our annual report, 2014-2015

Charity no. 1121174
ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
Women speaking up for women
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Knitting the solidarity quilt at the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Contents
Vision and mission ........................................................................................... 3
Key achievements ............................................................................................ 4
What they said ................................................................................................. 7
Director’s report .............................................................................................. 8
Trustees’ report ............................................................................................. 19
Legal and administrative details ..................................................................... 27
Financial statements and independent examiner’s report
for the year ended 31 March 2015 ................................................................. 28
Our vision is a society in which women’s human rights are respected and
in which they are safe from persecution.
Our mission is to ensure that women and children seeking asylum in the UK are
treated with justice and dignity.
Our purpose is to challenge the injustices experienced by women and children
who have sought asylum in the UK. We aim to empower women who seek
refuge here to speak for themselves wherever possible and to use the media,
public events and lobbying opportunities to communicate their experiences.
Our values:
 We believe that women and children seeking refuge here are entitled to
human rights and to be treated with dignity and respect.
 We believe that these women and children deserve a fair hearing by
the public, media and policy makers.
 We believe that these women and children should be empowered to tell
their stories.
 We want to work in partnership with existing organisations in the refugee
sector, the women’s sector, and the human rights sector, adding value to
their work rather than replicating it.
 We aim to work in creative ways to communicate effectively to different
audiences.
We aim to create a bridge from the least powerful women in our society
to the more powerful.
3
Our key achievements
for the year ended 31 March 2015
This year Women for Refugee Women continued our campaign against the
detention of women who seek asylum in the UK, and worked at the grassroots
to support women who have sought asylum and to enable them to become
effective advocates.
 In January 2015 we published shocking new evidence that women who are
detained in Yarl’s Wood are denied dignity and privacy in Yarl’s Wood. Our
report I Am Human laid out that most of the women we spoke to who were
detained had been watched in intimate situations by male staff while in
detention. Many were also searched by men, and these intrusions made
them feel ashamed, angry and scared.
 This report was launched at a major National Refugee Women’s Conference
we organised in London. More than 100 women who have sought asylum
in the UK attended, from London, Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow,
Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and other cities. Refugee speakers included
Meltem Avcil, Zrinka Bralo, Beatrice Botomani and Maimuna Jawo. They
were joined by supporters including activists Nimco Ali and Lucy-Anne
Holmes; politicians Stella Creasy and Richard Fuller, and many others.
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
Beatrice Botomani and Nimco Ali at the National Refugee Women’s Conference
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 The report was covered throughout the media, including the Independent,
the Guardian, BBC’s World at One and Channel 4 News. During this period
Women for Refugee Women also placed articles in many other mainstream
media, including the Telegraph, Newsweek, and BBC Woman’s Hour. The
Set Her Free campaign was chosen as the New Statesman Christmas
campaign and we worked with Channel 4 News on an influential undercover
investigation into Yarl’s Wood.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Jade Amoli-Jackson pointing to Angelina Jolie’s message on the solidarity quilt
 Our partnership with the local Women’s Institute led to us taking our
solidarity quilt to the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted by
Angelina Jolie and William Hague. Angelina Jolie visited our stand, spoke to
us at length and wrote a message of solidarity for the quilt: ‘We love and
support you. We admire your strength.’
 The London Refugee Women’s Forum’s members took part in many
speaking engagements at conferences, universities and other events, and
developed a performance poem which was performed at the Labour Party
Conference Fringe, at the Change:How? conference organised by Compass
and at a comedy night with Shazia Mirza, Kate Smurthwaite and Suzy
Bennett.
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 Women Asylum Seekers Together London remained a safe space where
women who have sought asylum can learn English and support one
another, with around 45 women coming to the group each week. The
members of Women Asylum Seekers Together London started a great
partnership with Muf Art & Architecture at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
 Online, the campaign grew in influence. Meltem Avcil’s petition to end the
detention of refugee women grew to over 80,000 signatures and we
released a short film on Youtube in which actress Romola Garai spoke about
her visit to Yarl’s Wood which gained over 1000 views.
 We worked with a number of politicians from both houses of Parliament
during this period to ensure continued debate about the situation of
women in detention. We brought evidence to the Parliamentary Detention
Inquiry, to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into violence
against women and girls, and to the Bedford Council inquiry into healthcare
at Yarl’s Wood.
 In response to our lobbying, in December 2014 Labour pledged they would
end the detention of survivors of sexual violence and trafficking and ensure
an independent investigation into Yarl’s Wood. In February 2015 Home
Secretary Theresa May announced a review of the welfare of vulnerable
people in detention.
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
WAST members at the Women for Refugee Women Conference in January 2015
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Photo: Aliya Mirza
What they said:
 Angelina Jolie, June 2014 at
the End Sexual Violence in
Conflict Summit:
‘We love and support you.
We admire your strength.’
 Stella Creasy, Labour MP,
Angelina Jolie’s message of support
March 2015:
‘Labour's pledge to act on Yarl’s Wood. Thank you to Women for Refugee
Women for all their work to highlight the need for action! #proud.’
 Lord Bates, the spokesperson on immigration for the government in the
House of Lords, March 2015:
‘There was also the report by Women for Refugee Women, which I have
read, about the daily experiences of people in that system. I think that one
would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the stories that one
hears.’
 Beatrice Botomani, founder of Why Refugee Women and ex-detainee, on
the National Refugee Women’s Conference:
‘I was more than happy to be in that conference. My workshop had 44
participants who were blazing hot, saying something has to be done.
You must be very proud of yourselves in Women for Refugee Women.
It was a brilliant place to be and to bring all those detention victims in one
place is the best thing to do.’
 Helen Lewis, editor of the New Statesman online on choosing Set Her Free
as their Christmas campaign:
‘It is shocking that women who have often experienced sexual violence are
locked up indefinitely… and the work of Women for Refugee Women has
always foregrounded the words of those who have been through this
process.’
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Director’s Report
for the year ended 31 March 2015
Women for Refugee Women challenges the injustices experienced by women
who are seeking asylum. We work closely with refugee women to tell their
stories and to try to move towards a fairer asylum process. This year we
continued our Set Her Free campaign against the detention of women who
have come to the UK seeking sanctuary.
1. The Set Her Free campaign grows
Our campaign against the detention of women who seek asylum in the UK aims
to enable the voices of women themselves to be heard and to put forward
straightforward recommendations for reform. It was launched in January 2014
and continues to go from strength to strength.
In January 2015 we published our new report, I am Human, which looks closely
at the experiences of women in Yarl’s Wood detention centre. We found that
of the 38 women we spoke to who were recently
or currently detained 33 said that they had been
watched by male staff while in Yarl’s Wood in
intimate situations such as on the toilet, in the
shower, in bed, or while dressing. They also told
us about being searched by men or being
watched by men while they were searched by
women. Of the 33 who were watched by men in
intimate situations, 31 said this made them
uncomfortable, 27 said they felt ashamed and 27
said they felt scared. Most of the women we
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spoke to were survivors of rape, sexual violence and other torture. Half of the
women we spoke to were on suicide watch in Yarl’s Wood.
This report was put together with the participation and assistance of a number
of organisations, including Women Asylum Seekers Together London, Women
Asylum Seekers Together Manchester, the London Refugee Women’s Forum,
Embrace Stoke-on-Trent, Women in Hope Birmingham, and Why Refugee
Women Bradford.
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
WAST Manchester performing at the National Refugee Women’s Conference
On 14 January 2015 the report was launched at a huge conference in London,
with over 100 women who had sought asylum from all over the UK and over
100 supporters. Among the speakers were Meltem Avcil, founder of the Set
Her Free petition; Zrinka Bralo of the Migrant and Refugee Communities
Forum; Nimco Ali, campaigner against FGM; Kajal Odedra of Change.org,
Beatrice Botomani, the founder of Why Refugee Women; Julia Hobsbawm,
professor of networking, and politicians Stella Creasy MP and Richard Fuller
MP. It was a day full of energy, ideas and hope. One of the key aims to emerge
from the conference was a national protest at Yarl’s Wood itself, which we
pledged to work towards.
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Photo: Camilla Greenwell
Stella Creasy MP and Richard Fuller MP speaking at the National Refugee Women’s Conference
Our partnership with our local Women’s Institute, the Shoreditch Sisters,
continued with further activities around the solidarity quilt, a beautiful knitted
quilt made by Women’s Institute members and refugee women to show
solidarity with women in Yarl’s Wood. This quilt had been knitted together,
and members of the public had stitched messages for it, at the Women of the
World festival 2014. In this year we took it to Yarl’s Wood detention centre for
Easter 2014, with the Women’s Institute, so that women in Yarl’s Wood could
see the messages and understand that they are not forgotten.
Photo: Anja Beinroth
Shoreditch Sisters Lauren and Rachel proudly holding up the finished solidarity quilt
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In June the Set Her Free campaign went to the Summit to End Sexual Violence
in Conflict, organised by William Hague and Angelina Jolie. We took with us the
solidarity quilt and invited members of the public to join us in knitting a smaller
quilt for Angelina Jolie. On the first day of the Summit William Hague and
Angelina Jolie stopped at our stand and talked at length to members of the
London Refugee Women’s Forum, Jade Amoli-Jackson and Rahela Sidiqi.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Left to right: Jade Amoli-Jackson - London Refugee Women’s Forum Secretary, Laura Mosedale,
Natasha Walter and Angelina Jolie at the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
Angelina Jolie then wrote a message for the quilt. It says: ‘We love and support
you. We admire your strength.’
We also organised a packed out fringe event at the Summit, at which Juliet
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Stevenson and David Beames
read a new testimony play,
I am Here, and Shami Chakrabarti, Meltem Avcil and Jade
Amoli-Jackson spoke on the
panel.
The
aim
of
our
participation in the Summit
was to remind people that
Left to right: Juliet Stevenson, Natasha Walter, Shami Chakrabarti
speaking at the Summit fringe event
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while it is important to work on sexual violence in conflict in the countries
where this occurs, women who cross borders for safety from sexual violence
also need protection.
The quilt then returned to the Women of the World festival in March 2015
where members of the public were asked to write their own messages on
postcards to be sent to the Home Secretary, Theresa May.
2. Getting the word out
The I Am Human report and launch was covered throughout the media,
including the Guardian, the Independent, BBC World at One and Channel 4
News. Jackie Long of Channel 4 News said, ‘Today a report says that asylum
seekers held in detention centres feel humiliated by male staff who they
accuse of monitoring them while they are dressing, showering and even using
the toilet.’
Over this year we also placed stories in many other outlets including Vogue
magazine, Newsweek, the Telegraph and BBC Woman’s Hour. The solidarity
quilt’s journey to the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict was covered by
the London Evening Standard, the Guardian, the Telegraph online, and by CNN
and ITN. The Evening Standard’s Susannah Butter said that the quilt was
‘Colourful, pretty, with a powerful political message.’ In December 2014 the
Set Her Free campaign was chosen as the New Statesman Christmas campaign.
In March 2015 we worked with Channel 4 News on an undercover
investigation into Yarl’s Wood detention centre. We introduced the Channel 4
News team to a woman who had recently been released from Yarl’s Wood who
was able to talk about her experiences. We also went with the Guardian
journalist Amelia Gentleman to Yarl’s Wood, and enabled her to write an indepth article about her visit.
Online, the campaign also went from strength to strength. We now have nearly
10,000 followers on Twitter and Facebook and Meltem Avcil’s petition for the
Set Her Free campaign reached over 80,000 signatures. In December Meltem
won the Liberty Human Rights Young Campaigner award, presented to her at
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the Queen Elizabeth Hall by Doreen Lawrence. Liberty said, ‘With more than
50,000 signatures on her petition, Meltem continues to bring hope to the
thousands locked up without crime or cause.’
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Left to right: Shami Chakrabarti, Tryness, Meltem Avcil and Jade Amoli-Jackson at the Summit to End Sexual
Violence in Conflict
We sent regular newsletters to over 2000 supporters, and found that they took
up suggestions for actions and events enthusiastically. We released a new
short film on YouTube in which actress Romola Garai spoke about her visit to
Yarl’s Wood, which gained over 1000 views. Romola described how upsetting it
was to visit a survivor of sexual violence who did not know why she had been
detained or how long she would be held in Yarl’s Wood. Romola said: ‘I was
really struck by the pointlessness of detention, the enormous waste of money
and the fact that women who are not going to abscond because they want to
be part of the system, are imprisoned.’
3. Building at the grassroots
We continued to support two grassroots groups of women who have sought
asylum in London. Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) London continued
to provide a safe space for women to learn English, have lunch and support
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one another. During this period an average 50 women came to the weekly
meetings, supported by 6-9 volunteers.
The WAST London management committee has gone from strength to strength
this year. There are eight women who attend regular meetings and participate
fully in helping to shape the future of the WAST group. They organised a
wonderful Christmas party which was attended by more than 60 women. The
Christmas party was supported by a number of women’s magazines, including
Grazia, Stylist, Harpers Bazaar and Vogue, who sent in beauty products as
Christmas gifts.
We also support the London Refugee Women’s Forum, a smaller group of
women who meet to campaign and advocate for the issues they care about.
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
Members spoke at many events,
including at the National Refugee
Women’s
Conference,
the
Summit to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict, the Cambridge Women
of the World festival, University
College London, and a post-show
discussion at Southwark Playhouse.
The Forum and members of WAST
London developed a performance
poem over the summer in 2014
over an eight week period.
The poetry workshops helped
some women to gain confidence
and empowered them to speak
WRW Trustee and Chair of London Refugee Women’s
Forum Rahela Sidiqi speaking at the National Refugee
Women’s Conference
about their experiences through
performance art. The poem was first shown at a huge meeting organised by
Movement for Change which opened the Labour Party conference fringe in the
presence of MPs including Yvette Cooper, Rachel Reeves and Douglas
Alexander. It was a very exciting day, as we took a coach from London to
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Manchester, with the performers as well as 20 other WAST members who
wanted to support them. One of the audience members after the conference
informed us that this was ‘one of the most important issues and the most
moving out of all the other issues presented on the day’.
Members of the Forum also went on to perform the poem at a comedy night
with Shazia Mirza in London, and at a conference on political change organised
by Compass.
Photo: Marchu Girma
Members of Women Asylum Seekers Together London enjoying the Norfolk seaside
In March 2015 a group of refugee women benefited from an offer of a free
holiday from the Landmark Trust, for a 4-day stay in Norfolk. Our grassroots
co-ordinator Marchu Girma took five women on this short break in the Norfolk
countryside, and local supporters also showed their generosity with donations
of cake, beauty treatments and visits. The refugee women who came to
Norfolk hadn’t been on a holiday for a long time and were keen to find time
just to relax. One of the women kept pointing out that when she usually goes
to bed, she sleeps listening to the sound of cars and sirens, but in the
countryside she was amazed how quiet it was.
We worked with groups throughout the UK during this period, particularly
Women Asylum Seekers Together Manchester, Hope Projects Birmingham,
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Embrace in Stoke-on-Trent and Why Refugee Women in Bradford. All these
organisations supported our work on the I am Human report and came to the
National Refugee Women’s Conference to launch it in London in January 2015.
Many of the groups ran workshops including Beatrice Botomani from Why
Refugee Women in Bradford, who said: ‘I was more than happy to be in that
conference. My workshop had 44 participants who were blazing hot, saying
something has to be done. I got a lot of positive feedback on how the
workshop went. I found the Facebook and Twitter discussions were so great.’
4. Solidarity and sisterhood
We were glad to continue our partnerships with other organisations fighting
for social justice during this period. The solidarity quilt partnership with the
Shoreditch Sisters branch of the Women’s Institute engaged new audiences
and was a wonderful way of showing the growing support for women in Yarl’s
Wood. Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty spoke on many occasions alongside us,
including at the Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Organisations
including Movement for Change, Compass and the Women of the World
festivals invited us to speak at their events.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Shoreditch Sisters joining Women for Refugee Women in knitting the solidarity quilt
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In December 2014 we set up a partnership with Who Made Your Pants,
a co-operative which makes knickers ethically in the UK with refugee women.
For one day only customers who ordered pants could send a pair half price
with a message to women in Yarl’s Wood. This initiative really took off on
social media and was covered in the Guardian by Hadley Freeman. Becky John
of Who Made Your Pants said: ‘It can be so hard to know what to do to help
women in need – but this one thing is something so useful, so practical – and
so personal. We genuinely hope it will go some way to helping women to feel a
bit more cared about. We know that a woman who was trafficked into the UK,
and who was then taken into detention in November 2014, specifically asked
for pants. We are so glad to be able to help her.’
We also worked closely with the feminist choir, Lips Choir, who raised money
for Women Asylum Seekers Together London at their Christmas concert, and
with individual comedians Shazia Mirza, Suzy Bennett and Kate Smurthwaite
who put on a comedy evening for us at the Old Church in Stoke Newington.
5. Reaching Parliament
During this year we worked through many channels to seek reform of
detention policy. Although we did not see concrete policy change, we saw an
improvement in the responses of politicians and growing interest in this issue
across the political spectrum.
We worked with the Parliamentary Detention Inquiry launched by Sarah
Teather MP and the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Migration and on
Refugees in 2014. Meltem Avcil spoke at the launch, and we submitted written
evidence and also brought two women who had been in detention to speak at
the first evidence session. At this evidence session ex-detainee and London
Refugee Women’s Forum member Maimuna Jawo spoke about the experience
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of being on suicide watch in Yarl’s Wood, telling the inquiry: ‘I think they made
it to put you under even more mental torture ... anybody who is on suicide
watch has sexual harassment in Yarl’s Wood, because those male guards they
sit in there watching you at night, sleeping and being naked.’
The final report of the inquiry, published in March 2015, cited our research
that a significant proportion of asylum-seeking women in detention have
experienced rape or sexual violence, and highlighted that ‘the nature of
detention is often particularly distressing for women’. It adopted our
recommendations on women in detention, setting out that gender-specific
standards should be introduced in detention, and that pregnant women and
survivors of rape and sexual violence should never be detained.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Photo:
Aliya
Mirza
Members of London Refugee Women’s Forum supporting the Parliamentary Inquiry into detention
We brought evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into
violence against women and girls in October 2014 and were quoted in the final
report, which set out significant concerns about the use of detention for
survivors of gender-based violence and focused particularly on the routing of
these women into the Detained Fast Track.
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We also brought evidence to Bedford Council’s inquiry into healthcare at Yarl’s
Wood in October 2014. A member of our network who had been detained in
Yarl’s Wood told the inquiry panel about the poor healthcare she had
experienced and how male guards had accompanied her to a hospital
appointment during her detention. In March 2015, a Full Council motion was
passed setting out that pregnant women and survivors of torture should never
be detained, and that a 28-day time limit on detention should be introduced.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
Members of the London Refugee Women's Forum
The publication of our report I am Human led to real responses from the
government and across the political spectrum. After discussions with us, the
Labour Party included in its election manifesto pledges to end the detention of
survivors of sexual violence and torture and pregnant women, and to
commission an independent investigation into Yarl’s Wood, as well as a pledge
for a time limit on detention.
Just under a month after the publication of I am Human, Home Secretary
Theresa May announced an independent review of the welfare of vulnerable
people in immigration detention, to be conducted by Stephen Shaw. Following
a question from Baroness Lister in the House of Lords, Lord Bates (the
government spokesperson on immigration in the Lords) confirmed that the
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review would ‘pay particular attention to vulnerable individuals, including
looking at the issues of pregnancy, disability and victims of rape and violence.’
Following a question from Baroness Bakewell in the House of Lords, Lord Bates
said that he had read I am Human ‘very carefully’ and said that the proportion
of female staff in Yarl’s Wood was being increased from 40% to 60%.
During another debate in March, Lord Bates said: ‘I have to say that this is a
story which is not going to go away… there is also the work being done for
women refugees, which raises a great deal of concern. So we are very
conscious that there is a lot of evidence building, and pressure is mounting on
Serco. We are very much on their case and watching them like a hawk.’
Photo: Abbie Traylor-Smith
Campaigners outside Parliament. Left to right: Hana Ayele, Lydia Besong, Laura Bates, Natasha Walter,
Romola Garai, Mavis from WAST Manchester, Helena Kennedy, Shami Chakrabarti and Tua Fesse Fesse.
We ended this year with plans to continue the momentum of our work on all
fronts, at the grassroots, through communications and through lobbying
Parliament. We hope that by working in these ways we can enable the voices
of refugee women to be heard and help to create pressure for a more just and
dignified asylum process.
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Trustees’ Report
for the year ended 31 March 2015
1. Structure, governance and management
WRW was launched in 2006, and constituted as a charity by trust deed in
September 2007. Its registration number is 1121174. It is governed by a board
of trustees, which has the power to appoint additional trustees as it considers
fit to do so to ensure that all relevant skills and experience are represented.
The board takes on the responsibility of appointing and re-appointing board
members in accordance with the governing document.
The Trustees maintain a good working knowledge of charity law and best
practice through training provided by external consultants and second-tier
organisations. New trustees are given copies of the trust deed, Charity
Commission information about the responsibilities of trustees, supporting
information on the charity’s work including the most recent annual report and
accounts, and organisational policies.
All major decisions regarding policy and finance are taken by the board
together with the director. Meetings of the board are convened at least
quarterly to deal with policy and financial issues and to review operational
activity. Trustees have undertaken a risk assessment during this period and put
in place systems to mitigate exposure to major risks.
During this year we welcomed six new trustees to the board, and said farewell
to long-serving trustees Beatrice Botomani of Why Refugee Women and
Constance Nzeneu of Women Seeking Sanctuary Advocacy Group Wales. We
are grateful for Beatrice’s and Constance’s support and continue to work with
them in pursuit of our shared goals.
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Hannah Windross joined us with particular expertise in communications, but
unfortunately could only stay with us for six months due to a change in her
personal circumstances. Sara Van der Pas brings her knowledge of charity law
to the board; she is legal counsel at the Wellcome Trust and was previously an
associate at Farrer & Co, specialising in charity law. Jade Amoli Jackson, the
secretary of the London Refugee Women’s Forum, brings her knowledge of
seeking asylum in the UK and also of supporting women at the grassroots.
Nimco Ali came to the board with her experience of high profile campaigning
against FGM, having founded Daughters of Eve and been named a Red Woman
of the Year. Victoria Harrity joined as our new treasurer, bringing her
experience as a chartered accountant and head of internalional internal audit
at Live Nation Entertainment, and Betiel Baraki brought her understanding of
campaigning as campaigns officer at Object.
Photo: Aliya Mirza
During this year WRW had six part time staff
members: Director Natasha Walter, Finance
and
Office
Administrator
Communications
Executive
Anja
Sophie
Beinroth,
Radice,
Grassroots Co-ordinator Marchu Girma, Policy
and Research Co-ordinator Gemma Lousley, and
Issy Kershaw, who was employed as Research
and Campaigns Officer on a short term contract
following her internship. This added up to a staff
of 2.5 full-time equivalents.
Our work would be impossible if it were not for the contribution of volunteers
and interns who give time on a regular basis to everything from teaching
English to women refugees, to inputting data on a research project, to running
stalls at conferences. We would particularly like to thank Aliya Mirza, Aisling
Wootten, Amal Al Muhanna, Anastasia Fletcher, Caitlin Boswell Jones,
Charlotte Cheeseman, Cheryl Hudson, Chianah Sinanan, Chris Mohr, Clare
Sikorska, Cristiana Bertazoni, Devika Nambiar, Eleonora Bottini, Eliza Ferguson,
Emily Jones, Francesca Brooks, Geraldine Smith, Hana Ayele, Hanako Rose
Footman, Helen Brown, Ida Gjorde, Issy Kershaw, Jane Chan, Jo Basedow,
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Judith Cravitz, Julie Taylor Mills, Justine Brown, Kate Denman, Kate
Smurthwaite, Kelly Farey, Laura Mosedale, Liza Fior, Mala Savjani, Munira
Muhammad, Natalie Wright, Rebecca Hobson, Samantha Aldridge, Serife Fidan
and Sophie Evans for their help during the year.
Photo: Camilla Greenwell
Volunteer Chianah Sinanan at the National Refugee Women’s Conference with a message for Theresa May
We appreciate the support of all the funders and donors who make our work
possible. In this period we are particularly grateful to Barrow Cadbury Trust,
Comic Relief, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Bromley Trust,
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, The Network for Social Change, Trust
for London and Unbound Philanthropy, as well as the smaller organisations
and individual donors who have supported our work, including Lewes Group in
Support of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Lips Choir, TYCI, University of Bath
Amnesty Society, Wanstead Quakers, Wolf Whistled Women and many others.
We were also very glad to be able to work in partnership with other
organisations, particularly the Women’s Institute, and also the End Violence
Against Women Coalition, Asylum Aid, Liberty, Mumsnet, The Old Church
Stoke Newington, UK Feminista, Yarl’s Wood Befrienders and many others.
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2. Objectives and activities
The trustees confirm that the charity operates for the public benefit and that
we have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have
due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
The objects of WRW as set out in our governing document are:
i.
To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating
to refugees and those seeking asylum;
ii. To advance education and relieve financial hardship among those seeking
asylum and those granted refugee status, including by the provision of
advice:
iii. To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit, particularly by the
elimination of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability,
sexual orientation or religion in London and elsewhere.
The director’s report lays out the activities we have carried out in the last 12
months for achieving these objectives and our future plans.
3. Achievements and performance
Over this period Women for Refugee Women continued our campaign against
the detention of women who seek asylum. We built the evidence base for
reform through our research and we engaged with Parliamentarians through
their committees and inquiries. We were particularly heartened by the number
of women who have been detained who joined this campaign, many of them
speaking out to the media and at protests and events to raise awareness and
increase understanding. We were also delighted to be joined in this campaign
by a number of other organisations, including the Women’s Institute, and
supported by many influential individuals. The wide media coverage and
political response makes us hopeful that we may see further progress in this
campaign in the following year.
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4. Financial review
Women for Refugee Women closely manages its finances. The budget is
approved before the beginning of the year, and all expenditure is checked
against the budget and authorised by the director, who is responsible for
ensuring that expenditure remains within agreed limits. The board has a
delegated finance committee which meets quarterly and presents financial and
management reports to the board of trustees at every meeting.
We are currently in a good situation to continue our work into the next year.
We were pleased to be able to add a small surplus to the unrestricted reserves.
A reserves policy has been agreed by the board of trustees which states that
unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be
maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months expenditure.
At 31 March 2015, unrestricted reserves held were £71,742, equivalent to
more than four and less than five months of total budgeted expenditure for
2015-2016.
5. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each
financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the
charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those 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 judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
 State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of
recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures
disclosed and explained in the financial statements,
25
and
 Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is
inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational
existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the
charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply
with the Charities Act 2011. 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.
22 September 2015
Liz Page
Chair of Trustee
Victoria Harrity
Treasurer
26
Legal and administrative details
Status
Women for Refugee Women is a charity
constituted by trust deed on 4 September 2007
Charity number
1121174
Registered address
Tindlemanor
52-54 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8RT
Trustees
Beatrice Botomani (until 16 June 2014)
Betiel Baraki (appointed 10 March 2015)
Constance Nzeneu (until 16 June 2014)
Debora Singer
Dominique Ngassa
Hannah Windross (appointed 23 September 2014,
resigned 10 March 2015)
Jade Amoli-Jackson (appointed 3 December 2014)
Liz Page - chair
Maria Margaronis
Marjorie Nshemere Ojule
Nimco Ali (appointed 3 December 2014)
Rachael Takens-Milne
Rahela Sidiqi
Sara van der Pas (appointed 23 September 2014)
Victoria Harrity - treasurer (appointed 3 December
2014)
Principal Staff
Natasha Walter, Director
Sophie Radice, Communications Executive
Gemma Lousley, Policy and Research Co-ordinator
Marchu Girma, Grassroots Co-ordinator
Anja Beinroth, Finance & Office Administrator
27
Financial Statements and Independent Examiners’ Report
for the year ended 31 March 2015
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Women for Refugee
Women
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2015, which
are set out on pages 30 to 35.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The
charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under
section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an
independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
 Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
 Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the
Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
 State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions
given by the Charity Commission. 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 seeking explanations from you as
trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not
provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently
no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’
and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
28
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect
the requirements:
 to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011
Act; and
 to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and
comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
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
Name
R D U Cooke
Chartered Accountant
The Old Bakery
106 Brook Drive
London SE11 4TS
Date: 22 September 2015
29
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
(Incorporating an Income and Expenditure account)
For the year ended 31 March 2015
Restricted
£
Unrestricted
£
2015
Total
£
188,274
19,459
207,733
169,727
-
1,418
899
1,418
899
250
480
-
777
777
-
Total incoming resources
188,274
22,553
210,827
170,457
Resources expended
Fundraising activities
Charitable activities
Governance costs
Total resources expended
157,929
753
158,682
631
4,921
5,552
631
162,850
753
164,234
260
177,338
538
178,136
Net incoming/outgoing
resources and net
movement in funds
29,592
17,001
46,593
(7,679)
Funds at 1 April 2014
17,250
54,741
71,991
79,670
46,842
71,742
118,584
71,991
Note
Incoming resources
Voluntary income
Activities for generating
funds
Investment income
Incoming resources from
charitable activities
Funds at 31 March 2015
2
3
9
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no
other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in
funds are disclosed in note 9 to the financial statements.
The notes on pages 32 to 35 form part of these accounts.
30
2014
Total
£
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
BALANCE SHEET
As at 31 March 2015
Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
£
6
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
7
Creditors:
amounts due within one year
8
-
326
11,585
61,510
124,247
73,095
5,663
1,430
9
Funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
2014
£
2,666
121,581
Net current assets
Net assets
2015
£
9
118,584
71,665
118,584
71,991
46,842
71,742
17,250
54,741
118,584
71,991
The notes on pages 32 to 35 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the Trustees on 22 September 2015 and signed on their behalf by:
Liz Page
Chair of Trustees
Victoria Harrity
Treasurer
31
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2015
1. Accounting Policies
a) The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. They
follow the recommendations in the Statement of Recommended Practice,
"Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005.
b) Grants are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the
year in which they are receivable.
c) Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the
donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.
d) Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable
or generated for the objects of the charity.
e) Resources expended are recognised in the year in which they are incurred.
Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.
f) Fundraising activities expenditure comprises the costs of generating
voluntary income.
g) Charitable activities expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the
charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It
includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and
those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
h) Governance costs comprise expenditure associated with meeting the
constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and linked to the
strategic management of the charity, including audit costs and legal advice.
i) Shared and indirect costs expended on fundraising and governance
activities have not been apportioned, as the amounts are considered to not
be material.
j) The charity does not currently operate a pension scheme.
k) All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised.
l) Depreciation is provided at rates to write off the cost of each asset by
equal annual instalments over their expected useful lives as follows:
 Computer equipment: 4 years
32
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2015
2. Voluntary income
A B Charitable Trust
Alan and Babette Sainsbury
Barrow Cadbury Trust
Bromley Trust
Comic Relief
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Charitable
Trust
Network for Social Change
Oak Foundation
Trust for London
Unbound Philanthropy
Other donors
Restricted
£
14,998
50,266
20,000
Unrestricted
£
5,000
-
2015
Total
£
14,998
5,000
50,266
20,000
2014
Total
£
5,000
7,500
15,002
49,610
20,000
24,993
16,277
30,000
30,000
1,740
6,000
8,459
24,993
16,277
6,000
30,000
30,000
10,199
6,257
27,500
30,000
8,858
188,274
19,459
207,733
169,727
3. Governance costs and Trustees’ remuneration
Trustees are not remunerated. Expenses totalling £330 were reimbursed to 3
trustees (2013/14: £114 to 2 trustees). Total governance costs of £753
(2013/14: £538) comprise trustee expenses, meeting and training costs.
4. Staff costs and numbers
Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
33
2015
£
2014
£
88,727
5,212
89,374
7,911
93,939
97,285
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2015
No employee earned over £50,000 in the year.
The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of
full-time equivalents, was 2.5 (2013/14: 2.5).
In addition many volunteers assisted us with our work during the year.
5. Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is
applied for charitable purposes.
6. Tangible fixed assets
Computer
equipment
£
Total
£
COST
At 1 April 2014
Additions in year
Disposals
1,305
-
1,305
-
At 31 March 2015
1,305
1,305
979
326
-
979
326
-
At 31 March 2015
1,305
1,305
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2015
-
-
At 31 March 2014
326
326
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2014
Charge for the year
Disposals
All tangible fixed assets are used to fulfil the charity's objects.
34
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 March 2015
7. Debtors
Grants and other funds receivable
Other Debtors
2015
£
2014
£
2,666
-
11,585
-
2,666
11,585
2015
£
2014
£
5,663
1,430
5,663
1,430
8. Creditors : Amounts due within one year
Accruals
9. Movements in funds
At
1 April
2014
£
Incoming
resources
£
Outgoing
resources
£
At
31 March
2015
£
Restricted funds:
Alan and Babette Sainsbury
Barrow Cadbury Trust
Comic Relief
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Ch. Trust
Network for Social Change
Trust for London
Unbound Philanthropy
Other donors
2,250
15,000
-
14,998
50,266
20,000
24,993
16,277
30,000
30,000
1,740
(2,250)
(14,998)
(44,424)
(16,344)
(21,018)
(28,994)
(28,914)
(1,740)
5,842
3,656
3,975
16,277
1,006
16,086
-
Total restricted funds
17,250
188,274
(158,682)
46,842
General funds
54,741
22,553
(5,552)
71,742
Total funds
71,991
210,827
(164,234)
118,584
35
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Postal address: Tindlemanor,
52-54 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT
Phone: 020 7250 1239
E-mail: admin@refugeewomen.co.uk
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Women for Refugee Women is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1121174