## **SHARPEN HER: THE AFRICAN WOMEN’S NETWORK (SHAWN)** ## **- ANNUAL REPORT (2024 25)** The Annual Report for 2024-2025 ended with a call to action to our members: - _Join us as volunteers_ - _Actively engage and put your skills into practice_ - _Help in improving our social media presence – we are currently on Facebook, Linkedin._ - _We also have X and Instagram which are not active._ - _Spread the word in your networks_ Perhaps that could also make for a start for this year’s report. Where are we? Where is Sharpen Her today? With a growing membership of 260 plus, there are so many things we can celebrate as we look back at the past 12 months. We have made quite a number of strides, yes, but we are not going to rest on our laurels. We believe there is still room for growth. Quite a lot has happened, and it has all supported our overarching aim of supporting the integration of African women by building their capacity, confidence, and resilience. _We have seen more engagement, more women stepping up as volunteers._ _Women engaging more, and putting their skills to use, sharing skills with others._ _Women are spreading the word about our work in different platforms and forums._ We can also celebrate: Increased partnership working such as: - Collaborations with educational institutions such as Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow University, and the University of Strathclyde. We have received student volunteers, some of whom are still volunteering for us to date. - Employability agencies such as Smart Works and Dress for Success Scotland who provide interview preparation, coaching and provision of interview clothing for women going for interviews and further support after women get the jobs. The two organisations were kind enough to donate items of clothing to our members. - We brought together several organization for a learning event to share best practice on Working with New Scots. The event was attended by Maryhill Integration Network, Police Scotland, Shelter Scotland, Scottish Refugee Council, Tricky Hat, and Shine Your Light Community. The events received positive feedback, and we hope to hold more of such to share learning. - We worked with Pilotlight on their Make an Impact project where we were connected to Arup an engineering company where their staff volunteered to support our business operations. They developed a communications strategy for us and beyond that, they donated 3 laptops. - The Home Office National Community Engagement Team, who have been very instrumental in providing our members with information to aid compliance with immigration rules. At the end of 2024, 4 of our members attended the Team’s conference which was a testament to the increase in confidence within our membership, especially those who would not normally engage with such a fearsome organization. - We held an Antiracism consultation with support from Impact Funders and our members made contributions to the proposed Anti-Racism Observatory in Scotland. - Our members have become Climate Change Ambassadors under CEMVO () where they are building their understanding and capacity to act on issues of climate change. - We have developed links with Glasgow Life who granted us £400 to start a walking group. Not only that, one of our members underwent training as a walk leader and will be supported to lead walks to support active life. Women are reporting feeling better mentally due to the walking. Women also took part in cycling lessons delivered by Women on Wheels and that was followed by Cycling UK giving us a grant to purchase 10 bicycles under their Individual Ownership Fund. - Continued collaboration with Police Scotland with whom we have had several collaborations such as training their sergeants to understand how best to work with New Scots, funding and event at the DWP offices to support African women to get into jobs and finally we had an International Women’s Day event at Police Scotland premises. Our funders have enabled us to carry out a vast majority of activities through the unrestricted and restricted funds received. We have been able to maintain our weekly support group, which has been a lifeline for many of our members. Sharpen Her office is situated within walking distance of one of the asylum hotels in Glasgow. This has meant that many women living in that accommodation have taken to accessing our service, which is a safe space where they can unwind, relax, and make connections with other women. Many women also find that they can access peer support and information as they engage with our Tuesday group. This service has become a backbone of our work, once a woman engages with this group, they are able to learn more about what else is available to them through Sharpen Her. This can be direct support, whether emotional or a support letter for an application, or signposting to relevant agencies. During the year we have also been able to run a digital inclusion project funded by The Good Things Foundation. Virgin Money kindly offered their staff and premises to volunteer to offer digital support to our women on a fortnightly basis. We have seen women’s confidence in using computers increase and they are able to work at their own pace and according to their identified learning needs. We have been able to continue this digital support well after the funding is finished. We hope to continue as the need still exists. Within the same lines of digital support, the National Databank through Migrant Help facilitated the distribution on 20 mobile phones to some of our asylum-seeking women. We continue to run a weekly virtual support group where women come together to connect, learn, and interact. This year, this has been enhanced by the involvement of a student volunteer who has tirelessly facilitated structured sessions where more women are engaging and learning a lot. We have been able to streamline our communications beyond the WhatsApp group. We have a newsletter with which we communicate with our members which has resolved the challenge of information being lost amid the many messages on our Whatsapp group. We have also introduced signed-up membership, which means we are able to identify who our Bonafide members are amongst the 260 we see on the platform. We have also fostered integration by creating opportunities where women have accessed spaced which they have not been able to before. Women have been to the Tramway Museum, Willow Tea Rooms, Loch Lomond National Park, and the Red Bus Tour which enabled women to explore several places of interest in Glasgow. In true Sharpen Her fashion, we celebrated our 6[th] anniversary with more than 90 women and families coming together to mark the day. We invited a woman who has defied the odds to take a high-flying job in the financial sector. Using role models in this way has had an impact on women who may have otherwise lost hope and confidence due to the challenges faced as they navigate the systems on this country. The journey has not been without its challenges: - We need staff and volunteers to run the day-to-day operations of the organization - Our finances though stable have been challenged due to the current funding climate - We need to build capacity for those carrying out the work, especially in supporting the women. As we start a new year, we believe that these challenges will be resolved, and we can have more impact on the community. All in all, 2024-25 was a fruitful year and we are confident that the trajectory will stay on an upward trend. For: Chairperson. SHARPEN HER: THE AFRICAN WOMEN'S NETWORK (SHAWN) CHARITY NUMBER:SC050897 ece an paymen accoun For the perlod oi 2024 31 2025 Sectioi) A Statement of receipts and paymeiits Unr••trlctsd R••trtct•d fvndl nd• Expondabl• •ndoTh fund• to £ 1P•M￿n•￿t •ndowm•rt fvnd• to nMv••t £ Total fund• ¢urr•nt p•rlod Total lund• l••t p•rlod to n••r••t £ to nMv••t £ Al Recel DonaUon• Grants to n￿r•ll £ to n•*r••t £ 4708 24,730 4708 29.730 337 6,000 61 J77 RT A2 Recolpt8 from a•8et & Invèstmont #ales Prcteed8 from 881e ol Inv•atsn•nt8 Totsl rn¢•l)t4 29AJ8 34rt38 01,714 Expens•8 ral$lng act PJym•nt$ r•l•tlng dlro¢tly to ¢h•rlt4b Audil I Inrlepéndent examlnab'on Proparat5on of annual at¢ounts or lun 4,073 33111 43.093 A3 Sub totsl 4.473 29AJ8 33811 Section A Statement of receipts and payments Unr•strlct•d fund• R08trl¢t•d nd8 Expendable IPemianont Tt)tsl fund8 curr•ntp•rlod Total fiinds last porfod funds to n•4ro•t £ funds to n••r••t E to n•ar••t £ to nMr•*t £ to no•r•8t £ to n9aMt £ A4 Payment8 relatlng io a880t and Investment movoment8 urc ase8 0 xe a$so ub tolal rotalpaym•nt¥ 4472 29,438 3J.911 43.393 N•t rn¢•*t• / (p•ym•n(•) 627 027 8,321 AO Tr•n•fern to I (from) fund• SuTrlu• / (d•nctt) for 027 627 8,321 SC050897 Section B Ststement of balances Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Expendable endowment funds Pemianent Total funds endowment current funds nod to nearest Total funds last perlod Categorl68 Detalts to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest B1 Cash fund8 Cash and bank balances at start of year Surplus l (deflclt) shown on recelpts and payments account to nearest £ 767 5,667 28 627 527 8,321 a6 an of year (Agree balances wlth receipts and payments account(s)) an ance8 at en 5,887 6,961 8,349 Detsl Fund to whlch a8•et bglong• Market valuatlon to n84r08t £ La8t year to nearest £ B2 Inve•tsn8nt• Total Detal Fund to whlch a8•et belon Co•t {If avallable) to nearest £ Currontvalue (If avallable) to near08t £ La8t year to noarest £ B3 Other a888t8 Total Detall$ Fund to whlch Ilablllty rnlatO8 Amount due to nearost £ La8t year to nearest £ B4 Llabllltle8 Total Detsljy Fund to which Ilablllty relates Amountdue {estimate} to nearest £ Last year to nearest £ B5 CortfifiWVlPablllties Total Slgnèd by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees SIg￿tUre Print Nam• Date of approval 11111/2025 SC050897 Section C Notes lo the Accounts C1 N*urnand purposo of fund8 (may be &*edon 8nèlysis offvnds lasgow Council for the Voluntary sector funded the health aThdwellbeing workshops and ivilies for the women. CydirvJ UK funded the 1st batch of bike lessons and giving out f bikes to women and young people within the cJ)mmunty. The Impact Funding Partnets funded the anti-racism consultth.on events canied OErt. Sported Foundation nded the sporting activities for women. families and young people. Glasgow Children's oliday Scheme fund the children and their families summer activitie5. events and trip to Loch Lomond. Good things foundation funded the media and IT expenses of the rganisation. The Hyman RobeTSton funded the wellbeing wcrtshop organised for the omen. The Glasgow Walking Group fund received was for organising daily walk xercise for the women. The Robertson Trust FurKI was to organise workshop. rainings. events, volunteering expenses and pay accourrtant fee. Typts Of activ¢ty orpr0￿cl Bupportèd C2 Grnnt• Ho01th and W•llbo1 A¢U¥l eike leuon antt h•ndlng tsut of now blk to womgn and oun Gl*•9owcwn¢llfDTlh• v0￿0￿ry S•ctor Cycllng i Work•h • Ev•nt• and Tralnl AnUllrael•rn Ctywullatlon vlll GlMgtywChl￿ wlt Illl Hub Acllvadon I n'• H941th Wth• Tru•t Wom•n'# Walkl Grc Gla•gowW41WNg Iknp Shln•Y4)urLWt T4hlrt PurthaA• 140 29,73 Toi Ca• Tru•t•• r•mun•rnUon AuthOrfty￿ftthr¥thICh Cjb Tru4t•• rnmuo•r411ort. d•t•ll• Trn¥t•• •xp•n••* ¢omp*i• 4bl C4b Trust•• •xp•n•M- d•t•ll• CO Tr•n8*thn* Twlth ￿￿¥t••• •nd¢onn•¢t•d p•rnon• F￿0￿￿Tr￿ Wl SC050897 Additional analysi5 111 Analysls of recolpts and payments 1 DonaUon8 Exp•ndabl• Pwmirnrt Tot*1 Total lart fun funds p•rfod p•rfod to n•ar•rte to ft•w•st£ tone*r•at£ to noaro81 e to n•arMt £ fund D•¢homal Lttl Th• Unlty C•ntr• va￿￿19r0u￿ and Indfvklu• ton••re8te 4708 2 Grants Total Total ￿*t ¢urr•nt p•rfod to n•*r••tZ to n•thr••t £ fvnds to nmr••t£ fund• to n••￿tE Ql••gow Coun¢ll lor th• Valuot*y ¥xtor ¢ ¢lln UK Th• Rob•rt•on Tru•¢ Impxi Fundlng P4thw• Sportqd F•und4Uc*£nth 4Club• Gl••oow Chlldr•n'i Molld• Oood Thln Foundthn Th• Hym*n Rob•rtwn TvJ•t Glityow WalklRg Group 8¢otU*h Rqfvg•• Coun¢ $hln• VovrLlghtCrynmunlty Mlgrnnt H•fp 43• 4121 U27 T,1QO ¥1,122 T4111 141¥ 11.37T 3 Gross r•¢•lpt• fromoth•rch•rfl•lrt•4¢ll¥ltl•• Ixp•nd•bl• P•nn•n•rt Tot•1 nd• nd• Tot41 li*t p•rtod P•rfod to n••r••¢£ to n•ar••t £ fund• t•nMrn8te fvnd• to nMr••tt ton••r•¥te to n•ar•*e 4 P•ym•nts r•l•tlng dlrncdy to ¢h*rtt•bl• Tot•1 nth funds Tot*1 l• p•rtod p•rtod to n••r••te to n••ro¥t e lund• ion••r••¢É 4lk•purohaMd •nd hin¢•tt OIWc• Rwt t•nMr••t£ futtd• Pa¥m•nt toAeè•untsrt R•p•lrn and Alal*tsn•n¢• of Woth*hwi Ev•thi• •nd Stsff ¢0 S•lety ¢ompll4n¢• & kn•urmc• M•dl• IT Voltsnieer Expm8eA $p•rrtcn ¢hlldr•fi H4yA•tlvttl•• ••d Ev•m• P*ym•nttoCon•uttqnt• T•lqphon• Expm Trav￿ EXp*n￿ R•lrnbur••d R•fr•Jhm•rrt Adv•rt•nd 2,•10 31D 17 1.010 1.10 2,66• 1.310 821 rc4 34 Additional analysis121 8 Breakdown olunre8tylthd funds ¥J. lutiQ 4. nème Of Y¢ Td unre￿1¢￿ Donotbp)5 Gr•nl* JJ7 3,33 Pro¢eod• from ol ￿￿•S￿￿1rds Subtolal 4J37 nth P4ym•nts v•l•iing dlrylyto V73 4473 P4ym•nt•rn14tln9 kn••￿4￿d￿¥Wn•n¢ 44n N•1r•¢￿Pts1¢p•￿￿th•) Tran•f•rn to i If¢oml fun¢• 1104 Surplu81(d•ffelVlor& aturo a purpo1• o un SC050897 Additional analysis 131 1 8r•*kdown of r••trt•t•d fundb I4*Ji￿¢￿10￿ Counullforthi ¥d￿mIry hw •hlMYow fu ¢yolkngW( Sub 191 1.lQl 41,37T 48,371 24,7 from 4 •t&i io. 44J• f40 P4byn•n paym•￿ts r•l•tlngdlY•otlytooh•rft4bh •olvM•• 2471¢ .17T 14D Jn 10,100 P4ym•nt•r•liiinllloi*••t•Ddlnvwm• 14U ,Jn Pur¢h••••ofllx•¢ ••M PuraMwdirN••lmvrt• ioooo l.f 11D 247ao 48,177 Ti4n•f•rn tg1lfr•rnl lund• Iu•/(d•llglW lorrnr purpo•• Glasgow Councll for tho Voluntary s•ctor funded the h•alth and ￿lIbeIng work8hop• and actlvltl•s lor the wom•n. Cy¢llng UK funded the 1st batch of blke 108son$ and glvlng out of blked to womgn and young people wlthln th• communlty. The Impact Fundlng Partn•r• funded the antl-raclsm consultatlon events carrlad OUL Sported Foundatlon fvnded the 8POrtlng actlvltle8 for women, f¥mlll•s and young pgopl6. Glasgow Chlldren's Hollday S¢hem• fund the chlldren and thelr famlllo8 summer a¢tlvltle8, 8Vgnts and trlp to Loch Lomond. Good thlngs foundatlon funded the medla and IT expenses ofthe organlsatFon. The Hyman Roberston funded the w•llbelng workshop organls•d lor the womèn. The Glasgow Walklng Group fund rocolvod was for oryanlslng dally walk gxerclse for the women. The Robertson Trust Small Grant was used to organl$e workshop. tralnlngs, event8, voluntserlng expgn8e$ and pay accoul￿Trt fee. ||Independent examiner’s reporton the|accounts|**V2**
accounts|| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Report to the**
**trustees/members of**|Charity name
**SHARPEN HER: THE AFRICAN WOMEN'S NETWORK (SHAWN)**|||**)**| |**Registered charity**|**SC050897**|||| |**number**||||| |**On the accounts of the**|Period start date
Period end date|||| |**charity for the period**|Day
Month
Year
Day|Month|Year|| ||01
04
2024
**to**
31|03|2025|| |**Set out on pages**|(remember to include the page
numbers of additional sheets)|||| |||||| |**Respective**
**responsibilities of**
**trustees and examiner**|paration of the accounts in accordance
with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the
Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the
The charity's trustees are responsible for the pre|||| ||audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It|||| ||is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the|||| ||Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.|||| |**Basis of independent**|My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities|||| |examiner’s statement|Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the|||| ||accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with|||| ||those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the|||| ||accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The|||| ||procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit|||| ||and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.|||| |Independent examiner’s|In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that|||| |**statement**|disclosed on the attached page*]|||| ||1.
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the|||| ||requirements:|||| ||to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and|||| ||Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and|||| ||to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with|||| ||Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations|||| ||have not been met, or|||| 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. **Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** *Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the following page. ## **APPENDIX 3** ## **Disclosure section** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** **----- Start of picture text -----**
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