## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND** 

**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

**FOR** 

**REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1 to  13|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|14|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|15|
|**Balance Sheet**|16|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|17 to  28|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|29 to  30|





**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019). 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

## **Objectives and aims** 

The objects of the Association are the advancement of education and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness amongst Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the North East of England and to that end to provide a mechanism for hearing the voice of Asylum Seekers and Refugees by bringing together in council representatives of Refugee Communities working in the area of benefit. 

Our members are community groups set up and run by people who are refugees and asylum seekers to support other refugees and asylum seekers who live across the North East region. They are known as Refugee-led Community Organisations ('RCO's). 114 RCOs have joined our organisation since we began in 2003. 

We deliver our mission through two core areas of work: 

- We empower refugees and asylum seekers to take action to support and advocate for their communities. We enable them to turn their ideas for supporting their community into practical action, and to adapt and strengthen their advocacy skills in the UK context. 

- And we support our members to develop their Collective Voice and use it to influence decision makers so as to promote equality and integration for all refugees and asylum seekers living in the region. 

## **Significant activities** 

1 August 2022 - 31 July 2023 Our objectives have been: 

- a) That more refugees and asylum seekers living in the North East region have access to better services and support that help them achieve economic inclusion, better health and wellbeing, more resilient families, and greater safety within the neighbourhoods they live in; 

- b) That those services deliver support that responds to the specific and additional needs and barriers that the community faces, so that they benefit from them on an equal basis to all local residents; 

- c) That more members are able to advocate effectively for change, both in their own lives and those of the community they support; 

- d) That our work will address systemic, root causes of the specific and additional needs and barriers faced by asylum seekers and refugees and identify what works best in policy and practice so they impact positively on the lives of the whole community of asylum seekers and refugees living in the region; 

- e) Improvement in the quality of life of those living in the region who are awaiting a decision on their asylum case, or who have had their cases refused, whose lives are framed and impacted by UK asylum policy and government contracted services. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

## **Public benefit** 

Our organisation delivers development, empowerment and advocacy support to the region's community of refugees and asylum seekers, who arrived in need of sanctuary. This direct beneficiary community is a community of experience rather than identity. It contains great diversity in terms of nationality, ethnicity, background and faith. However, they all share additional and specific needs arising from their experience of exile and status as asylum seekers and refugees, and face significant and multiple disadvantages, inequalities and social and economic exclusion. The organisation unites refugee communities from all continents: South America, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe, in collective action to gain a greater influence on Policy and Practice, in the interests of all refugees and asylum seekers in the North East region. Our work enables members to develop advocacy skills, build and widen networks and engage with a whole range of agencies and local and regional engagement platforms relating to economic inclusion, better health and wellbeing, and safety within the neighbourhoods they live in. By hearing the authentic voiced experience of the community, that reflects what is shared rather than what is personal and individual, policy makers and service providers can improve access routes and deliver support that responds to the specific and additional needs and barriers that this community faces, so that they benefit from those services and opportunities on an equal basis to all local residents. 

We also empower refugee and asylum seeker-led community organisations and initiatives, promoting access to effective empowerment, community development and capacity building support and to funding to enable them to provide a range of unique support actions and solutions to the multiple needs of their communities, particularly in the areas of health, family resilience, community safety, education, training and employment. 

Our founding aim is for the region's community of refugees and asylum seekers to strategically use their Collective Voice to influence policy and practice that are the systemic causes of the poverty, disadvantage and exclusion they experience in their daily lives. We deliver this Social Justice agenda through an empowering development practice that aims to be transformative on two levels: the first in that the change it effects in policy and practice will promote the opportunity of all Refugees and Asylum seekers to be full, equal and active citizens, participating in and contributing equally to the social, economic, political and cultural life of the region; the second is that by genuinely being part of the process through which those changes are brought about, our members gain the essential knowledge, skills, networks and confidence to be active agents in further change and develop leadership in civil society. 

Overcoming marginalisation and exclusion within the region, and promoting the ability of the community of refugees to participate in and contribute to the social, cultural and economic wealth of the region on an equal basis, will be in the interest of the whole regional community. 

The achievements of the charity have been recognised through several awards:  'Community Organisation of the Year' award at the Tees Valley BME Achievement Awards 2012 and 'Outstanding small/medium organisation' at the North East Voluntary & Community Sector Awards 2013. 

## **Volunteers** 

The Charity's Board of Trustees are all themselves volunteers and dedicate many hours annually to their Governance and representational roles. Our Collective Action is lead by key volunteers from across the membership who are committed to progressing particular issues. Other volunteers offer their specific skills for particular activities, such as IT work and video production. The success of the Charity depends on the degree of voluntary participation and contribution of the membership in the range of activities it organises. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Achievements 1 August 2022 - 31 July 2023** 

## **1. EMPOWERING RAS COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AND ADVOCACY** 

Our Community Advocacy Project (CAP) began delivery in June 2019 and came to an end in January 2023. It was designed to empower RAS who have an idea to support their community turn that idea into practical action. In addition it has supported them to adapt their advocacy skills for the UK context and to build relations with peers across the region, to learn from each other, support each other, compare what is shared and recurring across their communities and identify what could work better. Through CAP they could: 

- Join meetings with others developing support for their communities, on issues shared across the communities. Members were able to discuss real challenges, problem solve, fill in knowledge gaps about how systems work here, make connections, develop practical ideas and motivate and support each other. 

- Get one to one support from our staff to help them develop and implement an action plan 

- Visit other refugee run projects and other initiatives to learn from their experience and gain confidence that visions can be achieved 

- Join our group training sessions designed to help build the skills our members have identified. For example: energy saving advice during the cost of living crisis, and adapting and refining advocacy skills to the UK context 

- Be linked to networks and resources that could help them achieve their vision 

- Work together to develop multi-language resources delivering important messages to their communities: an example being the 'Welcome to the UK' guides for newly arriving RAS, the content based on their lived experience and what they wish they had known that could help others 

Since CAP began, we have supported 106 RAS community mobilisers who are active in 45 RCOs across the region, 17 of which emerged during the project. Participants were 67 women and 38 men from 37 countries of origin and now living in 11 of the region's 12 Local Authorities. We have delivered 113 group learning sessions on issues prioritised by participants, 540 one to one support sessions to develop and progress action plans, and 23 learning visits, involving 53 people, to organisations and projects that can help promote confidence that pathways do exist to realise visions, and 12 formal training sessions with external experts. We have brokered links to over 50 local services and organisations. We helped participants widen their networks of influence and resources and we developed and delivered customised training to support participants to develop their knowledge, confidence and advocacy skills to use their voices to make change for their communities. 

As CAP drew to an end we commissioned an independent consultant to carry out an evaluation of the project and the difference it has made. Some examples of how our members describe the difference this support has made to them include: 

"You can look at one problem in different ways and then try to work out which way is better. Its given me that opportunity, its given me the confidence, its given me the boost, the contacts required to set up my own group. The constant support from the people around has been quite motivational. Though I had the idea in mind of what I wanted to start, I didn't know how to start it. Its helped me find suitable and reasonable ways to actually take it forwards". 

"Through my experience I think it has empowered me and given me the ideas I need to run my project and now I'm doing things better as I'm following this through. I have the information I have been lacking before. It made me feel more confident and more knowledgeable so now I have a better understanding of what I need to do, and not to do, in order for the project to move forwards. I feel ambitious and I know where to go to when I need help. I have been attending some of the health workshop which are really helpful because I meet people who are doing a similar project to me and they manage to empower me and give me ideas" 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)** 

"My ideas were further cemented after visiting [another RCO]. I was simply amazed seeing how far they've come in all these years. Still thriving and fully invested in the benefit of their community. [Individual 2] and [Individual 3] are truly a source of inspiration, their words of encouragement resonated within me. I left their office feeling hopeful about the future ahead". 

"When the day (peer learning visit) was coming to an end, it dawned on me... They were all excited to see one another, enjoying each other's company. Truly welcomed and free of judgement for a moment. Her support to them unmeasurable. Because of all of this, I can say with confidence that I want to move forward" 

Examples of how new groups have emerged: 

- C regularly went to a well-attended group, whose focus was becoming solely social. C was more interested in bringing about change so initiated a separate group.  C did not want to create a structured group attracting funding as this might have contributed to the idea that there was something else going on, beyond women meeting and talking. In this situation some women would not be allowed to attend. Rather than directly challenging patriarchal cultural norms, the group meets informally to share issues that they face, which might then lead to service provider being invited to a subsequent meeting. The group uses free meeting space in a Local Authority Community Centre. C's confidence has grown over the years and they have used the CAP training to advocate on behalf of several very vulnerable women and families. C has also held a leadership role within the RRF during CAP. 

- E is one of the youngest participants in CAP. Together with other young RAS met through CAP they drew on their personal experiences of securing sanctuary scholarships to university and have established an RCO focused around Asylum Seekers' access to higher education. Having collaborated with many organisation in the North East, Manchester and London, E has developed considerable expertise which has helped 6 people to secure sanctuary scholarships at Universities. And E is now employed part-time co-ordinating sanctuary ambassadors. While sustaining a focus on Higher Education, the RCO has broadened its scope to run online employability courses for younger asylum seekers and increase awareness of climate change. 

Our CAP programme also delivered a digital empowerment objective: 

- We re-designed our website so it more directly promotes to the role of RCOs in supporting their communities and contact with them. It now has a members' area where each RCO has profile of the support they offer, activities coming up, and how to contact them. RCOs have received training in content management. These profiles can promote more awareness of the brilliant role RCOs are playing. More agencies and funders will be able to consider how they can support RCOs and work with them. 

- We created an RRF E-newsletter through which we communicate a wide range of information to members which could help them develop their support or cascade to their communities. Information has covered changes to Government policy and home office procedures, news about services and support offers, opportunities for training, how to get involved in campaigns and activities organised by RCOs themselves. Members also received training on using online tools to develop their own e-bulletins. 

- These new communication tools complement our WhatsApp groups and facebook. 

Looking into the future, we commissioned an independent consultant to research the question of 'What works in helping turn someone's ideas to help their community into action?'. Based on interviews with 18 members about their experience of seeking and securing support for their ideas, an interim report was produced and is published on our website. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)** 

In June 2023 we surveyed 31 members from 18 RCOs, asking them 'What type of support do you most want?' and 'How do you want it delivered to you?' 

Drawing on both the research and the survey, in July 2023 we established a partnership with MVDA (Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency) to continue the elements of CAP alongside their expert community development work offer. This partnership delivers our commitment to ensuring RCOs and would be RAS community mobilisers continue to have access to support that meets the specific and additional challenges they face in developing community action, and which enables peer learning.  MVDA are keen to share learning from this partnership to promote a conversation about what works best for RAS-led community action across the region. 

UK asylum policy is undergoing significant change with the passing of the Nationality & Borders Act in April 2022 and The Illegal Migration Act in July 2023. So we are in the process of building a partnership with second organisation that will ensure our members receive vital updates on changes to government policy and Home Office procedures, and gain skills and confidence in utilising the processes and pathways through which they can advocate for their members impacted by these changes. 

## **2. INFLUENCING PRACTICE THAT WILL PROMOTE SETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION OF RAS** 

## a) Building the knowledge and skills of front line professionals 

Volunteers from our membership deliver training to front line staff to help them gain insight into the distinct needs of RAS service users and what would work best from the perspective of RAS themselves. It helps them develop an empathetic understanding of RAS lives which can impact positively on the way they build relationships and deliver their service to them. Our training is delivered both online and face to face. Content is developed from the collective lived experience of our members. 

Our sessions to Social Work professionals and students focus on the specific and additional challenges RAS families face that undermine family resilience and can lead to avoidable safeguarding interventions. The sessions help front line workers gain greater insight and empathetic understanding into the impact of pre-arrival trauma and post-arrival stressors on the internal dynamics of RAS family life, and the specific challenges that newly arriving families face when they arrive overnight into a context of different laws, social norms and expectations around parenting in the UK. The sessions also give them a clearer idea of what works in supporting these families. Our session is part of the teaching curriculum for undergraduate and post graduate Social Work students at Sunderland University. 

Feedback continues to be very positive. Trainees most often use the words 'informative', 'transformative', 'thought-provoking', 'engaging' and 'valuable' in their evaluations. Their feedback shows they have gained more insight and emotional understanding into the lives of RAS families and reflected on how it can inform their practice: 

- 'I have more understanding and so much more compassion' 

- 'Hopefully people will feel more warmth and empathy from me now' 

- 'It really made me think of this issue from a parent/family point of view' 

- 'How challenging it must be as a parent to face huge cultural changes' 

- 'I'll take into account issues and difficulties facing AS that I had not thought about previously' 

- 'I understand more. I will take peoples' reasons more into consideration now' 

- 'not to be as judgemental and be more understanding, meaning AS can open up more' 

- 'I'll seek to understand the situation without judgement' 

- 'Take on board what people have been through and understand their perspective' 

- 'I now have a deeper understanding of culture clashes' 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)** 

- 'Making me more aware of the issues they face and listening to how they want to be helped' 

- 'Hearing the voice of the people you work with and understanding what is important to them' 

This year we further developed our work to promote support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). A member with lived experience of arriving in the UK as a 13-year old UASC teamed up with a member who arrived in the region seeking asylum and is now a professional social worker. The latter was the region's representative this year at national training on creating safe spaces for UASC delivered by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). Our team created and deliver training to front line multi-disciplinary teams. We have also developed a partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) which sees our member with lived experience of UASC co-deliver the IRC's 'Healing Spaces' training programme across the North East region. Healing Spaces is designed to help organisations understand the impact of toxic stress on young brains and the type of support that will promote recovery, so deliver trauma informed support. When asked what part of the training programme they found most useful, feedback from trainees included: 

- 'Making me think more deeply about what they've lost and how they might be feeling' 

- 'Hearing A's story' 

- 'Listening to the personal experiences' 

- 'A's story, the emotional elements made it really powerful' 

This member also played an important role within the North East Migration Partnership's regional programme to engage potential Foster Carers for UASC, speaking at meetings of people who expressed an interest. They also spoke at a regional event focussed on bringing stakeholders together to share good practice for those working with, supporting, and caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people. 

b) Addressing challenges at Move on and promoting routes to employability, skills transfer and financial 

## inclusion 

We continued to develop the agenda and Chair quarterly meetings of the North East Migration Partnership's Move on & Economic Inclusion Subgroup. This is a multi-agency, multi-sector group focused on identifying and removing barriers faced by new status Refugees at Move on and in achieving financial and economic inclusion. The quarterly meetings have continued to engage over 30 staff from key agencies across the region including Home Office contractors, Local Authorities, VCSE and the DWP. They say they find the meetings very valuable for their understanding, planning and delivery. 

The VCSE is able to share evidence of persisting and emerging gaps in support or break down in procedures. The DWP engages with the group to pick up on these issues and consult on new initiatives to meet the needs of new status refugees, such as helping them make the business case for a range of commissioned ESOL for employability courses. Home Office grant holders such as NE RISE (RTOF pilot) and contractors such as Reed in Partnership who deliver the new Refugee Employability Programme across the region present regular updates to the group, gain feedback and recommendations, and are able to develop conversations with agencies met through the subgroup. 

We are also able as a group to send questions directly to the Home Office for clarification of policy and procedures. This has included a request for operational clarity relating to asylum seekers with permission to work who find employment on the Shortage Occupation List, as many more asylum seekers face this position due to the growing backlog in decision making. 

Another new focus this year has been linking to University-led regional research on how employers can most effectively support refugees once in employment to promote integration in the work force, retention and progression, from which a toolkit for employers will be developed. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)** 

We have also worked with NE RISE programme to develop a legacy resource for the programme: a Move On guide is being created based on content identified through workshops held with our members and with front line staff delivering the NE RISE support through Open Door North East. The guide will be in the form of a set of short video messages, translated into 10 languages and will be available for any organisation or individual to use. This builds on our work to create the Welcome to the UK guides, which are being used by more agencies within the New Arrivals Pathway initiative developed by NEMP in the region. 

c) Influencing dispersal and resettlement practice in the North East region 

We contribute evidence and recommendations for the continuous improvement of Home Office Asylum Support contacts and Refugee Resettlement programmes and local services via our membership of the North East Migration Partnership's quarterly Asylum Stakeholder and Lead Officer Group. It is attended by the Home Office, its asylum support contractors, local authority migration leads, representatives from health and the 3 police forces. We are one of only two VCS organisations sitting on the group. We also contribute to the bimonthly multi-agency meetings focused on migration held each of the 12 local authority areas of the North East as part of the NEMP stakeholder arrangements. 

We also use the opportunity to promote sharing of learning and good practice from other areas of the UK and new initiatives to tackle persisting problems experienced by RAS across the region. 

A particular focus this year has been on access to support that would prevent the avoidable deterioration of mental health after RAS arrive in the region. To that end we made contact with the Home Office's Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead within RASI and 

- advocated for the 'New Arrivals Pathway', which was developed and piloted by NEMP in the North East as a data sharing agreement between the AASC contractor and a local RAS drop in, to be recognised as a transferrable low-cost strategy in securing early access for newly dispersed RAS to local psychosocial support which could support recovery from the impact of toxic stress; 

- introduced the HO lead to the World Health Organisation's psychological 'Self Help Plus' tool which is use in situations with high stress levels but limited access to services. The resources are delivered through group work in own language and have the potential to achieve the scale needed to meet the needs with minimal resources. The Home Office had conversations about the resources with the WHO team who created it; 

- introduced the HO lead to the International Rescue Committee to discuss the possibility of delivering training to front line staff delivering the AASC contract, as poor and deteriorating mental health was identified by the North East contractor as the most significant issue for their staff; 

Our hope is these ideas might lead to improved mental health and wellbeing support for newly arriving RAS. NEMP has been invited to make a presentation on the New Arrivals Pathway to the national RAS Mental Health Subgroup in October. 

## d) Influencing national asylum policy 

When capacity allowed, we organised opportunities for our members' voices to be heard in the development, evaluation and critique of national asylum policy. Examples include: 

- liaising with Ipsos Mori, who were commissioned by the Home Office to research into the impact of the new policy of differentiation brought in under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, to promote the opportunity to have their voices heard to our membership 

- liaising with the Commission on Integration of Refugees so that 4 members acted as panellists at their North East hearing. 

- being signatories to national pledges and call outs organised by national NGO and civil society coalitions 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Principal funding sources** 

Funding for the organisation's programmes is derived from grant funding from charitable foundations, the grants being restricted funds. 

Core costs for influencing policy and practice are provided by The Millfield House Foundation. We are proud to be one of their Strategic Partner Organisations. Core costs of empowering RAS community advocacy and action are supported by grants from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. 

We secured one new grants and one new commission in this financial year. 

- £39,984.00 over 2 years from the Grigor McClelland Fund at the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland for core costs associated with community development support and collective voice work. For completion January 2025 

We also agreed a change the use for the grant from The Daphne & Martin Cookson and Sara Alexandra Bernstone funds at the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. The grant was originally intended to produce a film promoting awareness of the unique contribution of RCOs to integration across the region. However, the Covid lockdowns and ill-health prevented this from happening. The new objective is to help develop the region's capacity to support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, to be completed in January 2024. 

## **Reserves policy** 

Whenever possible we operate a reserves policy of maintaining reserves at 3 months full operational costs. 

We are mindful of challenges our organisation faces in terms of sustainability particularly in an often changing environment. Employment contracts relate directly to project funding secured and the tenancy on our office has been negotiated for short notice. 

## **Financial position** 

Incoming resources in the year were £57,830 of this £51,996 related to project restricted activities. 

There was a deficit of £41,869 in the year. At 31 July 2023 total reserves were £49,988 of which £45,808 represented unrestricted funds. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **FUTURE PLANS** 

**1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024** 

The change we aim to make: 

- a) To increase practical and strategic support across the region for actions led by RAS that are aimed at promoting settlement and integration of the RAS community; 

- b) For more refugees and asylum seekers living across the region to be empowered to become community mobilisers and take the lead in civil society; 

- c) For more RAS community mobilisers to advocate effectively for change, both in their own lives and those of the community they support; 

- d) For more decision makers and service deliverers to hear the lived experience and collective voice of refugees and asylum seekers living in the region so they can develop evidence based policy and practice to promote economic inclusion, better health and wellbeing, more resilient families, and greater safety within the neighbourhoods RAS live in; 

- e) For those services to deliver support that responds to the specific and additional needs and barriers that the community faces, so that they benefit from them on an equal basis to all local residents 

- f) For good and emerging practice identified within the region and beyond to be shared across the region to promote transfer and scale up of what works; 

- To achieve this change, we will deliver the following activities: 

- 1 Empower our members to gain the confidence, skills, knowledge and connections needed to turn their ideas to support their community into action and build the capacity of their organisations 

- 2 Support the emergence of community mobilisers and self-organising initiatives within newly arriving communities and newly establishing community groups from the asylum and refugee community and promote their inclusion within the charity; 

- 3 Support our members to develop their evidence base and engage their collective advocate voice at appropriate platforms or through effective engagement routes to influence decision makers; 

- 4 Enable and facilitate the inclusion of the RAS voice within the region's migration stakeholder arrangements via the North East Migration Partnership and influence its work and that of Local Authorities 

- 5 Support our members to develop and deliver online and face to face training sessions for front line practitioners to increase empathic understanding, knowledge and competencies 

- 6 Promote access to and delivery of the Welcome to the UK guides to life in the UK to newly arriving RAS across the region 

- 7 Contribute to lobbying and advocacy taking place at the national level relating to national asylum policy, refugee resettlement programmes, asylum and refugee support and settlement and integration strategies; 

- 8 Co-ordinate and Chair the North East Migration Partnership's Move on & Economic Inclusion Subgroup to identify and drive forward practical actions that will close the transition gap at Move on, address barriers to employment, and promote pathways for prior skills, experience and qualifications to be transferred into the regional labour market; 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document** 

Regional Refugee Forum North East is a registered Charity and governed by a Constitution signed on 4th March 2003 and incorporating changes made at the EGM held on 20th March 2012. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** 

The Board of Trustees, consists of at least three and not more than nine individuals all of whom must be members (but must not be paid employees) of the Association. The Board is made up of up to seven elected members, each elected to serve for 3 years, and up to two members co opted by the Board to hold office until the next AGM. 

The membership of the organisation is determined by the Constitution as are the rules for electing its Trustees. Full Membership of the organisation is open to any refugee or asylum seeker-led community organisation interested in promoting the objects, whose application for membership has been approved by Trustees and ratified by the full membership at a general meeting. Trustees must belong to a member organisation. All member organisations may nominate representatives of any member organisation to stand for election and may vote in the election.Trustees may stand for re-election. Officers are elected by the Trustees at their first meeting following the AGM. Trustees can also appoint Advisers as they see fit. Advisers serve in a non-voting capacity. 

Only one member of any member organisation can serve as a Trustee at any one time. Trustees do not serve on the Committee as representatives of their member organisation, but are elected to serve the interests of the whole membership. Trustees bring with them the experience of serving a member organisation. They are elected on the basis of their individual skills, expertise and commitment to service and support the aims of the organisation and interests of the whole community of refugees and asylum seekers in the region. 

Trustees dedicate their time and expertise voluntarily to the organisation. 

## **Organisational structure** 

The Trustees are tasked with overseeing the development and implementation of work programmes that will achieve the organisation's objectives, ensuring plans are rooted in the needs and priorities of the membership. Trustees carry responsibility for ensuring that the organisation is run according to its Constitution, adopted policies and procedures, legal requirements and within its financial means and the agreements made with our funders. 

Trustees held 4 governance meetings and an AGM in this reporting year. 

During the reporting period the Trustees employed 3 staff. The Chief Executive Officer (who is the senior staff member), the Project Manager (to August 2023) and the Support Officer. The CEO has responsibility for day-to-day management of staff, activities and expenditure according to grant agreements. The CEO produces written reports which detail work in progress towards targets and refer a range of issues to the Trustees for consideration and decisions, which are presented to the Chair and Trustees. Trustees are responsible for final decisions relating to contracts, funding, recruitment, and employment issues. 

## **Induction and training of new trustees** 

Trustees elected at the AGM attend an Induction Day with those continuing to serve and outgoing trustees to provide an opportunity to visit the objectives, values and principles of the organisation and consider its strengths and the opportunities and challenges faced. Senior staff provide a briefing on the Annual Plan and budget. 

Training suitable to meet the needs identified by Trustees can be organised at any time throughout the year. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Related parties** 

## Community sector relations: 

The Organisation is related to refugee and asylum-led community organisations (RCOs) some of which are registered charities, who are active across the North East region through their membership of the organisation or through their participation in our activities. Trustees are elected by the membership from the membership, and therefore our Trustees are all also members of member organisations. 

## Voluntary sector relations: 

The charity recognises itself as part of a very active voluntary and community sector dedicated to supporting the settlement and integration of refugees and asylum seekers in the North East region. It has historic and continued special relations with the North of England Refugee Service, where the RRF first began as a project. At a national level we contribute to national NGO advocacy and campaigning. Where appropriate to pursue our objectives, we create regional campaign alliances with interested bodies. 

## Public Sector relations: 

We work to develop constructive and collaborative direct engagement processes with public sector bodies who have a role in developing policy and in commissioning and delivering local services. Our willingness to proactively enter into on-going, open conversation as to potential issues impacting on asylum seekers and refugees, focusing on solutions rather than 'blame', has been identified as a significant positive for improving access to services. We maintain close working relations with key public sector agencies, including the DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Public Health, NHS, the region's three police forces and the Universities of Durham, Teesside and Sunderland. 

We also work closely with the North East Migration Partnership, established in December 2014 under an enabling grant from the Home Office. Led by Middlesbrough Council, the Partnership is a local authority led collaboration of organisations across the statutory and voluntary sector and includes input from the private sector contractors who deliver the asylum support contracts. They come together to provide strategic direction and insight on asylum and refugee related issues. The Partnership also seeks to provide policy and integration support and guidance on wider migration issues.  We are one of 2 VCS members of its Asylum & Migration Stakeholder Group and we are a memberl of all 12 local authority Multi-agency meetings. We also Chair its Move On & Economic Inclusion Subgroup. 

We also engage with Home Office contractors The Mears Group, who deliver the AASC (asylum seeker accommodation) contract in the North East, and with Migrant Help who deliver the AIRE contract. Our aim is to support the highest standards of contract delivery through brokering relations and enabling the consumer voice to inform service delivery. 

Page 11 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risk management** 

We have a range of customised Employment and Health & Safety policies and procedures created by professional Employment Law and Health & Safety specialists to ensure the organisation operates according to legislation and quality management standards. 

The senior staff member is responsible for the overall day to day financial management. We outsource additional accounting functions for production of quarterly management accounts which are reported to the Treasurer and Trustees so that they can ensure the organisation remains within its financial capacity, and enables forward planning. Our Annual Accounts are independently examined by Read Milburn & Co. 

The community we serve and volunteers who participate in our work are exceptional in that many are not entitled to work, receive support on a no-cash basis only, or have no recourse to any public funds. They therefore have no cash to purchase travel tickets to participate in activities or to purchase childcare. Consequently we have a high level of petty cash transactions to refund out of pocket expenses. We have a robust petty cash recording and accounting system to manage this. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 

1109815 

**Principal address** A5 Design Works, William Street Felling, Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE10 0JP 

|**Trustees**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Name**|**Office**|**Appointed**|
|Ramatoulie Saidykhan|Chair|15 July 2022|
|Alice Mupaya Masuku|Treasurer|15 July 2022|
|Nishanthini Mayurathan|Secretary|15 July 2022|
|Nida Muzaffar||15 July 2022|
|Larry Amadi-Emina||15 July 2022|
|Printha Muthukumar||15 July 2022|
|Degu Tariku||15 July 2022|
|Jeffreys Muguti||15 July 2022|



**Senior staff** Georgina Fletcher Chief executive officer 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Read, Milburn & Co 71 Howard Street North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 1AF 

Page 12 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** 

## **Bankers** 

TSB Bank plc St Mary's Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7PR 

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 8 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by: 


R Saidykhan - Trustee 

Page 13 



## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Regional Refugee Forum North East** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Regional Refugee Forum North East (the Trust) for the year ended 31 July 2023. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). 

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


Nick Liley FCA 

Read, Milburn & Co North Shields 

14 November 2023 

Page 14 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

|Unrestricted<br>fund<br>Notes<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>2<br>Grant income<br>-<br>Other income<br>5,834<br>**Total**<br>5,834<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>3<br>Salaries and NIC<br>13,515<br>General running expenses<br>777<br>Training staff and volunteers<br>-<br>Participant travel and childcare expenses<br>-<br>Activity expenses<br>276<br>Staff travel<br>-<br>**Total**<br>14,568<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>(8,734)<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>12<br>(2,604)<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>(11,338)<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>57,146<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>45,808|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>51,996<br>-<br>51,996<br>62,305<br>10,111<br>1,575<br>421<br>10,381<br>338<br>85,131<br>(33,135)<br>2,604<br>(30,531)<br>34,711<br>4,180|2023<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>51,996<br>5,834<br>57,830<br>75,820<br>10,888<br>1,575<br>421<br>10,657<br>338<br>99,699<br>(41,869)<br>-<br>(41,869)<br>91,857<br>49,988|2022<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>109,395<br>5,037<br>114,432<br>94,403<br>12,671<br>2,520<br>6,968<br>13,360<br>591<br>130,513<br>(16,081)<br>-<br>(16,081)<br>107,938<br>91,857|
|---|---|---|---|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 15 



## **THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **BALANCE SHEET 31 JULY 2023** 

|Notes<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>9<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**CREDITORS**<br>Amounts falling due within one year<br>10<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**<br>**LIABILITIES**<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**FUNDS**<br>12<br>Unrestricted funds<br>Restricted funds<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|2023<br>£<br>682<br>100,600<br>101,282<br>(51,294)<br>49,988<br>49,988<br>49,988<br>45,808<br>4,180<br>49,988|2022<br>£<br>2,423<br>130,701<br>133,124<br>(41,267)<br>91,857<br>91,857<br>91,857<br>57,146<br>34,711<br>91,857|
|---|---|---|



The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8 November 2023 and were signed on its behalf by: 


R Saidykhan - Trustee 


A Mupaya - Trustee 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 16 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** 

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with 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) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention 

## **Income** 

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

## **Expenditure** 

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 

Fixtures and fittings -  25% on cost Computer equipment -  33% on cost 

## **Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. 

## **Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. 

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. 

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. 

## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** 

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme.  Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the  Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. 

continued... 

Page 17 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **2. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES** 

|Millfield House Foundation<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>Community Foundation serving Tyne &<br>Wear and Northumberland<br>NE Migration Partnership<br>Open University<br>Carnegie UK|2023<br>Grant<br>income<br>£<br>42,000<br>-<br>9,996<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>51,996|2022<br>Total<br>activities<br>£<br>42,000<br>47,987<br>7,167<br>4,048<br>5,423<br>2,770<br>109,395|
|---|---|---|



## **3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS** 

|Salaries and NIC<br>General running expenses<br>Training staff and volunteers<br>Participant travel and childcare<br>expenses<br>Activity expenses<br>Staff travel|Support<br>Direct<br>costs (see<br>Costs<br>note 4)<br>£<br>£<br>71,981<br>3,839<br>-<br>10,888<br>1,575<br>-<br>421<br>-<br>10,657<br>-<br>338<br>-<br>84,972<br>14,727|Totals<br>£<br>75,820<br>10,888<br>1,575<br>421<br>10,657<br>338<br>99,699|
|---|---|---|



|**4.**<br>**SUPPORT COSTS**<br>Governance<br>Management<br>costs<br>£<br>£<br>Salaries and NIC<br>3,839<br>-<br>General running expenses<br>9,070<br>1,818<br>12,909<br>1,818|Totals<br>£<br>3,839<br>10,888<br>14,727|
|---|---|



continued... 

Page 18 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **4. SUPPORT COSTS - continued** 

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: 

|Finance officer's salary<br>Rent and utilities<br>Insurance<br>Telephone and internet charges<br>Stationery and postage<br>Cleaning and office sundries<br>Repairs and equipment<br>IT and software support<br>Professional charges<br>Trustees' remuneration etc<br>Accountancy and payroll charges|Salaries<br>and NIC<br>£<br>3,839<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,839|General<br>running<br>expenses<br> <br>£<br>-<br>3,779<br>489<br>2,176<br>242<br>29<br>95<br>2,260<br>-<br>15<br>1,803<br>10,888|2023<br>Total<br>activities<br> <br>£<br>3,839<br>3,779<br>489<br>2,176<br>242<br>29<br>95<br>2,260<br>-<br>15<br>1,803<br>14,727|2022<br>Total<br>activities<br>£<br>3,727<br>3,853<br>499<br>2,929<br>400<br>-<br>1,479<br>1,323<br>157<br>-<br>2,031<br>16,398|
|---|---|---|---|---|



## **5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** 

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2023 nor for the year ended 31 July 2022. 

## **Trustees' expenses** 

|Trustees' expenses<br>**6.**<br>**STAFF COSTS**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Other pension costs|2023<br>£<br>15<br>2023<br>£<br>59,590<br>5,908<br>1,484<br>66,982|2022<br>£<br>-<br>2022<br>£<br>83,764<br>8,238<br>2,401<br>94,403|
|---|---|---|



The charity's key management personnel comprise the Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £53,999 (2022 - £52,451). 

continued... 

Page 19 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **6. STAFF COSTS - continued** 

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: 

|Project<br>Finance|2023<br>2<br>1<br>3|2022<br>2<br>1|
|---|---|---|
|||3|



No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 

|**7.**<br>**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>fund<br>funds<br>£<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Grant income<br>280<br>109,115<br>Other income<br>4,387<br>650<br>**Total**<br>4,667<br>109,765<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Salaries and NIC<br>284<br>94,119<br>General running expenses<br>1,295<br>11,376<br>Training staff and volunteers<br>-<br>2,520<br>Participant travel and childcare expenses<br>145<br>6,823<br>Activity expenses<br>40<br>13,320<br>Staff travel<br>-<br>591<br>**Total**<br>1,764<br>128,749<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>2,903<br>(18,984)<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>1,331<br>(1,331)<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>4,234<br>(20,315)<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>52,912<br>55,026<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**<br>**FORWARD**<br>57,146<br>34,711|Total<br>funds<br>£<br>109,395<br>5,037<br>114,432<br>94,403<br>12,671<br>2,520<br>6,968<br>13,360<br>591<br>130,513<br>(16,081)<br>-<br>(16,081)<br>107,938<br>91,857|
|---|---|



continued... 

Page 20 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

|**8.**<br>**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**<br>Fixtures<br>and<br>fittings<br>£<br>**COST**<br>At 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023<br>1,819<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023<br>1,819<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 31 July 2023<br>-<br>At 31 July 2022<br>-<br>**9.**<br>**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Other debtors<br>Prepayments<br>**10.**<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Taxation and social security<br>Other creditors<br>**11.**<br>**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>fund<br>funds<br>£<br>£<br>Current assets<br>48,606<br>52,676<br>Current liabilities<br>(2,798)<br>(48,496)<br>45,808<br>4,180|Computer<br>equipment<br>£<br>9,983<br>9,983<br>-<br>-<br>2023<br>£<br>120<br>562<br>682<br>2023<br>£<br>1,256<br>50,038<br>51,294<br>2023<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>101,282<br>(51,294)<br>49,988|Totals<br>£<br>11,802<br>11,802<br>-<br>-<br>2022<br>£<br>-<br>2,423<br>2,423<br>2022<br>£<br>1,231<br>40,036<br>41,267<br>2022<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>133,124<br>(41,267)<br>91,857|
|---|---|---|



continued... 

Page 21 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** 

|Net<br>Transfers<br>movement<br>between<br>At 1/8/22<br>in funds<br>funds<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>57,146<br>(8,734)<br>(2,604)<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Millfield House Foundation-Strategic<br>Partners<br>8,261<br>(10,865)<br>2,604<br>Jill Franklin Trust-RCO Development<br>1,000<br>(1,000)<br>-<br>Empowering Community<br>Organisers-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>18,336<br>(18,336)<br>-<br>Building Capabilities-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>1,317<br>(1,317)<br>-<br>Community Foundation for Tyne and<br>Wear and Northumberland-Train the<br>Trainers<br>297<br>(297)<br>-<br>Millfield House Foundation-Future<br>Planning<br>2,500<br>-<br>-<br>The Daphne & Martin Cookson and<br>Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the<br>Community Foundation for Tyne &<br>Wear and<br>Northumberland-Promotional Film on<br>the work of refugee led community<br>action<br>3,000<br>(1,320)<br>-<br>34,711<br>(33,135)<br>2,604<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>91,857<br>(41,869)<br>-|At<br>31/7/23<br>£<br>45,808<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,500<br>1,680<br>4,180<br>49,988|
|---|---|



continued... 

Page 22 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

||Incoming|Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||resources||expended|in funds|
||£||£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|5,834||(14,568)|(8,734)|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Millfield House Foundation-Strategic|||||
|Partners|42,000||(52,865)|(10,865)|
|Jill Franklin Trust-RCO Development||-|(1,000)|(1,000)|
|Empowering Community|||||
|Organisers-National Lottery|||||
|Community Fund||-|(18,336)|(18,336)|
|Building Capabilities-National Lottery|||||
|Community Fund||-|(1,317)|(1,317)|
|Community Foundation for Tyne and|||||
|Wear and Northumberland-Train the|||||
|Trainers||-|(297)|(297)|
|The Daphne & Martin Cookson and|||||
|Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the|||||
|Community Foundation for Tyne &|||||
|Wear and|||||
|Northumberland-Promotional Film on|||||
|the work of refugee led community|||||
|action||-|(1,320)|(1,320)|
|Grigor McClelland at the Community|||||
|Foundation for Tyne & Wear and|||||
|Northumberland-Core Costs associated|||||
|with Community Development|||||
|Support and Collective Voice Work|9,996||(9,996)|-|
||51,996||(85,131)|(33,135)|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|57,830||(99,699)|(41,869)|



continued... 

Page 23 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

## **Comparatives for movement in funds** 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Millfield House Foundation-Strategic<br>Partners<br>Jill Franklin Trust-RCO Development<br>Community Foundation serving Tyne<br>and Wear and<br>Northumberland-Working Group<br>Objectives<br>Empowering Community<br>Organisers-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>Building Capabilities-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>Community Foundation for Tyne and<br>Wear and Northumberland-Train the<br>Trainers<br>Open University-Arts based method<br>for Civil Engagement<br>North East Migration<br>Partnership-NEMP Video Commission<br>Millfield House Foundation-Future<br>Planning<br>North East Migration<br>Partnership-'Welcome to the UK'<br>project, the design and printing of<br>promotional materials<br>Carnegie UK-participation in the<br>Wellbeing in the North of Tyne<br>Research<br>The Daphne & Martin Cookson and<br>Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the<br>Community Foundation for Tyne &<br>Wear and<br>Northumberland-Promotional Film on<br>the work of refugee led community<br>action<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1/8/21<br>£<br>52,912<br>4,578<br>1,000<br>864<br>41,050<br>1,317<br>3,717<br>-<br>-<br>2,500<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>55,026<br>107,938|Net<br>movement<br>in funds<br>£<br>2,903<br>3,245<br>-<br>(312)<br>(22,280)<br>-<br>(3,420)<br>1<br>(230)<br>-<br>(1)<br>1,013<br>3,000<br>(18,984)<br>(16,081)|Transfers<br>between<br>funds<br>£<br>1,331<br>438<br>-<br>(552)<br>(434)<br>-<br>-<br>(1)<br>230<br>-<br>1<br>(1,013)<br>-<br>(1,331)<br>-|At<br>31/7/22<br>£<br>57,146<br>8,261<br>1,000<br>-<br>18,336<br>1,317<br>297<br>-<br>-<br>2,500<br>-<br>-<br>3,000<br>34,711<br>91,857|
|---|---|---|---|---|



continued... 

Page 24 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Millfield House Foundation-Strategic<br>Partners<br>Community Foundation serving Tyne<br>and Wear and<br>Northumberland-Working Group<br>Objectives<br>Empowering Community<br>Organisers-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>Community Foundation for Tyne and<br>Wear and Northumberland-Train the<br>Trainers<br>Open University-Arts based method<br>for Civil Engagement<br>North East Migration<br>Partnership-NEMP Video Commission<br>North East Migration<br>Partnership-'Welcome to the UK'<br>project, the design and printing of<br>promotional materials<br>Carnegie UK-participation in the<br>Wellbeing in the North of Tyne<br>Research<br>The Daphne & Martin Cookson and<br>Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the<br>Community Foundation for Tyne &<br>Wear and<br>Northumberland-Promotional Film on<br>the work of refugee led community<br>action<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming<br>resources<br>£<br>4,667<br>42,000<br>4,167<br>47,987<br>-<br>5,423<br>2,795<br>1,623<br>2,770<br>3,000<br>109,765<br>114,432|Resources<br>Movement<br>expended<br>in funds<br>£<br>£<br>(1,764)<br>2,903<br>(38,755)<br>3,245<br>(4,479)<br>(312)<br>(70,267)<br>(22,280)<br>(3,420)<br>(3,420)<br>(5,422)<br>1<br>(3,025)<br>(230)<br>(1,624)<br>(1)<br>(1,757)<br>1,013<br>-<br>3,000<br>(128,749)<br>(18,984)<br>(130,513)<br>(16,081)|
|---|---|---|



Page 25 

continued... 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: 

|Net<br>Transfers<br>movement<br>between<br>At 1/8/21<br>in funds<br>funds<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>52,912<br>(5,831)<br>(1,273)<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Millfield House Foundation-Strategic<br>Partners<br>4,578<br>(7,620)<br>3,042<br>Jill Franklin Trust-RCO Development<br>1,000<br>(1,000)<br>-<br>Empowering Community<br>Organisers-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>41,050<br>(40,616)<br>(434)<br>Building Capabilities-National Lottery<br>Community Fund<br>1,317<br>(1,317)<br>-<br>Community Foundation for Tyne and<br>Wear and Northumberland-Train the<br>Trainers<br>3,717<br>(3,717)<br>-<br>Millfield House Foundation-Future<br>Planning<br>2,500<br>-<br>-<br>The Daphne & Martin Cookson and<br>Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the<br>Community Foundation for Tyne &<br>Wear and<br>Northumberland-Promotional Film on<br>the work of refugee led community<br>action<br>-<br>1,680<br>-<br>54,162<br>(52,590)<br>2,608<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>107,938<br>(57,950)<br>-|At<br>31/7/23<br>£<br>45,808<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,500<br>1,680<br>4,180<br>49,988|
|---|---|



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continued... 



**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

||Incoming|Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||resources||expended|in funds|
||£||£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|10,501||(16,332)|(5,831)|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Millfield House Foundation-Strategic|||||
|Partners|84,000||(91,620)|(7,620)|
|Jill Franklin Trust-RCO Development||-|(1,000)|(1,000)|
|Empowering Community|||||
|Organisers-National Lottery|||||
|Community Fund|47,987||(88,603)|(40,616)|
|Building Capabilities-National Lottery|||||
|Community Fund||-|(1,317)|(1,317)|
|Community Foundation for Tyne and|||||
|Wear and Northumberland-Train the|||||
|Trainers||-|(3,717)|(3,717)|
|The Daphne & Martin Cookson and|||||
|Sara Alexandra Bernstone Funds at the|||||
|Community Foundation for Tyne &|||||
|Wear and|||||
|Northumberland-Promotional Film on|||||
|the work of refugee led community|||||
|action|3,000||(1,320)|1,680|
|Grigor McClelland at the Community|||||
|Foundation for Tyne & Wear and|||||
|Northumberland-Core Costs associated|||||
|with Community Development|||||
|Support and Collective Voice Work|9,996||(9,996)|-|
||144,983||(197,573)|(52,590)|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|172,262||(230,212)|(57,950)|



The restricted funds comprise grants received from funders for a specific purpose or project and can be expended only in the way already agreed to by the charity. 

## **Transfers between funds** 

The transfers are of any remaining balances on the completion of the relevant project. 

continued... 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

## **13. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** 

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2023. 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Millfield House Foundation<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>Community Foundation serving Tyne &<br>Wear and Northumberland<br>NE Migration Partnership<br>Open University<br>Carnegie UK<br>**Other income**<br>Other income<br>**Total incoming resources**<br>**EXPENDITURE**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Wages<br>Social security<br>Pensions<br>Staff travel<br>Participants costs<br>Training<br>Research costs<br>Working groups<br>Redundancy payment<br>Sessional worker<br>**Support costs**<br> **Management**<br>Finance officer's salary<br>Rent and utilities<br>Insurance<br>Telephone and internet charges<br>Stationery and postage<br>Cleaning and office sundries<br>Carried forward|2023<br>£<br>42,000<br>-<br>9,996<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>51,996<br>5,834<br>57,830<br>55,751<br>5,908<br>1,484<br>338<br>421<br>1,575<br>7,232<br>570<br>8,838<br>2,855<br>84,972<br>3,839<br>3,779<br>489<br>2,176<br>242<br>29<br>10,554|2022<br>£<br>42,000<br>47,987<br>7,167<br>4,048<br>5,423<br>2,770<br>109,395<br>5,037<br>114,432<br>80,037<br>8,238<br>2,401<br>591<br>6,968<br>2,520<br>2,400<br>6,412<br>-<br>4,548<br>114,115<br>3,727<br>3,853<br>499<br>2,929<br>400<br>-<br>11,408|
|---|---|---|



This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

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**THE REGIONAL REFUGEE FORUM NORTH EAST** 

## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2023** 

|**Management**<br>Brought forward<br>Repairs and equipment<br>IT and software support<br>Professional charges<br> **Governance costs**<br>Trustees' expenses<br>Accountancy and payroll charges<br>Total resources expended<br>**Net expenditure**|2023<br>£<br>10,554<br>95<br>2,260<br>-<br>12,909<br>15<br>1,803<br>1,818<br>99,699<br>(41,869)|2022<br>£<br>11,408<br>1,479<br>1,323<br>157<br>14,367<br>-<br>2,031<br>2,031<br>130,513<br>(16,081)|
|---|---|---|



This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

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