Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts
We are a small, primarily-volunteer based organisation, dedicated to supporting asylum seekers and recently-recognised refugees in Croydon. We believe in a UK where people escaping persecution and violence can find sanctuary, rebuild their lives and thrive.
Our mission is to work together with asylum seekers, refugees and other stakeholders to create a welcoming, responsive and cohesive community in Croydon, where people seeking sanctuary are respected as equals, can regain some control of their lives and build towards a future in the UK.
We have run five projects over the last year:
1. Essentials Centre: new & second hand clothing, coats and shoes, school uniform and essentials, household goods, toiletries, online access and food.
2. Family Support Programme: weekly outreach into asylum hotels, building trust with families and helping children access education and other opportunities; providing necessary uniforms and equipment; liaising with schools to support children's needs.
3. Welcome Project: weekly community hub promoting well-being and mental health through social activities, language classes, children’s play, dance and art.
4. Signposting, Advice and Guidance Project: assists and supports with understanding and navigating UK systems and enabling asylum seekers and refugees to be represented and heard.
5. Refugee Homes Project: In partnership with The Spires Centre, supports newlyrecognised refugees who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to find housing options.
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole
Against a backdrop of an increasingly hostile external environment, and fear induced by far-right riots targeting asylum seekers elsewhere in the UK, Croydon Refugee Day Centre’s volunteers have quietly continued our mission, supporting people seeking sanctuary in Croydon to feel more welcome, to rebuild their lives in the UK, and to contribute to our community.
Our 80-strong volunteer team – drawn from across refugee, migrant and British-born communities in Croydon - supported 1607 individuals altogether this year (987adults
and 620 children) – a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Individuals came from 73 different countries of origin and 49% of the adults we supported were women.
In 2024-25, we continued to grow our volunteer base and recruit new volunteers, including creating opportunities for people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary to volunteer and develop relevant skills and experience in the UK. All the volunteers seeking asylum who we surveyed reported that volunteering had helped them to develop new skills, increase their level of experience in the UK and feel more confident and/or positive. Volunteers with lived experience have been integral not only to service delivery, but also to shaping the charity’s strategic direction, with a small group supporting the development of our long-term strategy alongside staff and volunteers. My experience volunteering with the Croydon Refugee Day Centre has been incredibly rewarding . It has helped me build my confidence, improve my communication skills and develop a more positive outlook on life.’
Our projects have also increased their reach this year. Our Essentials Centre assisted an average of 114 people seeking sanctuary each week – supporting their immediate, basic needs and thus mitigating slightly the stark economic inequalities they face. Overall, we estimate that we distributed £150,000 worth of essential items, including thousands of items of general second hand clothing, 970 pairs of shoes, 710 winter coats, 956 sets of new underwear, 1,237 hygiene packs, 589 food parcels, 371 food vouchers, 298 SIM cards (each offering six months of calls/data), and 72 laptops. Approximately 200 children also received school uniform and equipment. This was supported by the donations of 35+ community and faith groups across Croydon, as well as partnerships further afield. _‘We got clothes, food, advice everything. Thank you so much for all the support and help. Words is not enough for this.’_
Our Welcome Project served 300 adults and approximately 50 children, with average weekly attendance of 25-30 people. It provided a safe space away from the challenging environment of asylum hostels, where attendees could build community, attend English classes, and participate in activities such as dance, art, table tennis, and play sessions for children. 100% Community members reported that the Welcome Project improved their confidence and wellbeing and 87% said it helped them understand life in the UK better.
We successfully piloted and evaluated a new Family Support Programme, securing funding to continue the programme until 2027. This supported 235 children, helping them to enter education as quickly as possible, feeling ready and able to learn in the UK. 93% of parents said that their children had entered into education a lot more quickly than they would have done without our support and 83% said that their children had entered school feeling happier or more confident because of our support. “Without your help, we would never find a good school for my son and he was able to go to a school from the starting date without any delay. CRDC helped my son to get all the
items he needed for school. CRDC has also helped my son for his music work and other activities. Now my son is happy because of these things. I take this opportunity to thank the team at Croydon Refugee Day Centre. I wish them all the best to continue and excel at what they do.”
Our Signposting, Advice & Guidance Project ensured that basic signposting and guidance was available through all our projects. 130 individuals also received help with more complex issues, such as refusal of accommodation by the Home Office or Council and consequent destitution. Our volunteer help desk team doubled in size, greatly improving our ability to offer drop-in support. ‘You have greatly helped me in filling out forms, providing internet and Sim services, and assisting us in contacting the council to secure immediate housing.’
Our Refugee Homes partnership project with the Spires Centre successfully secured funding to continue, and assisted 120 recently-recognised refugees who were street homeless or at risk of street homelessness. The project enabled some of those supported to avoid street homelessness altogether.
Finally, in March 2025, we began the pilot of a new women’s project – developed in response to feedback from women about their experiences in asylum hostels. This pilot project will enable a group of women to come together fortnightly to cook together and build support networks outside the intimidating atmosphere of the hostels.
We are delighted that we have been able to support so many people seeking sanctuary this year: to start to settle in the UK, rebuild their lives, and feel welcome in the community in Croydon. We say an enormous thank you to our volunteer team, who are vital to all our work, and a big thank you both to the 35+ community and faith groups across Croydon and beyond who have supported us with in kind and financial donations, and to the trusts and foundations who have supported us financially.
We are really looking forward to continuing to build our much-needed community and services in 2025-26.
## **CROYDON REFUGEE DAY CENTRE**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
|**Categories**
**Receipts**
Donation and gifts
General grants
Gift Aid
Interest income
Other
**Totalreceipts**
**Payments**
Administration & IT
Consulting
Clothes
Food and food vouchers
Equipmentconsumables
Insurance
Telephone
S�a�training
Subscriptions
Toiletries
Travel
Use of Space
General expenses
External Tuition
Wages and salaries
Acc����a����fees
**TotalPayments**
Net of receipts/payments)
Cash funds last year end
**Cash funds this year end**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
26,079
5,000
1,373
384
296
33,132
781
300
884
681
323
57
47
419
12
1,017
43
-
2,103
-
2,240
1,475
10,382
22,750
36,596
59,346|**Restricted**
**funds**
6,926
118,224
-
-
-
125,150
1,095
-
8,652
12,030
-
275
510
1,195
95
1,087
7,093
7,000
1,587
-
55,383
3,240
99,242
25,908
36,353
62,261|**Total**
**funds**
**33,005**
**123,224**
**1,373**
**384**
**296**
**158,282**
**1,876**
**300**
**9,536**
**12,711**
**323**
**332**
**557**
**1,614**
**107**
**2,104**
**7,136**
**7,000**
**3,690**
**-**
**57,623**
**4,715**
**109,624**
**48,658**
**72,949**
**121,607**|_Last year_
28,915
62,889
-
-
149
_91,953_
_2,013_
_-_
_2,246_
_9,626_
_-_
_311_
_238_
_-_
_-_
_2,074_
_2,612_
_4,500_
_2,173_
_575_
_18,853_
_1,765_
_46,986_
_44,967_
_27,982_
_72,949_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | P a g e
## **CROYDON REFUGEE DAY CENTRE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
## **1. Accounting Policies**
The ��i�ci�a� acc����i�g ���icie� ad���ed b� �he Cha�i��, �hich i� a ��b�ic be�e�� e��i��, i� �he ��e�a�a�i�� of the accounts are as follows.
## **1.1 Basis of preparation**
These accounts have been prepared under the receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charity Commissions guidance and the Charities Act 2011.
These accounts are presented in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.
## **1.2 Going concern**
The T����ee� ha�e ��e�a�ed ��a�cia� ���jec�i���, �aki�g i��� c���ide�a�i�� �he c���e�� ec����ic c��di�i��� and have, at the time of approving these accounts, a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern of accounting in preparing the accounts.
## **2. Income from Donations and Legacies**
|**Analysis**
Donation and gifts
General grants
Gift Aid|**Unrestricted funds**
**£**
26,079
5,000
1,373
**32,452**|**Restricted income**
**funds**
**£**
6,926
118,224
-
**125,150**|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
**33,005**
**123,224**
**1,373**
**157,602**|**_Total funds 2024_**
**_£_**
_28,915_
_62,889_
_-_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_91,804_|
## **3. Income from Investments**
|**Analysis**
Interest income
**4. Other Income**
**Analysis**
Other|Unrestrictedfunds
£
384
384
Unrestrictedfunds
£
296
296|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
384
**384**
**Total funds 2025**
**£**
**296**
**296**|_Total funds 2024_
_£_
_-_
_-_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||_Total funds 2024_
_£_
_149_|
||||_149_|
2 | P a g e
**CROYDON REFUGEE DAY CENTRE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)
## **5. Expenditure on Charitable Activities**
|**Analysis**
Clothes
Food and food vouchers
Toiletries
External Tuition
Wages and salaries
SupportCosts (see note 6)|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
_Total funds 2024_
_£_
**9,536**
_2,246_
**12,711**
_9,626_
**2,104**
_2,074_
**-**
_575_
**55,383**
_14,291_
**29,890**
_18,174_|
|---|---|
||**109,624**
_46,986_|
## **6. Support Costs**
|**6. Support Costs**||
|---|---|
|
**Analysis**
Administration & IT
Equipmentconsumables
Insurance
Telephone
S�a�training
Subscriptions
Travel
Use of Space
General expenses
Wages and salaries
**Governance Costs**
Consulting
Acc����a����fees|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
_Total funds 2024_
_£_
**1,876**
_2,013_
**323**
_-_
**332**
_311_
**557**
_238_
**1,614**
_-_
**107**
_-_
**7,136**
_2,612_
**7,000**
_4,500_
**3,690**
_2,173_
**2,240**
**300**
_4,562_
_-_
**4,715**
_1,765_|
||**29,890**
_18,174_|
## **7. Cash at bank and in hand**
|Cash at bank and in hand|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
**121,607**
_Total funds 2024_
_£_
_72,949_|
|---|---|
||**121,607**
_72,949_|
3 | P a g e
**CROYDON REFUGEE DAY CENTRE**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)
## **8. Charity funds**
## **8.1 Details of material funds held and movements during the CURRENT reporting period**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income funds**
**Total**|**Fund**
**Fund**
**balances**
**brought**
**forward**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Gains**
**and**
**losses**
**balances**
**carried**
**forward**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
36,596
33,132
(10,382)
-
-
59,346
36,353
125,150
(99,242)
-
-
62,261
**72,949**
**158,282**
**(109,624)**
**-**
**-**
**121,607**|
|---|---|
## **8.2 Details of material funds held and movements during the PREVIOUS reporting period**
|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_Restricted_
_income funds_
_Total_|_Fund_
_Fund_
_balances_
_brought_
_forward_
_Income_
_Expenditure_
_Transfers Gains and_
_losses_
_balances_
_carried_
_forward_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_25,905_
_23,517_
_(12,826)_
_-_
_-_
_36,596_
_2,078_
_68,436_
_(34,161)_
_-_
_-_
_36,353_
_27,983_
_91,953_
_(46,987)_
_-_
_-_
_72,949_|
|---|---|
4 | P a g e
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Croydon Refugee Day Centre **On accounts for the year** 31 March 2025 **Charity no** 1064465 **ended (if any)**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Date:** 11 November 2025 **Signed: Name:** Dominique Wells ~~Ce~~ **Relevant professional** FCA - Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 10 Lakeswood Road Petts Wood Kent BR5 1BJ
1
**IER**
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of** None. **any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**IER**