2025-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1207540

UNITE TO IGNITE CIO

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

CONTENTS	PAGE	PAGE
Legal and administrative details	2
Trustees Annual Report	3-5
Statement of financial activities		6
Balance sheet		7
Notes to the financial statements		8-9

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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered charity name	Unite to Ignite
Legal Structure	Foundation CIO
Charity registration number	1207540
Registered address	6 Valkyrie Road
	Westcliff-On-Sea
	Essex
	SS0 8BU
The trustees	R Meisner
	L Monheit
	M E Keiserman
	M Meirovits
Bankers	Lloyds Banking Group
	Business Banking Direct
	Ground Floor, Teviot House
	41 South Gyle Crescent
	Edinburgh Park
	EH12 9DR
Accountants	Js&Co Accountants Ltd
	26 Theydon Road
	London E5 9NA

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The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).”

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Unite to Ignite is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution dated 14 March 2024. It was registered on 20 March 2024 with the Charity Commission for England & Wales.

The charity is governed by a board of trustees who meet regularly. The Trustees who served during the year were: Faigy Taub (resigned on 11 November 2024) R Meisner (appointed on 31 October 2024) L Monheit M E Keiserman M Meirovits

Day-to-day operations are led by the board and volunteers. The charity does not employ any staff.

Recruitment and induction

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees are in line with the Constitution. There must be a minimum of 3 Trustees at all times and new trustees must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as trustees, the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. Each trustee is given a copy of the Constitution of the charity and a copy of the latest Trustee Annual Report and accounts before appointment. All decisions are taken collectively by vote either at a meeting of the trustees or by written resolution agreed by a majority, and all the trustees give of their time freely. The members of the CIO are the charity trustees. The trustees are unpaid and details of any related party transactions are disclosed as applicable in the notes to the accounts (2025-Nil). Trustees receive suitable training in line with their roles and responsibilities.

Risk management

The trustees have complied with their duty to review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees have regularly assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that these risks are robustly managed, through its policies, systems and procedures. Ongoing risk assessment and management is the responsibility of the trustees.

OBJECTS & ACTIVITIES

The objects of the charity remain: 1. The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or other disadvantage in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life, for the public benefit.

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1. To relieve persons in Hackney, Haringey and the surrounding area that are in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial or other disadvantage in such ways as the Trustees from time to time think fit, in particular, but not exclusively by: a) providing emergency food, essential toiletries, and household items to individuals and families in need b) such other means, including (but not limited to) the provision of befriending services, practical support or signposting to relevant information and other advisory services

2. Such other exclusively charitable purposes as the trustees may in their absolute discretion determine.

In line with these objects, in 2024/25, Unite to Ignite provided support to 463 women and their families through the launch of neighbourhood-based befriending groups, social events, advice and support, and respite for those in need by way of age, isolation, infirmity, caring responsibilities, or financial hardship.

Public benefit Statement

The trustees meet regularly to review charity’s affairs and are kept regularly updated. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. The charity believes it has demonstrated that it provides a public benefit through the services it provides and the target groups which it seeks to address.

ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE

During the year in review, the charity supported 463 women aged 19-90 and their families. The work was supported by 46 volunteers and benefited persons in the Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Barnet, and Southend-on-Sea.

The charity promoted the wellness and relief of marginalised women through social inclusion networks, neighbourhood-based befriending groups, empowering workshops/events, and respite where needed. We specifically targeted marginalised women in North London and parts of Essex who face isolation due to poverty, digital exclusion, race, language barriers, age, disability or caregiving responsibilities. Our approach creates safe and welcoming spaces where women of all stages and backgrounds can seamlessly join together and receive tailored support.

Key achievements:

1. Women’s Wellness Groups – Our flagship neighbourhood-based befriending groups which bring women together in physical social spaces, away from the demands of home and family, is imperative to their wellbeing and function. We facilitated 43 neighbourhood groups who met a cumulative 396 times throughout the year.

2. Workshops – Workshops focus on sustaining mental health, self-care, female empowerment and practical life skills. We provided 11 workshops during the year, supporting 214 women to improve their health and develop life skills.

3. Community events – Our bi-annual events bring the entire network together for peersupport, social networking, advice and respite. We held 2 events, in September and December with an average attendance of 214 at each.

4. Respite – Respite forms a key part of our work, providing much needed relief for women who are experiencing challenges and/or have overwhelming caring responsibilities. During the winter we partnered with Shalheves UK to provide a female retreat for 15 inner-city women at the Mercue Daventry Court Hotel in rural Devon.

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FUTURE PLANS

In just a short period, Unite to Ignite has made a significant difference, fostering connections that reduce isolation and empower and unite women. Trustees wish to build on successes and drive the charity forward.

The following are the key development areas trustees have agreed to prioritise in future:

1. Sustainability – To be improved through the diversification of income streams, the development of a business plan & fundraising strategy, and review of the charity’s reserves policy.

2. Efficiency – Efficiency and capacity to be increased through the recruitment of staff and implementation of digital systems.

3. Service development – Key service developments will include a seniors (55+) division, more regular community events/workshops, and the provision of care packages for vulnerable women.

4. Partnerships – Trustees have identified family support, mental health, and adult services whom they wish to develop partnerships with to leverage diverse resources, expertise, and networks, leading to more efficient and impactful services, wider reach, and a more coordinated approach to addressing women’s complex needs.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The results for the year are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities on pages 6-9 and are considered satisfactory by the trustees.

The charity received £23,110 in donations. These were all unrestricted. The charity’s expenditure during the year amounted to £16,255 primarily for the delivery of charitable activities as well as associated governance and support costs, as listed in the financial statements in notes 5-6 to the accounts. The charity seeks to grow and diversify its income in future through grants from Trusts & Foundations, corporate giving and fundraising events to allow for project and charity developments which will facilitate increased impact.

Reserves policy

The trustees retain reserves as necessary and where appropriate, consolidate funds in order to provide activities to its users they feel to be appropriate. At the period end, the charity held free reserves of £6,855.

The trustees' annual report were approved on 8[th] April 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

R Meisner Trustee (Chairperson)

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UNITE TO IGNITE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes INCOMING FROM Donations & Legacies 4 Total Incoming resources EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities 5 & 6 Total expended NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	2025 2025 Unrestricted Total Funds £ £ 23,110 23,110 23,110 23,110 16,255 16,255
	16,255 16,255 6,855 6,855 0 0
	6,855 6,855

The Notes form part of the financial statements

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UNITE TO IGNITE

Notes CURRENT ASSETS: Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 7 Net Current assets/(liabilities) NET CURRENT ASSETS: FUNDS 8 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET 31-Mar-25	2025 £ £ 8,188 8,188 -1,333 6,855 6,855 6,855 6,855	2025 £ £ 8,188 8,188 -1,333 6,855 6,855 6,855 6,855
		6,855
		6,855
		6,855

Approved by the board of Trustees on: 02 April 2025 And signed on their behalf by:

Trustee

The Notes form part of these financial statements

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UNITE TO IGNITE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 March 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting convention

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE) (effective January 2015). In preparing the accounts, the charity follows best practice as laid down in the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (SORP) issued in March 2005. Where there is a conflict between the FRSSE and the SORP, the SORP has been adopted in accordance with paragraph 419ff of the SORP.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

2 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

No trustee received remuneration, allowance for or reimbursement of expenses.

3 RELATED PARTY

There were no related party transactions during the year

4 INCOMING FROM

Donations & Legacies TOTAL	Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2025 £ £ 23,110 23,110
	23,110 23,110

5 COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY TYPE

Food & Refreshments Marketing Subscriptions Travel Workshops and activities	Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2025 £ £ 4,711 4,711 890 890 16 16 250 250 8,175 8,175
	14,042 14,042

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UNITE TO IGNITE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2025

6 GOVERNANCE & SUPPORT COSTS

GOVERNANCE & SUPPORT COSTS
Accountancy Governance Professional Fees	Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2025 £ £ 660 660 880 880 673 673
	2,213 2,213

7 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accruals Other Creditors 8 MOVEMENTS IN FUNDS Net movement At 20.3.24 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 0 6,855 TOTAL FUNDS 0 6,855 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 23,110 16,255 TOTAL FUNDS 23,110 16,255	2025 £ 660 673
	1,333
	At 31.03.25 £ 6,855
	6,855
	Movement in funds £ 6,855
	6,855

9 TAXATION

Unite to Ignite is a registered charity and therefore is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

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