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2021-01-31-accounts

Roma Support Group

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31 January 2021

Charity registation - 1103782

Company number - 04645981

Robert Czibi - collage

Front page - Estera (age 15) GRTHM art competition winner

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

Contents

Contents
Legal and administrative information 4
Trustees annual report 5
Reference and administrative details 5
Acknowledgements 5
Structure, governance and management 5
Objectives and activities 7
Achievements and performance 8
Plans for the future 15
Financial review 16
Statement of board of Trustees’ repsonsibilities 16
Independent auditor’s report 18
Statement of fnancial activities 22
Balance sheet 23
Notes to the fnancial statements 24

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Legal and administrative information

Charity name

Roma Support Group

Charity registration no.

1103782

Company registration no.

04645981

Registered office

17 Old Ford Road London E2 9PJ

Trustees

Prof. Thomas Acton OBE Ms Roza Kotowicz Ms Anthea Wormington Mr Peter Norton Mr Robert Czibi Ms Sharon Elliott Ms Dragica Felja Ms Michaela Jarosinska Mr Cornel Rezmives Mr Mircea Rostas Mr Michael Tarnoky Mr Leon Wisniewski

Patron Chair Treasurer Secretary

Company secretary

Sylvia Ingmire

Bank

HSBC Bank PLC 39 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 2AR

Independent auditor

Ferguson Maidment & Co 8th Floor 167 Fleet Street London EC4A 2EA

Accountants

Andy Nash Accounting & Consultancy Ltd Units 24 & 25, Goodsheds Container Village Hood Road Barry CF62 5QU

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Trustees annual report

The Board of Trustees, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, and Trustees for charity law purposes, submit their annual report and the financial statements of Roma Support Group for the year ended 31 January 2021. The Board of Trustees confirms that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with current statutory requirements, including the Charity Act 2011, as well as the requirements of the Charity’s governing document and the provisions of the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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) second edition (effective 1st January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.

Reference and administrative details

Legal and administrative details are shown on page 4 of the annual report, including a full list of the Trustees who served the Charity during the period up until the date of the signing of this report.

Acknowledgements

The achievements of the past year would not be possible without the support from the following organisations: Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, Aston-Mansfield, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Barrow Cadbury Trust Covid-19 Support Fund, BBC Children in Need, City Bridge Trust, Henry Smith Charity, Home Office, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, New Philanthropy Capital’s Transition Advice Fund, Odin Charitable Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Jack Petchey Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Respond and Adapt Programme. We would also like to acknowledge the generous donation from Mr and Mrs Chris & Joyce Pountain.

Structure, governance and management

The Roma Support Group (RSG) is a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 23 January 2003 and registered as a charity on the 17th May 2004. It is governed by its Articles of Association adopted by a special resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting on the 16 November 2017.

The RSG has an active and experienced Management Committee (MC) that is voted for at the Annual General Meeting. No person other than a Trustee retiring by rotation shall be appointed or reappointed at any AGM unless s/he is recommended by the Trustees or notice is given by a member who is qualified to vote at the meeting proposing that person for appointment or reappointment, not less than 14 not more than 35 days before the date of the meeting. The Articles of Association of Roma Support Group determines methods of appointment, retirement, disqualification and removal of Trustees (clause 34 - 42). There are no provisions in the Articles of Association that entitle any external body or person to appoint Trustee(s).

None of the members of the MC/ Trustees have any beneficial interest in the company and guarantee to contribute £10 in the event of winding up.

The RSG implements an Induction Policy and Staff Development Policy, which also applies to members of the Management Committee. These were agreed on the 2nd December 2002 and are reviewed annually. The RSG’s Chief Executive has prepared a MC Handbook, which is updated annually and given to all our MC Members/Trustees. This Handbook enables Trustees to have all information regarding the Charity, its history, mission, aims, service delivery, governing documents, annual accounts, etc. It also describes the duties and responsibilities of the Management Committee as a governing body of the Charity, as well as the duties and responsibilities of the MC Chief Officers and other MC Members/ Trustees. In addition to this, every new MC Member receives an induction from the RSG’s Chief Executive and an existing MC Member.

In order to continuously improve the effectiveness of the MC and the Charity, we have developed a Training Development Programme for MC Members/ Trustees depending on their individual and collective needs and/or changes from both within and outside the RSG.

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Organisational structure

As noted above, the work of the RSG is managed and developed by an elected MC, which comprises of Roma and non-Roma members/ Trustees. On the date of the signing of this report there were 13 members of the Management Committee, including the Chief Executive, who meet every 2 months. The MC oversees the current work/action plan of the Charity and sets the strategic agenda for the following year.

Specialist sub-committees are created, if necessary, to undertake specific tasks, such as developing and overseeing fundraising strategies; the infrastructure of the organisation; or supporting the development of new projects. These groups report to and are governed by the Management Committee.

The RSG’s work is organised and supervised by the Chief Executive, who is responsible to the Board of Trustees (MC), ensuring effective co-operation between the Trustees, staff members and volunteers. The Chief Executive prepares bi-monthly reports for the MC and bears responsibility for the running of the various teams, centres and projects.

Members of staff are responsible for their own work within clear boundaries with on-going support and supervision from the Chief Executive. The staff members are responsible to the Chief Executive.

The RSG also employs a part-time Deputy Manager, who is line managed by the Chief Executive and who shares the responsibility for line-management of selected members of staff and volunteers.

Volunteers are responsible to the relevant project workers and/or to the Chief Executive.

Whilst the structure of the organisation is hierarchical with the Management Committee making final decisions, in practice the RSG’s decision-making process is characterised by mutual influence. The RSG organises policy and strategy planning days, which involve Trustees and staff members, giving them an opportunity to review organisational aims, objectives and activities, as well as plan future developments and the ways to achieve them.

Volunteers

The RSG has been able to achieve much more than its resources would allow thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. They are responsible to and supervised by the relevant project workers, the Deputy Manager or the Chief Executive. The RSG has developed a Volunteer Training Programme for each service area and implements a Volunteer Policy in line with good practice guidelines.

During 2020-21, 40 volunteers helped with all our projects, e.g., Advice & Advocacy, Aspiration, Mental Health, Policy & Campaigning projects, as well as online activities, website, graphic design, interpreting and administration. Furthermore, the RSG has benefited from its partnership with the Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, which enables us to host volunteers from an EU country on a full-time basis for the duration of one year.

During the last year our volunteers have contributed an average 113 hours per week, which equals the manpower of 3.2 (Full Time Equivalent) members of staff.

Risk assessment

The Trustees have conducted their own review of the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of a strategic plan, which allows for the diversification of funding activities whilst reviewing our aims and strategies every four years.

As such, most projects are administered in a matrix system, funded as ‘stand-alone’ projects – should funding be withdrawn for any one project, other RSG projects will continue unhindered. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects, and to ensure consistent quality of service for all operational aspects of the charitable company. These procedures are consistently reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the Charity.

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Objectives and activities

Aims and objectives

The principal aims of the Roma Support Group are to:

• improve the quality of life and combat the social exclusion of Roma refugees and migrants by providing advocacy and advice regarding access to health, education, welfare, housing, money management, employability, etc;

• empower Roma communities with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to challenge any discrimination that might prevent them from integrating into UK society and fulfilling their potential;

• raise awareness and help build an understanding of Roma culture, heritage and the significant challenges, which the Roma community face in the UK today;

The Roma Support Group’s objects are stated in our governing document, as follows:

Object 1

The relief of poverty by the provision of free advice and assistance to Roma people and other persons, who, for reasons of poverty would otherwise be unable to obtain such advice.

Object 2

To advance education and training of those Roma and other persons in need thereof as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.

Object 3

To advance the education of the public about Roma arts, culture and history.

Object 4

The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons, who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances.

Public beneft

The Board of Trustees have complied with their duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on the public benefit of the Charity.

The Board of Trustees has concluded that:

• the aims of the organisation continue to be charitable;

• the aims and work done, give identifiable benefits to the Roma community and both indirectly and directly to the individuals in need;

• the benefits are for public, are not unreasonably restricted in any way and certainly not by their ability to pay;

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’ - Roma Support Group s main objectives for the year 2020 2021 and strategies for achieving them:

• Continuation and development our existing frontline projects to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on our beneficiaries;

• Developing our local and national Policy, Information and Campaigning work in order to empower Roma communities and strengthening our effectiveness and capacity to influence policy and decision makers;

• Strengthening the sustainability of the organisation by implementing the Roma Support and Engagement Programme, which enables us to share our expertise and models of good practice with statutory and non-statutory agencies and develop our enterprising skills;

• Promoting an understanding of Roma culture and history, as well as sharing models of good practice through the delivery of our training, consultancy work and commissioned interventions, as well as dissemination of our reports and educational resources;

• Implementing our fundraising strategy to ensure the continuity of frontline services in the areas of advice & advocacy, education support, aspiration, as well as art/ culture, policy and campaigning projects.

Achievements and performance

The Roma Support Group’s activities were planned and delivered to fulfil the Charity’s aims and objectives. They are underpinned by its commitment to equal opportunities and carried out for the public benefit. In planning the activities for the year, the Trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. In serving the aims and objectives of the RSG, the Charity offered the following services during the last year:

Advice, Advocacy, Policy, Campaigning & Engagement

Our frontline Advice and Advocacy support enables Roma beneficiaries to overcome some of the problems, which they face every day. Last year we focused on delivering emergency support in response to the Covid-19 crisis helping them to overcome issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic, including destitution, homelessness, unemployment, as well as health/ education inequalities.

Due to the pandemic, we have transformed all our face-to-face services to be delivered via phone and online, thus increasing our geographical reach beyond the London region and making them accessible for Roma community members UK-wide.

The Covid-19 emergency funding has enabled us to adapt and respond to the crisis by producing online information keeping our beneficiaries and Roma communities across the UK well informed about Covid-19 restrictions, rules and available support.

Last year, 3,739 Roma refugees and migrants directly benefitted from our frontline support services and approximately 86,490 people have accessed our online information which helped them navigate through the crisis.

Roma Financial Inclusion Project aims to increase financial inclusion of Roma people in London, enabling them to navigate post-Brexit migration/ benefit systems, exercise their welfare rights, and enhance their confidence to manage their money.

Last year, 241 beneficiaries were supported with one-to-one advice and advocacy sessions to:

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We organised 2 consultation meetings attended by 21 beneficiaries to identify their training needs and 6 training sessions held online and attended via Zoom/watched on Facebook by 14,134 beneficiaries, covering: EUSS, Covid-19, access to welfare (Self-employed Income Support Scheme, Test & Trace self-isolation payments, food banks); Energy costs (switching suppliers, Warm Home Discount, payment methods, smart meters, understanding bills); Covid rules (staying safe and avoiding fines for non-compliance); 2021 Census (how to complete and avoid fines).

The Project also delivered bi-monthly peer-support sessions which enabled 48 beneficiaries to explore the link between debt and mental health, saving money on phone/ internet costs, staying safe from money scams, financial support for carers, and completing the 2021 Census.

Furthermore, we produced and disseminated online information material and leaflets in English and community languages (including Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanes) on Warm Home Discount, Census, Covid-19 rules, EUSS application process and deadline, Carer’s Allowance and other support for carers, reaching over 18,000 people.

100% of beneficiaries of our one-to-one advice & advocacy sessions, community training and peer-support work, reported being:

Covid-19 Emergency Support Projects enabled us to help an additional 246 beneficiaries through the delivery of one-to-one advice sessions focusing on: accessing emergency support including food banks; distribution of supermarket vouchers for families in need; helping with costs of burials and repatriations of bodies; accessing and navigating the welfare system; supporting rough sleepers to access housing and find employment; and informing people about their housing rights.

We have also delivered online training sessions on welfare support and Covid-19 restrictions, and produced/ distributed information materials in community languages reaching over 3,000 via Facebook.

Many of our beneficiaries are facing barriers when accessing public services, such as language, illiteracy, digital exclusion and not being able to navigate complex systems (including the welfare system) without support. This project helped to address these inequalities not only by offering one-to-one advice and community training but also by helping beneficiaries to access digital platforms and linking them to other services.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Advocacy Project: We have been a member of a pan-London partnership led by Crisis, which involves 9 organisations working with EU citizens across homelessness and migration sectors. The aim of this initiative was to maximise the number of vulnerable and at-risk EU citizens to make EU Settlement Scheme applications, including homeless people, those at risk of becoming homeless and other categories of vulnerable individuals.

Last year, we informed 10,185 Roma migrants about the EUSS through our online information sessions, videos and workshops in community centres and schools. These workshops were delivered in collaboration with the Public Interest Law Centre, Settled and New Europeans, whose legal expertise has empowered Roma community members and enhanced their knowledge about the EUSS process and its requirements.

As a result of this work, last year, we supported 527 Roma people to apply for EUSS by offering language and technical assistance, helping to obtain documents to prove their identity and residence in the UK and effectively helped to submit 234 EUSS applications (147 applications for pre-settled status and 87 for settled status).

Roma Mental Health Advocacy Project aims to:

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Annual report and financial statements

During the pandemic, the intersection of physical and mental health became even more evident, therefore we offered a more flexible approach and also supported beneficiaries with issues related to their physical health. Furthermore, we provided Covid-19 related information that had been approved by the Government and the NHS.

Last year, the Project supported 220 beneficiaries exceeding our annual target by 214%. The key focus of these sessions was supporting beneficiaries’ mental health needs through booking appointments with GPs, mental health professionals and interpreters, raising issues related to prescribed medication, making suitable referrals to relevant external services and providing information about mental health support and treatments available.

In addition to our one-to-one advocacy, we also organised 11 Peer Support and mental health awareness sessions which were co-delivered with health professionals and attended by 31 beneficiaries. The sessions provided an opportunity for beneficiaries to meet digitally during lockdowns and share their anxieties, increase awareness, and learn how to cope with mental health difficulties that arose as a result of the pandemic.

Furthermore, we disseminated leaflets – co-produced with our beneficiaries - to convey information about mental health and means of accessing support and treatment via email, WhatsApp and Facebook and regularly produced online content through our website and social media channels in different community languages. This included up-to-date information about Covid-19, Government guidelines and mental health care during the pandemic, making this information accessible to thousands of Roma across the UK. At least 500 people on Facebook viewed our posts and approximately 3,500 viewed our videos.

As a result of the Project’s activities,

The Project’s activities were vital during the pandemic as we were able to outreach beneficiaries via phone and provide one-to-one advocacy and emotional support. Our beneficiaries told us that our services have had a significant impact on their ability to adjust to the “new normal”, which in turn improved their overall wellbeing, ability to cope with problems and access relevant support digitally.

The Project also supported 112 professionals in their work with Roma patients. We worked closely with 68 professionals from CCGs, primary and secondary mental health services, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), Access and Brief Treatment teams and Recovery Teams in different London boroughs.

Additionally, we engaged with 59 professionals through our training seminars enhancing their understanding of Roma culture and health needs.

We have worked with ThriveLDN and Healthwatch Newham to provide feedback on mental health service provision during the pandemic and promote improvements in service delivery to Roma patients.

90% of mental health professionals directly involved in supporting our beneficiaries reported improved engagement with their Roma patients as a result of our collaboration.

Roma Policy and Campaigning Project aims to promote the fair treatment of Roma refugees and migrants in the UK and address the disadvantages and discrimination they face.

Roma people are among the EU citizens most at risk from Brexit, both of losing their immigration status in the UK and of not being able to access their rights, therefore, one of our priorities is to maximise opportunities for Roma migrants to be permanently resident in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme

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(EUSS).

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to increased vulnerability and need for support among Roma communities, and created new barriers for Roma people to access services. Our policy and campaigning team has been working to ensure that the Roma perspective is represented in national and local discussions on immigration, education and health policy, and that members of the community are able to talk about their lived experienced to decision-makers.

Last year, our work focused on:

b) Communicating and campaigning with Roma communities to raise their awareness about the EUSS;

c) Collaborating with advocacy/ campaigning/ legal groups and voluntary organisations to raise their awareness about concerns shared by Roma communities with regards to the EUSS and to enable them to provide support to Roma communities;

d) Influencing and raising awareness of decision makers at local, regional and national levels on the issues concerning the Roma community and the EUSS.

Re: a) As the pandemic created panic, confusion and fear throughout Roma communities across Britain, we have created videos and other resources for Roma communities on Covid-19 rules, restrictions, government’s responses/support, messages from community leaders, etc. Roma advocates, church and community leaders have helped us to share Covid-19 information within their communities.

We worked with our beneficiaries, as well as Roma-led and Roma-supporting NGOs across the UK to consult and support them through the crisis, co-facilitating community meetings with local authorities, central Government, health agencies and civil society groups to raise awareness of Roma inequalities and risks and co-shape their strategies and action plans for supporting Roma communities during and after the pandemic.

We have designed a survey distributed to our beneficiaries and other Roma-led NGOs to assess the impact of Covid-19 on Roma families and their access to public services, the result of which was used by us to create a toolkit and recommendations to local authorities and other public services. The Project has also drawn attention to concerns regarding the Roma in the Covid 19 context through the media.

Re: b) As the implementation of the Project was affected by the crisis, our face-to-face work with Roma communities was replaced with engagement through online platforms and social media channels reaching over 180,000 people. We have created videos and other resources for Roma communities in community languages on EUSS, some of which were produced in partnership with GLA, Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), New Europeans and explored themes around the difference between Pre-Settled and Settled Status, EUSS application process (step-by-step), and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Furthermore, during the pandemic, we have increased our outreach through working closely with church leaders, Roma advocates and Roma professionals in different regions, who have helped us to assist vulnerable people and share EUSS information within their communities via online platforms. Just one of such events – organised in partnership with Luton Roma Trust and Polish Migrants Organise for Change (POMOC) was viewed by 12,000 people. The Project has also drawn attention to concerns regarding the Roma community in the EUSS context through the media.

Re: c) The Project has continued to coordinate and facilitate the Roma EUSS Network to address concerns regarding the EUSS’ impact on Roma migrants, share good practice and discuss strategies to increase the chances for as many Roma as possible to make EUSS applications before the deadline. In June 2020, the Project has published the Brexit, EU Settlement Scheme and the Roma Communities in the UK report based on the findings identified through collaboration with the Roma EUSS Network. The Network has developed a campaign for more EUSS support for Roma communities and proposed changes to EUSS digital-only status highlighting the risks it presents for Roma communities.

The Project has facilitated and supported research around the EUSS and Roma, including collaboration between Liverpool University and the Roma EUSS network, which focused on the issues of Roma children in relation to the EUSS and British citizenship, as well as research implemented by New Europeans looking

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at the EUSS digital-only status for Roma communities and elderly people.

Our EUSS toolkit for organisations and local authorities on how to engage and support Roma communities with their EUSS applications was received (among other agencies) by all Citizens Advice Bureaus funded by the Home Office for their EUSS support and distributed by the National Education Union to all their members through their website.

In November 2020, the Project hosted an online event with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers to discuss the impact of the EUSS on the Roma communities. The event was attended by over 70 people, including MPs and Peers, as well as lawyers and academics and Roma activists and was summarised in the report: “Falling through the gaps: the EU Settlement Scheme and the case of Roma communities in the UK”.

We followed up this event by publishing a toolkit for organisations and local authorities (January 2021), co-developed with local authorities (LAs) and the Roma EUSS Network. The Home Office (HO) shared it through their internal communication platform with all EUSS grant funded organisation reaching over 70 lead organisations (including local authorities) and a total of around 300 organisations benefiting from the HO’s EUSS funding.

We regularly contributed to the Home Office Safeguarding User Group on vulnerable groups of EU citizens. Concerns raised with other campaign organisations on safeguarding vulnerable EU citizens led to the Government adopting a “generous approach” to late applications to the EUSS.

In February 2021, we held an online Q&A session on good practice in outreaching/ supporting Roma communities. We polled attendees on what they learned from the session and 63% of attendees said they knew more at the end of the session about which organisations in their local area support the Roma community and how to work with them. As a direct result of this event and our campaign, Newham Council has agreed to dedicate funding to the consortium of voluntary organisations in this borough to deliver EUSS support to Newham residents, including Roma. We also collaborated with the Greater London Authority (GLA) on how to provide more adequate support for Roma rough sleepers and published an article at FEANTSA’s magazine highlighting the experience of Roma rough sleepers in the UK.

Last year, we have also produced 7 newsletters – sent to over 530 subscribers - featuring debates and information on forthcoming events across the country, and contributed to the change in the way Roma migrants are portrayed in the media by increasing representation of Roma voice in local and national media.

‘Ketane - Together: Roma Shaping Futures’ Project aims to:

The Project empowers Roma migrant communities across the UK through a programme of inter-connected training, advocacy and campaigning to improve their capacity for self-help actions and self-representation in post-Brexit Britain.

Last year, we have established partnerships with four Roma-led/ Roma-supporting agencies (Rugul Aprins in Ipswich; Community Renewal in Glasgow; Granby Toxteth Development Trust in Liverpool; and Roma Access in Newcastle) and delivered focus group meetings (face-to-face and virtual) with 80 Roma community members to identify their training needs and share their concerns, which mainly related to EUSS and the economic, health, educational and housing impact of the Covid-19 crisis on Roma communities.

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Ana Maria (age 18) GRTHM art competition winner

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We have delivered four training sessions (face-to-face and online) in collaboration with PILC and POMOC, which have further explored the issued identified during the focus groups. These training sessions were translated into Romanes, Romanian and Polish, accessed by 56 beneficiaries (face-to-face) and 2,888 Roma community members online.

The Project has produced several information resources including videos and digital leaflets about Covid-19 and the immigration changes affecting Roma migrants, translated these resources into several languages, Polish, Romanes, Slovak, Romanian, and Hungarian, and shared them on various social media platforms accessed by 9,288 people.

Furthermore, in collaboration with PILC, we provided one-to-one advice and advocacy for 93 beneficiaries in London supporting them to submit their EUSS applications.

In order to enhance self-help capacity of Roma communities, we created a programme of online ESOL classes in collaboration with the East London Advice Technology Training (ELATT) reaching 3,265 people.

We also facilitated collaboration between two Roma-led/ Roma-supporting organisations and their local Law Centres in Ipswich and Glasgow. These partnerships resulted in an increased number of EUSS applications being submitted in areas outside of London and enabled Roma organisations to become part of the Law Centres’ locally-based legal advice networks. These collaborations are making a real difference in the lives of Roma community members living in Suffolk and Glasgow, as they are now empowered with knowledge, which helps them to exercise their rights as settled immigrants in the UK, as well as having direct access to legal expertise locally, which results in stronger and more connected communities.

Engaging with Roma advocates in different regions has enabled us to build a network of Roma advocates and Roma-led organisations across the UK that can campaign for Roma rights and affect policy on local and national levels thus increasing Roma advocates’ role in local and national decision-making processes; encouraging a practice that is more responsive to the needs of Roma migrants; influencing and co-shaping policies, which affect Roma in Britain, while ensuring that their voice/perspective is effectively communicated to the UK Government, statutory sector, the media and other key stakeholders.

Education Support & Aspiration Projects:

Roma Aspiration Project supports Roma children and young people through a combination of one-to-one education advocacy, in-depth outreach work and a programme of after-school activities. These activities shape our holistic approach to working with young Roma people aiming to enhance their self-confidence, life aspirations and improve their health and well-being.

Last year, the Aspiration Project assisted 104 beneficiaries through face-to-face, via phone and online support carrying out needs assessment, and helping them to communicate with schools, secure digital equipment, access online school/ teaching platforms and resources, school admissions, food vouchers, health services, etc. We have continued our work with children with disabilities, complex mental and physical health facilitating their access to appropriate services and supporting families on child protection register, foster care and/ or in court proceedings.

Beneficiaries were also internally referred to our Financial Inclusion team to help those whose parents lost their jobs and become destitute, and to local authorities for emergency COVID-19 support.

The Project scaled-up our homework support for 30 children and their parents, so they can access and benefit from online school education. We have coordinated a programme of online tutorials to help with maths, science and literacy delivered in partnership with volunteers from Turn Around (most of whom are teachers or former teachers) and tutors from the King’s College/ Traveller Movement tutoring programme. The Project Worker has provided technical support for beneficiaries and their parents and shared additional online educational resources.

Throughout the pandemic, beneficiaries have been involved in our weekly aspiration-raising afterschool activities, delivered online, which enabled them to stay socially connected with their friends and peers and develop their skills in music, art (e.g., by participating in our Gypsy, Roma Traveller History Month Art Competition).

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Roma News Project aims to bring relevant information to Roma communities in the UK, enhance media skills and a voice of young Roma people and raise public awareness about Roma culture and their situation in Britain. The Roma News programme is a platform for young Roma to learn, improve and express their media skills and to empower them to become actors of the change they are seeking.

Last year, 14 beneficiaries were involved in attending monthly workshops on filming, video editing, script writing and social media and producing Roma News videos, each reaching on average some 2,500 people and viewed by 600 people.

Furthermore, in partnership with On Road Media, we co-delivered workshops and peer-support sessions engaging ten young Roma activists and community leaders to enhance their media skills with a strong focus on self-care and peer support, interviewing skills and learning how the media works and being strategic in communicating with the media – moving away from awareness raising to shifting what people think about Roma.

Training and Capacity Building:

Roma Support & Engagement Programme (RSEP) aims to support statutory and voluntary agencies to respond effectively to the needs of Roma refugees and migrants across the UK.

In 2020-21, four members of our staff and five Roma professionals took part in the delivery of this programme, including:

Last year, we delivered:

Over 90% of respondents rated our training as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.

Some of the agencies and organisations supported by RSEP include: East of England LGA – Parallel Lives Roma Project, Tower Hamlets Children’s Services, Manchester University, Westminster Adult Services, NELFT etc.

Plans for the future

• Developing our local and national Policy, Information and Campaigning work in order to empower Roma communities and strengthen our effectiveness and capacity to influence policy and decision makers;

• Further developing the Roma Support and Engagement Programme, which enables us to share our expertise and models of good practice with statutory and non-statutory agencies and develop our enterprising skills;

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Financial review

Financial position and available funds

The Charity achieved a surplus of £148,542 in the year ended 31 January 2021 (2020: £500), increasing total funds at the year-end to £410,419 (2020: £261,877).

Of the total funds, £185,841 related to unrestricted funds/free reserves (2020: £121,352) and £224,578 to restricted funds (2019: £140,525).

Reserves policy

The Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds, which have not been designated for a specific purpose and are not committed or invested in tangible assets, (‘the free reserves’) should be between three and six months of the resources expended. On present expenditure levels this equates to between £87,000 and £173,000 in general funds.

At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the Charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. In such a case, it would be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed.

Our present free reserves level of £185,841 falls slightly above this limit but is not deemed excessive, especially considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and our emergency package of support to respond to the community’s needs during the crisis.

Going concern

Based on the funding commitments in place both at the year-end and on the date of approval of this report, as well as the current free reserves level, the Trustees are satisfied that the Charity will be able to continue its objectives for the next financial year. Whilst COVID-19 has meant the Charity has had to modify some of its project implementation, the ongoing pandemic has had no significant impact on this assessment.

Statement of board of Trustees’ repsonsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law they are required to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charitable company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

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The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. In addition, the Trustees confirm that they are happy that content of the annual review in pages 5 to 17 of this document meet the requirements of both the Trustees’ Annual Report under charity law and the Directors’ Report under company law.

They also confirm that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014.

Information provided to the auditors

Each of the persons who is a Trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:

• the Trustee has taken all the steps they ought to have taken as a Trustee in order to make themself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditors are aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Preparation of the report

This report has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

Auditors

The auditors, Ferguson Maidment Accountants Ltd, have indicated their willingness to accept re-appointment under Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 25 October 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

ANTHEA WORMINGTON TREASURER

SYLVIA INGMIRE CHIEF EXECUTIVE & COMPANY SECRETARY

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Independent auditor’s report

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Roma Support Group (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 January 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 January 2021 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis

of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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Opinions on other maters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Maters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the fnancial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

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The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

• the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

• we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with trustees and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector;

• we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation and data protection, anti-bribery, employment, and health and safety legislation.

• we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and

• identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur; by:

• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

• assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 1 were indicative or potential bias; and

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

• obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Charity and how the Charity is complying with that framework;

• performing audit testing over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias.

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

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Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibility for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

PAUL MANALO

SENIOR STATUTORY AUDITOR

For and on behalf of: Ferguson Maidment & Co. Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor 167 Fleet Street London, EC4A 2EA

Date: 28 October 2021

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Statement of financial activities

Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account & Statement of Realised Gains and Losses

For the year ended 31 January 2021

Notes
Income from:
Donations
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5 & 6
Charitable activities:
Advice,
Advocacy
&
Campaigning
5 & 7
Art
&
Cultural
Development
5 & 7
Early Years Education
5 & 7
Education Support
5 & 7
Mental Health Advocacy
5 & 7
Sport Inclusion
5 & 7
Support & Engagement
Project
5 & 7
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
11 & 12
Total funds carried forward
11 & 12		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
2020
£
£
£
£
80,102
405,988
486,090
316,900
9,300
-
9,300
35,108
49
-
49
96
-
-
-
163
89,451
405,988
495,439
352,267
2,137
27,560
29,697
33,572
-
231,336
231,336
192,952
-
7,925
7,925
17,107
-
116
116
5,758
-
16,365
16,365
21,981
-
38,633
38,633
37,734
-
-
-
1,380
22,825
-
22,825
41,283
24,962
321,935
346,897
351,767
64,489
84,053
148,542
500
121,352
140,525
261,877
261,377
185,841
224,578
410,419
261,877

The notes on pages 24 to 39 form part of the financial statements.

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Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

Balance sheet

As at 31 January 2021

Notes
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
9
Current assets:
Accounts receivable
Accrued income
Prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors:
amounts falling due within
one year
10
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Restricted funds
11 & 12
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
11 & 12		 £
-
843
2,455
513,393		 Total
Funds
2021
£
468





409,951		 £

11,304
-
1,153
310,980		 Total
Funds
2020
£
1,005





260,872
516,691
(106,740)		 323,437
(62,565)
185,841


121,352
410,419 261,877
224,578

185,841		 140,525

121,352

410,419 261,877

The notes on pages 24 to 39 form part of the financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with section 415A of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and FRS 102 Section 1A.

They were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 13 October 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

ANTHEA WORMINGTON TREASURER

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Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation of the financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ‘Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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) second edition (effective 1 January 2019)’, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), including Update Bulletin 1, and the Companies Act 2006.

The effect of any event relating to the year ended 31 January 2021, which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Board of Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 31 January 2021 and the results for the year ended on that date.

The functional currency of the Charity is sterling and amounts in the financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

Under the exemption available to smaller charities the Board of Trustees has chosen not to include a Statement of Cash Flows within the financial statements.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis as the Board of Trustees is confident that future reserves and future income is more than sufficient to meet current commitments. There are no material uncertainties that impact this assessment, and the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has had no material impact on this assessment.

Legal status

Roma Support Group is a charitable company registered in England & Wales and meets the definition of a public benefit entity. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member. The registered address is 17 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PJ.

Fund Accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or that have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in note 11 of the financial statements.

Income

Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance indicators attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donations are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when entitled, receipt is probable and when the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gift aid receivable is included when claimable.

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Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

1. Accounting policies (continued from previous page)

Income (continued from previous page)

Grant income is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless the grant relates to a future period, in which case it is deferred.

Income from charitable activities, including contract income and client fees, is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless it relates to a specific future period or event, in which case it is deferred.

Interest is recorded when it is receivable.

Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities.

Indirect costs, including governance costs, which cannot be directly attributed to activities, are allocated proportionate to total direct costs allocated to each project area, as outlined in note 5 of the financial statements.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of expenditure for which it was incurred.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

All assets costing more than £500 are capitalised.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their residual value, over their useful life of three years, on a straightline basis pro-rated over the proportion of the year in which it has been held. This rate applies to all three categories of tangible fixed assets.

Costs incurred in the development of the website have been capitilised as a tangible fixed asset as the combined direct cash flow benefits and indirect economic benefit through the provision of educational information to beneficiaries are expected to be greater than the amount capitalised.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash in hand, deposits with banks and funds that are readily convertible into cash at, or close to, their carrying values but are not held for investment purposes.

Debtors and prepayments

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount is applied. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Creditors and accruals

Creditors are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party, and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

Critical estimates and judgements

In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. The annual depreciation charge for tangible fixed assets is sensitive to changes in useful economic lives and residual values of assets. In the view of the Trustees in applying the accounting policies adopted, no judgements were required that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements nor do any estimates or assumptions made carry a significant risk of material adjustment in the next financial year.

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1. Accounting policies (continued from previous page)

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost other than investments which are measured at fair value.

Pensions

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is administered by an external independent pension provider. Contributions are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as they fall due.

Finance and operating leases

Rentals applicable to operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period in which the cost is occurred.

No assets have been purchased under finance leases.

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2. Comparative statement of fnancial activities

Notes
Income from:
Donations
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5 & 6
Charitable activities:
Advice,
Advocacy
&
Campaigning
5 & 7
Art
&
Cultural
Development
5 & 7
Early Years Education
5 & 7
Education Support
5 & 7
Mental Health Advocacy
5 & 7
Sport Inclusion
5 & 7
Support & Engagement
Project
5 & 7
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
11 & 12
Total funds carried forward
11 & 12		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
36,961
279,939
316,900
35,108
-
35,108
96
-
96
163
-
163
72,328
279,939
352,267
4,501
29,071
33,572
-
192,952
192,952
-
17,107
17,107
-
5,758
5,758
-
21,981
21,981
-
37,734
37,734
1,380
-
1,380
41,283
-
41,283
47,164
304,603
351,767
25,164
(24,664)
500
96,188
165,189
261,377
121,352
140,525
261,877

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3. Income from donations and legacies

Grant income (see analysis below)
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Other donations
Total income from donations
Analysis of grant income
Cash received in year
Aston-Mansfeld
Barrow Cadbury Trust (see note 13)
Barrow Cadbury Trust (COVID-19 Support Fund)
BBC Children in Need
City Bridge Trust
Henry Smith Charity
Home Offce
The Jack Petchey Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
New Philanthropy Capital’s Transition Advice Fund
Odin Charitable Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Respond and Adapt Fund
Deferred revenue
Brought forward
Carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
60,250
405,988
466,238
672
-
672
19,180
-
19,180
80,102
405,988
486,090
-
208
208
-
20,000
20,000
-
22,700
22,700
-
31,404
31,404
10,250
43,800
54,050
-
43,650
43,650
-
54,210
54,210
-
1,250
1,250
-
48,756
48,756
-
115,212
115,212
-
11,250
11,250
-
3,000
3,000
20,000
60,000
80,000
30,000
-
30,000
-
45,516
45,516
-
(94,968)
(94,968)
60,250
405,988
466,238

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3. Income from donations and legacies (continued from previous page)

Grant income (see analysis below)
Other donations
Total income from donations
Analysis of grant income
Cash received in year
Aston-Mansfeld
Barrow Cadbury Trust (see note 13)
BBC Children in Need
City Bridge Trust
Comic Relief
Henry Smith Charity
Home Offce
The Jack Petchey Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Law Centres Network Guardian Christmas Appeal Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
New Philanthropy Capital’s Transition Advice Fund
Trust for London
Deferred revenue
Brought forward
Carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
22,275
279,939
302,214
14,686
-
14,686
36,961
279,939
316,900
-
4,996
4,996
-
20,000
20,000
-
29,264
29,264
-
30,750
30,750
22,275
-
22,275
-
21,850
21,850
-
48,309
48,309
-
1,500
1,500
-
22,500
22,500
-
6,250
6,250
-
47,757
47,757
-
37,802
37,802
-
11,250
11,250
-
10,000
10,000
-
33,227
33,227
-
(45,516)
(45,516)
22,275
279,939
302,214

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Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

4. Income from charitable activities

Commissioned services and consultancy
Training seminars & workshops
Sales of resources
Commissioned services and consultancy
Training seminars & workshops
Sales of resources		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
6,276
-
6,276
2,959
-
2,959
65
-
65
9,300
-
9,300
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
16,112
-
16,112
18,830
-
18,830
166
-
166
35,108
-
35,108

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5. Total expenditure

Costs of raising funds
Charitable activities
Advice,
Advocacy
&
Campaigning
Art
&
Cultural
Development
Early Years Education
Education Support
Mental Health Advocacy
Support & Engagement
Project
Costs of raising funds
Charitable activities
Advice,
Advocacy
&
Campaigning
Art
&
Cultural
Development
Early Years Education
Education Support
Mental Health Advocacy
Sport Inclusion
Support & Engagement
Project		 Direct costs
Indirect costs
Total
Staff costs
Other costs
Staff costs
Other costs
expenditure
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
£
£
22,400
-
2,738
4,559
29,697

171,201
3,618
21,209
35,308
231,336

4,837
1,421
626
1,041
7,925
-
116
-
-
116
12,344
-
1,509
2,512
16,365
29,140
-
3,562
5,931
38,633

17,216
-
2,105
3,504
22,825
257,138
5,155
31,749
52,855
346,897
Direct costs
Indirect costs
Total
Staff costs
Other costs
Staff costs
Other costs
expenditure
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
£
£
22,412
-
3,420
7,740
33,572

126,283
3,712
19,291
43,666
192,952

9,404
3,020
1,435
3,248
17,107
2,426
1,691
503
1,138
5,758
14,674
-
2,239
5,068
21,981
25,190
-
3,844
8,700
37,734
-
953
131
296
1,380

14,448
14,340
3,829
8,666
41,283
214,837
23,716
34,692
78,522
351,767

Indirect costs have been allocated based on a proportion of direct staff costs and direct other costs attributable to each activity.

An analysis of staff costs can be found in note 8.

An analysis of costs of raising funds split between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 6.

An analysis of charitable activities split between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 7.

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5. Total expenditure (continued from previous page)

Indirect costs includes:

Governance costs includes:
6. Expenditure on raising funds
Staff costs
Staff travel and support costs
Premises and venue hire
Professional fees
Administrative and other costs
Governance
Audit fee
Insurance
Meeting expenses
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
2021
£
1,612
525		 2021
2020
£
£
31,749
34,692
11,724
18,372
18,291
21,770
13,968
16,232
5,837
18,955
3,035
3,193
84,604
113,214
2021
2020
£
£
1,980
1,800
1,055
993
-
400
3,035
3,193
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
£
£

20,788
22,400

6,772
7,297
2,137
27,560
29,697
Unrestricted
Funds
2020
£
3,005
1,496		 Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
£
£

19,407
22,412

9,664
11,160
4,501
29,071
33,572

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

32

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

  1. Expenditure on charitable activities
Advice, Advocacy & Campaigning
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Advice, Advocacy & Campaigning
Art & Cultural Development
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Art & Cultural Development
Early Years Education
Direct other costs
Early Years Education
Education Support
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Education Support
Mental Health Advocacy
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Mental Health Advocacy
Support & Engagement Project
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Support & Engagement Project		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
-
171,201
171,201
-
3,618
3,618
-
56,517
56,517
-
231,336
231,336
-
4,837
4,837
-
1,421
1,421
-
1,667
1,667
-
7,925
7,925
-
116
116
-
116
116
-
12,344
12,344
-
4,021
4,021
-
16,365
16,365
-
29,140
29,140
-
9,493
9,493
-
38,633
38,633
17,216
-
17,216
5,609
-
5,609
22,825
-
22,825
22,825
294,375
317,200

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

33

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

7. Expenditure on charitable activities (continued from previous page)

Advice, Advocacy & Campaigning
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Advice, Advocacy & Campaigning
Art & Cultural Development
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Art & Cultural Development
Early Years Education
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Early Years Education
Education Support
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Education Support
Mental Health Advocacy
Direct staff costs
Indirect costs
Mental Health Advocacy
Sport Inclusion
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Sport Inclusion
Support & Engagement Project
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Indirect costs
Support & Engagement Project		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
-
126,283
126,283
-
3,712
3,712
-
62,957
62,957
-
192,952
192,952
-
9,404
9,404
-
3,020
3,020
-
4,683
4,683
-
17,107
17,107
-
2,426
2,426
-
1,691
1,691
-
1,641
1,641
-
5,758
5,758
-
14,674
14,674
-
7,307
7,307
-
21,981
21,981
-
25,190
25,190
-
12,544
12,544
-
37,734
37,734
953
-
953
427
-
427
1,380
-
1,380
14,448
-
14,448
14,340
-
14,340
12,495
-
12,495
41,283
-
41,283
42,663
275,532
318,195

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

34

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

  1. Staff costs
Gross salaries
Employer’s NIC
Employer’s pension		 2021
2020
£
£
263,537
228,036
16,872
13,884
8,478
7,608
288,887
249,528

The average headcount during the period was 13 persons (2020: 13 persons).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 (2020: NIL).

The total employee benefits paid to key management personnel during the year was £44,801 (2020: £44,823).

9. Tangible fxed assets

Cost
At 1 February 2020
Additions in year
At 31 January 2021
Depreciation
At 1 February 2020
Charge for year
At 31 January 2021
Net book value
At 1 February 2020
At 31 January 2021		 Website
Sports and
development
music
Offce
costs
equipment
equipment
Total
£
£
£
£
1,800
410
4,516
6,726
-
-
-
-
1,800
410
4,516
6,726
1,800
410
3,511
5,721
-
-
537
537
1,800
410
4,048
6,258
-
-
1,005
1,005
-
-
468
468

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

35

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

10. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Deferred grant income
Accounts payable
Accruals
HMRC payable
Pensions payable
Deferred grant income
As at 1 February 2020
Amount released to incoming resources
Amount deferred in year
As at 31 January 2021		 Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2021
2020
£
£
94,968
45,516
1,752
6,409
3,711
3,125
5,130
5,838
1,179
1,677
106,740
62,565
45,516
33,227
(45,516)
(33,227)
94,968
45,516
94,968
45,516

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

36

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

  1. Analysis of charity funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Advice & advocacy
Art
&
Cultural
Development
Early years education
Education
support,
youth
aspiration
&
inclusion
Health information
Restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
Income
Expenditure
Transfer
Balance
brought
for the
in the
between
carried
forward
period
period
funds
forward
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
£
£
121,352
89,451
(24,962)
-
185,841
121,352
89,451
(24,962)
-
185,841
79,990
302,859
(252,994)
-
129,855

18,890
27,017
(8,667)
-
37,240
33,753
-
(127)
-
33,626


7,388
31,737
(17,897)
21,228
504
44,375
(42,250)
-
2,629
140,525
405,988
(321,935)
-
224,578
261,877
495,439
(346,897)
-
410,419

Restricted expenditure in the period includes an allocation of costs for raising funds where permitted by those funding these specific projects and so this table does not directly reconcile to note 7 of the financial statements.

Advice, advocacy & cultural development:

These are funds that the Charity has received directly for its work advising Roma beneficiaries that have overcome some of the barriers they face in their process of integration within wider society, including, but not exclusively, the Roma Financial Inclusion Project, EU Settlement Scheme Project, Ketane Project and the Roma News Project. It is funded by several funding bodies, and also includes the wider policy and campaigning work carried out by the Charity.

Early years education:

These are funds that the Charity has raised through public fundraising and grant support to work with preschool Roma children and their families.

Education support, youth aspiration & inclusion:

These are funds the Charity has received for work aimed at increasing the academic attainment, inclusion and aspiration of Roma children and young people. These funds are received from a number of different funding bodies.

Health information:

These funds are restricted for use on health and mental health projects including for the Roma Mental Health Advocacy Project.

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

37

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

11. Analysis of charity funds (continued from previous page)

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Advice & advocacy
Art & Music Development
Early years education
Education support, youth
aspiration & inclusion
Health information
Restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
Income
Expenditure
Transfer
Balance
brought
for the
in the
between
carried
forward
period
period
funds
forward
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
£
£
96,188
72,328
(47,164)
-
121,352
96,188
72,328
(47,164)
-
121,352
122,014
171,286
(213,310)
-
79,990
-
37,802
(18,912)
-
18,890
40,119
-
(6,366)
-
33,753

-
31,688
(24,300)
-
7,388
3,056
39,163
(41,715)
-
504
165,189
279,939
(304,603)
-
140,525
261,377
352,267
(351,767)
-
261,877

12. Analysis of net assets

Tangible fxed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Tangible fxed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
£
£
£
468
-
468
197,145
319,546
516,691
(11,772)
(94,968)
(106,740)
185,841
224,578
410,419
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
1,005
-
1,005
137,396
186,041
323,437
(17,049)
(45,516)
(62,565)
121,352
140,525
261,877

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

38

Year ended 31 January 2021

Roma Support Group Annual report and financial statements

  1. Barrow Cadbury Trust

During the year the Charity continued to receive funding from the Barrow Cadbury Trust for its Roma Policy and Campaigning Project within two grants - on terminating in November 2020 and a new one starting in December 2020.

As per the figure in note 3, during the financial year 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2021, the Charity received total cash income of £20,000 of which £10,000 related to the grant ending in the period and £10,000 related to the new grant.

On the existing grant the Charity brought forward £6,992 from the prior period. Expenditure of £16,756 was incurred against this grant in the year, resulting in a balance of £236 at the end of the grant.

On the new grant, the Charity incurred expenditure of £3,038, resulting in a balance of £6,962 at the end of the period.

14. Trustee remuneration

During the year, no trustee received any remuneration (2020: £Nil). No members of the Board of Trustees received reimbursement of expenses (2020: £Nil).

15. Related party transactions

During the year there were no related party transactions (2020: £Nil).

16. Other fnancial commitments

At 31 January 2021, the Charity had annual future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases (all for office equipment) as set out below:

Operating lease which expire:
within one year		 Total
Total
2021
2020
£
£
-
2,202
-
2,202

Charity number 1103782 Company number 04645981

39

Aaminah GRTHM art com etition winner SUPPORT GROUP