AN N WOMEN, OCI ION IJ i Southeast and East Asian Women's Association Annual Report 2024 Registered Charity Gabriela Safehaven for Women, CIO Number 1203182 ## **Table of Contents** |**Table of Contents**|| |---|---| |Trustees report|3| |Report of Activities|| |Project reports|4| |Social media engagement/website|9| |Fundraising|13| |The SEEAWA Team|14| |Finance report|15| |Management Accounts|16| https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 2 ## **Trustees Report** The formation of Gabriela Safe Haven for Women (trading as the Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association - SEEAWA) has been a challenging journey. We started as a collective of women from East and Southeast Asia (ESEA) backgrounds, meeting during Covid. At the time, there were increasing numbers of reported racist violence against women in our communities. It was a difficult period with lock down and the pandemic, and the impact of this, with the addition of racism and hate crimes, has been devastating to some women and their families. We built on our work from our initial campaign to seek justice for the brutal murder of B and baby J in 2021. With timely support during their first years of life in the UK, they would have avoided the violence they suffered that caused their untimely deaths. It is on this experience that we centre our mission, that all women of colour should live free from violence and destitution, and safe from harm, hate crime and racism. Today, we work together as a non-hierarchical inclusive collective of women, with lived experience of migration and second generation diaspora to the UK, from different cultural heritages from the Southeast and East Asian countries. This provides rich commonality, and intersectionality means that we also represent those in our communities who are also LGBT+ and disabled. Our achievements for the year 2023-24 have been primarily organisational. We gained charitable status as a CIO in May 2023, after almost a year of developing policies, procedures and structure. We also developed our services, providing advice, support and signposting to many victims of domestic violence.This enabled them to gain welfare support and immigration status. We built our network and developed joint projects with sister organisations. We set up our governance structure with 7 trustees, and attended governance and finance training. By the end of 2023, we had secured funding for the three projects to support women, including safe accommodation, Let Us Lead the Change - a programme of empowerment, for women with lived experience of violence and trafficking, and Rise and Lead, a programme for women to become leaders in their own right. These were good stepping stones towards keeping women safe from harm and away from violence. Since March, we have been developing our research and campaigns to expand our support for women and continue to influence better policy for women migrants and diaspora. Looking to the year ahead, we are committed to becoming a leading campaigner and advocate for change on women’s issues and as a grassroots provider of support and services for ESEA women facing gender violence. We will increase collaboration, working with agencies and other organisations with the aim of participating in joint ventures that amplify our impact. Our thanks to the current staff members and volunteers who have worked with us in the past year and continue to work with us to achieve our aims and objectives. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 3 ## **Report of Activities: Project Reports** ## **Let Us Lead the Change** Let Us Lead the Change Training Programme is a holistic programme that aims to increase trafficked and abused ESEA women’s confidence as well as their knowledge and skills in advocacy. Nine women trafficking and domestic abuse survivors applied to join the programme. We made sure that they were emotionally ready and physically able to join the online and in-person sessions which will run for a few months. Most of them live in London but a few come from different parts of the UK: Wales, North West, South East and the Midlands. Between March and September 2024, the project ran a series of in-person and online workshops covering the following topics: Employment Rights, Community Care, Boundaries and Power, Storytelling, Media Training, and Digital Storytelling. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 4 These sessions were complemented by regular online support and feedback chats to gather women’s reflections on the project. One-to-one online check-in meetings were also held with participants on a regular basis over the length of the project to make sure we look after their wellbeing. Participants said that they have gained new knowledge from the workshops. One wrote, “I found [the training] very helpful and educational, also liberating to have found this knowledge that I gained today. It gives me confidence to know what my rights are as an employee/worker and how to face challenges.” The training has made participants feel valued and important. “This project has made me realise that I am a human being and that I have worth,” said Raquel, reflecting on the impact of the project. They have become more confident to share their views and insights as the project progressed. During the first workshop, a few were silent and hesitant to speak. But during the second session, on collective care and power, all of them spoke and shared a little about their experiences. During our feedback session, they said they realised they have power and that they can create positive change. One participant spoke about her efforts in rescuing trafficking victims while another one talked about helping organise an event for mums. Another participant said she is now a part-time staff for a charity where she helps advise clients about their housing needs. The participants have formed themselves into a support group, offering a safe space for them to share their difficult stories. “I have realised I am not alone,” many of them said during the sessions. ## **MOPAC Safe Accommodation Project** In partnership with Bahay Kubo Housing Association (BKHA) and Kanlungan Consortium, we are working to provide safe dispersed, self-contained semi-independent accommodation for East and Southeast Asian women victims of domestic violence who are at risk of abuse from their perpetrator/s. SEEAWA, Kanlungan, BKHA and are run ‘by and for’ ESEA migrants with lived experience of human trafficking, exploitation and violence, with Trustees, staff and volunteers who are 90% ESEA women (SEEAWA with 100% women). We support women in feminised and racialised occupations, including nursing, social care, domestic work and hospitality services, as well as women brought over as spouses/partners of EU/UK citizens, removing them from harm and supporting recovery from traumatic experiences. BKHA has now found a property, and the partners will be housing around 25 East and South East Asian (ESEA) women survivors over 15 months in a 5-bedroom rented house. Our beneficiaries are ESEA women aged 18-65, some with a disability or precarious immigration status and No recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). We will provide 9.1 direct contact hours per month per survivor, with a target of 5 survivors to stay for a maximum of three months in 5-bedroom accommodation with two bedrooms suitable for pregnant women and new mothers with their babies. SEEAWA employs a part time Women’s Support Officer with lived experience, which enables her to identify with and more greatly understand the needs of the women at the safe accommodation. She enhances the service through culturally appropriate personal support to service users; organising community activities and confidence-building sessions; and guiding them through a violence-free life. Together with Kanlungan, she has set up the project and safe accommodation infrastructure. She provides support for basic needs and crisis Intervention, safety planning and stabilisation. Once this is https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 5 complete, she signposts the women to Kanlungan's wrap-around services and other organisations' advice and support. Once they have left the safe house, the women may be offered by the Safe Accommodation team, check-ins and encouraged to participate in ongoing support groups. This plan is flexible and is tailored to meet the specific needs and circumstances of each individual or family, with adjustments made based on their progress, preferences, and any emerging challenges. Looking forward, in future, we aim to expand the safe accommodation services, we will be partnering with Islington Housing Association (ISHA), to refer women for future potential permanent housing. They have earmarked a 9-unit independent accommodation in Islington. Any future vacancies in this building will be allocated as move-on permanent accommodation to ESEA women at London social housing rent rates. ## **Rise and Lead** "Rise & Lead" looks to empower over 24 women impacted by Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by enhancing their understanding of their rights and leadership abilities, transforming them into agents of change. We aim to strengthen their voices and foster resilience and growth. The programme co-produces, together with Kanlungan, a training module on women’s rights and trains survivors as trainers to lead other women through their experience. This project comprises three parts, including Leadership Skills Training and Development of training modules and Training trainers with lived experience. SEEAWA is undertaking the Leadership Skills Training Programme. In this Women’s Leadership programme, SEEAWA will be working with the Women's Resource Center. WRC is a women’s specialist infrastructure organisation of women with lived experience, that is non-issue based. Rather, it understands all aspects of women’s rights from personal to structural levels. This places WRC in a distinctive and valuable position to consider and analyse all aspects of women’s lives, from economics, health and policy to VAWG, leadership and movement building. The two day in person programme will discuss Feminism and Leadership, Unconscious Bias, Emotional Intelligence and Burnout: Signs, Impact, Cause and Prevention. On the second day, it will focus on Power, Relationships and Practice and Values, Organisational Culture and Transformative Change. Through this project, we aim to transform resilient women into influential community leaders who can make a lasting difference. The goal is not just to inform them of their rights but also to empower them in crucial areas such as decision-making, mastering team dynamics, and effective conflict resolution. Equipped with these skills, they will stand confidently at the forefront of campaigns and create robust networks of support for others like them. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 6 ## **Women Reclaiming Our Safe Spaces** In the aftermath of the recent racist riots in the UK, SEEAWA has strived to reclaim spaces for Southeast and East Asian women and children. The number of people contacting the charity since the riots has increased, as our community members became more afraid for their safety. Although women tend to occupy less space, SEEAWA believes in the need to re-occupy our spaces safely and with confidence. On 14 September, we invited users, staff, volunteers and friends to an away-day session in Brighton to no longer be fearful and gain confidence. We invited diverse people from ESEA communities to join us. There were fifty in total participants – a combination of children, men and women. Our in-house team facilitated a discussion on understanding racism, supporting mental health, safety and well-being. We created a leaflet to distribute to all the participants about individual safety measures. In doing so, we encouraged confidence and safety into everyday activities, such as at work, going to school, shopping or travelling. There was also facilitation for children to reclaim their spaces through play. Our event sought to reassure our community that we have a right to a place within the UK, and bring back joy into our community. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 7 ## **Community Conversation - Let’s Talk** Following the recent race riots, SEEAWA has responded quickly to support our community through emergency funding. We invited women from Filipino Mother’s UK group for an online session on how to keep each other safe from racist hate crimes. The talk was presented by Rozina Iqbal, Director of Newham Community Projects and the Newham Women's Network. The talk focussed on women in Newham, and outlined what a hate crime is, the impact it has on mental health and how you can keep yourself safe. It was well received by those who attended. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 8 ## **Report of Activities: Social media engagement/website** ## **Social Media** Over the past year, SEEAWA has used social media very effectively to engage directly with our audiences. We have used it to raise awareness about our organisation to our users, funders and other organisations in the field, as well as report on our activities and hire staff, trustees and volunteers. In the last three months, we have hired a part time staff member to help with social media. In the coming year, we will also be expanding her hours and as the requirement for social media on projects grows. We will also be hiring additional staff to take on this important work. We have a number of channels that can be found in out https://linktr.ee/seeawauk address including: **Website** : https://www.seeawa.org.uk/ https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 9 Facebook: htt s:Ilwww.facebook.comlseeawa.uk Southeast and East Asian Women's SEEAWA Association - Gabriela Safehaven Intro AnindLNve thatity Impio￿ry the1￿￿￿1 ESEA wornen in tr* UK 6 5EplemL*F at Tr>=_ SEEAWA 15 ￿ld1[￿ an %AwayDayon Bnghton Be3Chwrthfrh￿& 5tsff, rnJrtee5 the farni4￿*t9jpr Aswdl as redaimiw ouTwes%*e%*ill bee￿￿¥￿1￿ OUT9T￿￿ coming tOgett￿a￿ ￿lkI1￿9 5D[Wr￿￿￿t￿5 Inthe¥ESEA commuThty....Seemore Page. C￿￿tyOr9arI5ats inf0@seeawa￿r9uk awa uk 5eeawaofg.uk Notyetrated 10 le￿e￿￿) Reclaimfn In the afte our space5 ofthe race Photos S*MI P￿t BRIGFrr - AWAY DAY - 14 https'.Illinktr.eelseeawauk 10 **Instagram** : https://www.instagram.com/seeawa_uk/ https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 11 **LinkedIn** : https://www.linkedin.com/company/southeast-and-east-asian-women-s-association/posts https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 12 ## **Fundraising Report** Our fundraising strategy for 2023-2024 focused on resourcing the charity for initial projects and staff to manage and lead on our projects. The team was lean, with trustees responsible for fundraising. However, by the end of March 2024, we had secured an income for a total of £70,120. Some of this funding will be used for the 3 projects supporting women victims of domestic violence to help them with immediate housing requirements and build resilience and leadership skills, for the financial year up to the end of March 2025. In addition, we have also been successful in funding applications with AB Charitable Trust, GLA Groundworks, Bluethread, Civic Power and Smallwood Trust with a total of around £200,000 over a 3 year period. During this period, we have been successful in developing our contacts and networks with grant organisations, and speaking with the team to ensure that our applications are meeting the requirements. This helps to ensure that the fundraising team's time is used most effectively so that applications will not be rejected later. We have also seen success working together as a team to coordinate the application, budget and required documents. Many eyes also help us to ensure that we are able to review and spot errors or clarify. In corporate funding, the landscape for corporate donations remains competitive. There are many charities looking for corporate donations due to the decrease in public funds and trust funding, whilst the pressures of inflation have risen. Inside networks and introductions are possibly more successful means of soliciting donations. With this in mind, we will explore our trustee and wider networks, and develop strategies to more effectively network and work together with corporate donors. With continued limitations of time and resourcing, the fundraising strategy for 2024-2025 will concentrate on consolidating core funding by focussing on multi-year large grants from Trusts and Charities. This will be to fund core roles, fund office space, fund supporting our team and organisation so our work is sustainable internally and externally through supervision. We will also develop media awareness of our work and look to increase donations through this. Volunteers will assist us with media relations, and make links with second and third generation students and student organisations to develop fundraising activities. https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 13 ## **The SEEAWA Team** ## **Trustees** Keren Austria, Sarah Yeh, Kimi Jolly, Tra My Hickin, Yvette Mercado, Susan Cueva Nina Rivera ( _resigned September 2024_ ) ## **Sta�** Liezel Longboan, Anna Li Lyn Yavuz Amanda Lago Sarah Reid ## **Volunteers** Sarah Ventura Jessica Lee Mecca Cas Jemimah Na-oy Thae Hlaing ## **Funders** Civic Power Bluethread and Day Foundation Smallwood Trust AB Charitable Trust Greater London Authority MOPA-GLA LondonCommunity Foundation https://linktr.ee/seeawauk 14 Gabriela Safehaven for Women - Southeast and East Asian Women's Association Finance Report: l April 2023- March 2024 Income: Grants 24.LKK).00 17,OLKI.LX) 29,120. IML4AN* Contribution of Volunteers time. Total Income 70,120.￿ Expenses Salary, Nl,pension Projert Activities Communications 7,620.69 4,472.19 118.39 Administrative cost 1,205.01 2.4LKI.th) 17,0(XJ.00 29,120.0) Management cost Organisational Development. Volunteers cost. Total Expense 61.936.28 Balance as at 31 March 2024 8,183.72 *Th2 IMKAAN grant was received by KanI￿gan on behalf of Gabriela Safe Ha¥en. h was used to devdop p)liC￿$ cyganisational bJikJirg and work to wister Gkniela Safe Ha￿ to Charitycommissic The gr￿ was admnistered ty Kan1ur0￿ s￿ce Gabr￿la Safe Haven Ik4d no bank account when tIE fvrxls were gran￿￿. **The Volunteers, twne isco5ted at £16lper hwr at a totsl of 35hows per week lor 52 weeks. is the lime voluvteered by tnstee5. Ot￿r¥Ol￿teers th ￿rforMIng operational and &livery of seTrKe5, amin￿trat￿n aDIl fvrKlnisiry for the last 12 M￿th5. Certified Correct by: Eileen Wada Willett Trustee l May 2024 https'.Illinktr.eelseeawauk 15 nagement Accounts 1 April- 31 August 2024 Gabriela Safehaven for Women For the year ended 31 March 2025 Tol Don8tion8 Rece￿ed Grants Received Interest Income Sales Totsl Income 15500 97.028 63 51.01 800.00 98.OM64 Gros$ Prork enses Audrt & Accountancy fee5 Bank Fees Freebncer Fee5 Elnpknyers National Insurance Facilitstorfs Fees General Expenses IT SofiwJre and Consumabks Parbcipator Fees Salarps Travel- National Volunteer ExFertses Total Expense5 306 00 11 28 5.380 00 408 87 4DD 00 5880 5400 200 00 8,828 86 5078 600 00 16.29&¥9 ratln Proflt 81 73&05 Proflt on Ordlna Actlvltl8s Belore Taxatkjn 81 73&05 Pwflt after Taxatlon 81 73&05 Pre￿red ty Spencer KendrKk, LestsrsAccourtar Approved ty Sarah Yeh. T￿￿e Sigr*d.' Date.. 2110r2024 https'.Illinktr.eelseeawauk 16