Charity Registration Number.. 1096874 BEDFORDSHIRE REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT(BRASSI TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL5TATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Legal and Administrative Information Report of the Trustees Independent Ex3mtner5 Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements Page 3 Pages 4-6 Page 7 PaEe 8 Page 9 Pages 10-13
LEGAL ANDADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION CHARITY NAME: Bedfurdshlre Rèfugee and Asylum Seekersupport OTHER NAMECHARITY IS KNOWN BY.. BRASS REGISTERED CHARITYNUM8ER.- 1096874 CHARITY'5 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS.. 27B Tavistock Street 8edford MK40 2RB NAMES OFTHECHARITrTRUSTEES WHO MANAGE THE CHARITY Victoria Hilliard Cathy Moorhouse- Left 30th August 2024 Morris Johns Chair since 3rd July 2020 Sanja Radic James 8iggs Cass Howes Jo Tester Eric Ma5ih PROjEc0-oRD1NAT0R Brian Cunningham BANKERS R85 8edford 8ranch 15-19 Mill Street Bedford MK40 3EU Main current aCCOLtnt held since May 2021.. The Co-operative 8ank Delf House Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
REPORTOF THE TRU5T£ES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The Trustees of the charity present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Prattice ISORP 2005). From April 2024 to March 2025 finance meetings and Trustee meerings were held quarterly. attended by the Chair. Committee Members and staff. 8RASS employs a Projett Co-ordinator to oversee day to day business and to provide specialist advice, a part-time Benefits and Integration Adviser, two Employment and Immigration Advisers, a Finance Manager. Finance Officer. Fundraiser and Admin Officer. Much of the charity's work is undèrtaken by a team of dedicated volunteers. The National Lottery Commuftity Fund 15 part funding costs of thè following p05t5- the Project Co-ordinator, the Admin Officer, the Benefits Adviser and the Immigration Adviser A further two year grant was awarded by Harpur Trust from October 2024 to support the cost$ of the part-time posts of the Finance Manager & Finance Officer, as well as the Integration Adviser salary costs. East of England Local Government Association IEELGAI is funding the costs of the Employment Adviser posts. We thank Wixamtree Trust for their continued ongoing support for funding. A150, we would like to thank The Steel Trust, Gale Family Charity Trust, 29th Mèy 1961 charitable Trust and Margaret Brereton for providing unrestricted funding. We would like to thank all our funders for their ongoing support. OBJECTIVES AND REVIEW OF ACTIVITIE5 The charity is an established non-political, voluntary organisation working to empower, inform and support refugees and asylum Seekers and their families, protert their rights and enable them to develop their independence and involvement in UK society. Specifically the charity was established for the benefit of refugees a nd asylum seekers in the County of Bedfordshire to asslst in the relief of poverty. hardship or distress. Service5 are delivered from a local government owned property in Bedford town centre which 15 leased by BRASS. BRASS continues to have strong working relationships with local organisation5 providing advice so that individuals can get support from the organi5ations best placed to offer it. Luton Law Centre and Luton law firms have qualified 501icitor5 and ase woikers who take referrals from 8RA55 and provide telephonè support to BRA55 advisors. BRASS also works with the University of Bedfordshire Law Department to assist refiJgee5 Wlth family reunification applications. BRASS works with the Citizen5 ALlvice Bureau to cross refer clients and makes referr21s to the local MP who, in specific cases, helps with repsentatIOnS to the Home Office. Referrals are received from Children's Services which is iesponsible for unaccompanied asylum Seekers under the age ol 18, The Community Voluntary SeThice ICVSI provides a regu13r supply of enthusiastic and committed volunteer5 and the Charity continue5 to receive invalu2hle slJPPOrt from the Bedford Borough Council. 8RAS5 works in partnership with both local and national charities. Advice and sUPPOrt are provided by the Refugee Council, which is the largest refugee agency in the UK. and Migrant Help. We are 3150 a registered referrer for Bedford Food 8ank. BRASS seeks to 5UPPOrt the local voluntsry sector and work towards financial self-sustainability. 8RA5S is focused on working in partnership with other organisations to share knowledge and skills. prevent duplication, maxirnise effectiveness. cut costs and share facilities. On behalf of the Trustees of 8RASS I can confirm that in carrying out our financial review we have considered and complied with our duty to have due regard to the Charity Cornmi55ion'5 guidance on public benefit.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE During the last financial year BRASS has SLFPPOrted 949 clients. We seek to support our client group's changing needs- the changes to the Benèfrts system and ever increasing complexity of immigration applications h35 increased demands for our services. Creating evisa accounts was much more in demand this reporting year because the Home Office rèplaced Biometric Residence Permit5 IBRPS) with online immigration status records called eVi5a. Most 8RPs had an expiry date of 31 Decernber 2024, and hence, there was 3 sudden demand to create eV15a accounts, We have had increasing numbers of clients w¥th housing problern5 and needing help with the comKklexitie5 of joining the Social housing waiting lists. We continue attending to our advice sessions three days a week, from 10am-2prr. We a150 offer appointments Wlth our Immigratlon and Employmertt Athisers and with our Benefits AdviseT. From April 2024 to March 2025 we were part of the Employment for Overseas Nationals IEONI project for the wholè of Bedfordshire including in asylum hotels. The aim of the project was to prornote effective integration by actions that support access to the labour market for overseas nationals in the East of England in order to deliver better employment outcomes. We worked with refugeès and Ukrainians. and in additio we worked with asylum seekers before a decision was taken to assist them with the transition if they are granted asylum. Our target wos to work with 100 client5 but we exceeded that by registering 137 clients, with just over 50Y. being asylum seekefs. During the year we had 59 students attending classe5 Wlth 13 volunteers providing English as a Secondlother Language lessons, amounting to a total of 399 lessons. In April wè took over 50 people from the Sharnbrook Hotel to the RaptDr Foundation and in August we had our annual seaside visit to Hunstanton. Refugee Week market stall was a success and the Football tournament at Russell Park was well attended a nd 3 great community èvent. We a150 had Christmas party for our clients and another at the Higgins Museum for the Sharnbrook residents.
Report ofthe Trustees cont'd.... FINANCIAL REVIEW As in previous years, BRASS is very fortunate to have received funding from various different sources this year. During this year, we have received funding from: The National Lottery Community Fund Harpur Trust Wiyamtree Trust Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation The Garfield Weston Foundation East of England Local Government A550Clation (this is now called Local Government Eastl Lottery Awards for All 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust 6edfordshire Charitable Trust Postcode Places Trust The Hilden Charitable Fund Gale Family Charity Trust We thank all of our funders for their continued ongoing sUPPOrt this year. Total Incoming Resources during the financial year were £196,497, almost 3% increase on the previous year. This has been used to provide funding to cover all our existing posts which are all filled and other direct costs and overhead5. We are well on our way to completing funding for next year. We have a new fundraiser who started this year and have accessed 3 new funding sources and have other bids submitted awaiting results. Cost5 Increased this year by approximately 6Yo to £187,957 mainly due to an increase in staff pay and overheads. FINANCIAL REVIEW RESERVES POLICY. BRASS reserve5 as 31st March 2025, were £118,465. Of these funds £41,213 were restricted funds, the remaining £72,252 were unrestricted funds. The Trustee Board have established a policy whereby it aims to maintain sufficient unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets and not required to meet future budgeted expenditure, being the 'lree reserves. to be sufficient to support the future growth of the charity and provide sufficient reserve5 for dealing with possible contingencies such as short-term cessation of project activity or redundancv. Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by.. Morris johns, Chair Date..
INDEPENDENTEXAMINER'S REPORTTO THETRUSTEES OF BEDFOROSHIRE REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER SVPPORT I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 as set out on pages 7 to 12 This report is made 501ely to the charity's trustees, as a body, In accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 I'the 2011 Aey). My work has been undertaken so that I might State to the charity'5 trustees those matters l am required to State to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept Of assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustee5 as a body, for my work. for this report, or lor the opinions I have formed. Respectwe responsibilities of trustees and examiner The chaiity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144121 of the 2011 Act and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the financial statements under section 145 of the 2011 Act,. to follow the procedures laid down in the Generol Dirertions gwen by the Charity Comrnissioa under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination wa5 carried out in accordance with the Gener81 Directlons given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the 2ccounting rècords kept by the charity and a compari50n of the financial statements presented with those recDrds. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and sèeking explanation5 from you as tTU5tees concerning any such marrers_ The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, 3nd consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair Vie and the report is lirnited to those matters set out in rhe statement below. Independent examiner's 5taternent In connection with rny examination, no matter has come to my attention., 11 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respèct the requirements". to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and cornply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act,. have not been met.. or 21 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial staternents to be reached. john Esam Mayfield Lodge l Main Road. 8iddenham MK404BB Dated.. 2025
ST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTivinES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 Incoming Rèsource5 Note Unrestrirted Funds Restri<ted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Grants receivable Donations and other fund-raising activities Investment income Other income 46,430 3,326 405 1.473 142,863 2,000 189,293 5,326 405 1,473 181.156 6,088 375 3,300 Total Incoming Resources 51,634 144,863 196A97 190.919 Resources Expended Costs of generating funds Charitable activities Governance costs Total Resources Expended Net I n£omingl Ioutgoingl Resources 11,550 23,628 107 11.550 176,300 107 9,300 166,234 39 175,573 15,346 152,672 35,285 16,349 152,672 17,8091 187,957 8.540 Funds brought forward 70,033 39,892 109,925 94,579 Transfers between f4Jnds 19.130) 9.130 Funds carried forward 77,252 41.213 118.465 109.925 All of the charity's activities are derived from the continuing operations during the two periods above.
BALANCE SHEET AT 31sf MARCH 2025 Note Unre5trirted Funds Restrirted Funds Total Total 2025 2024 Tangible assets 554 SS4 1,267 Current Assets Debtors and Prepayments 11,219 11.219 30,316 Cash and Bankin hand 76,698 32,814 109,512 85,916 Total Current Assets 76.698 44,033 120,731 116,232 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 2.820 2,820 7,574 Net Current Assets 76,698 41,213 117,911 108,658 Net Assets 77,252 41.213 118,465 109,925 Fvnds of the Charity Restricted funds io 41,213 41,213 39,732 Unrestricted & Restrirted capital reserve Designated fund5 554 554 1.267 529 529 775 Total funds 77.252 41,213 118,465 109,925 Trustees, responsibilitie5 The trustees acknowledge their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Charity Commission and confirm that the account5 have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities ISORP 20051 and Charities Act 2011. Approved by the trustees and signed on theif behalf by.. Name...
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENOEO 31ST MARCH 2025 l. Accounting Policies Statement of compliance The financial statements have been prepared on the basi5 of historic cost and in accordance with the applicable United Kingdom Reporting Standards. the Charities Att 2011 and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice ISORP 2(J)51. Basls of Preparatlon A5 permitted by SORP 2005 thè trustees have adapted the heading used to dèscribe Incoming Resources and Resources Expended within the Statement of Firsancial Activities when presenting the results for the year. INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources are recognised when receNed or ceiVable by the charity. Income is derived from fund raising actlvities. donations. Grants are recognised on receipt or award unless, in the judgement of the trustees, condition5 attached to the grant make it improbable that they will be received. RESTRIED FUNDS Restricted funds are to be used for a specific purpose a5 laid down by the donor. Expenditu which meets these criteria 45 identified against the fund. UNRESTRicfED FUNDS Unrestricted fund5 are incoming resources received or receivable generated for charitable purposes and avarlable for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the generèl objectives of the charity and have not been designated for other purpose5. Paid Employees BRASS employs a Project Co-ordinator to oversee day to day busine55 and to provide specialist a(fvice, a part-time Benef its Adviser and Integration officer, two Employment and Immigration Advisers, a Finance Manaser, a Finance Officer, a Fundraiser and an Admin Officer. Much of the chariVs work is carried out by a team of dedicated volunteers. Trustee Expenses There were no payments or reimbursements made to a ny trustees during the financi31 year. Fixed Assets sets with a useful life of more than two years are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful life. Depreciation on computer equipment is tharged at 33% on a straight line basis. Fixed Assets funded by capital grants are capitalised and a restricted capitsl reserve created. The reserve is reduced by the depieciation charge. io
NOTESTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315r MARCH 2025 2.Property & Operating Leases il Operating Lease Commitments - Nil. liilThe annual commitment for the land and building5 lease amounts to £10,686, IE9.688 in 20231241, where the term remaining is between one and five yeir5. There are no further lease commitments. Rent charge5 have increased for the current year. 3. Incoffle from grant5. donations and legacies ijnrestricted Restrirted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 Grants receivable 46,430 142.863 189,293 181,531 Donations and other fund raising activities 3,326 2,000 5.326 6,088 49,756 144.863 194.619 187.619 4. Resources Ejtpended Unrestrltted Rertricted Total Totsl Funds Funds 2025 2024 Staff payroll costs 3,253 135,843 139.096 115,174 Volunteer expenses & training 11151 11151 394 staff travel & training 848 848 840 Social worker 2.549 Rent, rates & in5ur3 nce (Note 21 4,406 7,378 11.784 13,135 IT. telephone & internet 756 4,000 4,756 4,824 utilities. cleaning & maintena nce. 7,776 7,776 4,204 Starionery, printing & postage 599 825 1,424 1.943 Publications & subscriptions 595 595 309 Web & promotional costs 716 716 179 Client outings & welfare costs 622 3.466 4,088 2,587 Depreciation 554 160 714 1,335 Governance costs 107 107 572 Other expenses 15,168 1,000 16,168 17,235 rotal 35.285 152,672 187,957 165,280 li
NOTES TO THE FINA14CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Computer Equipment 5. FixedA%sets Cost At l April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 16,S32 16.532 Depreciation At l April 2024 Charge for year At 31 March 2025 Net Book Value At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2025 15,265 713 15,978 1,267 554 6. Debtorsand prepayments due within one year 2025 2024 Debtors Prepaymentsand accrued income 11,219 11,219 30,316 30.316 7. Creditors and accruals duewithin one year 2025 2024 Creditors Deferred incorne Accruals 30 30 2.7 2,820 7,544 7,574 . Staff Costs 2025 2024 Gr055 wages Employer5 National Insurancecosts Employers National Insurance rebate Pensioncosts 128.45Q 9,482 15,0001 6,164 121.366 8.535 15,0001 5,821 139.096 130.722 Duringtheyear BRASS employed,. one full-time employee and seven pary-time employee5. No employee earned more than E60,000. 12
NOTES TOTHE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 9. Restricted Infome Fund5 as at March 31st Z025 FunLf Name Purpose and restriction The money is part funding the salary costs of the Project Co-ordinator, the Admin Officer, the Benefi'ts Adviser and the Immigration Adviser. This fund is used to pay for beneficiary events and days out. A two-year grant was awarded from October 2024 to support part of the Salary costs of the part-time posts of the Finance Manager, Finance Assistsnt and the Integration Adviser. East of England Local Government Association liiil These restricted funds are funding the Ernployment Support work. 8edfordshire & Luton Comrnunity Fund This money has fu nded part of the rent overheads cost. National Lottery Community Fund lil Lottery Awards for all lil lal Harpur Trust lill 10.Movement ol Major Funds Balance at 1st April 2024 Incoming Outgoing resources resources TransfÈrs Balance at 31st March 2025 Fund Name Other 70,033 51,634 135,2851 19,1301 77,252 Unrestricted Funds 70.032 51,634 135,2851 19. 1301 77,252 Bedfordshire and Luton Comrnunity Trust East Df England Local Government As50ciatioll 2,378 5,000 17,3781 29,585 42,238 138,2S61 33,537 Big Lottery lil 65,625 171,2061 5,S81 Lottery Awards for All lil (al 6,420 13,4661 2,954 Harpkjr Trust Iiil 12,1031 30,000 130,1761 2.279 Panacea Trust 11,2701 1,270 Small restricted grants 4,722 2,000 12,0001 4,722 39,732 144,863 1152,5121 9,130 41,213 Restricted capital reserve 160 11601 Restricted Fu nds 39,892 L44,863 1152,6721 9, 130 41.213 109,925 196,497 1187.9571 118,465 13