Trustees’ Annual Report for the period April 1[st] , 2024, to March 31[st] , 2025
A few highlights in photos:
Workshop on Yemeni embroidery at Leighton House, London. Left: from the top clockwise, Seif Al Rashidi (Barakat Trust), Nouria Nagi, Yemen Noor Foundation (YENOF), Jenny Balfour-Paul (author and indigo specialist) and Isabelle Caussé (Improving Livelihoods through Cultural Initiatives (IL-CI). Right: Workshop participants
YENOF hand embroidered pouches on display in Paris at the Quai Branly museum shop during their Au Fil de l’Or exhibition.
YENOF wall pieces displayed during designer Kazna Asker’s presentation on the occasion of London Fashion Week.
Wall embroideries displayed as part of the Affordable Art Fair (left) and one piece selected for their special Women History Month exhibition (right).
Charity name: IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS THROUGH CULTURAL INITIATIVES (IL-CI)
Charity registration number: 1204490
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | In accordance with our constitution, the CIO’s purpose is to prevent or relieve poverty in Yemen and globally by supporting education and training in embroidery and other arts or crafts. The organisation promotes cultural heritage preservation and artistic creativity and provides the necessary support to help individuals achieve sustainable income and self-sufficiency through these activities. |
| 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 |
This year we held workshops, fund- and profile-raising events, notably sales and exhibitions, as detailed below: May 2024: Workshop on Yemeni hand embroidery held at Leighton House, London June 2024: Fundraising event held in Vienna with YENOF’s partner Felix Arabia International, Helping Hands for Yemen July 2024: Invited by Leighton House to participate in their “After Hours” event, London Nov 2024: Photoshoot mixing Afghani and Yemeni craft practices, London 8 Dec 2024: Held a fundraising event and sale for our benefactors, London January 2025: Installation of commissioned hand embroidered works by our partner YENOF at the London International Patient Services (LIPS) clinic at the Battersea Power Station |
| 23 Feb 2025: Invited to showcase the work of YENOF’s embroiderers at Kazna Asker’s fashion presentation during London Fashion Week Feb 2025: Quai Branly museum opening and display of our works Invited by Karmabank to display works at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea and selected for their showcase exhibition “Women History Month” March 2025: Continued support from Qima that showcases YENOF’s cushions in its new Covent Garden Qima Café, London |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Charity Commission’s guidance was reviewed ahead of outlining the details of our above-mentioned activities. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | We were grateful to volunteer university students for their help during fundraising events and to Karmabank for inviting us to participate in their charity partnership with the Affordable Art Fair. |
Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main Para 1.20 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.
In line with its charitable objectives, IL-CI has advanced poverty relief through targeted cultural programming, enabling women in Yemen to earn incomes while safeguarding their country’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Working in partnership with YENOF, IL-CI has positioned Yemeni hand embroidery within recognised international art and fashion platforms, including London Fashion Week and exhibitions at Leighton House, London, and the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris. By reframing a livelihood- and education-based craft practice as a cultural and artistic initiative, these activities have led to increased commissions, sales, and fundraising opportunities that keep women in paid work, preserve cultural heritage, and increase long-term economic self-sufficiency, while also raising international public awareness of Yemen’s rich embroidery heritage.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The objectives set for our partnership with YENOF have been met successfully. In addition, we have continued to look for further initiatives that teach and/or practice traditional crafts to help relieve poverty and safeguard cultural heritage notably in fragile contexts such as Afghanistan and Turkey. |
|---|---|---|---|
Future Plans
-
Building on existing collaborations with international museums and like-minded charitable organisations to develop and deliver meaningful art and heritage initiatives that support people working in challenging contexts where cultural infrastructure is limited.
-
Identifying and developing new partnerships with organisations and individuals that teach and practise traditional crafts, contributing to poverty alleviation and the safeguarding of cultural heritage, notably in fragile states.
Income and Expenditure
Income: £ 7,957.24 Donations: £ 5,000 Expenditure: £ 9,226.01
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Thanks to donations the charity ended the year in credit. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The credit will be used against future activities unless the charity manages to balance revenues and costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | There is currently no particular provision for reserve funds as the charity is early in its development stage and does not have operational expenses. For now, it mostly functions with a team of volunteers. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO Foundation Constitution |
| 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 | Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee shall be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution 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. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office(if any) |
|---|---|
| Isabelle Caussé | Chair(since August 25th2023) |
| Manas Ghanem | Development(since August 25th2023) |
| Julien Beynon | Treasurer(since August 25th2023) |
| Camille Caussé Culpan | Social media(since Feb 15th2024) |
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) Isabelle Caussé Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc) Date 5/1/26