THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Accounts & Reports For the year ended 31 August 2025
THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Contents
For the year ended 31 August 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Trustees’ report | 2-4 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the accounts | 8-9 |
THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Legal and Administrative Information
For the year ended 31 August 2025 Status: Charity registered in England & Wales Charity number: 1205499 Office: Mail Box I 1 Thorpe Close London W10 5XL Trustees: Khadra Said -Chair Istahil Abdulle -Member Halima Nur -Member Bankers: Barclays Bank plc Leicester LE87 2BB Accountants: Issa Associates Chartered Certified Accountants 116 Cumberland House 80 Scrubs Lane London NW10 6RF
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THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Trustees’ Report
For the year ended 31 August 2025
Introduction
The Trustees of the Somali Women's Association are pleased to present this report for the financial year ending 31 August 2025 outlining our charitable activities, impact, and financial position. The Somali Women’s Association is a grassroots organisation committed to supporting Somali and other ethnic minority women, children, and young people in North Kensington. Through education, advocacy, and empowerment, we work to improve the lives of those facing social and economic barriers.
Objectives and Activities
Our primary objective is to provide educational support to disadvantaged children and young people aged 6-16 years through our supplementary school. Held every Wednesday at the Supplementary School Resource Centre (SSRC), the school delivers Maths, English, and Science lessons, as well as Somali culture and language classes. We also organise educational trips, enrichment activities, and parental workshops to ensure holistic support for our learners.
Beyond education, the Somali Women’s Association also provides advice and advocacy for parents struggling to navigate the UK education system and supports women experiencing hardship by connecting them with appropriate services.
Legal structure
The Somali Women’s Association is a charity community organisation registered in England and Wales.
Financial statements
The trustees submit their trustees’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Policies:
Reserve policy:
The trustees are endeavouring to build up its donor base with a view to having reserves equal to 6 months operating expenditure. This equates to £10,000.
Risk(s) review:
The trustees have recently reviewed the major risks faced by the charity organisation. The charity is heavily depending on year on year funding and is at risk of shortage of funding for its future programmes.
Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with Charity law.
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THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Trustees’ Report (continued)
For the year ended 31 August 2025
The trustees oversee preparation of financial statements, select suitable accounting policies and make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent to give the true state of affairs of the charity.
Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity. They are elected and replaced as set out in the governing constitutional documents.
Achievements and Impact
Our project, 'Open Conversations: Mental Health Without Barriers', is a partnership between Baraka Community Association and the Somali Women’s Association (SWA), bringing together two organisations with deep community ties and a shared commitment to improving mental health awareness and access. Baraka has a long history of engaging young people who are often disconnected from support services, while the Somali Women’s Association has built trust with families and understands the cultural barriers that prevent them from seeking help. The synergy between these organisations ensures that young people and families receive the right support in a way that feels relevant and accessible. This project will ensure that young people and parents feel comfortable talking about mental health, know where to go for help, and can access services without fear or stigma.
Over the past year, we have supported 38 children and young people through our supplementary school, helping them to develop confidence in core subjects and improve their academic performance. Many of our former students have gone on to study at prestigious universities, demonstrating the long-term success of our interventions.
Our work extends beyond the classroom. We have provided mentoring and role models for Somali youth, addressing issues such as racism, discrimination, and lack of representation in education. By fostering a sense of cultural identity and community belonging, we help young people develop aspirations and resilience.
Through strategic partnerships, we have accessed capacity-building support and training opportunities, strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality, impactful programmes.
Financial Review
The Somali Women’s Association has successfully secured funding from Young K&C Foundation, Westway Trust, and member contributions to support our core programmes. These funds have been instrumental in delivering our supplementary school, community advocacy, and women’s empowerment initiatives, ensuring that we can provide essential services to those most in need.
We have implemented robust financial policies and controls to ensure the responsible management of funds. Our financial oversight includes regular budget monitoring, transparent reporting, and governance structures that align with charity best practices. These measures help us maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and ensure that all spending is directed towards our charitable objectives.
To safeguard our long-term sustainability, we are committed to building financial reserves that provide stability and allow us to respond to emerging community needs. We continue to seek opportunities to diversify our income streams, including securing additional grant funding, strengthening community contributions, and exploring partnerships that align with our mission.
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THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Trustees’ Report (continued)
For the year ended 31 August 2025
By maintaining strong financial governance and careful strategic planning, we are wellpositioned to ensure the Somali Women’s Association remains financially resilient and able to continue delivering impactful services.
Future Plans
The Somali Women’s Association is currently entirely volunteer-led, with no full-time staff members. While this reflects the dedication of our team, we recognise that to strengthen our impact, improve service delivery, and build long-term sustainability, we need to secure dedicated staff capacity.
Our priority is to obtain core funding support that will enable us to recruit a full-time staff member to drive the charity forward. This will provide the stability needed to develop strategic partnerships, expand our funding base, and ensure the efficient coordination of our programmes. Core funding will also allow us to improve governance, enhance organisational capacity, and maintain the high-quality support we provide to the community.
Alongside this, we will continue to strengthen our volunteer network and explore additional funding opportunities to ensure the Somali Women’s Association remains resilient and able to meet the growing needs of those we support.
Governance and Structure
The Somali Women’s Association is a registered charity 1205499, governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees. The Trustees oversee strategic direction, financial management, and compliance, ensuring the organisation operates in line with its charitable objectives. We are committed to maintaining strong governance, safeguarding policies, and financial accountability to uphold our mission.
Conclusion
The past year has been one of growth, learning, and resilience for the Somali Women’s Association. Our work remains crucial in supporting Somali and ethnic minority families in North Kensington, and we are proud of the impact we continue to make. With strong financial planning, committed leadership, and a clear vision, we are well-positioned to build on our successes and deepen our impact in the years ahead.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf by:
Khadra Said Chair of the Trustees The Somali Women’s Association Date: 02/10/2025
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THE SOMALI WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Independent examiner’s report
For the year ended 31 August 2025
I have examined the accounts on pages 5 to 6 which have been prepared on accruals basis.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees of the charity are responsible for the preparation of accounts; we consider that the audit requirement under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts, without performing an audit, and to report to trustees.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
This report is in respect of an examination carried out under section 43 of the Charities Act 1993 and in accordance with the directions given by the charity commissioners under section 43(7)(b). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity trustees and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes a review of the accounts and making such enquiries as are necessary for the purpose of this report. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an audit.
Independent examiner’s statement
Based on my examination, no matter has come to attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect accounting records for the year ended 31 August 2025 have not been in accordance with section 41 of the Charities Act 1993, or that the accounts presented do not accord with those records or comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 1993. No matter has come to my attention in connection with my examination to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understating of the accounts to be reached.
Issa Associates Chartered Certified Accountants 116 Cumberland House 80 Scrubs Lane London NW10 6RF
Date: 02 October 2025
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THE SOMALI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ending 31 August 2025
| Income Grants and Donations Young Kensington & Chelsea Westway Trust Member contributions Baraka Community Association The Hollick Family Expenditure Tutors and sessional workers Volunteer costs Rent & hall hire Travel & refreshments Events & outings Legal & professional fees donations to service users Total expenditure Fund balance for the year Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
2025 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ - 4,400 4,400 9,000 - 4,708 4,708 4,887 6,207 - 6,207 3,340 - 7,726 7,726 - - 5,600 5,600 - 6,207 22,434 28,641 17,227 - 11,616 11,616 7,770 - - - 200 - 150 150 1,260 1,220 - 1,220 420 3,630 - 3,630 - - 496 496 2,400 850 - 850 - 5,700 12,262 17,962 12,050 507 10,172 10,679 5,177 6,389 4,857 11,246 6,069 6,896 15,029 21,925 11,246 |
|---|---|
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THE SOMALI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Balance Sheet
For the year ended 31 August 2025
| Notes Fixed Assets: Tangible 3 Current Assets: Cash at bank and in hand 4 Current liabilities payable within 1 year: Accrued expenses 5 Net Current Assets Total Assets less current liabilities Represented by: Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total funds |
2025 2024 £ £ £ £ - - 22,325 11,546 22,325 11,546 (400) (300) 21,925 11,246 21,925 11,246 15,029 4,857 6,896 6,389 21,925 11,246 |
|---|---|
The statement of financial activities as set out on page 5 for the financial period ending 31 August 2025, and the statement of assets and liabilities as set out on this page are as approved by the Management Committee and signed on its behalf by:
-------------------------------Khadra Said Chair
Dated: 2 October 2025
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THE SOMALI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts
For the year ended 31 August 2025
- 1 Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2015), "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and applicable accounting standards.
- 2 Accounting Policies
A summary of the principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the year is set out below.
- 2.1 Income and expenditure
All income and expenditure is accounted for on accrual basis.
- 2.2 Fund Accounting
General funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are funds subject to specific restrictive conditions imposed by donors.
- 2.2 Tangible Fixed assets and Depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost.
Provision for depreciation of fixed assets held for use by the charity is made at an annual rate of 25% on straight line basis.
- 2.3 Charity status
The charity is registered with the Charities Commission in England & Wales.
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THE SOMALI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Notes to the Accounts
For the year ending 31 August 2025
| 3 | Tangible Fixed Assets | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Total | ||
| equipment | |||
| Costs | £ | £ | |
| At 31 August 2024 | - | - | |
| Additions during the year | - | - | |
| At 31 August 2025 | - | - | |
| Depreciation | |||
| At 31 August 2024 | - | - | |
| Charge for the year | - | - | |
| At 31 August 2025 | - | - | |
| Net Book value | |||
| At 31 August 2025 | - | - | |
| At 31 August 2024 | - | - | |
| 4 | Cash in bank & at hand represents the remaining balance for continuing projects | ||
| and the Net Book Value of Fixed Assets at the end of the above period. | |||
| 5 | Current liabilities payable within 1 year: | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Accruals | 400 | 300 | |
| 400 | 300 |
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