The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2025.
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 charitable company's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.
Autumn Seminar and AGM 2024:
Despite an overnight snow storm, some members were able to attend this hybrid event in Darlington helping to make it a success. Resolutions were presented and agreed to be taken forward to Government on Adult Social Care; Global Girls’ Education; Consumer Protection and Violence Against Women and Girls.
A panel of speakers completed the day discussing The Challenges Facing Adult Social Care and Possible Ways Forward. We heard from representatives of the National Care Association, Age UK and Patients Association.
Programme of On-Line Debates/Discussions:
Attendance to our free on-line debates has been impressive perhaps showing that accessibility in timings and choice of subject matter is of great interest. A programme of one debate per month was prepared at the beginning of the year and advertised on our social media platforms as well as by personal emails and Newsletters. Subjects have included: Climate Change; Adult Social Care; Environmenstrual; Gender Equality; On-Line Safety and Women in Poverty.
Membership:
We have attracted many new members and this has been mainly through accessing our website, social media platforms, talking to our own membership and attending our free on-line events.
We hope to continue to increase and retain membership through accessibility of our events and listening to our members to find out where their interests are.
Management Meetings and Steering Groups:
Management committee meets monthly to discuss and action the work of the charity. Specialist areas of work are delegated to the Steering Groups (subcommittees) namely Media & Arts, Associate/Partnerships, International Affairs, National Council of Young Women (NCYW) and they meet regularly reporting back to MC for debate as needed and ratification. The groups have proved to be successful in efficiently working together.
Website:
Our website manager, Bow House, continues to keep our website updated and amended where and when required and requested by the Media & Arts Steering Group. Bow House now hosts our domain.
Social Media:
Our social media posts are created by Cracking Social Media and posted daily to three platforms: Instagram; FaceBook and Linkedin. We made an informed decision to cease posting to X (Twitter). We are achieving followers and regular comments.
Current Affairs:
Our Trustee, Gail Bishop, prepares her monthly report keeping members up to date on the Current Affairs of the Select Committees in Government.
Commission on the Status of Women 69: March 2025:
A delegation led by Vice President, Ann Davison, attended this event in person and on-line and reported back in one of our own on-line events. The delegation felt it was a good opportunity to attend some solution focussed debates.
Triennial Event:
The Triennial General Assembly of the International Council of Women was held in Marrakesh, Morocco in June 2025. Our President, Jilly Rogers, represented NCWGB and gave a report on our work during the period 2022-2025 highlighting ‘Mentoring’. There were also two key resolutions on climate change and on online harms written and proposed by NCW and adopted by ICW and the European ECICW. A very successful meeting for NCWGB.
NCWGB Focus 2025-2026:
NCWGB celebrates 130 years in October 2025 and we are already planning anniversary events, brochures and leaflets.
We are constantly seeking external funding and have already secured two funds from the International Council of Women. This will help further our work to improve women’s status and equality of opportunity and to engage deaf women in contemporary issues to achieve a fairer society.
We will focus on building our partnership working throughout this year and encouraging membership engagement.
The statement of financial activities on page 5 shows a total income of £16,975 and expenditure of £96,399 across our unrestricted and restricted funds. There is a loss on the Castlefield investments of £1,088. Therefore the charitable company reports a deficit for the year of £80,512.
The overall reserves carried forward as at the year end 31 May 2025 stands at £408,583, which is significantly down from last year's reserves of £489,095.
It is the policy of the charitable company that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charitable company’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The National Council of Women of Great Britain (NCWGB) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 22 December 1951 and registered as a charity on 23 November 1990.
The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established its objects and powers and is governed under its Articles of Association. The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
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:
The charitable company's Directors, for Companies Act purposes, are known as members of the Management Committee under the company's Articles of Association and they are also charity Trustees for Charities Act purposes. There are no other Directors or Trustees. The minimum number of Directors is twelve. The Directors have the power to appoint (co-opt) additional Directors and when doing so they have regard to any specialist skills which they feel are needed. The Directors meet regularly, at least six times a year. The President, Vice Presidents and Treasurer (the Officers) are elected by the membership by means of a postal or emailed vote. The other Directors, who must be fully paid up members of NCWGB, are elected by the membership by means of a ballot. The Directors hold office for a period of two years commencing at the end of the next annual meeting. A Director may then offer herself for re-election, provided she is eligible.
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.
NCWGB has a Management Committee which meets regularly, at least six times a year and which determines the policy and direction of the charitable company. The day to day work of the charitable company is undertaken and publicised at a local level by the one remaining branch and one regional committee at 31 May 2025. The regional committee and branch play a role in fundraising for NCWGB. There are Steering Groups for International Affairs, Media and Arts, Current Affairs, Associates and a Standing Committee of the National Council of Young Women. NCWGB is also an organisation to which other national organisations can associate and these currently number 15.
The Management Committee delegates the day to day work and detailed research needed to make NCWGB's various representations to discussion groups and working parties. The Director For Development and a paid part time administrator/secretary undertake the day to day administration work with volunteer help as necessary.
NCWGB is dependent upon the members of the branch, individual members and also the Management Committee who give tirelessly of their own time, expertise and experience, and without whom NCWGB could not operate.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The National Council of Women of Great Britain (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 May 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charitable company as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I 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.
The National Council of Women of Great Britain is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 81 Bondgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7JT.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company 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 or grantors 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 charitable company 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.
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.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
At each reporting end date, the charitable company 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).
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 and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
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.
The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measures at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans, which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
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 payments 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 charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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 charitable company 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.
In the application of the charitable company’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.
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year or previous year. During the year a total of £1,184 travel expenses was reimbursed to 7 Trustees.
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.
Restricted funds
The income funds of the charitable company include restricted funds comprising of the following donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes.
Grace Wedekind was a Past President of NCWGB and a Vice President of ICW. The Fund was set up in her memory to allow contributions to be used to support young NCW members (NCYW and Network 18-30) to progress and participate in activities within the organisation.
The Lydie Rossini fund was received in the year to benefit young women and girls through development programmes and projects improving the quality of life of women and their families as well as improving women's status and equality of opportunity.
The NCYW and Network 18-30 is accounted for within the Grace Wedekind Fund.
All financial decisions are approved by members at our AGM and reviewed annually.
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
The income funds of the charitable company include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
The ICW Triennial Congress fund is to provide for the £750 travel allowance for the attendance every 3 years.
Based on known core costs it is estimated that we require £70,000 to deliver our existing services (salaries, office and communication costs) during the financial year 2025/26. In addition, we require £7,500 towards the cost of our events.
NCWGB Trustees have created a contingency fund to cover unexpected costs, such as the need to replace office equipment, or additional costs to cover unexpected staff long term absence. £5,000 has been allocated as the minimum contingency, increasing by £500 each year to a maximum of £7,500. If the fund is used during a financial year, it will be topped up to £5,000 from our free reserves, with additional £500 sums in the following years until the maximum is reached.
NCWGB Trustees have agreed to annually contribute £5,000 towards work with 16 to 30 year old women. In line with the Trustee's Financial Plan, in line with needs, it is the plan to contribute £5,000 annually up to 2026/27.
The Trustees restrict 6 months running costs as an emergency contingency in the event all other funds are extinguished. At this point the Trustees would consider whether the organisation should be closed. The emergency contingency will enable the organisation to operate whilst other funding is sourced; and to meet its financial obligations to staff and contractors in the event of closure.
NCWGB Trustees have agreed to contribute £1,500 towards NCW steering groups. The intended purpose of this fund is events, publications and travel expenses related to each of the 3 separate groups: International; Associates; Media & Arts.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year 31 May 2025 (31 May 2024 - none).
The charity company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charitable company to the fund.
The charitable company is a member of the International Council of Women (ICW), a federation of National Councils of Women from over sixty countries around the world, and the European Centre of the ICW (ECICW). The charitable company holds Special Consultative Status to Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It is an associate member of the European Womens Lobby and is a member of the Six "O" group