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2022-03-31-accounts

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Slough Refugee Support

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Charity Registration Number: 1079776

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Contents

Legal and administrative information .................................................................................................. 3 Report of the Trustees ............................................................................................................................ 4 Objectives and activities ........................................................................................................................ 4 Achievements and performance ........................................................................................................... 6 Financial review ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Structure, governance and management .............................................................................................. 8 Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements ...................................................... 10 Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Slough Refugee Support . Error! Bookmark not defined. Statement of Financial Activities ......................................................................................................... 15 Balance Sheet ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Notes forming part of financial statements ........................................................................................ 17

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Legal and administrative information

Charity’s principal address Slough Refugee Support 28 Bath Road Slough Berkshire United Kingdom SL1 3SR

Charity registration number 1079776

Contact details telephone 01753 537142 e-mail srsinfo@sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk web www.sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk Trustees who served Jean Kelly (Chair) during the year Denise Scotland FCCA FMAAT (Treasurer) Ray Barkley Nigel Woof (Secretary) Rupert Young Mohamed Al-mansouri Luciane Delaney Zakarya Saeed Louise Sprackling (appointed 6 Dec 2021) Chief executive Tehzib (Taz) Hussein Mohammed Independent Examiner Rachel Eden ACMA, Holybrook Associates Ltd Curious Lounge, 1[st] Floor Pinnacle Building, Tudor Road, Reading, RG1 1NH Bankers Unity Trust Bank plc, Nine Brindley place, Birmingham, B1 2HB

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Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2022

The trustees present their report with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Objectives and activities

Mission statement

Slough Refugee Support is a friendly organisation committed to impartially helping all asylum seekers and refugees in Slough and surrounding areas to achieve their rights and settle with dignity in a new community.

Charitable objects

The charity was established to provide for the relief of poverty, the preservation and protection of physical and mental health, and the advancement of education of asylum seekers and refugees in Slough and neighbouring Local Authority areas, at the discretion of the trustees.

Key objectives and main activities

SRS has identified five key objectives and operates programmes designed to deliver outcomes against each objective, as follows.

1. To welcome asylum seekers and refugees in Slough and surrounding areas, and to help them to become integrated into the local community and life in the UK.

2. To assist our clients to stay safe, avoid destitution and to maintain their physical and mental health.

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3. To support our clients to achieve their rights and entitlements and to access life sustaining services provided by government and other authorities and agencies.

4. To support our clients’ own desires to be independent and self-reliant, including where appropriate to pursue opportunities for employment.

5. To celebrate and enhance the cultural richness and diversity that refugees contribute to British society, locally and nationally.

Public benefit

In setting our aims and objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Quality assurance

SRS is registered with the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to deliver Level 2 and Level 3 immigration advice. Additional Level 3 advice is available from solicitors by appointment.

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Achievements and performance

Background

Our clients are an extremely diverse mix of refugees and asylum seekers in Slough and extending into neighbouring areas of the Thames Valley, such as Windsor and Maidenhead, and into Ealing and Brent in West London. Because only limited Home Office-provided accommodation is available in this area, our clients are often ‘off the radar’ and effectively homeless or with poor security of accommodation and very limited financial means.

SRS assists people at various stages in the asylum and refugee process, including those seeking to appeal for leave to remain. Our clients often require practical advice to access basic services such as benefits, healthcare and schooling.

Services in 2021/22

The impact of the pandemic restrictions on these vulnerable people was severe and already the economic crisis facing the country is having a serious effect on many of our clients. They seek our advice relating to high bills and when they fall behind with their rent. This situation, we fear, will become more impactful as the winter approaches.

2021-22 was another challenging year regarding uncertainty and concern over Covid and its variants. Our attempts to fully open the offices have been hampered by the high level of Covid in our locality, with staff and volunteers contracting the illness. We have continued to operate an appointment system, with some senior volunteers and our caseworker meeting clients face to face, while others offered telephone advice. During the year, we dealt with clients from 26 countries speaking between them more than 20 different languages.

We were fortunate to receive key funding from the National Lottery to help us through this period and we continued to be very active with One Slough Community Response, a group of charities and individuals liaising through weekly Zoom meetings. Together with other agencies in Slough, we delivered food and essential medicines to vulnerable members of our community.

This year we were asked to support Afghan refugees who arrived in August 2021 after a harrowing exodus from Kabul airport. It has been difficult for them to settle, knowing that they have left family behind, many of whom are now living in desperate conditions. We are extremely grateful for the donations we received from the public to help us assist these ex British MoD interpreters. We are disappointed, though, that we did not receive the full complement of Afghans we had been promised by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council and that Slough Council did not take in any Afghans under the scheme.

Not unexpectedly given the amount of news coverage afforded to events in Eastern Europe, much of the attention and sympathy within the local community has switched to the refugees fleeing from the terrible war in Ukraine. At present, we are pleased to provide signpost advice to

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those Ukrainians who have safely arrived in our locality as well as to their hosts, in an attempt to help them through the layers of bureaucracy they face with which we are accustomed to dealing. At the same time, however, we must stretch ourselves and our resources to ensure that the many other refugees we are pledged to help receive the service they need.

We were pleased to be able to offer our clients the opportunity to access advice from NHS professionals as we worked in partnership with the NHS. This project aimed to ensure our clients understand and are confident in accessing the services the NHS offers them to ensure they and their families remain healthy. When weather permitted, we created outdoor opportunities and play sessions to give the children healthy activities and families the chance to socialise with both our team members and other refugee families. Both children and parents benefitted hugely from such a simple opportunity to interact in a safe environment.

Future plans

Looking ahead, we anticipate that there will be an increased need to access funding for and donations of food for our clients. We will also advise our clients on how to budget and try to resolve their debt issues as the economic crisis intensifies, as we know many of them will struggle. We are also concerned about the increasingly hostile attitude towards refugees encapsulated by the recent decision by the government to send ‘illegal’ refugees to Rwanda.

Our English classes have resumed and we plan to reopen our sewing classes in September, together with the crèche, following popular demand from our clients. We aim to continue to work in partnership with the NHS to help our clients understand and access the many services the NHS provides. The increased emphasis on inter-agency cooperation over the past year has potential benefits for the future, for example, the strengthened relationship between the SRS team and community healthcare professionals.

Financial review

The financial statements show net incoming resources for the year £81,920 (2020/21: £80,226).

Income in the year of £282,378 was 11% higher than the previous year. This was mainly due to an increase of individual donations for refugee support and funding from the NHS Covid fund. Donations from community and faith groups, local businesses and individuals comprised more than £27,000 which was a 57% increase on the previous year.

Expenditure for the year was £200,448 which was 16% higher than the previous year. Operational capacity and resources were maintained even though the deployment of staff changed from face-to-face to remote assistance modes.

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Reserves policy and sustainability

The trustees’ policy on reserves is to hold reserves sufficient to enable the charity to continue operating through fluctuations in grant funding, whilst also holding sufficient funds on hand as a contingency to be able to wind up the affairs of the charity in an orderly manner should that become necessary.

The targeted levels of reserves are reviewed annually, and the actual levels are monitored during the year. Taking account of the characteristics of the charity’s operations, the trustees’ policy has been, and remains, that the total reserve of all funds (unrestricted and restricted) shall represent approximately nine months of general expenditure whenever possible, while also being mindful of the reserve level of unrestricted funds necessary to sustain core operations and costs.

At the end of the year the charity’s total reserves (unrestricted plus restricted) were £257,304 representing just over 12 months total expenditure. This is in line with policy level of 9 months’ total expenditure; however, it should be noted that unrestricted reserves represented just over 12 months of unrestricted expenditure. The level of total reserves has increased during the year due to an increase in funding from individuals and the NHS Covid fund. The trustees anticipate that reserves may decline during the coming year due to the planned ramp-up of SRS activities to meet post-pandemic needs of our service users and the impact of the economy.

Independent Examination of Accounts

The trustees consider that the charity’s gross income in 2021/22 of £282,368 requires the accounts to be subject to an Independent Examination. The trustees do not consider that the accounts require to be audited.

Structure, Governance and Management

Slough Refugee Support is a charitable trust governed by a Trust Deed dated 2 November 1999 and as amended in December 1999, November 2002 and March 2008. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The charity is a membership organisation. Membership is open to any person with an interest in the charity’s affairs on payment of a nominal annual subscription of £1. Current and former service users are especially encouraged to be members. At the last AGM, the charity’s membership totalled 13 people.

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Board of Trustees

The charity’s board of trustees comprises up to 12 members. They are elected annually at the charity’s AGM and serve until the next AGM when they may be re-elected. The charity values diversity in its board membership and former service users are particularly encouraged to stand for election as trustees. Trustees may also be co-opted by the board to provide expertise in key areas. While there is significant turnover in board composition each year due to the annual governance cycle, in practice a number of the trustees tend to be re-elected repeatedly over several years and hence are able to provide continuity of knowledge and experience.

New trustees are given a briefing by the Chair on the role and activities of the board. They are also required to read basic guidance on charity governance including the Charity Commission’s The Essential Trustee handbook.

Management and Organisation Structure

The charity is managed by a full-time Chief Executive and employs 8 part time staff (6.5 full time equivalent).

The charity delivers much if its core work with refugees through a trained volunteer team, a number of whom are former service users. During the year more than 25 volunteers assisted the work of the charity, trained as necessary in providing advice and other services to clients.

Risk Management

The trustees review annually the most significant risks to which the charity is exposed and supervise the maintenance of appropriate policies and control measures to control those risks.

Particular attention is given to safeguarding of vulnerable service users and their children. This is covered by a specific body of safeguarding policies and procedures, reviewed annually and discussed with the board of trustees. All volunteers and staff and trustees undertake Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced certification.

A member of staff who reports directly to the Chief Executive is trained in workplace health and safety. She seeks advice from community police and the fire service to ensure our premises and working practices meet the required safety standards and she attends regular updating training. We have a Lone Working policy and have safety measures in place for outreach work.

All risk management policies and procedures are reviewed annually and meet the requirements of the charity’s certification under the Slough Quality Assurance Programme. The charity is currently working on progressing from the bronze to the silver level under the programme.

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Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare in respect of each financial year financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the trust and of its financial activities for that period.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the trust and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the board of trustees on 3[rd] October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

………………………………………….…

Jean Kelly – Chair of Trustees

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/
members of
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Slough Refugee Support Group Slough Refugee Support Group Slough Refugee Support Group
31 March 2022 Charity no
(if any)
1079776
1-2

Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true

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and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I 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 accounts to be reached.

Signed:
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:

30/09/2022
Rachel Eden
ACMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
Holy Brook Associates Ltd
Curious Lounge, 1stFloor Pinnacle Building
Tudor Road, Reading, RG1 1NH

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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).

Not applicable

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Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Page 14 of 23

Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31st March 2022

Incoming from
Donations & Legacies
3
Investments
Total incoming resources
Expenditure on
Charitable activities
Raising Funds
Total resources expended
12
Net resources before
transfers
Gross transfers between
funds
7
Reallocation of fund
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward (opening
balance)
Total funds carried
forward
2022
2021
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£
£

51,489
230,788
282,277
253,539
91
91
86
51,580
230,788
282,368
253,625
31,420
169,028
200,448
173,399
0
0
31,420
169,028
200,448
173,399
20,160
61,760
81,920
80,226
20,160
61,760
81,920
80,226
72,690
102,694
175,384
95,158
92,851
164,454
257,304
175,384

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Balance Sheet

At 31st March 2022

Fixed assets
Tangible assets
4
Current assets
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors (falling due within one year)
9
Net current assets
Total net assets
Represented by
Unrestricted Income Funds
Restricted income funds
Total funds
2022
2021
£
£
8,858
15,202
25,445
16,806
228,325
160,183
253,770
176,989
-5,323
-16,906
248,446
160,083
257,304
175,285
92,851
72,591
164,454
102,694
257,304
175,285

Approved by the Trustees on 26[th] November 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

..................................

Jean Kelly – Chair of Trustees

Notes on pages 16 to 22 are part of the financial statements.

Page 16 of 23

Notes forming part of the financial statements

1. Basis of Preparation

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.

2. Accounting Policies

a. Income

b. Expenditure

Direct costs are those that can be readily attributed to specific activities. Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Volunteer help: the value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.

Governance costs include:

c. Debtors

Debtors are income that is due but not yet received from grant funders and gift aid. Prepayments are rent and utilities, insurance, IT and telephone contracts.

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d. Cash at bank

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and bank accounts.

e. Creditors

Creditors are the amounts that charity owes at the year end. This includes income deferred to future periods.

f. Financial instruments

The charity only has assets and liabilities of an ordinary kind that qualifies as basic financial instrument.

g. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are included at cost less depreciation. Assets are capitalised if they cost at least £500. They are depreciated using the straight-line method over three or five years.

h. Leased assets

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

i. Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds represent grants, donations and other incoming resources received for the objects of the charity without specified purpose and are available as general funds. Transfers are made from this fund to meet expenditure in the restricted funds where other funding is not available. Such transfers are always agreed by the Management Committee.

From time to time, Trustees may establish designated funds out of Unrestricted Funds to meet contingencies. Currently there are two designated funds: Contingency Fund set at £10,000 is to be used to cover redundancy and other costs in the event of the closure or down-sizing of the organisation and Emergency Fund of £5,000 to be used for unexpected emergencies.

j. Restricted funds

Restricted funds are for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets the criteria is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.

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k. Legal status of the organisation

Slough Refugee Support is a Charity registered with Charity Commission in the United Kingdom with its registered Office at 28 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL1 3SR

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3. Income Received

. Income Received
Trust and Foundations
AB Charitable Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation
Berkshire Community Foundation
Big Lottery Fund
National Lottery
NHS Covid Fund
Skinners Malmesbury Foundation
BBC Trust (CIN)
Statutory Grants
Slough Borough Council - BBOS
Small Business Grant
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Slough Prevention Alliance Community
Engagement
Faith Organisations
Jamia (Masjid) Slough
Other Faith Organisations
Individual Donations and Legacies
Mr & Mrs Watson
Mr Philip Ely
Ms J Semlyen
Donations (Individuals)
Other Donations
Gift Aid
Partnership and Other Community
Organisations
Miscellaneous funds (DBS)
Miscellaneous funds (Fundraising
Activities)
Groundwork UK
Miscellaneous funds (Welfare )
Stewardship Fund
UCB Pharma Limited
Clothworkers Fund
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2022
2021
£
£


15,000
15,000
-
-
10,000
-
6,000
47,400
47,400
-
-
86,712
80,000
80,000
-
4,000
-
4,127
15,000
127,400
142,400
110,839
46,962
46,962
51,022
-
5,000
52,385
52,385
39,462
-
-
14,634
-
99,347
99,347
110,119
500
500
1,000
1,858
1,858
-
2,358
-
2,358
1,000
2,500
2,500
2,500
0
1,000
10,000
10,000
-
10,989
10,989
8,952
709
709
2,667
1,264
1,264
1,627
25,462
-
25,462
16,746
1,588
1,588
666
72
72
-
500
500
500
50
50
2,000
5,100
5,100
-
2,000
2,000
-
-
2,700

Page 20 of 23

Holloway University
Helden Project
Cash 4 Clubs
Co-op
Clothes Bags 2 School
8,760
Total
51,580
4. Fixed Assets
Cost
At 1 April 2021
Additions
At 31 March 2022
Depreciation
At 1 April 2021
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2022
Net Book Values
At 1 April 2021
Additions
At 31 March 2022
5. Debtors
Debtors
Prepayments
Total
6. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Creditors
Pay and PAYE
Deferred Income
Accruals
-
470
-
6,000
1,000
1,000
500
1,312
1,312
2,085
1,179
1,179
-
8,760 4,041
12,801
14,921
51,580 230,788
282,368
253,625
2022
2021
£
£
24,840
9,700
-
15,141
24,840
24,840
9,638
6,002
6,344
3,636
15,982
9,638
15,202
3,698
6,345
11,505
8,858
15,202
2022
2021
£
£
24,107
13,939
1,338
2,867
25,445
16,806
2022
2021
£
£
692
515
3,281
-
-
15,378
1,350
1,012
5,323
16,906

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7. Restricted Funds

Activities
Advice and Support
Employment Support
Family Support
Family Support (Resettlement)
Core
Balance
01.04.2021
Additions
Outgoings
Transfers
Balance
31.03.2022
£
£
£
£
£
18,198
4,969
8,264
14,903
15,228
41,368
35,662
20,934
8,310
5,028
13,488
-150
42,894
51,522
53,003
41,413
18,066
127,900
58,612
87,354
102,694
230,788
169,028
-
164,454

8. Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds

Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
Fixed
Assets
Net
Current
Assets
2022
Total
£
£
£
164,454
164,454
8,858
83,992
92,850
8,858
248,446
257,304
2021 Total
£
102,694
72,591
175,286

9. Staff Costs

. Staff Costs
Salaries (incl. NIC, ENI & Tax)
Pension Contribution
Payroll services & distribution costs
Total paid staff
Trustee expenses
Other volunteer expenses
Staff and volunteer training
Total Volunteer
2022
2021
£
£
144,123
124,419
5,560
4,712
870
1,488
150,553
130,619
-
-
138
435
1,135
1,043
1,273
1,478

During the financial year, the charity employed 6.5 full-time equivalent members of staff and 31 volunteers. No employee received benefits of more than £38,000 per year.

10. Trustees’ Remuneration and Expenses

No remuneration, directly or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity was paid or was payable for the year to any trustee or to any person known to be connected to any trustee. No amounts were reimbursed to any trustee during the year.

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11. Obligations Under Leases

The amount of non-cancellable operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the year ending 31 March 2022 was £806.

ear ending 31 March 2022 was £806.
Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years
Later than five years
2022
2021
£
£
806
866
806
1,613
-
-
1,612
2,479

12. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions (2021/22: nil).

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