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← Somali Welfare Trust

2024-03-31-accounts

FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CHARITY NO. 1112146

Page 1

SOMALI WELFARE TRUST LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Name of Charity: Somali Welfare Trust
Registered Address: Cardinal Heenan Centre
326 High Road
Ilford
Essex IG1 1QP
Tel: 0208 553 7969
Email: info@somaliwelfaretrust.org
Charity Registration No. 1112146
Management Committee
(Trustees) A Abdi
For the Accounting Period: S Mohamud
AR Yusuf
AK Yusuf
U Hussein

Independent Ajaz & Co Accountants and Tax Consultants Examiner: Essex House 339 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1TE Banker: HSBC Bank Plc 126 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1DA

Page 2

SOMALI WELFARE TRUST

ANNUAL REPORTOF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (TRUSTEES)

Introduction

The Management Committee (who are also the Trustees of the Somali Welfare Trust) submit their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024. The Somali Welfare Trust (SWT) was established in October 2003 and was incorporated as a charity and its name was entered in the Charity Commission’s Central Register on the 18[th] of November 2005.

Background

SWT is an innovative charity based in the East London borough of Redbridge. SWT is very passionate about making a difference to the Somali & other BAME and Refugee Communities in this and other surrounding boroughs in East London. Led by a diverse group of skilled and trained staff and volunteers it is helping the communities to access opportunities and services, giving a platform so that their voices are heard and helping to strengthen relationships with mainstream service providers to create social change.

Being the only Somali community led voluntary organisation in Redbridge it forms the first point of contact for the borough’s growing and expanding Somali and other BAME and Refugee communities. The Trust also provides services to communities residing in neighbouring East London boroughs of Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Tower Hamlets.

Objectives of the Somali Welfare Trust

The objects of the Somali Welfare Trust is:

“To relieve poverty, sickness and distress and to preserve and protect the health of Somalis living in the London Borough of Redbridge and the surrounding areas in particular but not exclusively, through the provision of advice, assistance, representation, counselling and translation and interpretation services in matters including health, housing and welfare benefits”.

The services that SWT provides aims to meet its following strategic aims: what we aim to achieve are to:

  1. Create a stronger voluntary and community organisation for now and for the future.

  2. Have a stronger and more diverse base for participation, engagement, volunteering and voluntary activity.

  3. Forge partnerships which improve opportunities for local people.

  4. Build a stronger and more sustainable organisation.

Our values: principles we will work within are to:

Structure, Governance and Management

SWT is constituted by a constitution. It is governed by the regulations set out in the constitution and run by a diverseManagement Committee (who are also Trustees)with lived experiences from professional backgrounds in the field of Health, Community Development Work, the Arts and Media and Accounting.

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SWT’s Management Committee are elected by the membership every two years. The Management Committee members are briefed by the Chairperson and the General Secretary in order to familiarise themselves with the rules, regulations and responsibilities of the charity.

The Management Committee meets quarterly to review the activities of the charity including the approval of the annual accounts as well as budgets, capital expenditure and to set out the fund - raising date for the charity. The day-to-day work of the charity is overseen by the Treasurer who is responsible to and reports to the Management Committee.

The Management Committee are aware of the potential risks to the charity, both financial and otherwise. Therefore, strategies are in place to control these risks. Annual assessments are undertaken relating to fire and health and safety. The Management Committee are looking into other risk areas such as operational matters, governance and compliance with law and regulations.

Work of the Trust – SWT’s Services, Activities and its Impact

Operating from the Cardinal Heenan Centre in Ilford, SWT continues to deliverholistic services which supports people in the grassroot communities to assert and enjoy their rights and entitlements and to strive to achieve their life goals and aspirations.

SWT swiftly responds to keep the Somali and other BAME and Refugee Communities safe, in good health and connected. Many of whom face complex life challenges and issues and often fall through the cracks of mainstream services. SWT works collaboratively with the community and in close partnership with local, regional and national agencies, Redbridge Borough Council and several other local authorities across London and other statutory and mainstream agencies so as to ensure the community can services that meet their needs.

Welfare Rights Information, Advice & Guidance Service

SWT’s welfare rights information and advice services continue to be one of SWT’s core services. SWT provides free, confidential, high quality, accessible guidance, information, advice and advocacy on rights and entitlements in areas of welfare benefits, benefit checks, income maximisation, assisting clients affected by homelessness, clients needing housing advice to keep their home. With the cost-of-living crisis upon us all, this year we have seen huge influx of clients seeking debt advice, clients seeking urgent help who have been struggling to pay their utility bills. Other areas of advice given are clients seeking advice who have been victims of hate crime and harassment. Advice on care and personalisation, education, employment and health continue to be important issues for our client groups. The current level of take-up for welfare benefits and tax credits, combined with the introduction of the universal credit and the complexity of the tax and benefit system and diversity of potential claimant population shows a high need for this service. This is because of the user groups’ specific and multiple barriers arising from the complexity of their situation and its interaction with the benefits system.

Tackling Food Poverty

With the cost-of-living crisis it has continued to put many families and other vulnerable people at risk to food insecurity. The cost-of-living crisis has had serious implications for poverty, educational attainment and energy access. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has multiplied the effects of food insecurity, especially for people on low incomes, people without adequate social protections and people already experiencing food insecurity. SWT continued to provide families, individuals with pre-packed food parcels on their doorstep. With demands being high, by 31[st] March 2024, food parcels to a further value of £3,000 was delivered to almost 60 families and individuals.

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Cost-of-Living Support Service

SWT continued to support vulnerable Somali families, individuals and advised low-income families who are struggling and barely managing to survive, giving very important advice, information and also undertaking contacts and negotiating on behalf of clients with utility companies on their utilities charges particularly heating and lighting costs, helping clients sought out their rents and rent arrears with the Council, Housing association and private landlords to prevent clients from losing their home through eviction, or loss of utility services by preventing disconnection of services. We also helped the clients build financial resilience by enabling our clients with basic budgeting and financial literacy training.

Volunteering

Our volunteers play a pivotal role in providing mentoring, community engagement and peer support. Engaging in detached street work and outreach work including home visits this provides active network for the sharing of community information and support services. SWT’sregular volunteering team delivered more than 3000 hours of volunteering time.

Support to Families in Crisis

SWT has been running counselling and practical support service to parents and families who have been struggling to maintain a normal life through the cost-of-living crisis. We have been supporting families experiencing multiple social problems particularly in families with history of mental health illness, coupled with poverty, the impact on family’s emotional wellbeing while living in temporary accommodation.

More recently we have seen a growing number of Somali, BAME and Refugee children being victims of trafficking, modern slavery, children forced into illicit activities, victims of sexual and other exploitation. We provide specialist support including advice and advocacy, liaising directly with Social Services, Local authorities and the Metropolitan Police and have been closely involved with these agencies in helping to rescue children from the traffickers and other criminal gangs and reunite them with their families.

Mental Health Counselling Support Programme

SWT’s Mental Health Counselling Support Programme provides intervention support to the Somali Women and young people, with talking therapy support through the provision of a safe space delivered through zoom which givesthem the opportunity freely talk/share experiences of grief, trauma, bereavement experiences in confidence.

BAME Youth Hub

SWT’s BAME Youth Hub Project undertakes street outreach work with particular focus on addressing the growing knife crimes and gang culture amongst Somali youngsters. The purpose of the Hub Project is to provide a safe place for young people who are at risk to further violence, crime and crime and being excluded from Society. The space provides a safe environment to help young people with mental or physical health needs, support for young people with substance misuse, advice with employment, education and training opportunities.

The Redbridge Women’s Advocacy Group

The Redbridge Women’s Advocacy Group (RWAG) is an example of a project created by SWT that is helping to build power in our community. The RWAG was set up and undertaken by SWT working hand in hand with the local women employed in the Care Sector in Redbridge. The Group’s mission was to highlight the inequalities they face as a result of employment exploitation in the Care Sector as a result of discrepancies within their payment

Page 5

because of a ‘grey-area’ within the law which allows the care agencies The group is proud that they were able to come together and collective share their personal experiences of the exploitation they face. The group are proud that they have a space at the local community centre where they meet regularly to discuss how they can raise awareness of their predicament to policy makers. The group have produced detailed case studies of their personal lived experience. to avoid paying tax by levying this tax onto the care workers.

Financial Resilience Programme

SWT’s Financial Resilience programme focuses on strengthening BAME women’s financial resilience because during the Covid pandemic period and then following through the cost-of-living crisis, we found that BAME women were more vulnerable to a higher risk of financial insecurity when compared to white women and require emergency support more quickly.

Our project began at a time of the cost-of-living crisis when we saw first-hand the impact of the financial crisis on the BAME women. We know from direct face-to-face contact with BAME women they were more likely to be in poverty, high dependency on benefits, and were hit harder by cuts and restrictions to benefits and were finding difficulties in accessing public services. BAME Women have lower levels of savings and wealth than men and have greater caring responsibilities.

Community Research and Building Community Networks

Post the covid pandemic, with a severe of lack of basic demographic, health, social and economic data of Redbridge’s Somali and other BAME and Refugee Communities, SWT taken a new community research approach, to try to address the ‘research weariness’ our communities experience. This means, have engaged in a number ofLondon wide networks, engaged in conversations, debates and ideas that dwell in that community, which are normally where outside research institutions very rarely have access. We have taken the approach to collect stories, data that provides a better picture of the community we live with.

Financial Review

The financial position of the Charity is portrayed in the accompanying Annual Accounts.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

Law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statement for each financial year, which gives a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The Management Committee are responsible for keeping accounting records, which discloses with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reporting) regulations and the provisions laid out in the Charity’s governing document. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Page 6

Reserve Policy

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds, which have not been designated for a specific use, should be maintained at a level equivalent to at least three months expenditure. The Management Committee

consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The Charity will actively work to achieve this level of reserves.

Risk Management

The Management Committee have assessed the risks the charity faces and have compiled a risk list which identified the major risks by area of activity, the nature of those risks, the likelihood of risks happening and the measures taken to manage them. The Management Committee review this list regularly at their meetings and at its meetings with employed staff running the services. The Management Committee are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. The finances of the Charity are kept under review. Appropriate DBS (Disclosure Barring services) Checks, supported by regular policy reviews are made for all those who work with children and other vulnerable groups with the Charity’s activities.

Independent Examiner

According to the provisions of the Charities Act 2011, the Management Committee agree that an audit is not required for this financial year; however due to the provisions of the same act an Independent Examiner is required.

Ajaz & Co Accountants & Tax Consultants will be appointed as Independent Examiner for the ensuring year.

The Management Committee approved the accounts on the ……19.12.2024……

Signed on Behalf of the Management Committee:

Sign ……

Name: A Yusuf

Position: Vice Chair

Date: 19.12.2024

Page 7

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024

We report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st ] March 2024 set out on pages 8 to 12.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.

We report in respect of our examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out our examination. We have followed all the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent Examiner's statement

We have completed my examination. We have confirmed that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives us cause to believe that in, any material respect:

We 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.

……………………………………………………………………

Prepared by: Ajaz & Co Accountants & Tax Consultants Essex House 339 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1TE

Date: 23/12/2024

Page 8

SOMALI WELFARE TRUST NOTES TO HE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies :

The Financial Statements are prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevance note(s) to these accounts and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities and with preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Standard applicable in the United Kingdom (FRS 102) issued on the 16[th] July 2016 and updated on the 16[th] September 2016 and with the Charities Act 2011.The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by the Charity Commission.

(a) Incoming Resources:

The Incoming resources represents grants, donations and any bank interest receivable. The total incoming resources of the Trust for the year have been derived from its principal activity undertaken in the United Kingdom and came from the following sources:

Redbridge Council: Redbridge Community Fund
Redbridge Council: London Youth
National Lottery Communities Fund: Awards for All
National Lottery Communities Fund: Reaching Communities
National Lottery Communities Fund – Cost of Living
The Clothworkers Foundation
The Postcode Society Trust
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Lloyds Bank Foundation (Uplift Grant)
Tudor Trust
Tudor Trust
Civil Roots Society 3 Round 2
Smallwood Trust
Trust for London
Garfield Weston Foundation
London Community Foundation – Together for London
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Foundation – Cost of Living Grant
Council of Somali Organisations
Total:		 £
Restricted
-
-
10,000
96,976
46,945
-
-
-
-
-
-
22,500
19,482
25,735
10,000
-
-
-
-
£231,638		 £
Unrestricted
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,000
-
35,000
3,600
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
£63,600		 2024
£
Total
-
-
10,000
96,976
46,945
-
-
25,000
-
35,000
3,600
22,500
19,482
25,735
10,000
-
-
-
-
£295,238		 2023
£
Total
15,000
4,080
9,932
48,488
-
10,000
16,347
25,000
2,250
50,000
-
-
-
32,535
-
10,000
17,984
1,798
100
£243,514		 2023
£
Total

(b) Restricted Funds:

Restricted Funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the funding authority. Direct and support expenditure, which meets these criteria, is identified to the fund together with a fair allocation of other costs.

Page 9

(c) Unrestricted Funds:

Unrestricted funds are received which have no restrictions placed in their use and are available as general funds.

2. Fixed Assets:

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rate in order to write off each asset cost over its estimated useful life as follows:

Computer Equipment: 33% on Cost

3. Staffing Costs:

Salaries paid to employees who provided direct charitable services.

Staffing & On Costs 31/03/2024
(£)
£85,570		 31/03/2023
(£)
£93,986

4. Management Committee:

None of the Management Committee members received any remuneration during the year.

5. Accrual:

Creditors
Office Rent & Utilities
Cost of Living Support Activities
Meetings, Events Costs
Salaries & On Cost
Volunteers Expenses
Activity Costs
Administration & Finance
Printing, Photocopy & Stationery
Tel, Mobile, Broadband
Equipment
Staff Travel& Expenses
Payroll
Bank Charge
Misc
Food Parcels
Total:
6. Total Funds:
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
Total:		 2024
(£)
-
5,228
-
-
-
3,661
6,115
1,012
229
-
-
-
-
-
4,700
£20,945
2024
(£)
289,140
68,973
£358,113		 2023
(£)
651
2,400
1,190
-
1,327
-
-
644
-
-
625
-
-
-
-
£6,837
2023
(£)
204,685
34,428
£239,113		 2023
(£)
651
2,400
1,190
-
1,327
-
-
644
-
-
625
-
-
-
-
£6,837		 2023

2023

Page 10

Somali Welfare Trust

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ending 31 March 2024

Incoming Resources
Grants
Total Incoming Resources at 31/03/2024
Outgoing Resources
Staffing Costs
Direct Charitable Expenditure
Admin, Management & Finance
Net Incoming/Outgoing Resources
Before Transfer
Gross Transfer Between Funds
Net Incoming/Outgoing Resources
After Transfer
Balance Brought Forward at 01/04/2023:
Balance Carried Forward at 31/03/2024:		 Restricted
Funds (£)
231,638
£231,638
58,615
52,446
36,122
£147,183
-
£84,455
204,685
£289,140		 Unrestricted
Funds (£)
63,600
£63,600
26,955
-
2,100
£29,055
-
£34,545
34,428
£68,973		 Unrestricted
Funds (£)
63,600
£63,600
26,955
-
2,100
£29,055
-
£34,545
34,428
£68,973		 2024
Total Funds
295,238
£295,238
85,570
52,446
38,222
£176,238
-
£119,000
239,113
£358,113		 2023
Total Funds		 2023
Total Funds		 2023
Total Funds
243,514
£243,514

93,986
35,208
18,637
£147,831

-
£95,683
143,430
£239,113
-
£95,683

143,430

Page 11

Somali Welfare Trust

Income & Expenditure Account – Year Ending 31[st] March 2024

Note
Incoming Resources
2
Grants
Total Income Received
Resources Expended
Staffing Costs
Staffing, Employers NI & Pensions
Direct Charitable Expenses
Office Rent & Utilities
Meeting Room Costs
Volunteers Expenses
Prof Fees – Trainers, Facilitator Fees
Meetings, Events, Workshop Costs
Cost of Living Support Activities
Users Activities Costs
Light Refreshments
Staff Meeting & Travel Expenses
Emergency Food Parcels
Equipment (ICT & Digital Devices)
Subscription
Monitoring and Evaluation
Transport Costs
Management & Administration
Admin, Management & Finance
Telephone, Mobile & Broadband
Printing, Postage & Stationery
Insurance
Accounting and Payroll Service
Bank Charges
Misc Expenses
Fund-Raising Consultancy Fees
Total Expenses:
Surplus / (Deficit):
Balance Brought Forward @ 01/04/2023:
Balance Carried Forward @ 01/04/2024:		 Restricted
Funds (£)
231,638
£231,638
58,615
6,458
300
500
18,000
4,957
6,955
6,730
1,890
1,000
4,700
156
-
-
800
32,239
1,300
1,012
157
804
60
550
-
147,183
84,455
£204,685
£289,140		 Unrestricted
Funds (£)
63,600
£63,600
26,955
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,100
29,055
34,545
£34,428
£68,973		 Unrestricted
Funds (£)
63,600
£63,600
26,955
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,100
29,055
34,545
£34,428
£68,973		 2024
(£)
Total
295,238
£295,238
85,570
6,458
300
500
18,000
4,957
6,955
6,730
1,890
1,000
4,700
156
-
-
800
32,239
1,300
1,012
157
804
60
550
2,100
176,238
119,000
£239,113
£358,113		 2023
(£)
Total
243,514
£243,514		 2023
(£)
Total

93,986
7,673
-
5,385
6,540
3,939
6,400
-
1,800
625
3,000
1,325
1,500
2,000
-
15,250
1,325
683
-
800
79
500
-
£147,831

95,683
143,430
£239,113

Page 12

Somali Welfare Trust

Balance Sheet as at 31[st] March 2024

Restricted Unrestricted 2024 2023
Funds (£) Funds (£) Total Funds Total Funds
Current Assets
Cash at Bank at 31/03/2024 310,085 68,973 379,058 245,950
Total Current Assets £310,085 £68,973 £379,058 £245,950
Restricted Unrestricted 2024 2023
Funds (£) Funds (£) Total Funds Total Funds
Current Liabilities
Creditors: Amount falling due within one year
Sundry Creditors (20,945) - (20,945) (6,837)
Net Current Asset 289,140 68,973 358,113 239,113
Total Net Assets £289,140 £68,973 £358,113 £239,113
2024 2023
Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Represented By:
Restricted Funds 289,140 204,685
Unrestricted Funds 68,973 34,428
Total: £358,113 £239,113

We confirm that we have made available all relevant records, bills, vouchers, information and explanation for the preparation of the above balance sheet and the annexed Income and expenditure of the income and is also the correct state of the affairs of the Trust as of 31st March 2024.

Approved by the Management Committee on the … 19.12.2024… and signed on its behalf by:

Signed: …

Name: A Yusuf

Position: Vice Chair

Date : 19.12.2024