THE WOMEN'S SUPPORT NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 I A COTrIPANY LlIlllTED BI. GUAtLINTEE AIND NOT HAVIING A SHARE CAPITAL) COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER N1057580 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER NIC 102763 O'HARA SHEARER CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS 547 FALLS ROAD BELFAST BTI19AB
THE WOETrIEN'S SUPPORT NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEtVlEIYTS FOR THE YEAR ENDEI D 31ST IWIARCI.12024 CONTENTS Page Reference and Adni inistaitive Infoi'inatioii Trustees Aiinual Repoit (iiiclLid ing tlie Statement of Directors Responsibil ities in respect of financial stc11einents) 2-10 Repoii of tlie Ind¢pendeiit ALiditors to tl)e Meinbers, AccoLinliiig Policies 14-16 Siiileinenl of Financial ActivitiLs (incorporatiiigy the incoine and expeiidilLire accolint) 17 Balance Slieet Statement of Casli Flows 19 Notes to the Financial Stateinents 20-26
THE WOMEN'S SUPPORT NETWORK REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND FIN.4NCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YIAR ENDED 31ST fvIARCH 2024 REFERINCE AND ADlINISTRATIvE INFORMATION Directors Tanya HLighes Susan Mccl-oiy ReneL Crawford Eleanoi. Joi'dan (ResigFned 141081?0?4) Eileen Gay Sheii?-Biiighain Isobel Lougihi'an {Resigned I11091?0?3) Lisa Maclean (Appointed 111091?093) Companv Secret4ry Renee Ci'awford Operational Dircctoi. Karen Sweeney Registered Office 109-113 Royal Avenue Bel fast County AIiEI'IIII BTI IFr Auditors O'Hai'a Sliearei. Chditei'ed AcLouniaiils & Staluloiy Auditors 547 Falls Road Belfasi, BT I19AB Bunk¢rs AIBNI 111 l i Doi)ebJall Square Noitli Bel fiist BTI 5GB Compuny Regislrution Nutnber Nl 057580 Charity Commission for Northern Irelli n(1 Registration Number NIC 10?763 HM Revenue & Customs Chllrity Rcgistralion Number XR40415 Registere(I Cliai'ity Name The Woinen's SLipporl Nelwoi'l( Page I
The Nvomen's Su ort Network Aeom anv limite(I bv uu4ll.1 ntee Re ort of the Trustees Includin Directors, Re for the Y¢ai- Endcd 31 larch 2024 ort Tlie trustees, IN'lio al'e a150 directoi's of tlie cliai'itable company foi. tlie Plirposes ot company law, liave pleasui'e ii) preseiitiiig tlieii. Triistees Repoit M'itli tlie audiied Fiiiai)¢ial Statemei)Is of Ilie cliai'itable compaiiy for Ilie yeai. endLd 31 March ?014. Tlie Ii'iislees liave adopted tlie provisioiis of tlie Stateinent ot" R¢¢oinineiided Pi'21clice (SORP) 'Accoiiiitiiigy aiid R¢poitiiiiJ by Cliai'ilies, 2015 applicable to cliariries preparii)o tlieir accoLllIts in accordance ivitli Ilie Finaiicial Reporting7 Standard appl iC£1ble iii tlie UK and Republic of Ii'eiaiid (FRS 102) iSSLied in JLII J. ?014. etTeclive O l J<2llLiai'v ?0 l ) in pi'ep<?I'jlllY the ti'iistees repoil <iiid financial statemeiits of tlie Clial'itabe iompany, Kvliicli al'e also prepared lo meet Ilie i-equireiiieiits foi. a directors I'epoit and accoiinls for coinp¢11)y aiid Lliarity la¥v piirposes. IiEFERINCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DCTAILS Charity Commission for Northern Ireli)nil Ret5iStration number NIC102763 Company Registralion number N IOi7580 (Nortliei'n I I'elaiid) HfvIRC Ch#rity Registration number XR4041i Pi'incipid l and Registered office Catliedral QLiarter Managyed Woi'lKspace, 109-113 Royal Aveiiiie, Belfast. Co. Antriiii, BTI I FF Ti'ustees Tlie trLlStees Nvlio served tl)e cliai'itablL coimpaiiy diirinbi tlie yeai. lip io tlie date of upproval were as tol Iow5'. Taiiya Hub7lies Sii%¢lli ILCrorY Reiiee Crawfoi'd El¢aiioi' Joi-d1E 11 Gay Slierry-Bii)ghain Isobel LoLl47liriin Lis& Maclean Cliairperson Tre<isiirer (I'esigvned 11109123) (IL ppointed I11091?3) SecretAry ReiiLe Crawford Operlltioiial Director Kareli Sweeiiey Auditoi. O, Hai'a Sheai'ei. Cliai'tered AcLountaiils & Slatutoiy Auditors 547 Falls Rocid Belfast BTI19AB Banker$ Al B, 11-15 Doneg2L11 Sqiiare North. Beltast, BT15GB
The Ivomen's Su
ort Network
Acom
nl, limited bv
utti-antee
ort of the Trustees
inclu(linry Directors, Re
roi" tlie Ye'ar Ei ncled 3 l Mai'ch 2024
ort
continue(I
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTIUTIVE DETAILS continued
Insui'ance Bi'oker5
Willis Iiisiiraiiee & Risk Maiiag7eiiieiit
Neisetter Biiildino
55-59 Doiiegall Sii-eet
Belfast
BTI IFH
OB.TECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
WSN MISSION
To advaiice wonieii s eqiicility aiid I'i&?lits bj. woi'kiiig lo influeiice policy, practice ai)d pi'ovisioii wliile also
reoioiiall! SLlPPOrtIllLY 1¢ lid represLntin(J
tlie intei'ebts, iieeds aiid pei'spectives of '0Ine17. paiticiilarly tliose in
poveil), aiid iii disic dvai)li?IF¢d are7 S.
WSN VISION
To Li'e47te a jiist and pe<icefiil society devoid of ffciider discriim iiiation. nendei'_based violence <21)d wonien's
riglits violatioiis. iii Nvliicli ivoineii fi'oin al I b41ck&iroiiiids iqiid coiiimLlI)ities C
The Women's Su ort Network Acom nv limite(I b uai'antee ort nf the Triistees inLlii(lino Directors, Re foi. tlie Year Ei nde(131 M:Ireh 2024 ort continued ORJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES continued Tlie Coiisoi'liuin is made LIP of seveii establ islied woinen s orgc1nisalions-. WSN. Traii)iiig for Woineii Netwoi'k (TWN}. Nortliei-n Ireland Riii'<Trl Woineii s Network (N IR WN). Woineii s Resource aiid Development AgTency (WRDA). Foyle Womeii's Iiitorlliaiioii Nctivoi'k (FWIN). Woinen s TEC and Tlie Woinen s Ceiilre DeiTy. These oi'traiiiscilioiis worl< iii P<lltiiei'sliip to provide specialist siippoit. adv ice. in forinalioii aiid ti'ainiii&T on a raii(TL of i()pics to iiici'ease cap<?C Ity, 51<11 Is, pliysical resoiii'ces aiid sli-IlCliii'e5 to benefit ivoineii in Noitliei'ii Ir¢141nd. Tlie Consoi'tiiiin also opei'ales as tl)e liiik aiid poiiit ot coiilacl beliveeii goveriiineiit aiid tlie sector to Ineer tl)e i)eeds of I'ecoinineiidatioiis i-esultinLy fi'oim coiisiiltaiions. siii'iieks ai)d policy devLlopinents tliat iiiipact on womeii. WSN is I'espoi)sible tor the co-oi'dii)atioii ot policy aiid I'esearcli wiiliin tlie Consoi-liiiin. WSN lias respoiisibility foi. the distribiitioii of fLindiiiiY aiid collective Inonitoi'iiig of activities delivered tlii'oiigyli Belfast Flealtli & Social C41re Ti'LlSt to tlie five ivoineii's cei)tres iii tlie Belfast C1( tclim¢iil <ll'ea. Tliis fiiiiding pi'ovides suppoi-l foi. cliildi'eii and tl)eir fainilieslcarei's. addi'essiiiiy spLLifiL iieeds isl terins of persoiial dLvel()pinent, Iraiiiiiig, iiiipi-oved pliysical aiid Ineiiial l)¢'alil) oiitcoii)es. r¢diiced sti'ess aiid anxiety, advocacy, efficacy inclLidiiib7 spoiisol'ed 1¢ lid retei-red clii Idcai'e. Tlii'oiiglioiit Il)e yecir Il)e ivoinen's ceiiti'es pi'ovided siippoit aiid cidvocacy foi. Ivoinen aiid fainilies iiiipacted by isolatioii, disadvaiitag)e ai)d tlie conliiiLlillg 'Cost of Livins, crisis across eacli of Ilieir ¢alcliiMent areas and beyond. ACHIIVEIMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Iii tliis finaiici<il ye¢ll', WSN lias contiiiiied to engag?e in a I'aiig7e of oclivilies lo rai8e Ilie profilL of woimen's Ol'l?iryli isatioiis aiid i011]e1),s ISSLILS aiid to siii)poi'l ivoiiieii s oi'(71< IIiS1L tions in Ilie delivei-y of fi'oiit-l iiie services for woinen in disadvaiit1&ied and riii'iil ai'eas. WSN contlllLied lo siippoi't n121 rgTiiidlised WOlllLn aiid g?I'oiii).% lo eiisLlI'e tliat Ilieii. voiLes wLre IiLard iiid vieivs taken aiid relL1J'ed lo de¥isioii-111¢2kei's Ihi'oiig7lioLlt Ilie veal. oli .'ai'ioiis iS%Lllb Iliat iinpact woinen aiid tlie oi'&FaiiisatlOllS SLlPPOI'liiirF Il)eiii iiicliidiiigi tli¢ iiiipacl of tlie 'cosl ot We lic1ve coi)linued to lobby aiid cainp&1igyn oli belialf OF iiidividiial ivoinen. Coininiinity-based woincn'5 ¥¢1l1i'es, b?I'OLIP5 aiid orbyanisalions. Reb)Lilar iiewsletlei's, e-ziiies aiid fiii)dinb' biles SLlI)POIt Ol'gFill)isalioiis tliroLigli tlie provision of iiit.orinalioii. I'linding opportLiiiilies. policy updates and trainiiig oppoItLinities. WSN liave coiitiniied to liost regiilai. oii-liiie and iii-pLI'son ivoiiieii's ceiili'es, managei's, Ineetiii&?s to facil itate networkiiiiy sliaring of good pi'aclise iii tlieii- coiiliiiued siippoit foi. woiiieii iii eacli of Ilieii. PLrspective coininLiiiilies <1¢ross Noi'tlieri) IrLlaiid. Tliese Ineelii)gs al'e ali oppoituii ity foi. tlie cei)tre iiiaiiagers to discuss key issiies tliat impacl Ilie sector aiid delivery of siipporl surviLes foi. Ivom¢ii and cl)ildi'eii aiid l)oiv tliese Can best be addi'essed and adapted iiicliiding Ilie provisioii of cli ildcare. Tlie key issues of concei'n foi. Ilie ceiili'e5 in Iliis yeai. ¢oiiliiiiied to be pi'essLlI'es associaled witli the coiilii)Iiiiigy I'ise in Ihe 'cosi of i ivinby (qiid IliL pre5siiI'e Ili15 was Plittiiigy 01) staff iL nd biidiyets cls OPLI'atlllL7 Costs coiitllllied lo rise as did Ilie deiiiai)d foi. tlieii. sei-vices, sucli as delii'ery of Ii-aiiii51&y aiid ediicatioft, special 1st advice. siipport and advocacy. Ovei. tliis I'epoitiiis period WSN coiiliiiiied pLI'iodical ly to Ineel Kviili otliei. Ineinbei's of tlie 'Co-desigyn' worl(iiig groiips tli¢1t inpLIt iiilo tlie dLvelopment of boili tlie Geiider Eqiii¢ lity and Anti- PovLI'ty Social Sti'alegies to eiisiire tliat tliese sti'atLJcJies iVOLild be &lS 1( dvaiiced as sooii as possible ivheii tlie As5eiiibly relLlI'iied. Tlie Asseinbly did retLirn in Janiiary 2024, however tlie iiicoim ing M inister lias yel to niake recoinineiidatioii on wliei) tl)e draft str<ltegies will be publislied for consultation. As a member of tlie Woinen'5 Regional Coiisortiiiiii. WSN is I'esponsible for co-ordination of policy and researcli on iSSLies Iliat iinpact on w'oinen iii disadvantag7ed aiid riiral areas. Focus groups, consliltation events, qiiestionnaires and semi-slriiclured intervieivs were undeitakeii to garner tlie view5 Ot wonien in these areas to inform tlie policy responses and researcli ensLlI-ing tliat local woinen ivei'e afforded ali oppoitunity to l)ave tlieir views piit foi'ward. Page 4
The Women's Su ort Network Acom nv limited bv auai'antee ort of the Trustees inelu(linr* Direetors, Re for tlie Yellr Ended 31 LW1areh 2024 ort continued ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE coDtinued n Iliis year WSN made Ilie followi11¢7 eonsultatioii respoiises aiid siibinissioiis that dii'ectly iinpacl woiiieii in Noi'tliei-n Ireland.. 021051?3 Department of Jiistice (DOJ) and Departiiieiit of Healtli (DOH) - Response to Doinestic aiid Sexiial AbLise Sii'aleiiy CoiisLiltÉ1tioii 0710612J Dept. Foi. Coinmui)ities (Dfc) - Blidiyet ?013-?0•4 Eqiiality Iinpact Assessines)t 07106123 - Tlie Execiitive OftiLe (TEO) - Blidqel 2023_10?4 EqLial ity Impact Assessment 1210612J Departmeiit foi. Iiifrasti'iieliii'e {Dfl) - Biidgyet ?0?3-2094 Equalily Iinpact Assessineiit J-20?4 Eiiii<ilitv Impa¥1 Ass¢ssinent 9?106123 - Dept. of Healili (DOH) - BLidiyet ?0?" 011081?3 - Dept. for Ecoiioin J, (DtE} - BLid(YCt ?0?3-2014 Eqiiality Iinpact Assessineiil 1108123 - Dept. of Educatioii (DE) - Biidgel 20?3-?0?4 EqLl81ity Iinpact AssessIe1]I 11108123 - Dept. Foi. CoiMmiiiiili¢s {DfE) Respoiise to Clianges to Disci'etionary Support coiisiiltation EQIA Eqiiality Impact Assessineiit 241081?" Departiiient foi. Iiifi'ic Sti'ticture (Dfl) - Coiisliltatioii Response 01) fl'ee aiid discoiiiilLd fares oli public ti'aiispoi't (concessioiiaiy f¢11'es). 18109113 Tlie Executive Office (TEO) - Coiisulialion Respoiise to Free Pei'iod Prodiicts OJl10123 - Tlie Execlltive OffiLe (TEO) - Coiisliliaiioii Response to Eiid iiiiy Violence Agyainsi Woineii & Gil'ls Sti'ategic Fi'aine¥voi'k and folindatioii Actioi) Plaii 23111123 Dept. of Educatioii (DE) Relatioiisl)ips aiid SexLial ity Ediicalion (RSE) Consultatioii Response 09101124 - Depl. of Healtli (DOH) - CoiisLiltalioii 011 tlie 'Re-iiiti'odiiclioii of Hospital Parkiiigy Cliargyes" as IMeasiii'e lo siipport blidgel SLlStuinabi l ity by I'aisiii(J additioiial I'eveiiLIL 17101124- Departimeiit of Finiiiice (Dor) - rin1¢ 1)cial Coiilext loi. Reveiiiie Raisinby CoiisLiltatioii Respoiise 09102124 - Dept. Foi. ComiMiinilic% (DfC} - Vol Liiilai'y ai)d Coiniiiiiiiitv Sectoi. I iifi'asiriiLtiii'e aiid Siippoit Policy Fi'umeivork 1210?124 - D¢paitimLiit of Fiii&inLc l DOF) - DoinLStiL R¢ltiiiiF Imeasiires Coiisiiliatioi) Respoiise 08103124 - Dept. for Iiifi'asli-LILtLire (Dfl) - Response to W¢il¢r ai)d se¥vei'age cliai'ges- optioiis foi. i'eveiiiie raisiiig Additioiial Slibm i5sions: 1 ?105123 Subinission to Work & Peiisions Conim ittee UK InqLliI-y Illto Benefit Levels iii Ilie UK 12109123 - 'Costs of Ediicalioii Siiininai'y fi'oin Cost-of-LivingT I'eseai'cli sent to EdLicalioii Coinin ittee MLA5 and APG on Pareiital Paiticipatioii iii Edlication nieiiibers 14109123 - 'Uiipaid Care, Sliminaiy fi'oin Lost-of-Liviiiby resLai'¢li sent to APG oli Cai'ers Ineiiibers 141061?3 - ' Meiilal Healtli Slllii iiiai-y fi'oi)) Cost-ot-Liviiibi reseai'ch sent to APG on Mei)ial Healtli InenibLrs <111d FILalih Coiniiiillee MLAS 181091?" ' Womeii'5 Copiiig Beliavioiirs, Siiinniary froin Cosl-of-Living researcli sent lo APG on UNSCR 1325 miinbers 19109123 - 'Debt & Savingys Sliinmary from Cost-ot"_Liviiig rLsearcli sent to Coiiiiiiuiiities Coinmittee MLAS ?1109123 - ' Wliat Sliould Politi¢iaiis Do, Siiminary from Cost-ot-Liviiiv researcli seiit to all MLAS Page 5
In tlie latter lialf of last yeai- in partnei-sliip ivitl) Ulstei. Uiiiversity Law. Clinic reseai'cli beiyaii oil 'Woinen s Experiences of tl)e Cost.of-LiviniY Ci'isis in N. Ii'eland". Tlie ovei'all aiin of Ellis I'eseai'cli pi'oject ivas to exploi'e tlie expei'ienees ot ivoinen liviniT aiid ivoi'kjii(r ji) disadvanta(Ted and rural ai'eas of Norilierii Ii'elll lid aiid tlie iiiipait of Ilie Cosl_of_Liviii<Y Crisis ivas haviiiiT 011 tlieii- lives. How if w'as iinpactii)<Y tlieir l)ousel)old bil Is. Il)eii' debts and saviiitts, theii. caring re5poI)sibililies. tlieir pliysicallinei)tal healtli, tl)eii' cli ildreii. rl)eii' abi lity to take pait in social activities and tlie copiiigi meclianisims they have l)ad to I15e as I'esLIIt of tlie Cost-of-Living Crisis. At tlie laLincli in Ulstei. Un ivei'sity oli ?oIII Jline a suininarv of tlie main poiiits iii tlie researcli were otitl iiied as ell as tlie personal insigl)ts froin ivoimen ivlio look P<llt iii the reseai'ch relaying tlie iinpact of tlie Cost of Living Ci'isis 01) tIILir lives aiid lioiv it afte¢ted Ilieni, Ili¢ii' ¢l)ildi'eii aiid fLlin ilies. Fol lolving tlie fiiidingys of tlie reseai'cli five key pi'iority areas wei'e identified foi- actioii and Iliese wei'e.. Ke). Prioritv I Woinen's Ceiiti'e5 pi-ovide Iriisted, local spaces for woinen 10 access help and siippoit to addi'ess fiiiancial viiliiei'L1bil ity aiid poveily in ivays tliat ivorl- best foi. tliein. We reLoiiiinei)d Iliat Govei'iiinent slioiild pi'ovide a loi)(i_I¢i'iM siislaiiiiibl¢ fiiiid iiio modLI ivliicli recogiiises tlie sigiiificaiit retiirii oli iiivestiiieiit tliat Woineii's Centres provide. Tliis would enablL tl)eiii lo conliiiue aiid develop tlie vital seivices tliey provide. Key Priority 2 - Tlie Holiday HLiiiger S¢lieine needs to be iii'geiiily reiiistat¢d to Imitigiltc agaiiist food insecLlI'ity foi- Ivolneii aiid clii Idi'eii dui'iiig tl)e Lipcoiniiig suinii)ei' lioliday pei'iod. Tlie Healtl)y Start Scl)eiiie neLds to be iiiLreused iii liiie witli iiiflatioii aiid tliose Nvlio al'e entitled slioiild be aiitoinatically ei)I'olled oiito tlIL sclieiiie. Key Priority 3 Tl)e Cost-of-Liviiio Crisis lia.s ¢oinpoLiiided tlie existiiiiv ci'isis iii meiital liealtli. as ii'oinen IOSL 01)poi'tiin ille5 lor social ¥oiine¢rioii aiid peei. siippoi't diie lo a la¢li of Inon¢y. Tliei'e is ali urgieiit iieed to iiivest in sei'vices to preveiit loiig7 term Inental illiie5s and105s of life. Key Priority 4 - Tlii Scl)ool Uiiitoi'in Graiil IlL'¢'ds to be inci'el¢ sed lo reflect IliL avei'age cost of seliool un itoi'm (iiicllidiiitt PE Ixlt) Ivliicli Nvoii Id Inove it Llosei. iii line H'iili oil)ei' COLllltI'ies iii the UK. Tlie gvrant sIIoLild also iniliide <ili al loivance foi. .%cl)ool sl)oes. Key Priority S - We Slipporl tlie recointnLiidatioiis fi'oin Ilie IndepLndent RLViLiV of Dis¢retiOll<ily SLIPPOI'I and want to see iiicreLised iiivestinenl in tliis vital flind to address risin&T levels of fiiiancial l)ai'd51)ip and tlie illl P?L Ct of IliL Cosl-of-LiviiigF Crisis. Tliere iVÉiS exte115ive Ine£lia coverage 111 IIiL laLincli witli pieces oil Oli YoLlI' Belialf. BBC Good fvloi'iiiiig? Ulster, U105 fraiilc Milcliell Sliow, BBC Newsl iiie, UTV News, NVTV, Byl iiie Tiines aiid feKi1111'es iii Belfast L.ive, (lie Bel fast Tele¥yi'apli aiid 11)e Irisli News. A secoiid piece of re5eai'cl) oli 'Woineii, Unpaid Cat'e & Einployiiieiit, Was Liiideitakeii iii Il)is year iii ¢oll<iboi'<ioii witli Cai'ei's Nl. Tlie reseai'cli took evideiiLe fi'oiii Nvomeii IliroLibli fociis <)I'oiips aiid in¢ervieiv5 wlii¢li ivas coinbiiied witli tlie resLilts ot. survLy data fi'oin Lai'ers N I Il)roiib?li Ilieir State of Cai'iii&T siii'vey and repoit. Tlie key findiiigis ot tl)is reseai'cli were as follows.. Neai'ly 60 % of UliP<iid cai'ers are woinen Woiiieii l)ave a 700/0 cl)ance ol. pi'ovidiii(y Care in theii. adiilt life coinpared to 60 % for men aiid are Inoi'e l ikely 10 Lare eai'ly iii Ilieii- life. By Ilic tiille tl)Lv al'e 46.1i<llf of all Nvom¢i) l)IL ve beeii <? cai'ei. { I l yeai's before men) More tliai) one iii six woiiieii iii emi)loymeiit ai'c providii)(I 111)P(iid care (1¢ ppl'oxiiiinlely 71,000 ivomen) Woineii are iiioi'e lil%Lly to leave Ilie Icil)oiii' It)dl-kLil diie lo cariiibj respoiisibi lilies Oiic in tlii'eL WOlnLii liavL g)ivL'ii lip wDrl( to carc (3410) Oiie iii foiii. Nvonien liave decreosed tlieii. Nvoi'kiii(F houi's due to a caring< I'ole (280/0) Oiie in six woinen h¢ive tal(eii on a 1¢ss qualified job oi. ILlI'ned doivn a proinotloli lo fit ai'ound cai'ing I'espoi)sibil ities (170/0) Neai'ly tliree qiiarlLrs (730/0) Iiai'e lost out on between £500 and ovei. £1500 per montli in iva(yes because of ¢l)al lenbyLS jLI4Y(> liiigy worlc and ¢c1re Woinen ' juggle" tlieir caring role aiid einployinent often at the detriment of their own cai'eer, finances aiid liealtli aiid wellbeiiig Tlie finaiicial iinpact of stoppiiiglrediiciiig woi'lc to pi'ovide care is felt by woinen not only wliile providiiigF tlie care bul tliroLiglioLlt Ilieir lives Cai'er's Alloivaii¢e in terms of its val lie and low earnings threshold is iiiad¢quale lo siipport women to balance care and work
SLlPPOIt foi- carers in ivoi-l( is ofteii a lottery, depeiidenl on individiial einployers and l iiie Imaiiaiyers Iiiadequacies in widei. support 5ei'vices, iii¢liidin(y social services, healtlicare. ediication aiid childcare al-e stoppiiir! ivoineii fi'om ivoi'kinry altovetliei. or liinitiiirj tlie aiiiount of Kvork tlie! cali do Foi. some woinen ivoi'li can be positive iii te1Th5 of meiilal healtli and wellbeingy aiid glives Iliem a break froin tlieir oarii)iY role Woineii feel reliable, accessible support services, a ranoe of fle.iible Nvorkiii(f Options, carei." s leave aiid a clianue to tlie eligibility criteria for Carei. s AlloNvaiice would Iielp balance wol'l( aiid cal-e A laLlc of SLipport for carers in tlie %vorkplace results in a1055 of vdlLiable uiid skilled ii)dividuals to tlie laboiir marlcet WSN lias tliroiiiylI tlie year coiitii)IiLd 10 be a l¥ey ii)Illi'ihiiik)ri iiieiiibei. of Ilie Woii)en's Pol i¢y Gi'oiip Noiil)ei'n Irelaiid. WSN contiiiiies to siipport tlie development aiid delivery of the Rape Crisis service foi. Noitliei'ii Ii'el¢21id I171Cl) is fundLd by bolli Ihe ROSAUK JiisticL aiid Eqiiality FLiiid and tlie Josepli Roivnti'ee Cliarit(Ible Trtist (JRCT). Anot17ei' coliort of voliinleei. siippoi1 ivorkers coiniiieiiced tlieii. traiiiiia infoi'ined IrainiiigT willi tlie Ii'aiiiin(7 lakiii place boili oiilii)e ic nd iii-PLrsoi). Oiigoinq reeriiitinent ai)d traiiiiiiiy Ot voliinleers is esseiiiiiL I lo Ineel tlie ever ii)¢i'ef25ingi dei)iaiid foi. IIIL sei'vi¢¢ 1É 1)d to repla¢¢ support ivoi'Lei's wlio leav¢ or take a bi'ealc. Th¢ Freeplioii Iiitori)iatioii and Siipporl Line reiiiaiiis opel) folir eveiiiii(Y a week witl) Ilie service contaciable glt aiiy tllllL via eiiiail oi. voiceinai l. Relatioiisliips aiid I'efei'ral rolltes coi)linued to g7row tlii'ougl) slakelioldei. oi'LFai) isatioiis woi-lciiio iyitli tliose iinpacled by rape aiid se.KLial assaiilt Slicli as ASSIST Nl, tSie PSN l. tlie ROW AN (SARC). Ne.Kiis aiid V ictiin SLipporl. Awai'enesb I'aisiiig aiid pi'oiiiotioii of tlie service is 01)iYOill&I Iliroligyli SOLial Inedia platfoi'iiis ai)d iii-pei'soii eveiits. WSN is part of a caimpaigii. 'Giiai'<1ntee oui. Essen¢ials' fi'oin Il)e Jos¢pli Ro¥viiti'ee Foliiidulioii aiid tlie Ti'lissell Ti'LlSt cal l iliLi for ali Esseiilials Giiarai)lee w iiliiii Uii ivei'sal Credit. I"lie Esseiilials Giiai'aiiiee would einbed iii tlie soc ial se¢Lirity Systeiii a priiiciple Iliat al a Ininiinlllii Uiiivei'sal Ci'Ldil sliould pi'olecl people fi'om WSN L()i)tiiiiies to be oli tlie ivoi'kiiig y iyi'oiip foi. tlie Noi'iliei'ii I I'el(2iid Cliild Payineiit Co¢iliiioi). Tl)e iiilrodii¢lioi) of a N I Cli i Id Payinei)t IV<iS a I'eLoiiiinei)dation by tliL Gei)dLI' EqLI:Ility ai)d Aiiii-Povei1J' Expeit Paiiels 421)d iii tlie Fein iiiist Recovei'y Pl<ll). WSN is a Ineinber of Ilie Coalitioii of Cai'ei's, Inade LIP of a nLinibei' of organisatlolls 1111 woi'kin&y to liigilil ibFlil tlie key issiies tliat carers al'e faciiib7 aci'oss Noi'tliei'ii Ii'eland. WSN I'einaiiis oli Ilie worlcing bYI'OLlP of Ilie Clift Edge Coalition worl<iiigy lo sti'ellb)tli¢n Ilie exisliiig In itibyalions paLlcabye foi. Nortliei'ii Ii'eland. Cliff Edgie I'elaiiiiclied their key aslcs wliich are as fol lows: Resolviiig Ilie five wee1( wait iii Universal Credit M itigatiiig tlie two-cliild lim it Pi'ov idiiig siipport to privatL reiitei's affected by tlie Local Holisiiig Al lowance WSN coiitiiiiied its partiiLI'sliip witli tlie Woineii s Resoiii'ce aiid DevLlopineiit Aneiicy (WRDA) as IL. pai'tiiei-, Noitliei'n Irelaiid Riir(I1 Woiiien's Netwoi'k (Nl R WN) aiid RLclaiin Ilie Ag7enda l RTA) for Ilie R<iise Yoiir Voice Project aiid campainn (RYV). Tl)is projeci infonns aiid I'aise% awai'eiiess of all foi'ms 14 lid de41'¢es of 5e.xual Iiarassineiil, woi-kiiig col lectively lo create triie cultLlI'al cliang?e iii order lo tackle Ilie root causes of tliese beliavioLlI'S and empoiver people lo Inake real society cliange. In Iliis year new ivorksliops covei'in 'onliiie harassment.. 'al ly. ship, aiid 'by-btandei' interveiition ivere delivei'ed botli in person aiid online. Tlie project ¢oiitiiiiies to Stren(rihLlI Its presence tliroligli social media plaiforins. poster campaitrn, e-zilies and website content and Irsources.
The Women's Su ort NetTrvork .4 com anv limited bv uuarantee ort of the Trusteeg inLlu(lino Directors, Re foi. the Ye#r Ended 31 M.IrLh 2024 ort Continued ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE continued WSN contillLie to be a sti'ateg?iC P¢11'1nei' in the 'Woinen's Spaces Pi'oject". fiiiided tlii'oiigli Ii'el<qnd"s Departmeiit of Foi'eii?n Atfaii-s (DFA) Recoiicil iatioii Fliiid, led by Woinen s Platfoi'iii (foi'incilly NIWEP) and ii) partiiei'sliip witlI NIR WN and WRDA wl)o have I'esponsibililv foi. kty delivLry ai'eas. Tlie pi'oject 15 desiiFned to (yive woineii tli¢ sl(ills aiid ¢apa¢ity' lo eiiijabye iii public life Iiiid sli'eiis)Ilieii ivoinen s voices iii peace-buildii)0 81)d decision iiiakiiily Tlie project will del ivei. a sei'ioLlS of woi'k51iops as well as develup a 'toolLil"' oli woineii, peace and secui'ity tli<21 will iiiforin and eii111< lice fllltlier ti'aiiiing and worl(sliops tliroLlg71i a collective of progi-ainines, tools and intorinaiion. Iii Iliis year. WSN iii partiiersli ip witli WRDA as lead. NIR WN ancl ReLlaiin Ilie Aftenda beg<211 delivery of Ilie 'Woineii Bl'eak. inby Bai'riers Pi'oJect' flinded Ilii'oLI&TlI tlie UK Sl)ared Prosperity fiii)d as pait ofilie UK Levell ing Up initiative iiiidei. tlie Depc111ineiit foi. Levellin(y Up. Coinimiinities aii(l Holisiiig ivliicli is a fol IOW-LIP lo Ilie UKCRf Woimeii Bi'¢akiii(y Bcirriei's pi'ojecl. Tlie ovei'ai'cli iiig UI<SPF iiitei'vention for Norlhei'ii Ii'eldnd is; 'Siippoi'tlllLF ecoiioiii icull J. iiiactive people to ovei'coine bai'i'iei's lo woi'k by pi'owidiiigy coliesive. local ly lili lored siippoil incllid iiig? acces5 to basic skills . Tliis two year projLCt aiii)s to delivei. speci fic lailoi'ed siippoi't to 600 econoiii ical ly inactive ivoineii aci'oss Lirbaii ai)d riii'al settiiibys. WSN are I'espoiisibll for tlie iii'b¢ili del ivery woi'kiiiiy ill P1( I'liiersl)ip witli seveii ¥voiiien's ceiiti'es aiid oil)ei' Lll'baii gJi'OLlPS wlii le NIR WN lias respoiisibi li for I'LlI'al delivery. FINANCIAL REVIEW FinJn¢illl Position Tlie c1ccoiintS 011 Pcines 17-96 de<il witli all tlie incoime <qiid expeiiditLlI-e of Ilie cliai'itable conipaiiy. as wel l 61S ils fiiiaiicial positioii at tlie ye¢ll' eiid, PI'iiiLipal tiindingj SOLirces suppoiling Icey objectives of ¢lie cliai'itable company and fiinding? botli cliai'itable activity aiid SLlPPOrt costs al-e slioivii at iiotes 1 6 (pages- 20-21). Tl)e resiilts for Ilie year sliow ali uni'esiricled siii'plLlS of £25,024 (90•3.. 10,0?1) <l1)d a restricted deficit of £13.325 (1023.. Siii'plus £ l 0,?3 5) pi'oduciiig ali overall siii-pliis ofr £11.699 (2023.. £20,?56). Al tlie yeai'_eiid iini'esti'icted reserves il'ei'e £77,159 (20?3: £52,13 5) aiid re5ti'icled resei-ves £16.832 ?0?3: £30,157). Page 8
The Women's Su ort Nehvoi'k Aeom nv limited bv U<ql'antee oi't of the Trustees inclii(lin47 Directors, Re foi. tlie Ye'ir Endecl 31 11rLh 2024 ort continued Reserves policy Iii liiie ivitli good practice Tlie Wonieii's SLipporl Network aiins to bLiild towards and retain a level of Lini'esti'icted reserves tliat iiiatcli Ilie needs of tlie oi'gaiiisatioii tlial eqiiate to six Inontlis opei-alioiial costs. botli at tlie CLIITent tiime aiid iii Ilie fiitui'e to Ineet slatlltoi'y obligatioiis for botli stat'f &i)d siippliers in tliese tiines of fuiidi1147 iincertainty. Tliese iii¢lude'. Statiitory Rediiiidaiicy Salaries ai)d Peiisiuiis Oi'giaiiisatioiial Riiiiiiing Costs Reseiwes wi I I be IMoi)itoi'ed 011 ali oii&i()iiiby basis by tlie Finance and Pei'soiinel Triistee sub-gyroup and an ovei'view pi-esented by tlie Opei'ational Dii'eLtoi' at Ti'iistee Boai'd IneeliiigTS to eiisiii'e tlie prob71.ess towards targFet level. Risk management Tlie Boai'd liave assessed tlie Inajoi. I'islKS to wli icli Ilie cl)ai'it<qble coimpany is exposed, iii plli'licular tl)ose rel<iied to its oper41tioi)s aiid fiiiaiices, aiid al'e satisti¢d tliat svsleins al'e iii pl¢?ce to Inilibyllte an! exposui-e to tliose iiiajor I'islcs. Going concei'n AfiLI' Inalciiigy appropi'iate eiiqLiiries, Ilie triistees liave a reasoiiablL eipLctatioii tlii2t tlie cliui'it<ible coinpaiiy lias adc(Ill<lte rLsoiirces ti) cLii)lii)IlL 11) OPLI'cilioi)cil exi51LncL for Il)L. foi'c5eL',IblL fiiliirL. fLlI' Iliis I'Layoii. tl)ey coiiliiiiie to adopt IliL bYOII)gY COII¢LI'li basis iii pi'epÉiriiigi IIiL fin4711Lial slaleineiits. FLirtlier details I'egFqK I'diiig tl)e adoi)lion of Ilie goiiigy coiicL'rn bi)sis cali be Ioliiid in tlie AccoLiiiling Policies. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCI AND MANAGEINIENT Governing document Tl)e oi'iyaiiisatiol) is ¢1 cliari11c ble COliiP¢qny liinited by gyiiai'aiilee, iiicoi'poi'ale(l on 14 Deceinbei. 2005. Tlie coinpaiiv ¥vas establislied uiidei. a Meinoi'aiidLlln of Absocialioii ivliicli establislied 11)e objects aiid powei'5 of tlie cliarituble coiiipaiiy aiid is govei-iied Liiidei. its Aiticles of Associatioi). Orgnnisation:Il structure TIIL Woiiieii s Siippoit Nelivork is ovei'seen by a Boai'd ol. Dii'ectors whicli Ineets at least six liines a year. Tlie Board is respoiisible foi. tlie sli'aiegic direction of tlie oi'gyanis¢2tioii aiid oversees tl)e Inaiiagemei)l ot tlie orgy<iiiisation. Tlie day-to-day mai)aiJeiiieiit ai)d opei'atioii of autivities al'e carried oiit by a statt"leain led by tlie Dii'ectoi. wlio repoits regyLilarly to tlie Bocird. Recruitment and Appointment of Bourd of Directors The dii-eotol's of the coinpaiiy are also Ll)arity tl'LISlees for tl)e piirp05es of cliLlrity law 21)d Lll)der tlie Lompany's ArtiLILS al'e knowii as tIiL Board. UiidLI' Ili¢ reqiiii'eiiients of IliL MLinorandiiin ciiid Articl(% of AssoLiation Ilie nienibers of tlie Boai'd al'e elected fi'oiii tlie Inei)Ibersliip to serve foi. a pei'iod of Iliree yeai's after wl) i¢li Il)¢y n)Iist be re-elected at tlie next Anniial Genei'al MLelinb. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEfvIENT The Directors Ii<Trl'e compliid witli tlie diity to have diie regard to the Charity Commission for Nortliern Ii'elaiid s statiitoiy guidance on Ilie piibl ic benefit requirement issued Lindei. tlie Cliarities Act (Nl) 2008. Page 9
The Women's Su oyt NetM¥ork Acom 2nv limited bv ouarantee oi't of the Trustees ineludino Direetoi's, Re for the Year Ended 31 Mni'ch 2024 ort eontinued STATEt¥lENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES Tlie tl'LlStees (w'lio are also tlie dii'ectoi's of Tlie Woineii's SLIPPOI'I Nettvoi'k for tlie piii'poses of coinpany law) are I'espoiisible for pi'epai'jiio tlie Repoii of tlie TrLlStees and tlie fiiiancial stateinents in accoi-daiice witli applicable laiv ai)d United l(jlilFdoiii Ac¢oiiiiting Standai'ds (United Kiiiodom Generally Accepted AccouiitililT Practice). Coinpany law requires tlie trLlStees to pi'epare financial stateineiits for eacli financial yeai. Nvliicli give a ti'iie aiid fail. view of tlie state of affaii's of ihe cliai'itable conipaiiy aiid of tlie iiieoiiiing resoui-ces and applicatioii of resources, includiiig tlie incoiiie aiid eipenditiii'e. of Ilie cliai'itable coinpaiiy for tliat period. In prepariiio tliose finaiicial slateineiits, Ilie Ii'LlStees are reqiiii'ed to. select SLlltable accoLinting policie5 aiid tlien apply tliein coiisistently. observe tl)e metliods and pi'iiiciples iii tlie Cliai'ities SORP 2015 (FRS I O! Inal(e judgeinei)ts aiid esliiiiates tlial al'e I'easoiiable aiid pi'Lideiit; st<2te wlietliei. appl icable Uii ited Iciiigdoin Accoiiiiiino Stai)dards liave been followed, siibject to aiiy Inaterial depai'tLlI'e5 disclosed aiid e,Kplaiiied iii tlie fiiii¢ iicial stateiments: pi'epare tlie fiiiaiicial stateiiieiits oli tlie 40iiig coiiceim basis iiiiless it is inappropi'iate to presuine tliat the cliaritable compaiiy will coiiliiiue iii business. Tlie trustees are respoiisible for keepinu adeqliale llccouiiting records iiiliicli disL105e witli reasonable accuracy (It aiiy liine rlie fiiiancial positioii of tlie ¢l)arilablL coimpany and eiiable tliein to eiisLlI'e tliat tlie fiiiaiicial stateinents coiiiply witli Ilie Coinpaiiies Act ?006. Tliey al'e also respoiisible foi. S¢ife(YLIIL I'diiig Ilie assets of Ilie cliarilable coimpaiiy aiid Iieiice foi. takiiin reasoiiable step5 foi. tlie pi'eveiilioii aiid detection of fi'aud and oiliei. ii'i'egLilarities. Sli so fai. as tlie triistees al'e aliiai'e: thei'e is iio relevaiit alidit iiiforination of kvliicli tlie cliaritable coinpany's aiidilOI' IS iiiiaiiiai'e. and tl)e tl'LlStees liave takeii all steps tlial tliey oiiolil to liaiie tal(eii to Imal(e theinselves aiillai'e of aiiv relev£l1)l aiidit iiifonnatioii aiid 10 establ isl) tlial Ilie auditor is aivare of Il)at iiifoi'iiiÉ2tioii. AUDITORS As pei. pi-ocuremeiit pi'ocedLlI'es this wil I be Pllt oiit to tender aiid a(7reed at tlie next AGM. Tliis I'eport lias beeii pi'epai'ed in accoi'daiice willi tlie special pi'ovisioiis of Pait li of Ilie Coinpanies Act 2006 relatin(7 to sinall coiiipaiiies. Approiied by order of tlie board of ti'ustees on 19 Deceiiibei. ?0?4 aiid siTriied on lis belialf by.. Gay Slierry-Binghain - Trustee Page 10