The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 2 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)".
Our Objectives, as set out in our Articles of Association, are:
- To provide a place of safe refuge and support to women and children who have suffered or are victims of domestic violence; and
- All other activities related and pursuant to the relief of poverty and distress amongst women through the provision of social housing and any associated amenities.
Award Winning Charity
In March 2022 BCWA was announced one of ten winners of the 2022 GSK Impact Award . The award recognises the work of our charity to promote health and wellbeing in our local community and BCWA were selected from over 350 applicants to receive this prestigious award, an unrestricted grant of £40,000 and a valuable opportunity to participate in development training facilitated by the King’s Fund.
The Need for Domestic Abuse Support Services
Domestic abuse kills two women every week in the UK, and 1 in every 4 women have experienced or experience abuse from their partners.
Data reported by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime shows an ongoing increase in domestic abuse offences with 97,401 offences reported in the rolling 12 months to March 2022. Despite easing of Covid-19 measures, this represents a 3% increase on the previous year. Looking at the last three years, the number of reported offences rose by 10% with 88,207 reported offences in the year ended March.
The trend for the London Borough of Croydon shows a similar trajectory with reported offences being reaching an all time high with 5,229 reported cases to end March 2022, up from 5,174 in 2020/21.
These statistics mean that Croydon has more reported domestic abuse offences than any other London borough and is ranked fifth by offences per 1000 population.
The London Borough of Bromley saw only a small decline in reported offences with 2,713 reported in the 12 months to end March 2022, however, conversely, the need for serviced has seen a further increase in the reporting year.
It is known that only a small proportion of victim/survivors report abuse to the police. According to information published by Women’s Aid Federation the Crime Survey of England & Wales (CSEW) data shows for the year ending March 2018, only 18% of women who had experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months reported the abuse to the police. Our own statistics reflect this with only 20% of women who accessed the Bromley based IDVA service in the 12 months to end September 2021 had reported domestic abuse to the police. Consequently, we can assume that the real number of domestic abuse offences in both Bromley and Croydon are significantly higher than statistics show.
Domestic abuse takes many forms. It includes any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional) between adults who are or who have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. It affects all ages, and most victims are women due the gendered nature of violence against women and girls. Approximately 95% of survivors report experiencing coercive control, which was recognised as an offence by the Serious Crime Act 2015.
BCWA recognises that there is no 'one size fits all' approach to domestic abuse and delivers servicers that are holistic, person-centred, trauma-informed and needs-led to ensure that all survivors receive the support they need.
We aim to provide high quality accommodation and community-based services to woman and children experiencing and escaping domestic abuse. We focus on providing tailored support and recognise that many victim/survivors experience a range of intersecting disadvantages including women from the BAME community and those with insecure immigration status. Our specialist services aim to alleviate the disproportionate barriers face by clients facing multiple disadvantages.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Covid-19 pandemic continued to affect BCWA and its clients throughout 2021/22. The consequences of lock downs that lasted in 2021 exposed vulnerable women and children to increased levels of abuse, control and isolation and made it difficult to seek help. With many services shut down or unavailable during lock downs, the inability to seek help has led to increased and prolonged levels of abuse for many survivors and had devastating effects on the mental health of many women.
The increase in abuse has seen a second year of huge demand on our services, which had already seen a 26% in the previous year. In 2021/22, BCWA supported a total of 4,529 women, children and men, a further 15% increase on the year to March 2021. This figure includes 2,092 adults that reached out to our support line, a non-judgemental advice, referrals and signposting service.
For a second year, the vast majority of this increase was seen in our community-based services, including our support line, outreach support, BAME and support for migrant women as well as a service for Japanese women.
Despite the huge and increasing need for support and advice through our support line and outreach service that together serve 53% of our clients, these services have attracted very little funding from statutory agencies or charitable trusts and foundation. Due to the overwhelming need for outreach support, seeking sustainable funding for these services remains our number one priority.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Refuge Based Services
The demand for refuge-based support remains high. We ran 9 refuges for women and their children that can support 54 women and up to 78 children at any given time.
109 women and 104 children stayed in our refuges during the year. This represents over 12% of all 997 women accommodated in refuges in London in 2020/21.
Typically, a woman stays in a refuge for six months. A specialist Refuge Support Officer will provide support for women around domestic abuse, physical and mental wellbeing, housing, benefit applications, education, training and employment, emotional support and signposting for any other issues relevant to each case.
Resettlement support and advice is an important part of the process, as well as helping women to manage budgets and plan their own lives. 95 women benefitted from support through this service.
Women in refuge often arrive severely traumatised, having suffered physical, emotional, mental and other forms of abuse with almost all of our service users also having experienced coercive or financial control. This leads to trauma, low self-esteem and severely impacts mental and often physical wellbeing. We provide women and their children with a bedroom and communal living areas. They share a kitchen and laundry facilities. All are safe and supported and provide a homely environment. Quality accommodation is important to help make women feel at home. In 2021/22 we provided specialist support to women with no recourse to public funds and those with complex support needs. A total of 30 families received specialist support, nearly 30% of the total number of women in refuge.
Children in Refuge
The majority of children living in abusive homes are aware of the abuse being perpetrated and will often hear it or see it going on. In households with children, 90% of the time children are either in the same room or next to the room where the abuse takes place. Being exposed to domestic abuse has a devastating impact on children and the effects can last for years.
Our specialist Child Support Workers, funded by Children in Need, alleviate the traumatic effects of domestic abuse through practical support and play activities with the children in our refuges. The Child Support Officers provide daily play sessions for pre-school children and those awaiting a school place. An after school/ homework club takes place twice a week and staff provide one to one support based on individual support needs.
During the school holidays, the Child Support Workers organise trips and activities including to local parks, swimming, arts and crafts sessions, day trips to the seaside, theme parks and other leisure and educational activities. We rely on Children in Need funding as well as donations from the local community to fund these activities, which are crucial to children in refuge and help mothers bond with their children and bring back a sense of enjoyment and normality. They are a vital part of the families' recovery process and help build new memories free from abuse and fear.
Safebeds Scheme
Safebeds is a service that allows Social Services Departments to place women quickly in our independent refuges, including those who have no recourse to public funds (''NRPF''). This enables us to help women who find themselves in distress, but who do not qualify for the normal support mechanisms that have been put in place for victims of domestic abuse. Safebeds provides temporary, safe accommodation for women and children who would otherwise be placed in expensive, unsuitable, unsafe and breakfast accommodation without specialist support.
Client Welfare
Many refuge clients come to refuge with short term, emergency needs, including emergency foods, clothing, travel for essential appointments etc. Often, they lack the funds to pay for these items due the financial abuse experienced and long delays in receiving benefits. BCWA fund-raise actively to cover these essential expenses and is grateful for the support received from the local community.
Community Outreach Services
BCWA offers community outreach support. It provides non-judgemental support and advice service with local knowledge and networks to refer and signpost women to the appropriate services in the community. Often this service provides a stepping-stone for women that enables them to engage with support and make that crucial first step away from an abusive relationship.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw a huge increase in women seeking help and the majority access support and advice through our helpline and outreach service. This remains significantly underfunded and under-resources and we will be working towards growing a sustainable service in the coming year.
Bromley VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) Services
During 2021/22 BCWA delivered Violence Against Women and Girls services commissioned by the London Borough of Bromley which supports all victims of domestic abuse living in Bromley. The service offering comprises:
Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop
A free and confidential weekly drop-in session. Representatives from BCWA, Bromley Housing Options, Local Solicitors, the Metropolitan Police and Victim Support attend. In response the the COVID-19 pandemic, this service was moved online to form a ‘virtual’ One Stop Shop. This has proven successful and has seen a further significant increase of 20% compared to the year before with 484 victim/survivors visiting the One Stop Shop in 2021/22.
Domestic Abuse Support Groups
BCWA's Support Groups for survivors of domestic abuse offer a broad overview of the psychological and emotional effects on women and their children who have lived with domestic abuse in any of its forms.
Women who have attended the programmes report an increased understanding of domestic abuse and ability to deal with abusive behaviour, understanding of the effects on children and increased self-esteem and confidence. Groups were delivered through online workshop. 253 women accessed group support in 2021/22. Online delivery allowed for more flexibility and has seen the same high number of women supported as the year before, which represents a 45% increase on pre-pandemic numbers.
IDSVA (Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Service)
The service supports and advocates for high-risk victims of domestic abuse in Bromley. Thanks to an increase in funding by the local authority, we were able to grow our team of ID(S)VAs from three to four. A total of 933 clients were referred to the service in 2021/22 with 768 being supported by the team and the remainder accessing alternative BCWA services more suited to their needs. The demand for this service remains high with number nearly doubled in the last two years when 429 women were supported by our IDVA team.
DRIVE Project
BCWA employs a further IDVA who supports women who have been referred through Bromley’s DRIVE Project for high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse. DRIVE works with abusers to safeguard victim/survivors and work closely with our IDVA to ensure a co-ordinated approach.
Breaking Down Barriers
This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and started in July 2016 for a total of 5 Years, ending in October 2021 after a brief extension was granted by the Fund following the pandemic. It worked towards remove barriers to accessing appropriate support for women and girls who have experienced domestic abuse.
The project provided specialised support to women with complex and multiple needs, those with no recourse to public funds and young women and girls. This work has led to a significant increase in women with NRPF and complex support needs being supported in our refuges. 10 women with NRPF and 20 women with complex needs were supported in our refuges in our refuges, representing nearly 30% of all women supported in refuge.
The project also seeks to improve the community-based response to domestic abuse by raising awareness within the general population in our local area. This work is vital to ensure survivors receive the right support and advice as early on in their journey.
The work with young people saw a rise in demand with young people suffering disproportionately through the pandemic and a particular increase in online abuse. Due to the high need and risk to this client group, BCWA managed to keep the work going after the funding end date resulting in 122 young people being supported by this service. A bid for funding to the National Lottery Community Fund was successful and we will be able to grow and develop the work in 2022/23.
Young Londoners Fund
A grant from the Mayor of London’s Young Londoner’s fund saw dedicated Young People's Engagement Officer work with young girls and boys in schools and other youth settings to prevent abuse and support those that have already experienced domestic abuse. Despite the pandemic, staff were able to reach 3260 young people through one off awareness sessions and workshops on healthy/unhealthy relationships. This project came to an end in December 2021, but the engagement work will continue in 2022/23 thanks to a generous grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Support for Women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
This project continued through 2021/22 across Bromley and Croydon. It supports women to remove barriers to support and helps them to regularise their immigration status to access public funds, which in turn will allow them to access refuge support.
111 women accessed this service in 2021/22. Due to the need for more intense work, we are hoping to expand on this service in the coming year including registering with the for the Commissioning of Immigration Services (OISC), to allow us to provide immigration advice to clients.
BAME Support
In 2021/22 we delivered support for the Croydon BAME community, funded by the London Borough of Croydon. Based on a pilot run in 2018/19, the groups aim to meet the needs of BAME survivors of domestic abuse. It also placed the experience of BAME women and girls firmly within a context of intersection inequalities, where the abuse experience is not simply seen as a consequence of gender inequality, but a range of intersecting disadvantage, discrimination and racism.
During the reporting year, this service supported 88 women in both group and one to one support, a 35% increase on the client numbers supported in the first year of the project.
Support for Japanese Citizens
Since 2019, BCWA has supported Japanese survivors of domestic abuse living in the UK. The Japanese Foreign Ministry and the Japanese Embassy London recognised the difficulties experienced by the Japanese citizens who become victims of domestic abuse abroad and the need to provide tailored services. Japanese citizens are often unaware of their rights in relation to domestic abuse, experience a language barrier as well as having no access to benefits (NRPF). A trained outreach worker supports and advises clients in their mother tongue and signposts to services across the UK. We have seen an increase in need for this service with 47 women accessing support, a 31% rise compared with the previous year.
IRIS Programme
In 2020, BCWA was commissioned by IRISi with funding from the VRU, to deliver the IRIS project in Croydon in partnership with the Croydon Family Justice Centre. Despite the challenging circumstances of implementing this service at the start and during the pandemic, the project received further funding to continue through 2021/22 and successfully delivered the IRIS model to GP surgeries in Croydon. We received 42 referrals from trained GP practices in 2021/22. Following this successful pilot, BCWA is working with Croydon based Southwest London Integrated Care Systems to seek further funding directly from ICS to continue delivery in 2022.
Work in Primary Schools
As nearly one in every three women suffer some form of domestic abuse in their lifetime, each primary school class will have children who have some experience of abuse in the home. We continue to work with schools to offer 'Helping Hands' a support programme developed by Northern Irish Women's Aid. This runs over 6 weeks in the children's school to increase children's understanding of feeling safe, learning to cope with difficult feelings and emotions and to explore and promote behaviours, which will contribute to a safe environment.
We supported 40 children in 7 schools in 2021/22. Feedback from schools showed improved behaviour, confidence and self-esteem of the children who participated in the groups. Children enjoyed groups and fed back that they now understand how to handle negative emotions and where to seek support when they need it.
Partnership working
BCWA works closely with our partner organisations including the London Borough of Bromley and the London Borough of Croydon, specifically with the Croydon Family Justice Centre. We participate in VAWG Forums, Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (''MARAC''), Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum, Child Protection Conferences and the Voluntary Sector Strategic Network. We work with Adult and Children's Services, Children Centres, Victim Support, Citizens Advice Bureau, our registered social landlords, (Optivo, Hyde and A2 Dominion) and the Community Safety Unit.
BCWA has also built strong working relationships with local health care providers, schools, mental health teams, BDAS and other voluntary organisations, such as Bromley Brighter Beginnings and food banks. Thanks to generous donations by the community and local faith groups, BCWA can offer basic essentials to get women through one of the most traumatic experiences that they and their children are ever likely to encounter.
The work of BCWA would not be possible without the financial and other support from Bromley and Croydon councils, DLUCH (formerly MHCLG), the National Lottery Community Fund, Children in Need, The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (''MOPAC''), the Ministry of Justice and the London Community Foundation and very generous donations by other trusts, community organisations and individuals and businesses. BCWA is affiliated to Women's Aid Federation England and attends or assists with events and networking through this affiliation.
In January 2019 BCWA was unconditionally awarded the Women’s Aid Federation’s Quality Mark.
Registration with the Regulator for Social Housing
In 2022 BCWA became registered with the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) and a member of the National Housing Federation. This will enable BCWA to work pro-actively to secure a sustainable accommodation service for women and children fleeing domestic abuse building on our long history of expertise in housing and supporting our clients in refuge accommodation.
BCWA is working with Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) towards developing supported move-on accommodation for women leaving refuge with ongoing support needs.
Public benefit
By providing the services described above, BCWA is fulfilling the Public Benefit requirements of being a registered charity. The work that we do helps to minimise the impact of domestic abuse on families in Bromley and Croydon and beyond by supporting and empowering women to move forward with their lives. If we were unable to provide these services, not only would risk of death and serious injury increase dramatically, women would need to rely heavily on hard pressed statutory services and other service providers to tackle the emotional, social and resource costs involved in the fallout of unsupported domestic abuse.
Women experiencing domestic abuse are significantly more likely to experience mental health issues, substance misuse as consequences of the abuse experienced, and thus significant dependence on health and other support services. Children and young people witnessing domestic abuse have an increased risk of a negative impact on their mental and physical wellbeing and development, thus placing a greater burden on public services such as schools, the police, social services and criminal justice system. There is a a disproportionate prevalence of domestic abuse in child protection cases and children are more likely to perform badly at school, suffer mental health and other issues as children and in later life
Personnel
BCWA can only function because of the combined effort staff, volunteers and Trustees. The Trustees would like to put on record their appreciation for the dedicated work of our staff and volunteers.
We have recruited staff with a wide range of experience and together they make up a team that is greater than the sum of its individual parts because of their commitment to, and expertise in, preventing domestic violence and abuse, helping those who experience it survive and build a better life. We continue to provide a comprehensive training programme to ensure ongoing staff development and the delivery of a professional, high-quality service.
Our volunteers are crucial to the delivery of our community and refuge-based services, as well as helping with administrative work, fundraising, coordinating donation and assisting with resettlement. We greatly value the hard work and commitment of a number of social work students that come to BCWA for placement work during their studies and are highly valued members of the team providing support to women in refuge and those contacting our support line.
The Charity has reviewed its reserves policy for 2022/23 and Trustees consider that reserves levels should be held at a level that enables it to withstand a fluctuation in funding, cope with unforeseen demand and ensure good maintenance of its properties.
The primary function of the reserves (contingency fund) is to enable BCWA to survive in the event of unforeseen financial problems for a length of time sufficient to enable those problems to be resolved. The Board has considered individual projects and income sources and designated an amount that will enable the Charity to either wind up services or continue to run for a period of 6 months until further funding has been secured. Due to the unique nature of our services and responsibilities to both services users and social landlords and the management and maintenance of our own property, a contingency fund of £393,425 is considered necessary by the Trustees to cover the following:
• Working Capital to cover delays in funding receipts (£293,425).
• Potential loss of rental income (£50,000) This would allow the charity to continue operating at a loss whilst a new source of income is secured.
• Potential building maintenance and risk management costs to the freehold property not covered by insurance (£50,000)
At 31 March 2022, the amount held at bank was £715,060. This will allow the organisation to withstand short term fluctuations in funding.
Income and Expenditure
Bromley & Croydon Women's Aid is funded from three major sources: -
• Rent and service charge income from refuge accommodation.
• Statutory funding in the form of a contract for refuge support services with Bromley Council, a contract for the delivery of VAWG services and funding from DLUHC through Croydon Council.
• Charitable income from grant-giving bodies including National Lottery Community Fund, Children in Need, the London Community Foundation, Barclays 100 x 100 Fund and other trusts and foundations, as well as churches, community groups, businesses in Bromley and donations from private individuals.
Additionally, London Community Response Wave 5 provided valuable support through the second year of the pandemic.
Properties purchased in 2012 and 2017 housing two independent refuges will help ensure organisational sustainability.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Risks are prioritised on a risk register and are reviewed annually.
Appropriate systems and procedures have been put in place to manage the risks facing BCWA. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for the authorisation of all transactions. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health, security and safety of clients, staff, volunteers and visitors.
Appropriate insurance cover is in place.
BCWA has seen an increased demand on its services in 2021/22, believed to be due to the rise in domestic abuse during the pandemic as well as the increase in publicity and public awareness of domestic abuse. This shows that the need for services has far from diminished. A lack of wrap around support services during the pandemic and inherent isolation of victims of domestic abuse have led to a huge demand for mental health support for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. A grant from Barclay’s Covid Response Fund has allowed us to develop therapeutic services for women and will see a free counselling service being implemented in 2022.
We are working with Social and Sustainable Capital to invest in move-on accommodation, allowing women and children to access longer term supported housing when leaving emergency refuges and thereby freeing up emergency capacity and minimising the number of times women have to move following a stay in refuge.
BCWA has recognised the importance of further diversifying its income base and will continue to fundraise to develop services and sustain existing provision.
Service development will focus on providing holistic, person-centred service, considering specific needs of service users.
Priorities for 2022/23 and beyond are:
Expand accommodation-based services to provide move-on accommodation.
Secure funding to expand our community-based services to cope with increase in demand
Increase provision of prevention and early intervention services for children and young people due to increasing demand for support
Increased capacity for support line, outreach and IDVA support due to vastly increased need.
Secure funding to make provision of therapeutic counselling service sustainable
The charity is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Articles of Association dated 27 January 2016. In 1975, it was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The Charity's Trustees updated its Articles of Association in September 2019 to meet current practice. The charity is to be administered by no less than four trustees but shall not be subject to any maximum. In the event of the company being wound up every member is required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
BCWA welcomes women to the Board who have the skills, dedication, enthusiasm, commitment to the ethos and aims of BCWA, to take overall responsibility for the organisation. Board members are Trustees of the charity and are Directors of the Company. BCWA actively encourages and facilitates representation and participation at Board level by survivors of domestic abuse including former service users.
When appropriate, we advertise for Board members in a number of ways including social media and other relevant websites and newsletter. We also use our contacts within the voluntary sector to make the opportunities known so as to foster equality of opportunity.
Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of three years. Following this, they may stand for re-election.
BCWA has a Board of ten members who meet 6 times a year and who are responsible for the charity's overall management and strategic direction. The Board members are drawn from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to our work and from survivors of violence against women and girls whose insight and motivation comes directly from their experience.
The Board is made up of volunteers who give their time to attend meetings and support the activities of the organisation. They and the dedicated staff and operational volunteers are essential to the ongoing success of BCWA. As mentioned above, we are extremely grateful to all of them for their invaluable contribution, which underpins our ability to provide much needed services to those that need it most in our communities.
Day-to-day responsibility is delegated to the CEO who is responsible for ensuring that BCWA delivers high quality services, meets contractual obligations and conditions of grant makers. The CEO manages activities with the staff team who deliver services to clients including those living in our nine refuges. The CEO maintains an organisational service improvement, quality systems and staff training plan which ensures that staff receive the training relevant to their role, needs of service users, contractual obligations and to ensure the charity meets its objectives. We purposely set the bar high.
An employed Finance Officer manages BCWA’s account, providing regular management accounts to SMT and Trustees, ensuring that the charity has appropriate arrangement for sound financial management, best practice and that the key performance indicators in relation to financial management are met.
All prospective Board Members receive information about their legal obligations under Charity Law and Company Law. They also receive information regarding BCWA including the most recent annual report and audited accounts, and copies of all policies and procedures. They meet with the charity's CEO who provides an induction which included training on key policies (including diversity and inclusion, confidentiality, complaints, whistle blowing, financial regulations, risk assessments and DBS Checks) a tour of BCWA sites and meetings with staff and service users.
Board members are encouraged to attend relevant training in area such a governance, human resource management, and financial management, and contractual compliance. The cost of this training is met by the charity
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Fawley Judge & Easton be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid Limited (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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 for 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.
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.
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 contained within the annual report. 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 this gives rise to 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.
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:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees' r eport; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the s tatement of Trustees' r esponsibilities, the Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, 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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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 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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below .
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 391 of the Companies Act 2014. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members 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 company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Fawley Judge & Easton 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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 10 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4HJ, England.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling , which is the functional currency of the charity . Monetary a mounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
All expenditure is recognised once there is legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs can not be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities .
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any ) .
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity 's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future p aymen ts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity ’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Provisions are recognised when the charity has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision i s measured at present value , the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Young Londoners
Bromley Council Project
Japanese Outreach Fund
Rental Income
Young Londoners
Housing Services and Support
Bromley Council Project
Japanese Outreach Fund
Rental Income
Charitable Expenditure
Charitable Expenditure
Housing management and maintenance
Subcontracts
Staff Training
Staff Welfare
Recruitment
Other Housing Services
Travel and Subsistence
Advertising, Printing and Stationery
Audit Fees
Accountancy
Voluntary Expenses
Bank Charges and Interest
Legal & Professional
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The long-term loans are secured by fixed charges over all the properties owned by Bromley and Croydon Womens Aid Limited.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2021 - none) .