July 8, 2024
To our stakeholders, supporters and funders,
We are writing to inform you about an accounting error that was discovered in our financial records. Transparency and accountability are paramount to us, and we believe it is important to share the details of this matter with you.
Nature of the Error
Reproductive Justice initiative’s annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, which we submitted on 31 January 2024, categorised grants we received from BLMUK and Black Feminist Fund via Global Fund for Women, incorrectly as government grants.This resulted in an inaccurate representation of the source of our income.
We became aware of this error on 10 April 2024 and we sort out to rectify this by re-submitting the accounts on 28 May 2024. However this did not have the desired outcome we hoped for as it wasn’t clear to the Charity Commission why we had re-submitted the accounts and up until 30 June 2024, this incorrect information was still on the Charity Commission’s website.
We want to stress that this was a technical error and not due to any fraudulent activity.
Rectification Plan
We are taking immediate and comprehensive actions to address this issue and prevent future occurrences.
Inform Charity Commision: On 1 July 2024 the public facing page for Reproductive Justice Initiative was updated by the Charity Commision to reflect that we didn’t not receive any government grant and or contracts.
Correct Financial Accounts: We are in the process of re-submitting the accounts and as advised by the Charity Commission we will include a note that explains the existence of this version of the accounts and the subsequent late filing record as a result. The corrected accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, will be submitted and made publicly available.
Strengthening Internal Process: We have reviewed and confirmed a more robust process for signing off on financial accounts and other documents we submit to the Charity Commission. This includes, implementing additional layers of review for financial data.
Commitment to Transparency
We understand the importance of maintaining trust and confidence among our stakeholders, supporters and funders. Therefore, we are committed to providing updates on the progress of these corrective actions.
We deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this error may have caused and appreciate your understanding and continued support. We are confident that the steps we are taking will strengthen our financial operations and reinforce our commitment to transparency.
If you have any questions please send an email to chair@reprojusticeinitiative.org.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Sam Yosef
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Reproductive Justice Initiative CIO
