(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARAiYfEE) FOR THK YEAIi EI4DED 30 SEFfEMBER 2025 N1069905 Charlty Registt8tion number. NIC104977
Ai¥NUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR EiYDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 Pages Officers & advisors Directorf report Ind¢p¢ndent Examine¢s r¢port Stat¢m¢nt of financial activities Balance sheet 9-10 Notes to the financial statsm¢nts
SAPHARA UMITED OFFICERS AND ADVISORS Dlrertors Angus Spence Beck Domlnlc Gerard Breen Christine Ann Bumett Llnda Jane Thomp50n Jill Elizabeth Macdonald Paul Mcvey Hllary Margaret Mcvltty Andrew Mlller Peter Glldea Secretary Davld Nell Roblnson Re8lstered Offl¢e 17 Gravs Hlll Bangor Co Down BT20 3BB Ind•p•nd•nt Emamlnff Davld Nell Roblnson Retlred Chartered Accountant 17 Gravs Hlll Bangor BT20 3BB
DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 The dlrectors presentthelr report and thefinanoal ststementsforthe year ended 30 September 2025. sandAI Our charits45 purpose5 as set out in the objerts wntslned In the companvs memorandum of assoclatlon are: l. To engage young people In Northern Ireland with issues of poverty, indu5ion and justice through working in cross-community teams with disadvantaged children, Including Newcomer dilldren. 2. To provlde quallty educational sUPPOrt for marginali5ed Indian children through worklng with Non-Governmental Organlsatlons. 3. To equip marglnallsed Indlan adolescent glrts wlth the emotlonal resilience and menstrual health knowledge to resist abuse and exploitation. 4. To Increase awareness within Northem Ireland of local and global Justice issues. The alm of the tharity is to inspire and equip young peopleto cr&ite flourlshingcommunttles of Justlce and compa55ion, locally and globally, empowerlng them to Be the Change in the world. How our activitles dellver ublic beneflt L¥n Ireland Be the Change Schools programme for sixth-fomi students In Nl secondary schools Is flourlshlng and has gained an excellent reputstlon amongst post-prlmary schools. Reathing across traditional social and religious boundarie5, it brings together pupils from sd)ools on both sldes of the community, facllltatlng thelr development as future leaders of an inclusive Northern Ireland. Fourteen schools In cross-communlty teams took part In Be the Change Sthools 202+25, wllh 157 slxth-fomi students partlcipating In the year-long programme. The Be the Change programme is delivered as an Award to ensure that responslblllty Is taken by the students rather than their teathers. All aspects must be completed induding partiapation in workshops. tssk5 and fundraising in orderto achleve the Award with 8 ofthe students successfullv mpleting all aspects by the end of the school year. The dlmax of the Award was the Newcomer Welcome Days held during Refugee Week In June when the students hosted 301 Prlmary 5 children from ten primary schools in 50aally deprived areas of Belfast at affirming educational fun days at Stranmlllis UnIvety College. The majority of these children were from refugee and asylum seeker famllies. The continuing Importance of the Saphara Be the Change Award was stsrkly highllghted when raust violence targeting newcomer famllles broke out durlng this very week in Ballymena. in fart on the night beforethe Ballymena school students were coming to Stranmilli& Reporters from UTV who had planned to attend the Saphara Welcome Day, were pulled away to focus on the violence. One primary school teacher polnted out a P5 boy who had been Involved in stone throwing the previous night and had reIved a warning from PSNI. How Important that these children hear a difference message of love and acceptano for all. Newcomerwelcome Days were rated as excellent or very good by 96% of theteadiers wlth comments such as, "I sat back In awe at the progre55 the students had made throughout the programme whlch was evident in the Welcome Day. Our students really stepped up and eath took on a leadershlp role throughout the day. They spoke with confldence, passlon and patience."
Whlle awareness of local issues is a key aspert ofthe Award. so too is global awarene55 with students fundraising for our Indian partner Schools as well as for the newcomer days. The young people and thelr 14 sthoo15 raised an impressive £51936 exceeding theirtsrget by 35% Impact dats is collected by surveying the 6th form students at the rtart and end of the programme Includlng a Mentsl Wdlbeing measurewhlth showed a highty signfficant increase in 5tudentwellbeing and poslttve mental health. Slxth forni student comments: .1 am now more aware of the disadvanes many children fa and have been given ability to be more insightlul. I have really enjoyed the Award and definitely thlnk It has opened my eyes to many 81obal Issues that I was rM)t fully educated on before." "I found myself leaming so much... you also get to make new frfends to help navlgate and dlscuss all the new information that you learn. Taking part in the Bethe Change award will always be a privilege and a memory I will therish forever." In the end of programme evaluation, ofteteatherstated: .1 would really encourage other teachers to tske on the Saphara Award as a fantastlc opportunlty for theiryear 13 pupils. The programme is fully planned and organised by the Saphara team with eXlIent resour$ and hands-on support from beginning to end. A great opportunity for the young people to ontribute to the lives of others, while bringi huge benefits to the pupi15 themselves.. Be the Change Colle8e5 w35 equally 5ucce55ful, with 18 teaching Students from St M•rfs and Stranrnillis University Cdleges hosting a two• Newcorner Welcome event for 78 thildren from St Paul's Falls Road arKI Fane Street Primary 5th1)ols. of whom 80% were from refugee families. We recognlse the vltal nature of thls work In contributlng to professlonal development of future teachers, and the importance of indusive dassroomsto ensure a peaceful futurefor Northem Ireland. We were pleased to once more brlng to Indla the College Team of 12 student teadbers and two lecturers frorn St Marfs and Stranmillis Unrversity Colleges. led by Paula Stronge and jani Arm5tong In Apr51. Both Colleges recognise the value of thls experfence for thelr students In developing thelr professlonal skllls In the afflrmlng culture of SNEHA sch¢)ol in Dehradun. One studentteacher commented, '"hearing thestonesof thes0Or0 Gitl ChompionsProgromme how much odversity these girls hove to overcome wos increth'bly moving. Ithighlighted the truepower of education a5 o PUP0rt outoApoverty ond rwnforcedmy beliefin teaching 05 afvrcefvr change. I wos humbledond inspiredby theirresllience ond the transfvrmotive work ofs00. This experience will stay with me both personolly and professionolly-reminthng me on the tough doy5 why I chose teaching as my vocation and the impartyou can have on young people." Withln Indla 5aphara continues to work with gra55roots NGOsto support the delivery of highuality education tt) marginalised thildren. These partnerships enable us to Eive strateEic help with maxlmum impact on local communitie& The Saphara educatlonal support pro8rnmme erts$that the poorest thlldren can attend our NGO partner schools by provtdingfee supporL sthool unrforn)s, midday meals and books forthese thlldren. A worthwhlle use forthe eX1entfundraI$ln8 ofthe students on the Be the Change Sthools Award. The Girf Champions progrnmme conttnues to enable thousands of adolescent glrls to flourlsh, expanding in the past few years into impoverished areas in the tribal state of Jharkhand. This health and resllience empowement programme builds self-esteem, encourages girfs to value themselves and gives them the skills and cOTrfiden to resist aSe, exploitation and child rnarTiage le5pecially prevalent in trlbal comrnunitiesl.
The crucial element in programrne delivery is the tralnlng of local trfbal teachers as MasterTralners These women in spits of being trained teachers. ¢)ften struggle with low selfsteem. due to the poverty and oppression they experience from the majority-Hlndi soclety surrounding them. The Saphara tralnlnE conference was held for 4 days In Aprll and in September In Ranchl and led by Dr Chrlstlne Burnett. Thls speclal tlme of leamlng and affim)atlon equips the teachers to return to their schools to train other teachers a5 facilitstors and to lead group sessions with the girl5. A key focusthis year was a complete revision of the Girl Champions currlculum to better reflect tribal culture and the lives of the partiapating girls, thereby enhancing tts impart Thi5 has been undertaken by Christine Burnett and Gracy Andrew, with Vedika Sreehari from Eco Femme. We continue our partnership with Eco Femme, which provides washable organic 5anitsry pad5 to adolescent girls. made by local women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This year Saphara funded pads for almost 1000 adolescent girls Iprovidlng 4,500 pads In totall. These pads are having a significant Impatt with St Anne's Sthool princip31 reportlng: °Saphara girls and teachers have stsrted using Eco Femme cloth pads, made of soft cotton fabric and reused for several years- they are tomfortable to wear, cause fewer infections, ar do not contsin harmful themica15 which irrite the skin. 'U5ing Eco Femme pads, rnany girls and teachers have shown a p95itive thange in their attitudes and awareness regarding menstrual hygiene, becoming more confident In Managing their periods and proud to contribute to environmental protsction. The gir15 expre55ed that they no longer feel Shy or uncomfortable tslking about menstruation, and are more open to learning and sharln8 wlth others." One of the girls said. "Earlier l used to feel nervous during my period, but now I feel comfortable and free to attend classes wthout worry.. INote: up to 30% tribal girls drop out of school when they start their periods. Another student sh4red, "l am happy that by uslng doth pads, l am not creating waste and I can wash and reuse it easily." Followlro the conference, ChrlstSne together with M5 8emie Devlin, former Saphara Board member, Vlsited schoo15 run by PSS in rural areas of Jharkhand where they are seeking to brlng transfomiatlon to impoverished communlties, with female Ilteracy beln8 shockln8ly lowat under25% in some areas. Fr Xavler, coordinator of PSS, showed Christine and Bernie the poor state of toilets for the 250 girls Ilvlng In the school hostel. Thls Insplred the Door to Dlgnlty Christmas campalgn which raised £10,251 which enabled the building of a new tollet block comprlslng 20 toilets and washroom facllltles. cl•1 Revlew Thetotsl Income forthe year ended 30, September 2025 was £256,013 compared to £224,682 In the previous year. Fundraising byyoung peoplefrom schools and collegestsking part inthe Bethe Change programme decreased slightly with fewer numbers tsking part, malnly as a result of the late launch of the college programme. Nevertheless, the students contlnued to engage enthuslastlcally wlth the opportunity to support the work of Saphara and the average amount raised by each partiapant Increased. Thi5 year there was no women'5 trip to India, but this was more than ¢)ff5et by the generous support from Ardbarron Trust. TBF Thompson Trust. Benefart Trust. Stsnsfield Trust. Halifax Foundation, I 8allyTnena Mi55ion and House of Vicryn totslling £79.613. increased support from Indlvtdual donors and a grant of £19.864 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Reconclllatlon Fund. As a result of thls Increased fundlng, Saphara was able to Increase expendlture on programmes both in Northem Ireland and India and ended the year with a surplu5 of £2.219.
The table below shows the source of fundlng In 2024125 Fundraising schools Fundralslng colleges Trusts Reconclllatlon fund Gift aid recelved Voluntary donations College fundlng Bank interest reiVed 21% 31% 18% S end on charftable actl¥ltles Our accounts show how we have Spent our re50urce5 acro55 Qur three main artivitie5 ~ Northern Ireland cr055-community 010015 programme, holistic educational support for marginali5ed Indian thildren, espedally adolesnt elris, and local and global Sustlce awareness programmes. Our comblned governance costs and marketing Spend continues to be le55 than 6% of ourtotsl spend. We rernain thankful to volunteers who ensure that all overhead costs are kept to a mlnlmum and ensure that a hl8h proportion of our resources are spent dirertly on our charitsble activities. Reserves Po The dlrertors have examined the tharitys requirements for reserves in light of the maln rlsks to the organisatlon. The balance of our general reserves of £159,99712024 £154,778) Is equivalent to approxlmately 7.5 months, running costs. Thls 55 In Ilne with the Directors, pollcyto maintain reserves of between 6 and 9 months running costs. lans for Fuiure Perfo We will contlnue wlth plans to expand the work of Saphara both In Indlè and N. Ireland, Includlng Expandlng the Be the Change School Award to more Nl 5chog15 and sixth form student5. Expanding Newcomer Welcome Week to more prlmary sthool chlldren. Recruitment of an additional education staff member. Engaging more student teachers in both Newcomer and India programme5. Developing Girl Charnpions with NGO leaders to make more relevant to trlb81 communlties, wlth a focus on period dignity approach. Contlnulng to support educatlonal access for the most marginalised Indlan chlldren. struCre Governance and Mana ement Governln Document Saphara is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 9 July 2008 and governed bv Its Memorandum and Artides of Association dated 4 July 2008. The mernorandum and artl¢le5 were updatsd on 4 October 2022. In the event of the company belng wound up, the liablllty in respect of the guarantee is limitsd to £1 per member of the tharlty.
Recrultment and A oln ent of Directors New dirertor5 of the company are appointed by recommendation of the existing directors by ordlnary resolution. The company may also by ordinary resolutlon determlne the rotation in which any addltional dlrectors are to retlre. Unless otherwlse determlned by ordlnèry resolutlon the number of dlrectors shall not be subJect to any maximum but shall not be less than one. Director Inducilon and Tralfil New directors are Eiven a briefing of the organlsatlon as a whole. Thls Include5 an explanation as to thelr dutles and responsiblllties. They are encouraged to understsnd fully their role a5 dirertor5. Rlsk M ement The trustees have assessed the major rlsks to whlch the charlty Is exposed and are satisfied th* systems are in Pla to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Saphara's register of rlsks Is updated regularly and is available for publlc dlstrlbutlon on request. Our rlsk assessments and safeguarding and child protertion poliae5 have been evaluated and our procedures and polldes have been deemed to be of the highest standard. The Board of Direttors admlnlster the charity by way of quarterly meeting5 and are responsible for the strateglc direction and policy of the charity. During the year the Board had nine directofs from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. Approved bythe Board on 18 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by: DrAngus ecK Chalr of Saphara Board
llldependt exwniner's report ttb the tharity trnstees of Sphua Limited l ffp)rt on the aLX0u ofthe company forthe year 30 Swember 2025 on pages 7 to 12. Respecti rwonsibilities of Chlty trustees and euminer As the chatity tTUSt¢¢s (and also the di1¢1¥ of the comp3ny for the PU of company law) you are responsible forthe preparalion of th¢ acwunts in w)nlanct with the requirements of the Companies Alt 2006. Havin8 satisfied myself that the ¢h•ity is subject to dit wider company law, and is eligible for independent examinatioffj it is my respN)nsibility to: Examine the a¢coutts wthr #ion 65 ofthe C]wities Act Follow the procedurrs laid down in the genera] Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act State whether particular Matt¢ have com¢ to my attention. Basks of indwdent exAminer's report I hav¢ examined your Lknlty a8 requATed Under sei#ion 65 of the Charities Act and my cxamination was carried out in aCcrdanCe with the general Directions given by the Charity Crnission for North¢m 1alld under se¢tion 65(9Xb) of Ihe Clwities ACL The examination included a Teview of the accountin8 records kept by th¢ thlty and a mpariSon of th¢ accounts presented with those records. It also induded c4)nsideration of any unusual it¢ms or disclosuRs in the accowits. and seeking explanations from you as charity t rA)ncerning any such matters. My role is to sl¢ whether any maknial matters have LM)me to my attention 8ivin8 me cause to believe: l. That accounting rdS wer¢ not in xj)rdan with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 2. That the accounts do not ac¢ord with thos¢ ullting reco 3. That the accounts do tEOt comply with the a¢Lx)unting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Clwitics Statement of Recommended Pta¢tice applicabl¢ to charities ppIllg their acnts ill accordanc¢ with the FuwIci Rep)rting standa applithle iti the UK and Republic of Ireland 4. That there is rther ltfftimtL0n needed for aproFw und¢tsthn8 ofthe wunts to b¢ Keached. Indepffident ¢x•min¢r'$ statement I have completed my ¢xamin*ion and have no concerns in respect of the matters (l) to (4) listed above and. in connection with followin8 the Di¢1105 ofth¢ Clwity Commwion forNorthern treland. I bave Reti1 Chartered AcL4)untant 17 Grnys Hill. Bangor, Co Down 18 February 2026
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTivrrIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds 2025 Total funds 2024 Total funds Notss IDcome Donations and legaci¢s 147,784 108.229 256,013 224,682 Total Income 147,784 108,229 256,013 224,682 Expendltllre Cost of gcnerating funds Charitsble activities Furlough ¢osts 7,059 7,059 4,764 135,506 111,229 246,735 198.456 Totsl expendlture 142,565 111,229 253.794 203.220 Net inetsme/{expenditure) Alld net movement in funds for the year 5,219 (3,000) 2219 21,462 Reeonelllatlon of funds Totsl funds brought fonvard 154,778 15,000 169,778 148,316 Totsl funds Carried forward 159,997 12,000 171,997 169,778 The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All of the amounts above relate to continuing activities.
SAPHARA LIMITED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 2025 2024 Notes Current as8ets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand ,220 215,753 216,973 12,531 202,481 215,012 Creditors: amounts falling due withiD One year Net current assets 44,976 45234 171.997 169 778 Tothl assets 171,997 169,778 Fund8 UnMtr1ed 159,997 154,778 Restricted 12,000 5,000 171997 169778 The directors, ststements required by Sections 475(2) and (3) are shown on the following page which fornis part of this balance sheet.
BALANCE SHEET (COIYTll¥UED) DIREcfoRS' STATEMENTS REQUlliED BY SECTIONS 475(2) AND (3) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 In approvin8 these financial statement as directors of the company we hereby confirni: (a) Ihat for the year stst¢d atK)ve the ¢ompany was entitled io the exemption conferred by Se¢tton 477 of lh¢ Companies Aci 2006. (b) that no notice h8s been deposited at the registered office of the company pursuant to Section 476 requesting than an audit b¢ conducted for the year end¢d 30 September 2025 and (e) that we acknowledge our responsibilities for. (l } ensuring that the company keeps accountin8 records which comply with Section 386. Bnd (2) preparin8 financial slat¢m¢nts which giv¢ a true and fair view of th¢ state of affairs of the company as at the end of the finaneial year and of its profit or loss for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the provisions of th¢ Companies Act 2006 r¢lalin8 to financi81 slal¢ment$, $0 far as 8ppli¢abl¢ lo the Company. The financial sl&lem¢nts on pages 8 10 12 were &pprov¢d by the boArd on 18 FebruAry 2026 and were signed on its behalf by: Dlredor: An8us Beck Hilary Mcvitty -io-
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEFfEMBER 2025 l. PrlD¢ipai a¢¢oyllting polR¢ieS The financial statements hav¢ b¢¢n prepared in a¢¢ord8nce with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Prnctice applicable to charili¢s pr¢paring th¢ir a¢¢ounts ivb accordan¢¢ with th¢ Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102} (effeclive l January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ir¢land (FRS 102) and the Companie$ Act 2006. Fllnd Aetountlng The company has various types of funds for whi¢h it is r¢sponsibl¢ and whT¢h requir¢ separate disclosure. A definition of the various types of funds is as follows: Restri¢ted fynd$ Restri¢t¢d funds are to b¢ used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditur¢ which m¢¢t th¢se ¢rit¢ria 15 identified to the funiL together with a fair allocation of overheads and support cosls. Unrestricted funds- General GeneTal funds are amounts e1ved or generated and which are expendable at the discretion of ihe company in furtherance of its obj¢ctiv¢s. 2. DoDations YdDd legacies 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total Fundrnising- schools Fundraising- teaching colleges Fundraising- women's team Donations from Trusts & Legacies Grant from the Departsnent of Foreign Affairs and Trade.. Reconciliation Fund Gift Aid received from HMRC Voluntary donations Funding from teaching colleges Bank interest 52,933 23.384 52.933 23.384 54.274 28.087 27,168 41,333 5,000 74,613 19.864 79,613 19.864 16.417 46.452 16,417 46.452 13.752 3,598 24,174 31.667 17.979 13.752 3,598 147.784 108.229 256.013 224.682 -li-
- Charltable aeilvltl 2025 2025 UnTestricted Reslricted 2025 Total 2024 Total Crossacommunity development- Nl sChIS Educational support for marginalised Indian Children Justice awa¢s$- Nl & India Governance costs 46,263 74,211 8,235 6,797 50,642 96,905 72,515 60,587 134,798 111,913 8,235 7,410 6.797 6,618 135,506 111,229 246,735 198,456
- Dlr¢¢tor r¢mulleradon And r¢l4t¢d party transAedon8 During the year, Dr Christine Burnett received a salary of £53,040(2024- £50,561). Pension ¢ontributions of £8,216 (2024 - £7,826) were also paid on her behalf. No travel ¢ost$ were reimburs¢d to Dr Burn¢tt, but $h¢ r¢¢¢ived a motor allowanc¢ of £1,000. S. Taxadon The Charitable company is ¢xempi fiDm corporation tax on its ¢harilabl¢ activities. Liability of m¢mb¢r8 Sapharn Limited is a company limited by guarantee, and does not have a share ¢apilal. The liabillty of each member is limited to an amount not exceedin8 £1. -12-