAMILY
Charitable incorporated organisation
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Charity number: 1199744 Company Number: CE029791
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CONTENTS
Page Legal and Administrative Details 3 Directors’ and Trustees’ Report 4 - 8 Statement of Financial Activities 9 Balance Sheet 10 Notes to the Accounts 11 - 14
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THE SEWING FAMILY (Charitable incorporated organisation)
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
_________________ Directors and Trustees Caroline Gration - Chair Charlotte Jane Illera Ashima Kaur Celeste Ivy Thexton-Gration Registered Office 19 ASHBURNHAM ROAD LONDON SW10 0PG Company Number CE029791 Charity Number 1199744
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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The Trustees are pleased to present their report including the financial statements of The Sewing Family CIO (the “Charity”) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Sewing Family continues to promote sustainable sewing practices and inclusivity within our community.
Sewing Family coordinates with the local council and voluntary organisations to teach sewing and fashion skills to disadvantaged families, adults, children, asylum seekers and refugees within our community. To provide training in garment construction, information and direction for future employment within the fashion industry.
Sewing Family teaches sewing, fashion, pattern cutting, design and customisation in our sewing studio space at our premises at 19 Ashburnham Road, London SW10 0PG using donated fabrics and haberdashery thus reducing toxic fashion footprint.
We taught small adult sewing classes on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings offering paid and free spaces.
We delivered Saturday morning sewing class for children, offering free and paid classes.
We created a Streetwear workshop for looked after children in care coordinating with Si Wharton, Enrichment Programme Coordinator for Virtual Schools of RBKC, LBHF & WCC Councils.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
When considering activities which contribute towards the charity’s work, Trustees have regarded section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 in relation to its guidance on public benefit. Guidance has been considered at trustee meetings when planning programmes and activities over the course of the year.
STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Caroline Gration the Director is entitled to appoint the first three trustees. The selection process was based around each trustee’s understanding of the charity, their suitability to the role in terms of experience and their intention of input. The trustees remain unchanged in the second year of operating.
Trustee Ashima Kaur – Afghan refugee now working as a textile teacher in schools
Trustee Charlotte Illera – Volunteer at evacuee sewing groups and clothing banks
Trustee Celeste Thexton Gration – Graphic Designer at The Financial Times .
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
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CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY VOLUNTEERS
Sewing Family continues to benefit from the help of volunteers who are active in our workshops.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
We continue to provide workshops at 19 Ashburnham Road, London SW10 0PG, first acquired on December 9th 2023.
The premises belonged to a womenswear company called Katherine Hooker. There is an old sewing room in the basement and a showroom and an office with a small garden on the ground floor. The basement is very dilapidated with damp issues, but Katherine Hooker Ltd donated a significant amount of industrial sewing machines, an ironing press, fabrics and haberdashery. We’ve used the showroom as a ground floor studio, kept the office as an office that could double up as an auxiliary teaching room. The basement sewing room is used to store donated fabrics until the damp can be addressed. The intention is to make it an additional sewing room.
Sewing Family’s website was designed built by one of our Trustee’s Celeste Thexton Gration at no charge to the charity (www.sewingfamily.org).
We contacted designers, fashion brands and the wider community who are mostly based within a 3-mile radius of Sewing Family, we have been so appreciative of their generosity.
Companies who’ve Donated
Cefinn
Vaara
Suzannah
Katherine Hooker
Anna Mason
Clinton Lotter
Annie Officiel
The Vampire’s Wife
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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Activities
Weekly Classes
Sewing Family held adult and children’s classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings attracting the local community and we employed a sewing teacher called Rachel Morris on a freelance basis. Rachel had an enhanced DBS and a degree in fashion design.
Workshops
Sewing Family created a four-day Streetwear workshop for looked after children in care, children with learning disabilities, refugee and asylum children coordinating with Si Wharton, Enrichment Programme Coordinator for Virtual Schools of RBKC, LBHF & WCC Councils.
The emphasis was on exploring personal identity and self-expression and creating a streetwear outfit using design, pattern cutting, sewing and customisation techniques. The young people attending ranged from 10 – 18. Everyone learned basic sewing and pattern cutting techniques and gained an insight into the fashion industry. They all created an outfit that represented their interpretation of streetwear.
Day 1. We took to Saatchi Gallery London SW3 to see ‘Beyond The Streets’ exhibition. The children learned about the history of self-expression on the streets, graffiti artists, protest and past streetwear. The gallery is a walkable distance thus reducing carbon footprint further.
Day 2. The day was spent harnessing the children’s inspiration post exhibition through designing and teaching them how to sew on Janome DC230 sewing machines.
Day 3. Learning basic pattern cutting skills. Adapting existing patterns to create new shapes and details. Start sewing garments.
Day 4. Continuation of sewing and textile techniques for slogans and self-expression through appliqué and fabric painting. Finalisation of garments, presentation and photoshoot
Achievements against objectives set
Sewing Family remains a small charity and we continue to develop in our second year of operating. We feel our achievements met the majority of our objectives.
With the lease on our workshop secure for the duration of the period our focus has been on expanding our connections within the borough and reaching more participants that would benefit from our classes.
Grants
Sewing Family continues to apply for funding from both Statutory sources and corporate funders with turnover falling by around 15% from the previous year.
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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Factors Outside the Charity’s Control
Kensington and Chelsea Council stopped housing Afghan Refugees in local hotels and arranged for them to be rehoused out of the borough. This meant that we ceased our sewing workrooms until there is a new influx of refugees.
FINANCIAL REVIEW AND RESERVES POLICY
Sewing Family’s income was made out of significant donations from
The Fashion School 6-18 Ltd
Summer Fashion School Ltd
The Fashion School London CIC Ltd
This covered our support costs and charitable activities.
Income for the year was £20,482 (2024: £23,681) and expenditure was £19,293 (2024: £24,350) giving us a surplus for the year of £1,189 (2024: (669)).
The Trustees have reviewed the charity's needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charities Commission and produced a reserves policy which requires reserves to be developed to a reasonable level to ensure the charity can run efficiently and ensure the continuation of core activities during a period of unforeseen difficulty.
We aim to hold a minimum of one month’s operating costs. At 31 March 2025, our reserves were £1,304 and we will look to build this over the coming year.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
Uncertainties include a change in local refugee status, available grants and hard to find sewing staff willing to come in to teach for short amounts of time on our classes.
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBLITIES IN RELATION TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Directors’ and Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the Charity’s finances.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities Statements of Recommended of Recommended Practise.
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
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 Companies Act 2006. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY
Caroline Gration (Chair)
Date
3/3/2026
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
(incorporating an income and expenditure account)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted funds 2025 Restricted funds 2025 Total funds 2025 Total funds 2024 |
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|---|---|---|
| Note | £ £ £ £ |
|
| Income From: | ||
| Donations 2 |
20,482 - 20,482 23,681 |
|
| Charitable activities | - - - - |
|
| Investment income | - - - - |
|
| Total income | 20,482 - 20,482 23,681 |
|
| Expenditure on: | ||
| Raisingfunds | - - - - |
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| Charitable activities | 19,923 - 19,923 24,350 |
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| Total expenditure 3 |
19,923 - 19,923 24,350 |
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| Net(expenditure)/income for theyear | 1,189 - 1,189 (669) |
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| Transfers between funds | - - - - |
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| Net movement in funds | 1,189 - 1,189 (669) |
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| Reconciliation of funds: | ||
| Funds brought forward | 115 - 115 784 |
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| Total funds carried forward 6 |
1,304 - 1,304 115 |
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All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. The attached notes form part of these financial statements.
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The Sewing Family
BALANCE SHEET
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2025 2024 |
2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Note £ |
£ £ |
£ |
| Fixed assets | ||
| Tangible assets | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Debtors | ||
| Cash at bank in hand 1,304 |
115 | |
| Liabilities: | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
||
| Net current assets | 1,304 | 115 |
| Total net assets | 1,304 | 115 |
| Funds | ||
| Restricted funds | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 1,304 | 115 |
| Total funds 6 |
1,304 | 115 |
For the financial year ended 31 March 2024, the CIO was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
3/3/2026
Approved by the trustees on…...........................................and signed on their behalf by:
Caroline Gration Chair
Company registration no. CE02979
The attached notes form part of the financial statements
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
The Sewing Family
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1 Accounting policies
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a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 (FRS 102 - effective 1 January 2015) - Charities SORP (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
b) Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
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c) Income
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Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably
d) Donations of gifts, services and facilities
- Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.
On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
- e) Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
f) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.
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Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
The Sewing Family
1 Accounting policies (continued)
- g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
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. Costs of raising funds comprise of trading costs and the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.
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. Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs. Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other
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. heading.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
h) Allocation of support costs
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Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back-office costs, finance and governance costs which support the Trust's charitable activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities.
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i) Tangible fixed assets
Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
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Fixtures and fittings straight line basis over 5 years Computer equipment straight line basis over 3 years
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j) Debtors Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
k) Cash at bank and in hand
- Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
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The Sewing Family Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
- 2 Income from donations and grants
| 2 Income from donations and grants |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations, fundraising and small grants | 3,482 | - | 3,482 | 1,491 |
| The Fashion School 6-18 Ltd | 1,300 | - | 1,300 | - |
| Summer Fashion School Ltd | 11,300 | - | 11,300 | 16,770 |
| The Fashion School London CIC Ltd | 4,400 | - | 4,400 | 1,550 |
| LB Hammersmith & Fulham | - | - | - | 3,870 |
| 20,482 | - | 20,482 | 23,681 |
| 3 | Analysis of expenditure |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charitable | Support | Total | Total | ||
| activities | costs | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Advertising & Marketing | - | - | - | 745 | |
| Bank Fees | - | - | - | 11 | |
| Insurance | - | 264 | 264 | 241 | |
| IT Software and Consumables | 97 | - | 97 | 78 | |
| Travel Expenses | 6 | - | 6 | - | |
| Light, Power, Heating | - | 554 | 554 | 1,384 | |
| Professional fees | - | - | - | 1,947 | |
| Rates | - | 1,372 | 1,372 | 1,245 | |
| Rent | - | 17,000 | 17,000 | 18,700 |
| 3 Analysis of expenditure |
3 Analysis of expenditure |
3 Analysis of expenditure |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charitable | Support | Total | Total | |||||||
| activities | costs | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Advertising & Marketing | - | - | - | 745 | ||||||
| Bank Fees | - | - | - | 11 | ||||||
| Insurance | - | 264 | 264 | 241 | ||||||
| IT Software and Consumables | 97 | - | 97 | 78 | ||||||
| Travel Expenses | 6 | - | 6 | - | ||||||
| Light, Power, Heating | - | 554 | 554 | 1,384 | ||||||
| Professional fees | - | - | - | 1,947 | ||||||
| Rates | - | 1,372 | 1,372 | 1,245 | ||||||
| Rent | - | 17,000 | 17,000 | 18,700 | ||||||
| Total expenditure 2025 | 103 | 19,190 | 19,293 | 24,350 | ||||||
| Total expenditure 2024 | 2,770 | 21,580 | 24,350 | 24,350 | ||||||
| 4 5 |
Staff numbers | |||||||||
| The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 0 (2022: 0) |
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| Taxation | ||||||||||
| The Charitable incorporated organisation is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. |
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The Sewing Family Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
| 6 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents |
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|---|---|
| At the start Cash Other At the end |
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| of the year flows changes of the year |
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| £ £ £ £ |
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| Cash at bank and in hand | 115 1,189 - 1,304 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 115 1,189 - 1,304 |
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