2024-06-30-accounts - Global Reconciliation, Advocacy And Community-Building Engagement (Grace) In War-Affected Regions

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 October 2023 To 30 September 2024

Charity name: GLOBAL RECONCILIATION, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITYBUILDING ENGAGEMENT (GRACE) IN WAR-AFFECTED REGIONS

Charity registration number: 1199786

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objects are for the benefit of the public, the advancement of the wellbeing of children born of war, their families and communities in any part of the world, by providing grants to projects, charities, organisations working to reduce hardship and stigmatization, to promote and protect their physical/mental wellbeing, education, social inclusion, economic empowerment and human rights.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Since its launch in October 2022 GRACE in War Affected Regions (GRACE hereafter) and its registration with the Charity and the initial period of operationalising the charity’s core activities, including the development of policies relating among others to financial management, grant making, information security, data protection, safeguarding, mandatory training, in its second year of operating, GRACE has focussed on the consolidation of the governance structure, the expansion of the Board of Trustees, the charity’s advisors, friends and volunteers. In addition, we concentrated on partnership development and the further development of a communications strategy to enable the charity successfully to fulfil its public benefit commitments. Furthermore, we have organised our first fundraising events in collaboration with likeminded charities and foundations, and we are working towards the implementation of the first charitable project, for which we are currently engaging in due diligence prior to making a grant for the

		implementation anticipated for early 2025. An additional area of activity has been the development of an advocacy agenda and strategy.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	GRACE grant-making policy, filed with the Charity Commission, is reviewed annually and due to be confirmed by the AGM on 13 October 2024.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	n/a
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	GRACE has been supported by a range of volunteers with contributions ranging from ad hoc support e.g. of the launch event, to more extensive and sustainable engagement, e.g. as communications manager, finance advisor, or events panner. In addition, we have benefitted from the hosting of four University of Birmingham Collaborative Research Interns, funded by the University’s student experience programme; these interns have contributed to the development and implementation of the communications strategy and worked with trustees on partnership development. In addition, GRACE was supported by a student communications officer, another student experience role through the University of Birmingham (committed to the charitable objectives of GRACE via its endorsement of the FCDO’s Platform for Action supporting the rights and wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-related Sexual Violence.) As the charity’s activities grow in number and size, it is expected that more volunteers will make more significant contributions. Three volunteers have joined the Board of Trustees: Toni Smith (comms and events management, partnership development)

Christoph Biehl (finance) Andy Canty (internet security, website, data management) Erica Hall (policy development, NGO specialism) In addition, Antonia Parker Smith (comms/social media) Amy Wilkins (comms) Katharina Lee (events development and management) Maariyah Jamil (social media) have supported activities throughout the reporting period. As part of a University of Birmingham sponsored collaborative research internship, GRACE also hosted and mentored three undergraduate and one graduate intern for five weeks over the summer vacation.

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Events and achievements this year included: Trustee contributions to FCDO work on promoting the rights and wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (ongoing) Trustees engaged in an awareness-raising and advocacy visit to US policy and educational stakeholders (US Senate, Congress, USIP, Catholic Relief Agency, George Washington University), February 2024 Co-development of and fundraising for project to develop effective peer-to-peer counselling in support of CBOW in Northern Uganda (ongoing)

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	With regard to the development of a robust and transparent governance structure, we have achieved our objectives of having initial policies developed, approved and in place. With regard to grant-making, we are working towards supporting our first project to commence in early 2025. Financial due diligence has taken slightly longer than
3

		anticipated, and we are working with our in- country partner on finalisation of project plan and financial processes and accountability mechanisms to ensure timely and effective delivery of the project. With regard to strategy development, judged against the medium-term objectives of developing a 3-year and 5-year strategy we are making progress and are aiming to such plans within the next reporting year.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Not yet applicable, as charity has not yet finalised the fundraising objectives which are part of the overall strategic planning and prioritisation.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	Not yet applicable, as charity is still in the process of policy and governance structure development.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	£14, 126 credit. NB calculating error in the Charity Commission spreadsheet which reports a £14,127 end of year position.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We are in the process of committing our funding to support a project. This is the first commitment of funding. As part of this we are developing a reserves policy. It should be in place by the end of 2024.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£0-see above.
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	See above.
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	n/a
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	n/a

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Throughout 2023-24 the principal source of funds have been through a fundraising event in Feb 2024 with a partner charity (Stand Speak Rise Up!) in Luxembourg. Additional funding has come from donations from individuals and organisations. We are yet to submit our Gift Aid application for Gift Aid on relevant donations that have been made this financial year. We aim to do this before the end of 2024.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	n/a
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The charity is still in the process of setting up appropriate risk management processes. In part, these form part of the next phase of establishing the governance structure that will enable the charity to provide funding to other organisations to deliver activity. When these are in place we will be able to identify risks and put mitigations in place for the charity.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution of a CIO
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Under development

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	We have established induction and new starter processes for new trustees and volunteers. These will be reviewed annually and developed as appropriate.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	There are no changes to the organisational diagram compiled last year.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	n/a
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	GLOBAL RECONCILIATION, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING ENGAGEMENT (GRACE) IN WAR-AFFECTED REGIONS
Other name the charity uses	GRACE International
Registered charitynumber	1199786
Charity’s principal address	Holly Ridge Crossing Lane Claydon Oxon OX17 1EX

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Sabine Lee
	Rachel M Canty
	DheerajAkolkar
	Karen E Houghton
	Toni Smith		19.11.23
	Lejla Damon		3.3.24
	AndyCanty		9.12.23
	Christoph Biehl		3.3.24
	Erica Hall		8.9.24

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name n/a

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
n/a

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity

Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for n/a safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Sabine Lee Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 19.10.24

Global Reconciliation, Advocacy and Community Buildin 1199786

Receipts and payments accounts

CC16a

For	the period from	7/1/2023	To	6/30/2024

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts		to the nearest £ Restricted funds	to the nearest £ Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Donations,inlcudingGift Aid	2,501	- - - 500 2,029 - - - 2,529	- - - - - - - - -	2,501 1,214 185 500 2,029 - - - 6,428	9,999
Film screening Interest on current and deposit account Deposit SL	1,214				-
	185				32
					-
Fundraising					-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	3,899				10,031

		- - -	- - -	- - -
					-
					-

		2,529	-	6,428	10,031

		- - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - -	60 30 12 101 - - - - - 203	30
					2,100
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					2,130

		- - -	- - -	- - -

					-

		-	-	203	2,130

		2,529 - - 2,529	- - - -	6,226 - 7,901 14,127	7,901
					-
					-
					7,901

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Details Current account (closing balance) Deposit account (closing balance) Details Details Details Details Signature *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ to nearest £ 6,648 - 4,950 2,529 - - 11,598 2,529 OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional)	to nearest £ Endowment funds
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			-
			-
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			OK
			to nearest £ Endowment funds
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			-
			Current value (optional)
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			Current value (optional)
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			When due (optional)






			Date of approval