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2024-03-31-accounts

Latin American Women’s Aid Refuge

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024

Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number: 299975

(Charity Registered in England & Wales)

Reference and administrative details

Trustees Susana Klien
Chair
Nandita Rao
Treasurer
Claudia Pari
Camila Khan Carvalho
Diana Trimiño Mora
Victoria Lechuga
Director Angie Herrera
Registered Ofce 18-22 Ashwin Street
The Print House
E8 3DL
London
Charity Commission Number 299975
Auditor Knox Cropper LLP
65 Leadenhall Street
EC3A 2AD
Bankers Unity Trust Bank, Registered ofce: Four Brindley place, Birmingham
B1 2JB.
CAF Bank, Registered ofce: 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill, West
Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ

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Trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation present their combined director's report and Report of the Trustees, as required by company law, together with the financial statements of the Latin American Women's Aid Refuge for the year ended on 31st March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1st January 2019).

Objectives:

The Latin American Women's Aid Refuge (LAWA) support Latin American and other Black Minority Ethnic (BME) women and their children experiencing gender violence to start a new life and play a fuller role in the community through tailored advice, advocacy, outreach and refuge services. We promote women's independence and autonomy, as well as a non-violent environment for women and their children.

Organisation:

The trustees meet quarterly and take major decisions regarding the strategic direction of the charity. The trustees delegate the responsibility of operational management to the Director, who works together with a Senior Management Team.

The trustees have received training to ensure that the work follows to the Charity Commission's guidance on "Charities and Public Benefit”. Under Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011, the trustees considered the restrictions to benefit a section of the public, based on ethnic/national origin, and gender, to strictly fall within our charitable objects. No other restrictions apply, and trustees do not receive any remuneration for their services. Expenses reimbursed to trustees on this financial year were nil.

Aims, principal activities and review:

LAWA is a dedicated by and for Latin American and other Black and Ethnic minoritised women’s organisation that has over 35 years of experience in supporting survivors of gender-based violence to break free from abuse and improve theirs and their children’s lives. It is our main goal to enable our service user’s social, economic and personal empowerment, promoting women’s independence and autonomy as well as an environment free from violence for women and their children to thrive.

LAWA was set up to support women (and their children) who, because of physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse, there are at risk and require advice and/or emergency accommodation. Since 1988 we have been running the only refuge scheme led by and for Latin American women and children in the UK and Europe, and currently operates three refuges in confidential locations across London.

In addition to providing refuge services, LAWA provides comprehensive services to address genderbased violence practices such as Domestic Violence (DV), sexual abuse, and trafficking. We also support service users to start a new life and facilitate their integration into the wider UK society through tailored and culturally appropriate advice and immigration services, advocacy, counselling, and community engagement activities.

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minoritised women who don’t speak Spanish, Portuguese or English, we work in partnership with other black and minoritised organisations to provide interpretation services) and provided in womenonly spaces. LAWA’s embeds an intersectional approach in its work and our refuges and related services have been conceptualised using a rights-based framework, focusing in supporting women to assert their rights through the provision of a holistic response -which includes referrals and collaboration with other vital statutory and voluntary support agencies, hence resulting in lasting impact. Finally, through publicity and outreach activities we raise awareness about the Latin American community in the UK and on how violence against women affects us.

Statement of activities

lives of women and children from the communities we work with by reducing the impact of genderbased violence upon them. Our advice, advocacy and preventative work provides direct benefit to both the recipients of our services and the general public by contributing positively to a better society. We seek to provide women and children escaping gender-based violence with a place of safety and in so doing, we positively contribute to the reduction of homelessness. Our services are free and open to the sector of the public who we exist to help. We conduct an annual audit of our charitable activities.

Benefit when reviewing and shaping the charity's aims and objectives for the year and when planning future activities. The charity works to ensure that its projects are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of its service users.

We operate to capacity and our services are always oversubscribed, delivering quality, nationally unique and internationally recognised service, always achieving high performance results in our external reviews (AQS and NQS accredited). We are also active members of both Women's Aid and Imkaan and have affiliations with many vital networks working towards achieving equality for Latin American women and their children.

LAWA’s services – overview of current delivery services, gaps, and emerging needs

We have carefully planned and implemented our services ensuring they are cost effective and bring long lasting changes to the lives of service users. Our goal is to remain creative and agile, taking every learning opportunity to improve and strengthen our services, and ensure we continue responding to service users’ evolving needs. Our five areas of work are as follows:

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----- Start of picture text -----
Refuge VAWG services Wellbeing and Community Policy and
provision and emotional Engagement Research
crisis support support services
- Advice and services
Advocacy
- Institutional Advocacy - Specialist legal support in immigration - Counselling- English classes - Change Makers Program - Housing and DV Institutional
- Crisis support, - Housing advise - Creche services - Chavitas Advocacy
Advice and - LBTQ specialist Change Maker - DV and housing
Advocacy service Program participatory
- Children and - Partnerships with - Growing research
Young People BME organisations Together - Sector/Policy
Services - Volunteer BME Partnerships
- Floatting
Program
support
----- End of picture text -----

Impact

In 2023-2024, throughout all our services, LAWA has supported 1,713 women and children with 7,488 interventions[1] . This represents an increase of 5% and 2% respectively in comparison to the previous year. This year we faced a particular increase of 20% in the provision of refuge accommodation , linked to the temporary opening of a new house. This shows the pressing need for emergency accommodation services for survivors of gender-based violence. The demand for specialist support services, specially, accommodation, continues to be urgent: the Domestic Abuse Report – 2023, published by Women’s Aid, concluded that although there has been a slight increase in the number of emergency bed spaces available, there is still a shortfall of 23.2%.[2]

Rather than just offering crisis intervention and sign posting services, LAWA has ensured the provision of a holistic support throughout a survivors journey that is meaningful, personalised and empowering, e.g. by accompanying service users to key meetings and appointments (such as housing appointments, court cases, etc.) and advocating on their behalf, supporting expanded skills and knowledge (e.g. through language courses and making them aware of their rights and entitlements) and strengthening their confidence so that they can live a full and independent life. We have learnt that meticulous planning, on-going service users’ consultation and involvement, and the development of a relationship based on trust and non-judgemental is fundamental to make our services effective and have a long-lasting impact.

1 Intervention is defined as single actions carried out with a service user, this includes key sessions, referrals, evidence submission, liaising with external agencies, court sessions, among others.

2 The Domestic Abuse Report – 2023 . Women’s Aid Federation. https://www.womensaid.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2023/01/The-Domestic-Abuse-Report-2023-The-Annual-Audit-FINAL.pdf

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LAWA takes monitoring, evaluation and learning seriously, as it enables us to assess and improve our services, as well as ensure we continue responding to the evolving needs of users of our services.

We have an internal data base system that allow us to record information about service users as well as the support and interventions provided, ensuring confidentiality and data protection compliance. In order to measure impact, different monitoring and evaluation tools are used. This includes initial assessments, mid-term feedback forms, POWA (Personal outcomes and wellbeing assessment), and evaluation forms. By the end of the year, we revise the recorded data to identify trends, gaps and areas of improvement. We also produce a comprehensive analysis of the support provided across the different service and information that can be used as evidence. Some of these statistics, that evidence the impact of LAWA’s work are the following:

In October 2023, LAWA celebrated 35 years of supporting services by and for the community. In a small dinner anniversary, and alongside founders, service users, staff, ex-staff, volunteers, Trustees, commissioners, sister organisation representatives, and other stakeholders, we commemorated this incredible achievement.

Added value and key achievements:

Last year was particularly complex for the provision of supporting services to Latin American and other Black and Minoritised survivors of gender-based violence: the harmful hostile environment towards migrant communities, alongside the on-going dismantling of public services (social services, health services, housing, mental health, etc.) continues to deepen the crisis in which we operate. Despite this, we have been able to maintain our services, and during this year we have had the following achievements:

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voices of survivors. Women’s Aid NQS focus is not just on the expertise, knowledge, and effectiveness of specialist domestic abuse services, but also services’ ability to evidence, maintain and promote survivor led outcomes that are designed for services that centre the long-term safety and recovery of survivors, as well as the prevention of further harm. The Women’s Aid National Quality Standards are referenced in the government’s statutory The fact that LAWA achieved this guidance (Domestic Abuse Act 2021) as best practice. qualification evidences the quality and impact of our services.

LAWA has continued prioritising being part of coalitions, networks and working groups aiming to address Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) such as the VAWG Business Group and the VAWG networking in Islington represented by the Samira Project; the Hackney VAWG Practitioner Forum and VAWG Strategic Board in Hackney and the Barnet Community Safety Partnership. LAWA is also a delivery partner of the CASA project, led by Solace and funded by the GLA. We are members of the GLA Partnership Board, and the Funding implementation group. Over the last year, LAWA joined two other by and for organisations and Women’s Aid Federation to participate in a national group with different local authorities to improve commissioning practices to increase by and for specialist provision. The space was organised by the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUCH).

In August 2023, LAWA was unfortunately victim of a fraudulent scam. The incident was duly reported to the Charity Commission and all the necessary steps were taken to reduce the impact on the

3 https://lawadv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WEB_WAHATOOLSPREADS.pdf

4 https://lawadv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WAHAPOLICYBRIF-SEP12-min.pdf

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organisation and its partners. As a result of negotiations with the bank and the insurance policy cover, no monies were lost. We used the learning from this experience to increased safety of our cybersecurity systems and further improve the policies and procedures to reduce to risk of the incident from happening again.

Financial review

LAWA’s income increased by 5% (from £1,768,948 in 2022/2023 to £1,856,147 in 2023/2024). The total income, however, reached £2,845,453 due to LAWA being the lead in the OYA Consortium and receiving the resources to distribute amongst the partner organisations in the consortium: £989,306 are resources allocated to partners and paid to the partner organisations. Of the total income, £2,222,145 was restricted (22/23: £2,280,463) and the remaining £623,309 (22/23: £481,791) was unrestricted. Total expenditure during the year amounted to £2,448,239 compared to £2,265,376 in 22/23.

Trustees also implemented an cost of living increase to staff salaries, aiming to reduce staff turnover and respond to the on-going cost of living crisis.

A summary of the financial activities for the year is given on page 14 of the financial statements.

Plans for the future

LAWA continues the implementation of its 2022/2026 strategy which focuses on strengthening of current services, maintaining the existing capacity and achieving a more sustainable and diversified funding base, thus, LAWA is not looking to growth in further income or expand services. During this year, the Trustees agreed on moving forward with the execution of the property purchase project and initiated consultations, seeking legal advice and looking for properties. As per the strategy, the organisational goal is to leave a legacy to the community as well as to achieve its charitable objectives by addressing the lack of emergency accommodation spaces by and for racialised communities, specially Latin American women and children.

The current context of hostile environment towards migrants and refugees, and reduction of the public service budget continues to be an on-going threat to the existence of our organisation. Policies and acts in review such as the Supported Accommodation Act as well as the Supported Housing Bill will have an inevitable impact on our operational model, and as such, LAWA has been advocating with others for changes/improvements in those to ensure that the impact on women survivors of genderbased violence is decreased and monitoring potential responses/adjustments in the services.

Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document

LAWA (the Charity) became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2023, maintaining the previous Charity Commission Number and its date of incorporation (13[th] of September 1988). The of March 2023 current Constitution is part of the update CIO registration process, it is dated on the 20[th ] and was last amended on the 26[th] of February 2024. The directors are the charity trustees for purposes of charity law and are known as the Board of Trustees.

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Induction and training of new trustees

Interviews for potential trustees are held by the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Director. A second interview takes place with other trustees. If considered a suitable candidate, an invitation by the Board will be made and an induction session will be scheduled with the Director. In addition, new members complete an online Safeguarding training for trustees.

Risk management and reserves policy

Similarly to previous years, the Trustees continue to be concerned about the long term sustainability of the organisation. The short-term commissioning model from Tier 1 government agencies as well as the one contract scheme at the Local Authorities creates additional barriers to smaller by and for organisations such as LAWA. As a result, the Board of Trustees continue to be of the opinion that it is vital to maintain a higher level of reserves: between 8-9 months of running costs. This also takes into consideration further external elements such as the challenging environment towards migrant communities, increased barriers within the immigration system, reduced funds for higher demand services and an increased pressure on the voluntary sector.

In addition, the Board has established a General Fund for unrestricted funds held by the organisation, which can be used as a contingency against emergency or unplanned expenditure. The Board believes that by designating funds in this way, they can ensure that the long-term plans of the organisation can be realised, and the organisation will be able to fulfil its contractual responsibilities to its staff, funders, users and the wider community. At the end of the year the Board approved the following Designated Funds:

Office premises provides to adequately maintain operations shall the organisation face a crisis and needs to cover for lack of external funding. The cost is calculated for 6 months of rent costs that would allow us to continue operations for a short period of time.

Consultancies provides funding to be adequately prepared to commission external consultants for specific projects with the organisation that can or should not be carried out by existing staff members. This includes but it is not limited to solicitors, advisors, among others.

Repairs and renewals funds provide resources to adequately maintain the furniture, furnishings and decorative order of its refuge provision. Each year the actual costs will be expended against the funds and transfers will be made to the funds in order that they represent the new estimated costs.

Investment project fund has been created to enable the organisation to plan for the future and create a resource to assist the charity to develop/pilot a particular service. It is expected that the project will start its implementation during the next year.

Refuge support fund will provide a resource to subsidise women assess with no recourse to public funds, at complete destitution or with high levels of poverty to cover part of their rent and day today living costs.

The amount held on reserves on 31[st] March 2024 was £2,423,759 of which restricted reserves was £25,566 and unrestricted reserves amounted to £2,398,193 –this includes the designated fund - investment of £1,570,000.

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Statement of Trustees responsibilities

statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including financial reporting standard 102 “the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of England”.

a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable organisation and of the incoming resources and application of resource, including income and expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable organisation and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable organisation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware; and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to charities subject to the small companies’ regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on 14/08/2024 and signed on its behalf by:

----- Start of picture text -----
_________
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Susana Klien – Chair of Trustees

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of

Latin American Women’s Aid Refuge

We have audited the financial statements of Latin American Women’s Aid Refuge (the ’charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis of opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement set out on page 10, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect

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a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of the audit report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken, so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report or for the opinions we have formed.

Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditor 65-68 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 2AD Date:

Knox Cropper LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 2 31,256 - 31,256 21,227 - 21,227
Charitable activities
Emergency accomodation and
support 3 456,299 1,897,363 2,353,662 417,854 1,853,906 2,271,760
Advice and Information 3 15,000 324,782 339,782 42,250 426,557 468,807
Investments 753 - 753 460 - 460
Other - insurance claim and
compensation for fraud 4 120,000 - 120,000 - - -
Total income 623,308 2,222,145 2,845,453 481,791 2,280,463 2,762,254
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 4 35,212 - 35,212 16,186 - 16,186
Charitable activities
Emergency accomodation and
support 4 52,562 1,891,833 1,944,395 1,400 1,859,462 1,860,862
Advice and Information 4 130,777 337,855 468,632 410 387,918 388,328
Total expenditure 218,551 2,229,688 2,448,239 17,996 2,247,380 2,265,376
Net income / (expenditure) for
the year 404,757 (7,543) 397,214 463,795 33,083 496,878
Transfers between funds (26) 26 - - - -
Net movement in funds 404,731 (7,517) 397,214 463,795 33,083 496,878
Reconciliation of funds:
-
Total funds brought forward 1,993,462 33,083 2,026,545 1,529,667 1,529,667
Total funds carried forward 2,398,193 25,566 2,423,759 1,993,462 33,083 2,026,545
----- End of picture text -----

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 15 to the financial statements.

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

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2024 2023
Note £ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 9 44,085 52,619
44,085 52,619
Current assets:
Debtors 10 489,185 338,273
Cash at bank and in hand 2,318,550 1,901,941
2,807,735 2,240,214
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 11 426,061 264,288
Net current assets / (liabilities) 2,381,674 1,975,926
Total assets less current liabilities 2,425,759 2,028,545
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 13 2,000 2,000
Total net assets / (liabilities) 2,423,759 2,026,545
The funds of the charity: 15
Restricted income funds 25,566 33,083
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds 1,570,000 1,170,600
General funds 828,193 822,862
Total unrestricted funds 2,398,193 1,993,462
Total charity funds 2,423,759 2,026,545
-
Approved by the trustees on and signed on their behalf by
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Name: Susana Klien - Chair of Trustees Trustee

December 4th 2024

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Note
£
£
16
415,856
753
-
753
416,609
1,901,941
17
2,318,550
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
2024
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
£
£
444,616
459
(9,420)
(8,961)
435,655
1,466,286
1,901,941
2023

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. Redundancy costs are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they arise.

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the following basis which are an estimate of the amount attributable to each activity.

 Emergency accomodation and support 61%

 Advice and information centre 39%

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

10 years

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Donations Unrestricted
£
31,256
31,256
£
-
-
Restricted
2024 total
Total
£
31,256
31,256
2023
Total
£
21,227
21,227
Total income from charitable activities
Emergency accomodation and support
Sub-total for Emergency accomodation and support
Advice and Information
Sub-total for Advice and Information
Unrestricted
£
456,299
456,299
15,000
15,000
471,299
£
1,897,363
1,897,363
324,782
324,782
2,222,145
Restricted
2024
Total
£
2,353,662
2,353,662
339,782
339,782
2,693,444
2023
Total
£
2,271,760
2,271,760
468,807
468,807
2,740,567

Income from emergency accomodation and support includes rent receivable from refuge after deducting Voids.

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Latin American Women's Aid Refuge

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

4 Analysis of expenditure

Accountancy and legal fees
Audit fee
Bad debt provision
Client support and workshops
Depreciation
Events and direct costs
Fundraising charges & expenses
General office expenses
Grants/Partnership payments
Other staff cost
Premises costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Rates and utilities
Repairs and maintenance
Staff costs (Note 5)
Telephone, IT support and internet
Volunteer expenses
Website development and database
35th Anniversary celebration
Online fraud
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2024
Total expenditure 2023
Cost of
raising
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
35,212
-
-
-
-
-
35,212
-
-
35,212
16,186
Emergency
accomodation
& Support
Advice and
Information
£
£
25,359
4,192
-
-
12,046
-
24,178
8,534
-
5,143
4,865
539
347
12,306
7,359
989,307
-
40,873
8,648
99,325
33,532
6,750
132
18,786
7,455
50,693
586
457,931
292,212
22,985
3,323
79
1,581
253
-
-
-
-
-
1,775,087
364,232
163,608
104,400
5,700
-
1,944,395
468,632
1,860,861
388,328
Charitable activities
Governance
costs
£
-
5,700
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,700
-
(5,700)
-
-
Support
costs
£
6,895
-
-
-
-
-
-
488
-
239
15,224
-
-
-
114,914
248
-
-
10,000
120,000
268,008
(268,008)
-
-
-
2024 Total
£
36,446
5,700
12,046
24,178
8,534
10,008
886
20,153
989,307
49,760
148,081
6,882
26,241
51,279
900,269
26,556
1,660
253
10,000
120,000
2,448,239
-
-
2,448,239
2,265,375
2023
Total
£
13,680
7739
9,125
31,108
5,394
8,373
2,149
28,888
993,305
71,197
118,432
9,880
42,681
36,418
855,934
28,494
2075
503
-
-
2,265,375
-
-
2,265,375

Grant/Partnership payments are being made to members of the consortium for which LAWA is the lead co-ordinator and is holding funds on behalf of all the members. Grants paid to partners include Asha £301,708 (2023: £301,706), Ashiana £314,431 (2023: £314,431) and LBWP £418,275 (2023: £373,168)

The Charity was victim to an online fraud during the year. However, it was able to recover the loss through insurance claims, compensation from the bank and negotation with affected partners.

20

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Accountancy and other fees
Audit fee
Bad debt provision
Client support and workshops
Depreciation
Events and direct costs
Fundraising charges & expenses
General office expenses
Grants/Partnership payments
Other staff cost
Premises rent
Printing, postage and stationery
Rates and utilities
Repairs and maintenance
Staff costs (Note 5)
Telephone, IT support and internet
Volunteer expenses
Website development and database
Support costs
Governance costs
Total expenditure 2023
Cost of
raising
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,186
-
-
-
16,186
-
-
16,186
Emergency
accomodation
& Support
Advice and
Information
£
£
10,295
2,511
-
-
9,125
-
26,255
4,853
5,394
-
3,267
5,106
879
1,270
25,225
3,663
989,305
4,000
57,347
13,850
108,097
7,240
9,043
837
37,860
4,821
18,734
17,684
464,446
270,174
20,707
7,787
-
2,075
253
250
1,786,232
346,121
71,974
37,123
2,655
5,084
1,860,861
388,328
Charitable activities
Governance
costs
£
-
7,739
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,739
-
(7,739)
-
Support
costs
£
874
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,095
-
-
-
105,128
-
-
-
109,097
(109,097)
-
-
2023
Total
£
13,680
7,739
9,125
31,108
5,394
8,373
2,149
28,888
993,305
-
71,197
118,432
9,880
42,681
36,418
855,934
28,494
2,075
503
2,265,375
-
-
2,265,375

Of the total expenditure, £218,551 was unrestricted (2023: £17,996) and £2,229,688 was restricted (2023: £2,247,380).

21

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
2024
£
813,526
72,995
13,748
900,269
2023
£
804,920
43,320
7,693
855,933

Two Employees earned more than £60,000 during the year (2023: 2).

The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £281,857 (2023: £256,725.25) consisting of 5 (2023: 5) employees.

6 Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was as follows:

Charitable activities
Raising funds
Support
2024
No.
1.1
23.6
3.7
28.3
2023
No.
1.9
24.8
4.3
31.0

There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2024 (2023: none).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

8 Taxation

The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

At the end of the year
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
At the start of the year
Additions in year
At the end of the year
Net book value
Depreciation
Cost or valuation
At the start of the year
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
Furniture &
Equipment
£
68,193
68,193
15,574
8,534
24,108
44,085
52,619
Total
£
68,193
-
68,193
15,574
8,534
24,108
44,085
52,619

22

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

11
12
Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year
13
At 1 April
At 31 March
Rent arrears
Grant debtors and accrued income
Prepayments and other debtors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Deferred income comprises of grants received for future period
Accruals
Deferred income (note 12)
Provision for cyclical repairs and renewals Maintenance and repairs
(dilapidations/removals)
Taxation and social security
Rent prepaid and Other creditors
Deferred income
Provision for liability and charges
2024
£
14,500
473,447
1,238
489,185
2024
£
(43)
50,428
350,703
24,973
426,061
2024
£
24,643
(24,643)
24,973
24,973
2024
£
2,000
2,000
2023
£
16,702
320,333
1,238
338,273
2023
£
(44)
23,141
216,548
24,643
264,288
2023
£
36,516
(36,516)
24,643
24,643
2023
£
2,000
2,000
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year
Tangible fixed assets
Long term liabilities
General
unrestricted
£
44,085
786,108
(2,000)
828,193
£
-
1,570,000
-
1,570,000
Designated
Restricted
£
-
25,566
-
25,566
Total funds
£
44,085
2,381,674
(2,000)
2,423,759

23

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14 Analysis of net assets between funds (previous year)

Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Long term liabilities
Net assets at the end of the year
General
unrestricted
£
8,305
772,243
(2,000)
778,548
£
-
1,170,600
-
1,170,600
Designated
Restricted
£
-
33,083
-
33,083
Total funds
£
8,305
1,975,926
(2,000)
1,982,231

15 Movements in funds (current year)

Emergency accomodation & support
Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
General funds
London Community Foundation
Restricted funds:
GLA - Casa Project
MHCLG
35 years commemoration event
Consultancy
Total funds
Office premises
Comic Relief (VAWG Support)
National Lottery Fund
Total unrestricted funds
BBC Children in Need 1315
MOPAC - MoJ
BBC Children in Need 6247
MHCLG - Family Support worker
Imkaan
Refuge support
Designated funds:
Sustainability & development fund
Unrestricted funds:
Advice and Information
City Bridge Trust
Trust For London
London Borough of Islingtion -
SAMIRA
Repairs and Renewals
Internal decorations
NRPF
Impact on Urban Health
GLA - MOPAC OYA
GLA - MOPAC OY2
GLA - MOPAC LAWA
NRPF-AWRC-London Council
At the start
of the year
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(5,556)
-
21,100
-
-
-
17,539
-
-
33,083
21,600
30,000
20,000
2,000
35,000
1,000,000
12,000
50,000
1,170,600
822,862
1,993,462
2,026,545
Incoming
resources &
gains
£
17,261
-
222,761
45,000
-
819,046
328,813
290,034
99,777
74,671
25,759
46,200
49,240
73,876
-
98,902
18,923
11,882
2,222,145
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
623,308
623,308
2,845,453
Outgoing
resources &
losses
£
(17,261)
-
(222,787)
(45,000)
-
(819,046)
(328,813)
(290,034)
(99,777)
(69,115)
(25,759)
(44,200)
(49,240)
(73,876)
-
(116,441)
(18,923)
(9,416)
(2,229,688)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(10,000)
-
(10,000)
(208,551)
(218,551)
(2,448,239)
Transfers
£
-
-
26
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
26
8,400
-
5,000
(2,000)
-
400,000
(2,000)
-
409,400
(409,426)
(26)
-
At the end
of the year
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
23,100
-
-
-
-
-
2,466
25,566
30,000
30,000
25,000
-
35,000
1,400,000
-
50,000
1,570,000
828,193
2,398,193
2,423,759

24

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
General funds
Advice and Information
London Borough of Islingtion -
SAMIRA
MHCLG - Family Support worker
Imkaan
GLA - MOPAC OYA
GLA - MOPAC OY2
GLA - MOPAC LAWA
NRPF-AWRC-London Council
MOPAC - MoJ
Unrestricted funds:
Restricted funds:
Emergency accomodation & support
BBC Children in Need 6247
BBC Children in Need 1315
Trust For London
MHCLG
City Bridge Trust
Designated funds:
Office premises
Comic Relief (VAWG Support)
Consultancy
Repairs and Renewals
Sustainability & development fund
Refuge support
National Lottery Fund
Impact on Urban Health
35 years commemoration event
Total unrestricted funds
NRPF
Brexit fund
Total funds
GLA - Casa Project
Internal decorations
At the start
of the year
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,027
15,000
20,000
2,000
26,830
10,000
200,000
-
50,000
331,857
1,197,810
1,529,667
1,529,667
Incoming
resources &
gains
£
17,761
16,662
222,761
45,000
44,509
819,046
328,813
290,034
69,320
22,769
46,200
47,800
104,581
34,424
89,167
74,890
6,726
2,280,463
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
481,790
481,790
2,762,253
Outgoing
resources &
losses
£
(17,761)
(16,662)
(222,761)
(45,000)
(44,509)
(819,046)
(328,813)
(290,034)
(74,876)
(22,769)
(25,100)
(47,800)
(104,581)
(34,424)
(71,628)
(74,890)
(6,726)
(2,247,380)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(17,995)
(17,995)
(2,265,375)
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,573
15,000
-
-
8,170
(10,000)
800,000
12,000
-
838,743
(838,743)
-
-
At the end
of the year
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(5,556)
-
21,100
-
-
-
17,539
-
-
33,083
21,600
30,000
20,000
2,000
35,000
-
1,000,000
12,000
50,000
1,170,600
822,862
1,993,462
2,026,545

Purposes of restricted funds

BBC Children in Need: provision of children services and activities at the Refuges.

MHCLG – OYA: a partnership bid aiming to increase managerial capacity across the four partner organisations to respond to increased needs of women and children in refuge accommodation with the CoL crisis and post-pandemic.

MHCLG – Family support worker: Family support services for mothers and children at refuge accommodation. Provision of creche services.

25

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

GLA MOPAC/OYA 1: a partnership bid to provide specialist supporting services (immigration, housing and complex cases) in refuge accommodation across all partners.

GLA MOPAC/OYA 2: a partnership bid to provide specialist counselling services in refuge accommodation across all partners.

London Community Foundation: improvement of physical refuge spaces to ensure a physiological informed building.

NRPF – AWRC: specialist floating support to DV survivors who are assessed as NRPF.

SAMIRA Project: specialist advice service to survivors of GBV from the borough of Islington. Trust for London: specialist advice and advocacy service focused on the intersected needs of housing and DV.

City Bridge Trust: financial support towards a refuge worker and LBTQ+ services in the Advice Centre.

MoJ – MOPAC: support towards counselling services, advice and advocacy, and a helpline.

National Lottery Fund: support towards the VAWG Advice Centre Coordination, Immigration Services, and the Change Maker Program.

Impact on Urban Health: financial support towards the development of the internship program.

GLA – Casa Project: financial support towards move-on and resettlement support.

Purposes of designated funds

Office premises provides to adequately maintain operations shall the organisation face a crisis and needs to cover for lack of external funding. The cost is calculated for 6 months of rent costs that would allow us to continue operations for a short period of time.

Consultancies provides funding to be adequately prepared to commission external consultants for specific projects with the organisation that can or should not be carried out by existing staff members. This includes but it is not limited to solicitors, advisors, among others.

Repairs and renewals funds provide resources to adequately maintain the furniture, furnishings and decorative order of its refuge provision. Each year the actual costs will be expended against the funds and transfers will be made to the funds in order that they represent the new estimated costs.

Investment project fund has been created to enable the organisation to plan for the future and create a resource to assist the charity to develop/pilot a particular service. It is expected that the project will start its implementation during the next year.

Refuge support fund will provide a resource to subsidise women assess with no recourse to public funds, at complete destitution or with high levels of poverty to cover part of their rent and day today living costs.

16 Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
2024
£
397,214
8,534
(753)
(150,912)
161,773
415,856
2023
£
496,878
5,394
(460)
(266,513)
209,317
444,616

26

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents
At 1 April
2023
£
1,901,941
1,901,941
Cash flows
£
416,609
416,609
Other
changes
£
-
-
£
2,318,550
2,318,550
At 31 March
2024

The charity’s total future minimum lease payments relate to cancellable lease agreements which have a notice period of 4 months and are reviewed annually

Less than one year 2024
2023
£
£
139,539
118,432
139,539
118,432
Property
2024
2023
£
£
-
-
-
-
Equipment

The following table illustrates how money was allocated across ths partnership and that it has been used for the purposes outlined in the funding agreement.

Grant income
£
Delivery Partner: Asha
45,295
Delivery Partner: Ashiana
51,112
Lead Partner: LAWA
64,146
Delivery Partner: LBWP
62,208
Total
222,761
Type of Cost
124,451
47,235
16,000
Other Costs (Please specify)
35,075
Total
222,761
Office equipmentrelated costs to enable remote working
where relevant
Staffing Cover(costs of additional temporary staff/additional
staff hours to cover COVID-19 related absences)
Additional COVID-19 Related Costs(Such as deep cleaning
and the purchasing of essential items for service users)
Grant spent
£
45,295
51,112
64,146
62,208
222,761
124,451
47,235
16,000
35,075
222,761

27

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The following table illustrates how money was allocated across ths partnership and that it has been used for the purposes outlined in the funding agreement.

Delivery Partner: Asha
Delivery Partner: Ashiana
Lead Partner: LAWA
Delivery Partner: LBWP
Total
Total
Type of Expense
Staffs Costs (Includes Direct and Indirect)
Other Direct Delivery Costs
Premises and Other Operating Costs
Grant income
£
180,704
205,920
222,075
210,347
819,046
Budgeted income
£
767,930
19,200
31,916
819,046
Grant spent
£
180,704
205,920
222,075
249,887
858,586
Actual spent
£
799,554
25,965
33,067
858,586

One of the delivery partners had an underspent of £39,539 in FY22/23. This was informed to the funder, who approved a carry forward movement, and the budget has been re allocated to the following year contract in FY23/24.

The following table illustrates how money was allocated across ths partnership and that it has been used for the purposes outlined in the funding agreement.

Delivery Partner: Asha
Delivery Partner: Ashiana
Lead Partner: LAWA
Delivery Partner: LBWP
Total
Total
Type of Expense
Staffs Costs (Includes Direct and Indirect)
Other Direct Delivery Costs
Premises and Other Operating Costs
Grant income
£
75,709
57,399
95,086
100,620
328,813
Budgeted income
£
306,185
9,600
13,028
328,813
Grant spent
£
75,709
57,399
95,086
106,180
334,375
Actual spent
£
301,957
19,225
13,193
334,375

One of the delivery partners had an underspent of £5,560 in FY22/23. This was informed to the funder, who approved a carry forward movement, and the budget has been re allocated to the following year contract in FY23/24.

28

Latin American Women's Aid Refuge Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The following table illustrates how money has been used for the purposes outlined in the funding agreement.

LAWA
Total
Type of Cost
Staffs Costs
Refuge Space
Overhead Costs
Training
Total
Grant budget
£
69,116
69,116
32,655
20,308
13,846
2,307
69,116
Grant income
£
46,077
46,077
21,770
13,539
9,230
1,539
46,077
Grant spent
£
69,116
69,116
32,655
20,308
13,846
2,307
69,116

29