ANNUAL REVIEW 2021-2022 Br*Jlwd
CONTENTS
1 Introduction from BEACON’s Chair of Trustees 2 Reflections from BEACON’s Team Leader 3 Hosting - preventing destitution 4 CHAT – conversation and connection 6 McKenzie Friends – access to justice 10 Income and Expenditure 11 How you can help
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INTRODUCTION from BEACON’s Chair of Trustees
‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind.’
BEACON strives to be kind, offering welcome and support to people seeking sanctuary in our district. Kindness is also expressed through raising awareness of the difficult situation refugees find themselves in. The need for kindness and hospitality, in an increasingly hostile environment, is greater than ever. I hope that as you read the BEACON annual review, you will be inspired by the way kindness has been expressed.
Present context!
This year has seen the introduction of the Nationality & Borders Act which allows for the “differential treatment of refugees” depending on their mode of arrival, including limiting length of leave, family reunion rights and conditions for settlement.
Yet desperate people continue to risk their lives, with many crossing the English Channel in small boats. According to Home Office figures published in September 2022, over half of the top 10 nationalities applying for asylum have a grant rate above 80% (Iran 82%, Afghanistan 98%, Syria 98%, Eritrea 98%, and Sudan 87%). These figures speak for themselves!
At September 2022, Bradford had some 1,342 individuals living in Home Office accommodation (hotels and housing) (source: Migration Yorkshire). These are people living with not only the trauma of fleeing violence and persecution but also an uncertain future and now, for some, the fear of being flown to Rwanda.
to the UK in search of asylum. He says, ‘the community welcomed me and the society invested in me for which I am grateful and today I am proud to lead Scottish Refugee Council, Scotland’s national refugee agency. I used my own lived experience to help shape the sectors response to the Nationality and Borders Bill. I am privileged to chair the ‘Asylum Reform Initiative’ and the over 400 members strong ‘Together with Refugees’, working with people from a cross section of society to ask for a more humane, effective and efficient asylum system. Sabir, on receiving his OBE, goes on, ‘every person arriving here also has so much to contribute. We must truly welcome them, celebrate them as equal citizens and invest in their potential. Every refugee has a powerful story of courage, resilience and hope; and every refugee and the people that welcome them deserve an OBE!’
Goodbyes and thank yous
Sadly, we have said several goodbyes during the year. We thank Roland Clark, for his careful and conscientious oversight of BEACON’s finances over the past seven years and wish him well in his new ventures. Thank you also to Andrew Howorth and Aimee Nyembo for their dedicated commitment as BEACON trustees. Thank you to Alice Sizeland our CHAT Coordinator; we wish her every success in her new post.
And as always, I would like to say ‘thank you’ to our many volunteers, board of trustees, staff team, funders and all who support BEACON with their commitment and prayers. You all deserve an OBE!
Inspiration
Through the Together with Refugees coalition of which BEACON is a member, I came across the comments of Sabir Zazai OBE, who came
Sarah Jemison
Chair of Trustees
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REFLECTIONS from BEACON’s Team Leader
Our vision is that the Bradford district becomes a hospitable community where people seeking asylum and refugees are welcome, enjoy access to justice and fair treatment and are supported on their journey to independence and integration.
It has been another challenging year for many reasons. No sooner did it seem like the pandemic was largely behind us and a level of stability could ensue, than we witnessed the devastation of the war in Ukraine, and the resulting wave of refugees. Politically, we saw the passing of the Nationality and Borders Act, with the threat of deportation to Rwanda weighing heavy on the minds of many. Numbers arriving in the UK soared this year, and we have seen numbers accommodated in Bradford rise considerably. Whilst there was great public sympathy towards refugees when the Ukraine crisis took hold, the media continues to devalue the plight of people seeking asylum and hostility remains high.
Despite the turmoil playing out on the international stage, BEACON has continued to offer welcome and support to those who have fled their countries seeking safety and sanctuary, thanks to our dedicated team of staff and volunteers: opening homes to offer shelter and warmth, providing access to legal support to navigate an increasingly complex system, and offering opportunities to learn English & enjoy social activities.
We were granted additional support from the Lloyds Bank Foundation to work with a fundraising consultant to refine our financial monitoring procedures and develop a fundraising strategy, which we hope will enable us to secure funding to realise our future development plans.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion was progressed, with anti-racism training for our staff and volunteers delivered by ‘brap’, an organisation specialising in equality and diversity training, which we commissioned
and co-hosted in partnership with Abigail Housing, to ensure this approach is embedded in our work. We also hosted training on working with people who identify as LGBTQI+ which was delivered by Rainbow Migration and attended by professionals from across the UK. We have diversified our volunteer base and undertaken a full review of skills and diversity within our board of trustees, in order to shape our future recruitment plans to ensure we are inclusive and representative as an organisation. Similarly, we took steps to set up a user involvement group, carried out consultations with users in relation to future strategy & planning and recruited people with lived experience to our employment recruitment & selection panels.
Our relationships with partner agencies in Bradford remain strong and have enabled us to work together to support those who need our help. We end the year with plans for a local sector review & planning day to ensure we are able to meet the needs of the increasing numbers arriving in Bradford, both in the immediate term, as well as creating the infrastructure to respond quickly and with agility as a sector to future changes in the longer term.
We find ourselves in unpredictable times at the end of the year, with exponential numbers of people stuck in a broken system and ongoing uncertainty in relation to the government’s future plans. Despite this context of apprehension and a rapidly changing political arena, the BEACON team will continue to stand in solidarity and hope with those who need us as we move into the coming year.
Katy Armitstead
Team Leader
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HOSTING
Preventing destitution
Once again this year, we have received wonderful news from past guests who have at last been granted Leave to Remain in the UK. Of the 74 who have been hosted since the project began 14 years ago, we know that over half have now achieved this – and suspect that more with whom we have sadly lost touch, will have done also. It’s worth remembering that, without the kindness and generosity of our amazing hosts, some of these people would have been forced to return to the warzones from which they fled, or endured years of destitution and exploitation in the UK.
This has, however, been another difficult and unusual year for the project. At the time of writing there are currently 117,400 outstanding applications relating to 143,377 people awaiting an initial decision from the Home Office on their asylum claim, almost 3 times more than the number of applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2019 (source: Home Office, September 2022). This, combined with difficulties related to the closure of the key local destitution drop-in for people seeking asylum from which we have received the majority of our referrals over the years, means that, along with other local and national frontline services, referrals to the project have been very low. Understandably, two host households have opted to host Ukrainians via the government’s scheme.
The Home Office has however recently appointed over 800 new asylum case workers to address both this backlog, and the very high number of new applications. Along with other members of the Destitution Concern Bradford network, we are seeking ways to re-establish a local drop-in for people seeking asylum and
refugees.
Despite the above, we recruited a new household who welcomed their first guest this year, and our hosts collectively facilitated over 500 safe nights of accommodation during the year. This is far more than just ‘B&B’, as the project works to ensure that progress is made on guests’ legal cases, facilitates access to healthcare, provides bus passes, encourages and supports people into volunteering placements, English and other classes, and so much more.
We have also been able to share our hosting expertise and experience with potential new hosts looking to host Ukrainians through the Leeds diocese parish network and we continue to be active members of the NACCOM network, receiving and providing mutual support as part of a national community of organisations preventing destitution amongst refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
531
safe and secure nights of sleep provided!
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CHAT
Conversation and connection
This has been a really positive year as we have finally been able to fully transition back into meeting regularly in person and benefit from much-needed real-life interaction!
After opening the CHAT class back up towards the end of last year after the pandemic had forced many of our activities online, great efforts have been made to take full advantage of our rediscovered freedoms, with several trips taking place throughout the year. The fantastic People and the DALES facilitated 2 trips to the Yorkshire Dales – one to Keasden Head Farm where students got chance to see the farm animals & learn about farming practices, and a beautiful walk in Oxenber Woods above Austwick to see the bluebells in full bloom in the Springtime. Other local trips included an evening at the theatre courtesy of Leeds Playhouse, a visit to the National Science and Media Museum, local parks, and the villages of Saltaire and Thornton, often with a café pit stop for coffee and cake thrown in for good measure.
Thanks to a partnership run by Bradford Volunteer Centre and Bradford City of Sanctuary, we were pleased to host a useful workshop for students on how to access volunteering opportunities, a much-needed resource to help give purpose and meaning when life can be so challenging.
Lesson themes throughout the year were shaped using student feedback and have been far ranging, from practical activities such as a trip to join the local library and learn about resources available, to cultural topics including Bradford’s successful bid for City of Culture 2025, and much more besides.
Above all, we have been able to continue to provide a safe and welcoming space for people of all abilities to practise English and socialise with others. Not only is this an opportunity to improve English making navigating life in the UK that much easier, but crucially, it has a major impact on wellbeing & self-esteem through the laughter and connection that is very much part and parcel of the CHAT group.
We’ve also been able to offer additional activities including online cooking classes with professional chef Sonia Sandhu at the beginning of the year, as well as gardening sessions courtesy of the fantastic Horton Community Farm. Some students also took the opportunity to show off their dance skills, appearing in a locally produced film aiming to promote unity and reconciliation entitled ‘Dishta Gina Bradford style’.
Refugee Week saw opportunities for students to see the globally renowned ‘Little Amal’ visit Bradford, with some students also taking on the challenge of our 10+ mile sponsored walk, whilst others opted for a gentler walk round the Bradford Refugee Week exhibition trail.
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“I will never forget this moment spent together laughing, eating and seeing this beautiful, wonderful green place.”
CHAT student, following trip to Saltaire
“Today was an amazing day, an amazing place and an extraordinary group!”
“Thank you so much for planning this trip, we had a lovely day”
CHAT students, following a trip to Austwick, Yorkshire Dales
Feedback from students
100% of students said they enjoyed coming to the class
80% of students said they were satisfied with the learning material
“Thank you so much. I am so happy when I come to this class!”
“I like this class because there are many people, activities and trips.”
“I like the amount of fun we have in CHAT class!”
“I like going on the trips because it makes me happy and I enjoy seeing new places.”
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MCKENZIE FRIENDS
Access to justice
McKenzie Friends supported 60 people this year. In the first half of the year referrals were high but then dropped off significantly in summer, as we saw Home Office decision making slow down, before levelling off at the year end. Many of our referrals this year were complex cases and we increasingly saw people coming to us who were experiencing multiple disadvantage including problems with mental health and substance misuse. We can only imagine the traumas they have faced.
As a result of a reduction in larger face-to-face drop-in services in Bradford, we experienced an increase in self-referrals, with people contacting us with a wider range of needs. As the backlog of people in the system continues to grow, we find people are coming to us for assistance with finding solicitors for their initial asylum claim. There has also been a rise in the number of people seeking help with Article 8 humanitarian protection claims (right to private and family life) which are not funded by Legal Aid. We have completed several Exceptional Case Funding applications and as a result of our interventions, cases are being taken on by local solicitors.
Our partnership with Fisher Stone Solicitors continued throughout the year, with the provision of 16 legal advice sessions. At the year end, we had supported 27 people to find legal representation and heard that 12 people we supported had been granted Leave to Remain – fantastic news! Many of these have been from the Afghan community who have faced long waits and appalling treatment since their arrival in the UK.
team. As part of the training, we incorporated a visit to Phoenix House tribunal centre, where the number of appeals being heard each day has been cut to half. The impact on those waiting for an appeal is obvious - even longer waiting times.
Very sadly, we lost a longstanding McKenzie Friend volunteer Jackie Coutts, who passed away in March. Jackie helped countless people over the years and her infectious laugh, passion for justice and candid approach to supporting people seeking asylum will be greatly missed. She will be remembered fondly by all at BEACON. As post-pandemic life brought changes for many this year, we also said goodbye and thank you to Les Goldman and Mac Price, who both stood down as volunteers and are missed for their care and patience.
As we move into very uncertain times and the impact of the Nationality and Borders Act becomes clearer, we are already noticing changes in the way new claims are being dealt with. Changes to rights of appeal for some fresh claims and the application of the ‘inadmissible’ category will certainly impact the work of our project. Together with a massive reduction in Legal Aid solicitors, it is becoming a perfect storm.
The national and local sector of asylum and refugee agencies is working well to support each other and the people we work with. We are paying close attention to changes ‘on the ground’ and seeking advice & guidance to ensure that we focus our energies where we can have the greatest impact in the coming year.
Earlier in the year we trained and recruited 7 new volunteers to respond to increased demand. Our new recruits are doing well and are already making a great contribution to the
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----- Start of picture text -----
60
people
supported
by
McKenzie
Friends
12
27
currently awaiting
supported to decisions
find legal on fresh
representation
asylum
claims
16 12
legal advice granted Leave
sessions to Remain
provided in the UK
----- End of picture text -----
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Our work is highly valued by legal professionals
“It has been a pleasure to work with all of you over the years, the service provided through your volunteering is hugely important and from our perspective has a tangible effect on outcomes and client wellbeing. Thank you all for your hard work” .
Jack Dingley, Solicitor, Ison Harrison
Volunteer voices
“I value the work I do at BEACON as it gives me some sense of agency in what seems to be an increasingly alienated and dysfunctional system. I appreciate the contact I have with people seeking asylum and recognise the hardships and difficulties they face that BEACON can go some way to ameliorating”.
“Fisher Stone Solicitors continues to value our relationship with the staff and volunteers at BEACON. In a climate where legal aid provision is so stretched and many people are left without any legal representation at all, it is reassuring to see the team at BEACON step in and support those seeking sanctuary where they can. For us as a legal firm, the support of the McKenzie Friends project has enabled us to take on fresh claim work that we otherwise would not have capacity for, as the volunteers have done the leg work in terms of gathering paperwork, and new evidence where possible. BEACON staff and volunteers have also helped to facilitate appointments with particularly vulnerable clients, by offering a space to meet, a lift to our offices in Halifax, or mutual support, so that appointments can go ahead as smoothly as possible. We look forward to working again with BEACON in the new year”.
Alice Garrod, Senior Legal Caseworker, Fisher Stone Solicitors
Richard Tassell, McKenzie Friends volunteer
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Wahid’s story*
Wahid arrived in the UK in 2008 at the age of fifteen. His age was ‘assessed’ as 17 so he only enjoyed a year of being treated as a child. Youth services looked after him and he told us he was happier than at any time in his life.
Then, once he officially became 18, his asylum claim was refused, and he was sent back to Afghanistan in 2010. He went to his sister’s, the only place he knew, and was not well received as she knew his presence would put her family at risk. Almost immediately they were attacked by the Taliban and Wahid was shot while fleeing. He began the arduous and lengthy journey back to the UK. Neither the Home Office nor the courts believed he was in danger in Afghanistan, in spite of the visible gunshot wound.
He was rescued by a British Pakistani landlord who let him live rent-free in a tiny room for years. Wahid was too anxious and depressed to leave the room except when taken out by his friend, who took him to the Red Cross and from there to McKenzie Friends.
After much initial work and support from McKenzie Friends volunteers, together with caseworkers at Manuel Bravo charity in Leeds, we eventually found him an excellent solicitor and Wahid was referred to a specialist psychiatrist in London. McKenzie Friends volunteers arranged the journey and accompanied him to London, door to door. Professor Katona’s report, combined with new case law, enabled Wahid’s grant of refugee status in May 2022. This was a great relief as another young Afghan man with a similar history, the same solicitor and psychiatrist, whose fresh claim was submitted at the same time, received his grant of status over a year earlier. But that’s the way the Home Office rolls...
Given that for years, extreme anxiety had brought his life to a standstill, we were astonished to find that only a few weeks after Bradford Council helped him negotiate the job centre, Wahid was working, and pushing the job centre to help him find a better job, confident as anything! He is now applying for a travel document. We don’t think he would have got there without McKenzie Friends.
- Name has been changed
“We got stuck in pursuing our case. We approached BEACON who are so wonderful – they are the ones who came to our aid. They sorted things out for us. We had support from the McKenzie Friends volunteers who were so fantastic. They managed to find us legal representation, and not only that, we finally got our status because of BEACON, after many long years in limbo. We are finally free!”
Couple supported by McKenzie Friends
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INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
----- Start of picture text -----
£20,000 Grants
£10,541 Individual donations
Income
£4,887 Faith group donations
(£38,402)
£2,098 Other donations
£876 Sponsored walk
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
£40,414 Staffing costs £397 Subscriptions
£9,389 Project costs £390 Independent examination
£6,603 Rent £317 Governance costs
£796 Office costs £298 Volunteer expenses
Expenditure
(£60,667) £793 Insurance £24 Publicity and fundraising
£655 Training £5 Other expenses
£586 IT costs
----- End of picture text -----
Thank you to everyone who supported us financially over the past year. It’s thanks to your help that we have been able to help so many people seeking asylum in Bradford in 2021/2022.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
Become a volunteer
Make a direct difference to the life of someone seeking asylum - get in touch to find out more about what roles are available
Make a donation
Every little helps and can go a long way to helping people seeking asylum – contact us about making a one-off donation or set up a regular donation to help us on an ongoing basis
Fundraise - and have fun!
From a personal challenge such as running a race or giving up chocolate, to holding a coffee morning or a quiz night, we’d love to hear from you!
Help us raise awareness
We can always use help to spread the word about the challenges faced by people seeking asylum – get in touch if you’re interested in awareness raising
Join our mailing list
Sign up to receive our newsletter and keep up to date with our work and activities
Become a member of BEACON
As a BEACON member, you can show your support for our vision and objectives and vote at our Annual General Meeting
For further information, please see our web site www.beaconbradford.org or contact us at beacon@beaconbradford.org or on 07419 990578. We look forward to hearing from you!
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-,jl! ( - 12
“Charities like BEACON are the lifeblood of society. They are there for the long haul, and never give up, despite circumstances. Without them the UK would be a much poorer place. They are well worth your support!”
Dave Smith, founder of the Boaz Trust and the NACCOM network
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BEACON
(Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern)
Touchstone, 4 Easby Road, Bradford, BD7 1QX www.beaconbradford.org 07419 990578 beacon@beaconbradford.org
Hosting
hosting@beaconbradford.org 07505 053149
McKenzie Friends
mckenziefriends@beaconbradford.org 07531 576330
CHAT
chat@beaconbradford.org 07754 228569
@BEACON_Bradford @Beacon32
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Registered charity number 1119463
Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Charity number 1119463
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 September 2022
Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2022
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 7 |
| Examiner's report | 8 |
| Receipts and payments account | 9 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 10 |
| Notes to the accounts | 11 to 13 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report for the year ended 30 September 2022
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates
Sarah Jemison Chair Heather Grinter Vice Chair Roland Clark Treasurer Resigned 19 September 2022 Barbara Clarke Secretary William Sutcliffe Andrew Howorth Resigned 11 January 2022 Mary Brooks Edward Sterling Aimee Nyembo Resigned 14 December 2021
Charity number
1119463
Registered in England and Wales
Registered and principal address
Bankers
c/o Touchstone Unity Trust Bank plc 4 Easby Road Nine Brindleyplace Bradford Birmingham BD7 1QX B1 2HB
Independent examiner
Rhys North ACA
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 14 November 2006 as amended on 8 October 2019 and 28 January 2020.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.
The charity's objects
The relief of hardship among those seeking asylum in the UK or who are refugees who reside in the Bradford Metropolitan District and surrounding areas.
To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 September 2022
The charity's main activities
All of BEACON’s activities are underpinned by our vision that the Bradford district becomes a hospitable community where people seeking asylum and refugees are welcome, enjoy access to justice and fair treatment and are supported on their journey to independence and integration.
Our key activities are:
Hosting – the prevention of destitution for people seeking asylum through the provision of accommodation in volunteer host households, a weekly allowance to meet basic needs and a travel pass to access local services and activities. Guests are provided with support to link them in with a variety of services and activities, from volunteering to healthcare and legal advice to ensure their needs are met holistically.
CHAT – a weekly English conversation and activities group open to non-English speakers in the local community, for all abilities. The group provides a friendly and welcoming environment in which to improve English, form social connections, enhance wellbeing and enjoy a variety of additional activities from gardening to museum and theatre trips.
McKenzie Friends – volunteers provide legal support to people seeking asylum to navigate the complexities of the asylum system, including giving information, sorting paperwork, collecting evidence, facilitating access to legal advice & representation and accompanying those without representation to appeal hearings.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. In line with our charitable purposes:
1) Our work has been successful in relieving hardship among those seeking asylum in the UK or who are refugees who reside in the Bradford Metropolitan District and surrounding areas.
Our three projects (McKenzie Friends, Hosting and CHAT) are dependent on a wide range of committed volunteers who enable us to deliver a high-quality service to our clients and guests. During the year we have recruited and trained new volunteers, thus increasing our capacity to support more people seeking asylum as they navigate the challenges of life in the UK. This includes providing information, signposting and support to access legal advice (McKenzie Friends project), the relief of destitution & meeting of basic needs including food and money (Hosting project) and opportunity to improve English language skills & establish social networks leading to a reduction in isolation, increased wellbeing and empowerment amongst those seeking asylum (CHAT project).
Further to the benefit to the individuals we have supported and the associated benefits gained by volunteers, our work has wider public benefit in enhancing social cohesion and opportunities for integration for people seeking asylum whilst reducing strain on other community services who are not well-placed to meet the unique needs of people seeking asylum.
2) We have also furthered our objective to advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.
We have continued to support and raise awareness of the campaign to ‘Lift the Ban’ on the right to work for those seeking asylum. We are also members of the Together with Refugees and Hands Up for Our Health coalitions whose aims are to better educate the public and counter the effects of the ‘hostile environment’. Furthermore, our annual sponsored walk during Refugee Week, and presence at local events including the University of Bradford’s Unify festival and the Saltaire Peace & Crafts Fair provided opportunities to increase information amongst the general public. We have also given presentations to local groups to further spread awareness of the increasingly challenging needs of people seeking asylum during the past year and have maintained a strong social media presence, growing our number of followers and increasing numbers signed up to our mailing list.
The public benefit arising from these activities is the increase in information given to the public which in turn enhances support for, and consideration of, the difficulties faced by the individuals we support, thus facilitating people to play a role in society as informed citizens, who are aware of humanitarian concerns affecting people seeking asylum.
The charity trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have a plan to manage identified risks.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 September 2022
Achievements and performance
BEACON has continued to make a crucial difference to the lives of people seeking asylum and refugees in the Bradford district this year. In total, during the year ending 30[th] September 2022, we supported 118 people. The support we provided was thanks to the hard work of our small staff team (Team Leader, Administration Assistant, McKenzie Friends Coordinator, Hosting Coordinator and CHAT Coordinator) and our wonderful team of volunteers. Our main achievements this year are summarised below.
Hosting
Once again this year, we have received news from past guests who have at last been granted Leave to Remain in the UK. Of the 74 who have been hosted since the project began 14 years ago, we know that over half have now achieved this – and suspect that more with whom we have sadly lost touch, will have done also. It’s worth remembering that, without the kindness and generosity of our amazing hosts, some of these people would have been forced to return to the warzones from which they fled, or endured years of destitution and exploitation in the UK.
This has, however, been another difficult and unusual year for the project. At the time of writing there are currently 117,400 outstanding applications relating to 143,377 people awaiting an initial decision from the Home Office on their asylum claim, almost three times more than the number of applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2019 (source: Home Office, September 2022). This, combined with difficulties related to the closure of the key local destitution drop-in for people seeking asylum from which we have received the majority of our referrals over the years, means that, along with other local and national frontline services, referrals to the project have been very low. Understandably, two host households have opted to host Ukrainians via the government’s scheme.
The Home Office has however recently appointed over 800 new asylum case workers to address both this backlog, and the very high number of new applications. Along with other members of the Destitution Concern Bradford network, we are seeking ways to re-establish a local drop-in for people seeking asylum and refugees.
Despite the above, we recruited a new household who welcomed their first guest this year, and our hosts collectively facilitated 531 safe nights of accommodation for 2 individuals during the year. This is far more than just ‘B&B’, as the project works to ensure that progress is made on guests’ legal cases, facilitates access to healthcare, provides bus passes, encourages and supports people into volunteering placements, English and other classes, and so much more.
We have also been able to share our hosting expertise and experience with potential new hosts looking to host Ukrainians through the Leeds diocese parish network and we continue to be active members of the NACCOM network, receiving and providing mutual support as part of a national community of organisations preventing destitution amongst refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
CHAT
This has been a really positive year as we have finally been able to fully transition back into meeting regularly in person and benefit from much-needed real-life interaction!
After opening the CHAT class back up towards the end of last year after the pandemic had forced many of our activities online, great efforts have been made to take full advantage of our rediscovered freedoms, with several trips taking place throughout the year. The fantastic People and the DALES facilitated two trips to the Yorkshire Dales – one to Keasden Head Farm where students got chance to see the farm animals & learn about farming practices, and a beautiful walk in Oxenber Woods above Austwick to see the bluebells in full bloom in the Springtime. Other local trips included an evening at the theatre courtesy of Leeds Playhouse, a visit to the National Science and Media Museum, local parks, and the villages of Saltaire and Thornton, often with a café pit stop for coffee and cake thrown in for good measure.
We’ve also been able to offer additional activities including online cooking classes with professional chef Sonia Sandhu at the beginning of the year, as well as gardening sessions courtesy of the fantastic Horton Community Farm. Some students also took the opportunity to show off their dance skills, appearing in a locally produced film aiming to promote unity and reconciliation entitled ‘Dishta Gina Bradford style’.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 September 2022
Achievements and performance continued CHAT continued
Refugee Week saw opportunities for students to see the globally renowned ‘Little Amal’ visit Bradford, with some students also taking on the challenge of our 10+ mile sponsored walk, with others opting for a gentler walk round the Bradford Refugee Week exhibition trail.
Thanks to a partnership run by Bradford Volunteer Centre and Bradford City of Sanctuary, we were pleased to host a useful workshop for students on how to access volunteering opportunities, a much-needed resource to help give purpose and meaning when life can be so challenging.
Lesson themes throughout the year were shaped using student feedback and have been far ranging, from practical activities such as a trip to join the local library and learn about resources available, to cultural topics including Bradford’s successful bid for City of Culture 2025, and much more besides.
Above all, we have been able to continue to provide a safe and welcoming space for people of all abilities to practise English and socialise with others. Not only is this an opportunity to improve English making navigating life in the UK that much easier, but crucially, it has a major impact on wellbeing & self-esteem through the laughter and connection that is very much part and parcel of the CHAT group. 56 different individuals benefited from CHAT group activities this year.
Feedback from students
100% of students said they enjoyed coming to the class
80% of students said they were satisfied with the learning material
McKenzie Friends
McKenzie Friends supported 60 people this year. In the first half of the year referrals were high but then dropped off significantly in summer, as we saw Home Office decision making slow down, before levelling off at the year end. Many of our referrals this year were complex cases and we increasingly saw people coming to us who were experiencing multiple disadvantage including problems with mental health and substance misuse. We can only imagine the traumas they have faced.
As a result of a reduction in larger face-to-face drop-in services in Bradford, we experienced an increase in selfreferrals, with people contacting us with a wider range of needs. As the backlog of people in the system continues to grow, we find people are coming to us for assistance with finding solicitors for their initial asylum claim. There has also been a rise in the number of people seeking help with Article 8 humanitarian protection claims (right to private and family life) which are not funded by Legal Aid. We have completed several Exceptional Case Funding applications and as a result of our interventions, cases are being taken on by local solicitors.
Our partnership with Fisher Stone Solicitors continued throughout the year, with the provision of 16 legal advice sessions. At the year end, we had supported 27 people to find legal representation and heard that 12 people we supported had been granted Leave to Remain – fantastic news! Many of these have been from the Afghan community who have faced long waits and appalling treatment since their arrival in the UK.
Earlier in the year we trained and recruited 7 new volunteers to respond to increased demand. Our new recruits are doing well and are already making a great contribution to the team. As part of the training, we incorporated a visit to Phoenix House tribunal centre, where the number of appeals being heard each day has been cut to half. The impact on those waiting for an appeal is obvious - even longer waiting times.
As we move into very uncertain times and the impact of the Nationality and Borders Act becomes clearer, we are already noticing changes in the way new claims are being dealt with. Changes to rights of appeal for some fresh claims and the application of the ‘inadmissible’ category will certainly impact the work of our project. Together with a massive reduction in Legal Aid solicitors, it is becoming a perfect storm.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 September 2022
Achievements and performance continued McKenzie Friends continued
The national and local sector of asylum and refugee agencies is working well to support each other and the people we work with. We are paying close attention to changes ‘on the ground’ and seeking advice & guidance to ensure that we focus our energies where we can have the greatest impact in the coming year.
60 people supported by McKenzie Friends
16 legal advice sessions provided
27 supported to find legal representation
12 currently awaiting decisions on fresh asylum claims
12 granted Leave to Remain in the UK
This year, we were granted additional support from the Lloyds Bank Foundation to work with a fundraising consultant to refine our financial monitoring procedures and develop a fundraising strategy, which we hope will enable us to secure funding to realise our future development plans.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion was progressed, with anti-racism training for our staff and volunteers delivered by ‘ brap ’, an organisation specialising in equality and diversity training, which we commissioned and co-hosted in partnership with Abigail Housing, to ensure this approach is embedded in our work. We also hosted training on working with people who identify as LGBTQI+ which was delivered by Rainbow Migration and attended by professionals from across the UK. We have diversified our volunteer base and undertaken a full review of skills and diversity within our board of trustees, in order to shape our future recruitment plans to ensure we are inclusive and representative as an organisation.
Similarly, we took steps to set up a user involvement group, carried out consultations with users in relation to future strategy & planning and recruited people with lived experience to our employment recruitment & selection panels.
Our relationships with partner agencies in Bradford remain strong and have enabled us to work together to support those who need our help. We end the year with plans for a local sector review & planning day to ensure we are able to meet the needs of the increasing numbers arriving in Bradford, both in the immediate term, as well as creating the infrastructure to respond quickly and with agility as a sector to future changes in the longer term.
Financial review
The net payments for the year were £22,265, including net payments of £15,444 on unrestricted funds and net payments of £6,821 on restricted funds.
This reflects the healthy financial position of the charity at the start of the financial year with a fund balance brought forward of £90,339 thanks to the generosity of funders and donors during the pandemic, meaning there was less pressure to source like-for-like income to cover our expenditure over the year.
Our income was therefore slightly lower than the previous year (£38,402 compared with £50,290 last year), however expenditure was greater (£60,667 compared with £53,264 last year), largely as a result of increased project costs as a result of the cost of living crisis.
The main financial risk to the charity is loss of income from our main income streams including grants, donations and fundraising activities both due to rising costs as a result of the cost-of-living crisis combined with increasing competition for smaller pots of funding. However, thanks to Lloyds Bank Foundation, we have received a package of support from the FSI in the form of guidance from a consultant to implement a fundraising strategy and restructure our monitoring and reporting systems to provide clearer information for effective financial oversight and planning.
Whilst there are increasing financial pressures ahead, the trustees have reassessed the charity’s ability to continue for at least 12 months from the date that the accounts are approved and conclude that no material uncertainties exist that cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due.
We are thankful to all our funders, donors and supporters for their ongoing support for our work this year.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 September 2022
Reserves policy
BEACON depends on grants and donations to sustain its activities. We run the risk of closure if funding difficulties were to happen, if there were a temporary shortfall in income, or an unforeseen rise in spending requirements and costs.
To prevent immediate closure in these instances, the trustees have agreed to keep a certain level of financial reserves to ensure that main operations can continue until alternative provision can be made.
The main concerns are to ensure:
-
l that service users (particularly our hosted guests) are supported to move on to other services in a timely and sympathetic manner
-
l an ability to develop new projects and grasp new opportunities should they arise
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l that staff can continue working to develop another funding stream to continue the work of BEACON
The ideal amount of reserves has been set as an amount equivalent to between 6 and 12 months budgeted running costs, as this is deemed an appropriate period of time to achieve the above aims.
Anticipated expenditure is kept under constant review throughout the year and cash flow projections are amended to reflect any changes. Target reserve levels are adjusted accordingly.
At the end of the year our budgeted future running costs for the 2022/2023 financial year are £85,592 (which includes a planned increase in staffing). The target reserves range is therefore between £42,796 and £85,592.
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end are £61,728. This level of reserves sits comfortably within our target range.
Approved by the board of trustees on 17/1/2023
Sarah Jemison (Trustee)
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2022, which are set out on pages 9 to 13.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees 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 charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Rhys North ACA
19/1/2023
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Receipts and payments account for the year ended 30 September 2022
| Notes 2022 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants (2) 10,000 Donations - Faith Groups 4,887 Donations - Individuals 6,796 Donations - Other 2,098 Sponsored walk 876 Total receipts 24,657 Payments Staffing costs (3) 27,949 Rent 6,483 Insurance 793 Office costs 720 Publicity and fundraising 24 Training 655 Subscriptions 397 Project costs 1,656 IT costs 586 Volunteer expenses 126 Other expenses 5 Governance costs 317 Independent examination 390 Total payments 40,101 Net income / (expenditure) (15,444) Fund balances brought forward 77,172 Fund balances carried forward (4) 61,728 |
2022 Restricted funds £ 10,000 - 3,745 - - 13,745 12,465 120 - 76 - - - 7,733 - 172 - - - 20,566 (6,821) 13,167 6,346 |
2022 Total funds £ 20,000 4,887 10,541 2,098 876 38,402 40,414 6,603 793 796 24 655 397 9,389 586 298 5 317 390 60,667 (22,265) 90,339 68,074 |
2021 Total funds £ 25,570 4,208 18,107 1,435 970 50,290 37,591 6,240 1,048 845 34 80 749 4,863 888 181 63 328 354 53,264 (2,974) 93,313 90,339 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Statement of assets and liabilities
| as at 30 September 2022 2022 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 50,533 Cash at bank - Bradford CPA 11,058 Cash in hand 137 Total cash funds 61,728 Liabilities Independent examination |
2022 Restricted £ 6,346 - - 6,346 |
2022 Total £ 56,879 11,058 137 68,074 £ 480 480 |
2021 Total £ 81,027 9,212 100 90,339 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 17/1/2023
Sarah Jemison (Trustee)
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 30 September 2022
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 30 September 2022
| 2 Grants and donations 2022 Unrestricted funds £ Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) - The Methodist Church Yorkshire West District 10,000 Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC) - HMRC Job Retention Scheme - Lyndal Tree Foundation - Refugee Action - 10,000 3 Staff costs and numbers Gross salaries Social security costs Employment allowance Pensions Add/(Less): Pension Liability at 30 September 2021 Payroll fees |
2022 Restricted funds £ 10,000 - - - - - 10,000 |
2022 Total funds £ 10,000 10,000 - - - - 20,000 2022 £ 38,993 1,899 (1,899) 557 101 763 40,414 |
2021 Total funds £ - 10,000 6,000 180 8,000 1,390 25,570 2021 £ 36,491 1,637 (1,637) 495 (101) 707 37,591 |
|---|---|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 4, being an average of 1.6 full time equivalent (2021: 4, 1.6 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
| Defined contribution pension scheme | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year | 557 | 495 |
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 30 September 2022
| 4 Restricted funds Hosting McKenzie Friends BMDC Next Steps SHCJ |
Balance b/f £ 3,497 9,269 401 - 13,167 |
Receipts £ 1,245 2,500 - 10,000 13,745 |
Payments £ 4,185 11,769 401 4,211 20,566 |
Transfers £ - - - - - |
Balance c/f £ 557 - - 5,789 6,346 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund name
Purpose of restriction
Hosting To host people seeking asylum who are destitute. McKenzie Friends To provide legal support to people seeking asylum. BMDC Next Steps To offer support and assistance to asylum seekers who have been provided with emergency accommodation under the rough sleeper Everyone In programme. SHCJ To support the salary costs of the Team Leader and Finance & Administration Assistant.
5 Related party transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
Trustee remuneration and benefits
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
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Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern (BEACON)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2022, which are set out on pages 9 to 13.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees 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 charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed: …………………………………… Name: Rhys North ACA
19/1/2023
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
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