The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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).
Awamu’s mission is to supercharge the potential of women and girls in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. We invest in them – their education, skills and healthcare. And as they rise they take their communities with them.
The objectives of Awamu are, for the public benefit:
To relieve poverty to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient; to advance education; and to advance health; in each case for the benefit of orphaned and/or vulnerable children and women (in particular, but not limited to, guardians of orphaned and vulnerable children) in Africa.
Executive summary
Welcome to our annual report. In 2023–24, your support enabled Awamu to expand our work across Kampala’s slums, helping to change lives and open up new opportunities for women and girls.
Key Impact Numbers:
Over 6,000 girls and young women served with sexual, reproductive and health services
630 girls escaped violence and found safety and support of our shelter
129 girls completed our six‐month skills programme, with 81% earning their Directorate of Industrial Training Certificate
152 girls completed our catch‐up education programme and were supported to re-join mainstream education
99 children and young people are being supported to complete their education (we celebrated 21 graduates this year!).
We continued to make steady progress in both income, programme delivery. As well as making great strides in ‘shifting the power’ and supporting our long-term partners to become an independent sustainable organisation.
Message from our Treasurer on behalf of the trustees
Dear Friends of Awamu,
It is with deep gratitude and renewed purpose that I present our Annual Report for 2024 on behalf of Awamu’s trustees. Over the past year, your support has helped us create meaningful, long-term change in the lives of girls in Kampala. We have witnessed first-hand how sustained investment in education, vocational training, and comprehensive care not only builds resilience but also unlocks the potential within every girl.
Supporting children to complete their education requires ongoing commitment. We are now seeing the powerful impact of that commitment: many of our former participants are becoming champions for change in their communities. They are joining our team as volunteers—sharing their hard-earned knowledge, building the confidence of their peers and passing on the skills they've gained. In doing so, they inspire others to dream and strive for a brighter future.
Every achievement detailed in this report is a testament to your generosity and belief in the potential of young women. Thank you for listening to their voices and for helping us build a future where every girl has the opportunity to achieve her potential.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Our Impact
In partnership with women and girls
In the slum areas where we work, most family incomes are under 50p/day, 40% of households are involved in sex work, and child motherhood due to sexual violence is very common - with 60% of girls reporting sexual violence during lockdown. HIV levels for young people are almost double Uganda’s average.
Child mothers and sexual violence survivors face an impossible situation, struggling to access healthcare, education or training - they are shamed across the community, including at health facilities, and forced to drop out of school without the skills to earn an income to support their families, pushing many into sex work.
In response to the challenges faced by girls in Kawempe slums, Awamu supports child mothers, sexual violence survivors and other vulnerable girls with solutions that address their unique needs, responsibilities and perspectives. We provide shelter and care in crisis situations, and over the longer-term support girls’ access to school, provide life-saving sexual and reproductive healthcare and arm them with the skills they need to earn a living and take back control of their lives.
Since 2008, Awamu has closely worked with Tusitukirewamu Group Bwaise, a registered non-governmental organisation started in 1998 by a group of local women in Kawempe. Tusitukirewamu has a long-running network of community-based women volunteers, and a trusted reputation and networks with community members, local leaders and service providers.
The Nansamba Safe Haven - our emergency refuge for girls escaping violence
Our Nansamba Safe Haven refuge provides emergency shelter and support for girls under 18 who have experienced gender-based and/or sexual violence. With no other shelters available in this area, the only other option for girls who have been attacked is to go to the police station where the only accommodation available is a locked shipping container with many other women, without appropriate support or care.
Miremba, 15, was trafficked to Kampala at age 12.
“I was brought to Kampala to be a house girl, but it turned out to be for sex work. I wasn’t allowed to contact my family and didn’t know how to stay safe. In January, I met a woman from Awamu at a health outreach. I was scared, but she was kind. I tested positive for HIV and I struggled to accept it. The team helped me go to the hospital, where I now receive Antiretroviral treatment and they give me counselling. I am coping. I’m also learning new skills to earn a living and feel happy I can see a new future now.”
Economic empowerment
Our Economic Empowerment skills training programme, also hosted at the Nansamba Safe Haven, has proven to be a vital lifeline for girls who have experienced violence, child marriage and other significant barriers to education. By providing practical skills that girls can use to earn a living, we are helping them rebuild their lives and achieve financial independence.
This comprehensive training equips girls with both the practical and essential skills they need to generate income and become financially independent. Girls completing an Economic Empowerment course receive training in tailoring (an in-demand skill locally), as well as business management, computer skills and basic numeracy, with childcare provided. Girls are also supported with sexual and reproductive healthcare and ongoing counselling. After completing a course, girls are connected with local organisations seeking workers or supported to set up small businesses to provide a sustainable income for themselves and their children.
In addition to the six-month training, we run ‘Rapid Skills’ training sessions, which are short, two-day workshops focused on teaching immediate, marketable skills like baking, soap-making, and sponge-making. This training helps the girls generate income quickly, easing their immediate financial pressures while they continue with their longer, more in-depth vocational courses. By providing this dual approach, we ensure that every girl can start earning while progressing through their training, making it easier for them to stay motivated and complete the full programme.
This Year, 136 girls have successfully completed our six-month training programme in tailoring, business skills, literacy and financial literacy. (251 since we launched this new programme in Jan 23).
One of the most important lessons we've learned this year is the critical role of literacy and numeracy support in girls' success. 50% of our trainees have been completely illiterate when they started the programme. To address this, we have incorporated targeted literacy and numeracy classes into our training programmes. These classes are essential for giving girls the foundational skills they need to succeed in both vocational training and in life.
Alongside literacy and numeracy, we have integrated financial literacy lessons on saving, record-keeping, and participation in credit circles, which help the girls develop the skills necessary for entrepreneurial success. These combined lessons have proven to have a significant impact on the girls' confidence, financial management and their ability to run sustainable businesses.
At the end of their training, girls sit exams with the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) to earn external qualifications. 81% of the girls have passed, with over half earning the highest grades. These qualifications significantly boost their job prospects, empowering them to pursue a variety of career paths and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding our skills training programmes. We plan to reduce the group size to offer even more personalised attention, to help girls overcome their challenges and build successful, independent futures.
Some key fundraising activities were:
We continued to invest in building relationships with trusts to help diversify our income and we have built a strong pipeline for future grants. We are proud that a third are repeat grants from trusts and foundations
We raised £7,301 from Together 2023 - making a profit despite it being a smaller event.
We built relationships with some key high value donors and ran two Big Give matched giving appeals. We smashed our Christmas appeal target with support from our friends at Radio Waters who helped us run our weekend long radio event ‘Make Mind A Double’. Huge thanks to everyone that took part and donated and to the Coles Medlock Foundation and Big Give Trust for matching every donation.
We want to give special thanks to L’Oreal Fund For Women and L’Oreal UK (CPD & friends and family of Nansamba), Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, Ashworth Trust, Austin Bailey Foundation, Big Give Trust, Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust, Carmela and Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation, Casey Trust, CB & HH Taylor Charitable Trust, Coles Medlock Foundation, Community of the Presentation, Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust, Evan Cornish Foundation, Farthing Trust, Fresh Leaf Charitable Foundation, Gilchrist Education Trust, Heb Ffin, Hilden Charitable Fund, Oakdale Trust, Panram Trust, Pat Newman Trust, SE Franklin Charity, SMB Trust, Souter Trust, Strathspey Charitable Trust and two trust who wished to remain anonymous plus all the many individuals who have made it possible to provide life changing services to vulnerable girls.
Events
The income from Together Festival 2023 falls into this year under review. The event is housed within Together Festival Limited (09919482) and profits are then donated over to Awamu in the following weeks once income and expenditure is finalised. Awamu holds 100% of the shares directly and Together is its formal trading subsidiary.
For 2023-24, our total income was £166,747, approximately £63,000 lower than our record income of 2023. A large part of the difference is due to the delayed receipt of a trust donation of 40,000 euros, which arrived three months later than agreed and in the subsequent financial year. It is important to acknowledge that in 2023 we received our largest grant to date, 150,000 euros, which spiked our income. Although we aimed to sustain that level in the current challenging climate, the reality was that our income naturally reverted to a lower level. Nevertheless, we remain on a growth trajectory and are committed to our ambitious goals for impact, as we continue to diversify our funding sources and build long-term sustainability.
Expenditure on charitable activities was £171,690 (which accounts for more than 92% of total expenditure). Expenditure on raising funds increased to £14,444 (which accounts for 8% of total expenditure) as we bolstered our efforts in a challenging climate. Our expenditure includes costs associated with governance and overheads which includes essential functions such as managing the finances and adhering to our statutory obligations. Support and governance costs fell year on year by 37%.
The Charity’s trustees receive no remuneration or benefit for their work as trustees.
We aim to maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months' worth of running costs to ensure that our core activities can continue in the event of a need to wind up operations or an unforeseen, significant, and temporary shortfall in income or cash flow. As of the year-end, our total reserves are £63,433, consisting of £1,445 in designated funds allocated for specific purposes within our operations, and £61,988 in unrestricted funds.
The reserves policies are reviewed by the trustees on an ongoing basis and the trustees will continue to monitor the reserves position closely. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and as noted previously are focused on ensuring that a wide range of funding options are available to the organisation, mitigating its reliance on particular income streams that might suffer a reduction for one reason or another.
Regular review and auditing of our strategic partners in project delivery is undertaken, mitigating exposure on that front so far as is possible.
Governance and risk management
Our board and management team ensure compliance with our governing documents, meeting regularly to monitor risks from global economic pressures and local challenges, adapting strategies as necessary. Our trustees work closely with the management teams and boards of our partner organisations, offering guidance and expertise to support programme delivery and strengthen operational processes. This collaborative approach underlines our commitment to building our partners’ capacity, so they become independent and sustainable organisations.
Looking ahead: Our Strategic Vision and Call to Action
Our targets for 2024–25 have been realigned to amplify our impact and deepen the sustainability of our partners. We are focused on scaling our programmes, strengthening partnerships, and building lasting resilience in the communities we serve.
In the coming year, we will:
Enhance capacity-building initiatives to support our partners to continuously strengthen their governance and independence
Continuously strengthen our own impact measurement and learning frameworks, including financial systems, safeguarding practices, governance support and integrate lessons from our new initiatives to improve programme delivery and outcome
Increase youth engagement, with a focus on empowering girls to lead and shape our programmes.
Acknowledgements and partnerships
Community Partners: Tusitukirewamu, local schools and health centres
Staff, Volunteers and Alumni: Their contributions, including mentoring and volunteer work, are core to our community led approach and central to the success of our programmes.
The charity is a registered charity (Registration Number 1174256) and a company limited by guarantee (Registration Number 07818944), originally incorporated on 21 October 2011.
On the 14 August 2017, Awamu converted from a Community Interest Company (CIC) to a registered charity.
The charity is controlled by its governing document. The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet at least quarterly (more during the developments of the strategic plan and implementation of new projects) to monitor the activities of the charity. Trustees meet to discuss the progress of the organisation, strategic and financial decisions and plan for the future.
New trustees are recruited and appointed by a majority of existing trustees.
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:
Trustees are appointed with a view to ensuring that Awamu has a variety of experience including international development, business management, finance and fundraising. Periodically, we undertake a skills audit to identify areas where additional experience would be useful; the results of this exercise influence the appointment of new trustees. The board in consultation with the management undertakes the appointment of new trustees. All new trustees are provided with a comprehensive induction information pack and other relevant training so as to ensure that all trustees have an appropriate understanding of our responsibilities and the background to the current activities and key management issues of the organisation. They are also given the opportunity to visit programmes in Uganda and take part in UK based activities.
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.
The Board meets at least four times a year and is responsible for the overall direction of the charity and for core strategic policies, having regard to the advice of the trustees and other stakeholders including our partners and beneficiaries.
Where appropriate, we establish additional smaller committees whose membership is constituted of selected trustees with delegated authority from the full board to undertake detailed reviews, analysis or policy or programme development in conjunction with members of the management team and to report back findings and recommendations to the full board.
The management team leader responsible for the day to day running of the organisation is Emma Scullion (CEO).
Awamu is based in the United Kingdom in London, and we have a long-term partner in Uganda – Tusitukirewamu (TWG), where projects are implemented.
The management team leader is responsible for the day to day running of the charity within the framework of clearly delegated powers and responsibilities agreed by the trustees. Strategic direction, operational plans and budgets are discussed and prepared jointly with the management team leader, partners in Uganda and the trustees.
Additionally, decisions of a strategic nature are discussed with the trustees to agree on actions and to shape and direct management thinking.
Our partner organisation is a locally registered NGO operated and managed by their own boards. We share a common vision, mission and values as well as a commitment to adhering to mutually agreed policies and operating procedures. The senior management of Awamu and our partner operate as an ‘International Management Team’, meeting weekly to review progress and other matters arising.
These close relationships are an effective conduit for ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of programmes that meet the Charity's objectives, the trustees' and management's strategy.
This report provides full information about Awamu’s aims, activities and achievements. We consider that this information demonstrates the clear benefits to our beneficiaries (and through them to wider sections of the public in Uganda, Africa) arising from our work.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
We report to the trustees on our examination of the financial statements of Awamu (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2024.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied ourselves that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, we report in respect of our examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out our examination we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Awamu is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 3 East Point, High Street, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0EG.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts 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 unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in notes to the financial statements.
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.
Turnover is measured at the point of receipt of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods provided in the normal course of business.
The accruals basis is applied to all expenditure.
Expenditure has been allocated according to the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and is shown under the appropriate sub-heading. Items of expenditure which involve more than one charitable activity, are allocated appropriately between the charitable activities involved on the basis of estimates made by the charity's management.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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.
Sale of goods
Grants receivable for charitable activities
Project costs
Project costs
Education support is provided to allow vulnerable children to go to school. Support includes our ‘catch-up education programme fast tracking out of school girls (especially child mothers and survivors of sexual violence) into mainstream education and paying tuition fees, providing uniforms and materials to go to school and supporting the work of trained child counselors to monitor, mentor and support children and caregivers.
Support within the community for health activities includes the work of Community Volunteers who help orphaned, abandoned or abused children. They help vulnerable adults and children with referrals for HIV testing and access to ARTs, family planning, counseling sessions and support groups. The provision of girl friendly sexual reproductive health through inclusive drop in clinics for partners’ offices. Community health outreaches - taking health workers and counselors into target areas of the community and local schools.
Economic development activities include skills training for vulnerable girls (especially child mothers and those who have experienced sexual violence) as well as guardians.
There is real success amongst being part of this skills training programme allowing guardians to start saving money for their and their dependents futures, together with passing on these shared skills within the community to help all find a way out of poverty.
Help is provided in local emergency situations. This small fund provides emergency responses for destitute families in our communities where situations arise either from natural disasters or violence which may lead to a family losing their processions or children left orphaned and destitute. Replacement of clothing, bedding and food or medical assistance may be provided. Trauma support counseling can be offered together with introduction to our education or skills training programme.
Our long-term partner in Uganda –Tusitukirewamu (TWG) is a Uganda registered NGO (Reg no. INDR154764515NB).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and may only be spent for the purposes for which they were given.
In this case the funds were given by trusts as follows:
Year-ended 30 June 2023
Waterloo Foundation - £10,000 towards funding for access to girl friendly sexual reproductive healthcare including emergency post-rape care and support including DNA swabs, emergency medical care, trauma recovery support/counselling. The grant covers a two year period.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
Designated funds comprise:
Education fund: for supporting vulnerable children (especially girls - child mothers and survivors of sexual violence) to integrate into mainstream school to complete their education and access to girl friendly sexual reproductive healthcare and emotional support.
Nansamba Safe Haven fund: for our refuge (safe house) for girls escaping violence, economic empowerment (skills/business training centre) and access to girl friendly sexual reproductive healthcare including emergency post-rape care and support including DNA swabs, emergency medical care, trauma recovery support/counselling, plus help to access legal aid and support with reporting crimes to the police.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none) however the trustees draw attention to the income received from it's trading subsidiary Together Festival Limited as detailed in the Trustees' Report.
These financial statements are separate charity financial statements for Awamu.
Details of the charity's subsidiaries at 30 June 2024 are as follows: